However, it is a great icebreaker with new students.

“I always say to the students ‘I walked through these grounds’,” he told The Argus.

“I think it helps them relate to me better.”

Aaron grew up in West Kempsey, not far from his current workplace and former high school.

His working life has revolved around food, and many locals would have had the pleasure of enjoying a tasty meal created by Aaron.

“I fell into working with food,” he said.

“I started at Lou’s Cafe and then went to the Tower Restaurant with Tony and Heather Hudson.

“Tony is an awesome chef and he taught me a great deal.

“I worked at the Tower for a couple of years before I went to Smithtown pub and worked under Wayne Squires (Squizzy) and Simon and Monique Wetzler.

“Squizzy was one of the best chefs I have ever worked under and Simon and Monique were great too.”

For 12 months Aaron worked at the Whalebone Wharf Seafood Restaurant before heading back to Macleay soil and working for the Wetzlers at the Mediterranean Restaurant at Crescent Head.

Aaron was the last chef at the Tattersalls Hotel in the CBD Kempsey before it was demolished.

The West Kempsey Hotel beckoned and is where AAron worked before a new career beckoned him. 

The husband and father at this stage had missed out on his eldest son Bodhi’s first couple of years, because of the split shifts that are common in the hospitality industry.

“Kristy (Aaron’s wife) found an accelerated teacher program through Charles Sturt University,” he said.

“I completed that and the department placed me at Kempsey High.”

That was about four and a half years ago and Aaron has never looked back since. 

With three sons, Bodhi, 8, Cade, 6 and Shad, 5 life is never dull for Aaron and Kristy. 

Kristy has just completed a degree for an Industrial Arts teacher. 

“It is awesome to have a strong affiliation with the students,” he said.

“The kids at Kempsey High are very lucky as they have three fully qualified chefs teaching here.”

Looking back at his working career Aaron believes he was taught by the best in the business.

“I was lucky enough to work under such astute business people,”