Like many other small country towns in recent years, Penola — nestled in south-east South Australia — saw many of its high school-aged students catching buses out of the town to attend larger colleges in a nearby regional city.

In 2022, the town's high school faced dwindling enrolments with the student cohort falling below 100.

Local resident Cory O'Connor was finishing his teaching studies, with plans to leave his hometown to embark on his education career.

But a phone call offering a three-week placement at Penola High School not only changed his plans, but proved a turning point for the school and community.

"When I received the call, I thought, 'It's only three weeks, I'll do it'," Mr O'Connor said.

"I had plans to leave the town and teach elsewhere, but when I started … I knew I

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