FACES OF ORANGE | Michael Croke promises the next generation are 'wonderful'

The principal of Catherine McAuley Catholic Primary School said the young ones he's sending through to high school now give him "great faith".

For anyone worried technology has ruined their manners or made them socially challenged, Mr Croke has some advice.

"Don't worry one iota. It's all under control," he said.

After 30 years in teaching administration at what was first St Joseph's Primary and is now Catherine McAuley, Mr Croke has seen generations of kids rise through the ranks.

He said the students in the playground at McAuley now are different from when he was in the schoolyard, largely because the education system has changed.

"30 years ago you just had to sit and copy from the board," he said.

"The whole education system is so much better because it allows people to choose their own path.

"The children of 2019, I just find they're so spirited and so connected, they're just wonderful," he said.

Mr Croke moved to Orange with his wife Helen 32 years ago, which according to him means he's still "just a blow in".

He was offered a position with the ABC, first as the AFL correspondent and sports editor, before being made host of the Saturday breakfast show.

Mr Croke said he'd always wanted to get into radio, but didn't expect to be working every Saturday for as long as he did.

"I thought 'I'll do this for a little while' 30 years later I was still doing it," he said.

"It got to the stage where I just wanted to get my weekends back."

Two years ago Mr Croke traded the 4am Saturday starts so it'd be easier to visit the four adult Croke children.

Although he hasn't slowed down much, emceeing events around Orange, driving the school bus when he's not mentoring young teachers and working on concepts for a fifth book.

"I've got a lot of ideas in the pipeline," he said.

While sporting books are what the published author knows, Mr Croke said it's a different landscape now, with information on sports stars constantly updated online.

What doesn't look set to change any time soon is his position at Catherine McAuley.

"Because I love it so much I just want to keep going as long as I can," he said. "Hopefully I've got a couple more years in me yet."