What he could not have predicted, when he graduated from teacher's college as a 19-year-old, was just how much of an impact he would have on the lives of some of society's most vulnerable young students, and their babies.

Scores of teenage mums who were at risk of completely disengaging from education have found new hope through the Young Parents Program that Peter founded 13 years ago.

In the house the YPP operates from in Delacombe there's a large playroom, a big kitchen, classrooms, a quiet room for feeding and an office, but it's not so much the material things that matter here - it's the support, cameraderie, acceptance and can-do attitude that offer hope for the future for the young women and their children who come through the door.

"The framework we have created her is unique. It's not just about literacy and numeracy, but social and emotional wellbeing. We can help protect the girls, help them with housing, drivers licences, health, legal issues … everything," Peter said.

"We do what a family would do - teach them how to cook, give them life skills."

It's those "extraordinary young ladies" and their children, and long term staff members  Renee Vallance and Megan Hillas, who Peter will miss most when he officially retires next month.

But that doesn't mean he won't be back. Try keeping him away. He'll drop in regularly to the place that has become his second home in the same way it has become a second home to the young women involved in the program.

"The last 13 years have been the most extraordinary. These young ladies are so precious. They need so much help and guidance. They come here because it's a safe place. They know every person in the building except me is in same boat - young and pregnant, or had a baby," he said.

Approaching 70, he's made the decision to retire knowing the YPP will continue to thrive under Megan and Renee's leadership. Both have been part of the program for more than a decade.

"I know in my own heart my time has come. I'm 70 next year and have to realise I've got to slowly ease out of it. Megan and Renee have got a vision for the future and I'm only a phone call away .. and I'll still drop in.

The three staff members each bring their own strengths to the program, with the women conceding they'll have to step up and foster the relationships with business and community groups that Peter has excelled in.

Many of these were forged during his 13 years on Ballarat Council and years before that at the Buninyong Shire. Mr Innes was the last president of the former Buninyong Shire before it was amalgamated in to Golden Plains, Moorabool and the City of Ballarat in 1994.

The YPP schooling model, unique in Australia, evolved from a chance request from a colleague … and Peter's philosophy of asking for forgiveness rather than permission.

It began when he was working at Wendouree West Community House as part of his job as a teacher at Ballarat Secondary College.

"A nurse said she had a girl with a baby and could I help her. I thought 'what do I know about it? "So I said 'come along and we'll teach you some cooking'.

"She said she had a friend and could she come along, then there were other friends and all of a sudden I had four mums and babies.

"I didn't actually have permission but it was the right thing to do. At the end it's a person you are helping."

It got him thinking about the barriers for teenage mums in returning to education and back in to the community. He believes there is no problem, be it educational, financial, legal, housing, transport or substance abuse, that cannot be solved.

"We sat down and worked out a framework so we could address education and material needs, housing, and developed a support network."

He also lobbied the government for changes to student funding to allow girls who have had a baby and interrupted schooling to continue in the program until they are 21.

Initially annexed to Ballarat Secondary College through D-Link, the YPP it is now linked to Yuille Park Community College but operating from a "dream house" in Delacombe.

"Right back from the first day we had a dream to have a house specifically for the mums, near a park, then out of the blue I had a call about a house in Delacombe that a supporter offered to buy for us to rent," he said.

There are 28 young mums enrolled at the program, but they don't all attend every day. They spend time in the classroom while staff and volunteers look after their children in the large playroom, but if the children need feeding or nappies changed it's a job for mum.

Standing in the playroom with sleeping babies and toddlers crawling around, Peter beams at what he's helped to create.

"This is the only school where you get cuddles like this," he says as 10-month-old Kaiden snuggles in his arms.

"I think a lot about the past 50 years. It's all about a job you love every day and I've been blessed, no question about that.

"When I went off to teacher's college in 1968 as a 17-year-old I never thought that, 50 or so years later, I would be doing this. It's remarkable."

It's a far cry from his first teaching position at Wombelano, near Harrow, with a total school enrolment of seven.

"On our last day in teacher's college everybody had jobs. All the blokes knew they were going to rural schools, but not where, so we sat up the back with a map as the positions were announced looking up where we were going.

"They you packed up the car and that's what you did."

Soon after he was conscripted in to the army for almost two years, where he drove heavy vehicles. His artillery unit was about to be deployed overseas when Gough Whitlam came to power and immediately withdrew troops from Vietnam.

After leaving the army Peter went back to university, then worked in specialist education before becoming head teacher at Culgoa in the Mallee. He moved to teach at Sebastopol for four years and Buninyong for 10 years before taking a break to run a family business.

He returned to education in 2000, but even then could not predict the path he would take.

Peter said he could see the hope in the eyes of the young mothers, many of whom come from incredibly difficult circumstances, when they arrive at the program.

"I can see that little spark there that says I'm safe here, people here care about me and I can share my problems and get them solved.

"It's life changing for generations."

Former students of the YPP often pop in to visit, acting as role models for the current students. There are a handful of nurses, council workers, and pharmacy employees among the graduates who return.

"I know this is generational change. They are going to be successful. Last year we had our first kids, who were babies when their mums came through YPP, start at high school."

With such a diverse history, problem solving is in his blood and it is something he tries hard to pass on to the young parents.

And they know that he, Megan and Renee are just a phone call away if they strike trouble.

"They they know they can talk about anything and they do. Megan and Renee are special teachers and the girls know if they need help on a weekend, it's a phone call and one of us will be there.

Renee said the fact the YPP was based in the house, not attached to school, was a key to re-engaging the young mums.

"Some girls are quite isolated. Having a place where their children can socialise, and they can see the benefit for their children, encourages them to engage further with the education program we provide," she said.

"Most haven't enjoyed or had success at school. Having it here, not attached to school and not like a school, in a much more personal home-like environment gives it a totally different feel."

Mother-of-two Teagan Fisher, 20, is in her fourth and last year at YPP. Turning 21 in June, she will finish out the year then graduate.

She fell pregnant at 17 with son Mayson, now 2.5, and welcomed baby Isaac six weeks ago.

"I left school when I was 15 because it wasn't for me. I got a job then fell pregnant. I was living at home with mum and her partner but they were at work … so this school was good otherwise I would have been just sitting at home by myself.

"I've made lots of friends and my baby has made lots of friends, and I've been able to complete lots of courses to get jobs."

Over the years she has completed a certificate III in business, a certificate II in retail and is working toward a certificate II in community service.

"I only had a year eight pass, now I've done year 11 intermediate and doing year 12," she said.

"It's going to be very sad when I leave, but hopefully I'll still pop in."

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