The Connection – Issue 82

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SCHOOL REUNION IN BRISBANE

Saturday 17 October 2026 Come and enjoy a relaxed social evening with past students from the SE corner.

Principal Luke Baills and PSA President Tom Porter look forward to catching up with you. Check PSA Facebook page for venue details.

Past Students’ Lagoon Dash team with Tom Porter

FROM THE PSA PRESIDENT 2027 REUNION DATE CLAIMER

23-25 July 2027 Join us as we celebrate our school’s 110th anniversary.

If you would like to coordinate your own year group to attend, please let us know so we can share the details. psa@cathedral.qld.edu.au

Reunion attendees at Cathedral service

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It was a fantastic Reunion Weekend over the 17th-19th July, celebrating the rich history and strong connections that continue to define The Cathedral School community. See our PSA Facebook page for details and more photos.

We commenced with our Foundation Day Service, featuring guest speaker Toni Lanphier who has been part of The Cathedral School family for almost 60 years—as a student, parent, staff member and grandparent. Toni shared wonderful reflections on the School’s journey and was an outstanding guest speaker.

During the celebrations, we were delighted to announce the 2026 Past Students’ Wall of Honour inductees: Robyn Croft-Gilchrist (1957), Kerrie Richards (1986), Benjamin Chuck (2000) and Curtis Rayment (2014). Their achievements and contributions are a testament to the values of our School community.

WALL OF HONOUR

2026 inductees were announced on Foundation Day: Robyn Croft-Gilchrist (1957) – lifelong dedication to dance Kerrie Richards (1986) – innovation in business, ‘Merino Country’ Benjamin Chuck (2000) – service to Australian Defence Force, 2 Commando Regiment Curtis Rayment (2014) – service to community, ‘It’s a Man’s Issue’ If you would like to nominate a past student for next year, see the website for nomination form: Past Students’ Association - Cathedral \\print01.school.athedra PSA President Mr Tom Porter Telephone (07) 4722 2000 thomas.porter@cathedral.qld.edu.au

The ever-popular Lagoon Dash once again brought plenty of excitement, with the Past Students team narrowly missing out on the Bragging Rights trophy. A special thank you goes to Kiera and Maddie Wallace, Malachy Sutton and Henry Chin for representing our team with such enthusiasm.

Friday evening’s Sundowner by the Lagoon welcomed approximately 60 past students and guests, who enjoyed performances by Cathedral School musicians and a wonderful evening reconnecting with our past students. Saturday’s school tour and reunion lunch provided another opportunity to celebrate and see the continued growth of The Cathedral School.

Looking ahead, our next Past Students’ Association meeting and Annual General Meeting will be held on Monday 24 August at 5:00 p.m. in the School Boardroom. We warmly invite any past students interested in becoming involved with the Association to attend. If you would like to join us, please let me know.

See side panel for information on our upcoming reunion events.

TOM PORTER | PSA PRESIDENT CLASS OF 2007 tom.porter@cathedral.qld.edu.au

cathedral.qld.edu.au/past-students-association Facebook @theCathedralSchoolPastStudentsAssociation 154 Ross River Road, Mundingburra PO Box 944, Aitkenvale, Queensland 4812 Australia t

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PAST STUDENT NEWS

SCHOOL NEWS

CLASS OF 1980 REUNION

REIMAGINING THE RAINTREE SPACE

‘In October last year a group us who had been in the same class between 1976 - 1980 met on the Sunshine Coast for a few days of reminiscing. From Friday to Monday we talked, laughed, cried, caught up on our lives and reminisced about the old school days. Some of us catch up regularly but others hadn’t seen each other in over 45 years. People travelled from as far as Canada, WA, Victoria, NSW and all over Queensland.’

Alison Stoneman

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In May 2025, the Cathedral School community was invited to help 'Reimagine the Raintree Space' after our iconic grand giant fell during the flooding event earlier that year. Now, we are proud to share the proposed concept for the reimagined Raintree Space.

Drawing on the community's vision, the architects incorporated four key themes: • Reuse of the Raintree timber • A steel sculpture • More shade and seating • A commemorative plaque These ideas have shaped a design that honours the legacy of the tree while creating a welcoming space for future generations. The result is a space inspired by our community and grounded in the enduring memory of one of The Cathedral School's most treasured landmarks - a place where the story of the Raintree will continue for generations to come.

WA CONNECTION

In June, about ten past students from WA got together for lunch at Zamia Café in Kings Park. They ranged from the Class of 1952 (Margaret Phillips) to the Class of 1990 (Kylie Sherwin), but all shared a connection to their old school and enjoyed hearing each others’ stories.

YEAR 12 CANCER FUNDRAISER

On the final day of Term 2, 18 brave students and two teachers ‘rocked the chop’ for the World’s Greatest Shave (10 boys) and the Ponytail Project (8 girls). Thanks to their very generous supporters, $23,000 was raised to benefit those who need our support the most, and the ponytails were sent off to make wigs for chemotherapy patients.

GOING FOR GOLD

Congratulations to Australian Diamonds player, Cara Koenan (Class of 2013) on achieving 1,000 goals for Australia as she competes at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

PSA President Mr Tom Porter Telephone (07) 4722 2000 thomas.porter@cathedral.qld.edu.au

School Captain Maddie McLean happily donated her ponytail to make wigs for cancer patients.

cathedral.qld.edu.au/past-students-association Facebook @theCathedralSchoolPastStudentsAssociation 154 Ross River Road, Mundingburra PO Box 944, Aitkenvale, Queensland 4812 Australia t

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Heidi Kurth nee Pietzsch (1995) I have proudly called Dubai home for the past twenty years. That now makes it the longest I have lived anywhere, surpassing the eighteen years I spent growing up in Townsville, seven years on the Gold Coast for university, two years in Graz, Austria, and a year in Oxford, England. (The maths may not add up — it was never my strongest subject!)

The UAE has been the backdrop to the most meaningful chapters of my life. I met my husband here, raised our twin girls here, and built my career here. And it is precisely during unsettling times like these that I am reminded why we chose to stay. This is one of the most diverse places on earth, yet what strikes you most in moments of uncertainty is not division, but unity. There is a profound sense of belonging and togetherness here — one that grows stronger, not weaker, under pressure. We feel calm, confident, and cared for by a leadership that is unwavering in its commitment to the safety of every person within its borders, citizen and expat alike. The population has responded with quiet resolve, not panic. Friends and family back home keep asking whether we plan to return — and we keep explaining, warmly, why we don't.

My path to Dubai was anything but linear. I studied Hotel Management at Griffith University on the Gold Coast, which took me first to the UK and eventually to one of the most iconic addresses in hospitality: the Burj Al Arab. Working at the world's only seven-star all-suite hotel remains one of the great highlights of my career. Dubai's blend of Eastern and Western cultures means the city never truly sleeps, and the days are long - but the energy is infectious.

After having children, I transitioned to part-time work with a fitness company, which eventually led me to the swim school I run today. It still makes me smile that a hotel management degree led me here - yet the crossover is surprisingly natural. Selling forty-five minutes in the pool isn't so different from selling an overnight stay; in both cases, you're selling an experience. I like to think my background in five-star service delivery gives our swim school a genuine point of difference.

Toastmasters Gavel Club At the end of last term, our club celebrated its quarter century birthday!! We, as a club, meet every week and this 25-year milestone is huge. Everyone got ready for our fun filled afternoon with birthday themed topics and enjoying our one-of-a-kind delicious Mrs Salk’s Chocolate Birthday Cake.

Whilst many of us were just there to enjoy our afternoon tea and much needed chocolate cake, some heavy birthday enthusiasts were dressing up for our birthday theme, some in full-on light-up costumes, some magicians and even clowns or others with just a party hat. We had an amazing meeting and what an amazing end to the term!

Happy 25th Birthday Cathedral Toastmasters!

Matilda Schmid Vice President Public Relations

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Class of 1980 A wonderful catch-up for this group of past students who had been in the same class between 1976 – 1980.

Front: L-R Jacinta Arnold, Debra Carrivick (nee Jamieson), Janelle Finn (nee Clarke), Cassandra Slattery (nee Smith), Adrienne Silsbury (nee Lowth).

Row 2: Teresa Mow, Kaylene Mow, Alison Stoneman, Julia Kennedy (nee Morelle).

Row 3: Kylie Drury (nee Mobbs), Joanna Thorpe, Kaye Barr (nee Humphries), Pam Fuller (nee Rollason), Andrea O’Neill (nee Brown), Jenny Thompson (nee Nielsen).

Row 4: Rowena Paine-Murphy (nee Paine), Corrine Gannon (nee Norford), Julie Delgado (nee Morossi), Melissa Williams.

Missing from the photo but present on the day is Karen Kimber.

If you have any news you would like to share in future issues, please send a short paragraph and photo to paststudents@cathedral.qld.edu.au. You are also able to update your contact details via this email address.