Grammarian The
RGS ALUMNI
WINTER EDITION 2024
From the President
It is my pleasure to share with you an update on the recent activities and successes within our vibrant alumni community. The past few months have been a testament to the enduring spirit and strong bonds that tie us together, regardless of when we graduated.
Melbourne Alumni Gathering - I had the privilege of catching up with our Melbourne-based alumni recently, alongside our Alumni Engagement Officer, Rachel Trump (nee Milnes, RGS 1995). It was wonderful to see a diverse group of alumni, spanning several decades, come together in the heart of Melbourne. It was an evening filled with reminiscing about school days, sharing personal and professional milestones, and strengthening the connections that make our RGS network so special. Alumni like Abhinav Singh (RGS 2019), Stephen Nye (RGS 1986), and Benedict Wright (RGS 2022) represent the broad spectrum of experiences and achievements that our school fosters. These gatherings highlight the value of staying connected and supporting each other, no matter where life has taken us.
Reunion Weekend - Our recent Reunion Weekend was nothing short of a resounding success. We welcomed back the Classes of 1974, 1984, 1994, 2004, and 2014 for a weekend filled with nostalgia, exploration, and camaraderie. The weekend kicked off with welcome drinks at the RGS Rowing Club, setting the perfect tone for reconnecting with old friends and making new ones. A highlight for many was the tour of the school, where alumni had the chance to revisit old dorm rooms, find their names on honor boards, and witness first hand how much RGS has evolved over the years. Ritamada was another stand out, with alumni marvelling at the transformation and the dynamic outdoor education programmes now in place. It was a joy to see our alumni reliving fond memories while also appreciating the progress and growth of the School. A special thank you goes to Rachel Trump and all the RGS staff who went above and beyond to make the weekend special for all years.
Tom Birkbeck RGS 2009 President
Robert South Jr RGS 2009 Vice President
Annie Belonogoff RGS 2009 Secretary
Mark Birkbeck RGS 1982 Interim Treasurer
another momentous occasion held in the School’s Memorial Assembly Hall. This year, we celebrated the achievements of our distinguished alumni and recognised the invaluable contributions of a past staff member. We honoured Graham Clark (RGS 1956) with the Distinguished RGS Alumni Award, while Madeleine Morris (RGS 1994) and Isobel Chisholm (RGS 2004) received the RGS Alumni Outstanding Achiever Awards. We also extend our heartfelt gratitude to Martin Linnane, who was awarded Past Staff Life Membership for his many years of dedicated service to the school. Seeing so many alumni from different generations coming together to celebrate these achievements was truly inspiring. The event was a powerful reminder of the legacy we all share and the importance of recognising those who continue to uphold the values and standards of RGS in their professional and personal lives.
AGM and new Executive Management Team - The RGS Alumni Association held its AGM on 19 June 2024, and I am pleased to announce the new Executive Management team for the coming year. I am thankful to continue serving as your President, alongside Vice-President Robert South (RGS 2009), Secretary Annie Belonogoff (RGS 2009), Interim Treasurer Mark Birkbeck (RGS 1982), and members Adrien Lang (RGS 1993), Rachel Trump (nee Milnes, RGS 1995), and Aniq Pannila (RGS 2023). I am confident that this dedicated team will work tirelessly to foster connections within our alumni community and support the ongoing success of RGS.
Looking Ahead - As we move forward, I encourage all alumni to stay engaged and participate in the many events and opportunities the RGS Alumni Association offers. Whether attending a local gathering, joining us for the next reunion, or simply keeping in touch, your involvement makes our alumni network so solid and meaningful.
Thank you for your continued support, and I look forward to seeing many of you at future events as we continue to celebrate the incredible legacy of The Rockhampton Grammar School.”
Rachel Trump (nee Milnes) RGS 1995 Committee
Adrien Lang RGS 1993 Committee
Aniq Pannila RGS 2023 Committee
RGS Alumni Awards Dinner - The Annual RGS Alumni Awards Dinner was
Tom Birkbeck President (RGS 2009)
On the cover: Ben O’Regan (RGS 2006) has taken his career to new heights.
Honouring alumni
Past students, and past staff member, were honoured on 27 July 2024.
Graham Clark
RGS: 1955 - 1956
Distinguished Alumni
Graham was born in 1940, the second child of seven, to Bob and Alice Clark (OAM) of Rockhampton. After attending Allenstown State School Graham joined RGS where he participated in the wide variety of co-curricular activities that RGS had to offer. He was actively involved in cadets and all sports, regularly representing RGS in inter-school sport. Graham won the Form Prize in 1956, the Mrs Kellow Cup as Junior Athletic Champion and took part in the Olympic torch relay when passed through Rockhampton. After completing a Bachelor of Science from University of Queensland, Graham joined the Queensland Department of Primary Industries (DPI) in 1962 as a Biometrician. DPI were starting to automate their analyses and Graham wrote two major applications. Graham’s next move was to IBM which saw him developing systems, large and small, for IBM and its customers. He won several IBM Excellence Awards and was promoted to Software Advisory Programmer. What followed was an extraordinary journey that would set Graham and his business partner, Terry Powell, on a path of business development, setting a benchmark for future software companies. Noticing a gap in the industry, in 1977, Graham formed Powell Clark and Associates. The company became an industry leader in offering professional consulting and data processing services. Powell Clark quickly became the largest supplier of IBM-based software and systems for hospitals in Australia and later Singapore. In 1984, Data#3 was created when Powell Clark and Associates merged with Albrand Typewriters Office Machines Pty Ltd. Data#3 moved ahead to become Queensland’s first IBM personal computer dealership and the first reseller of IBM’s “midrange” multi-user computer systems. Data#3 went public in 1997 and has continued to grow. In the mid-1980s when the AIDS crisis was at critical point, Graham developed a system for Brisbane Blood Bank to enable them to identify risks to their blood supply. After 29 years, Graham resigned from the Board of Data #3 in 2006. He remains a shareholder in a supportive relationship with the company.
Madeleine Morris RGS: 1990 - 1994 Outstanding Achiever Award
Madeleine was born in Rockhampton on 15 December 1977 to parents John (RGS 1966) and Megan. She is the eldest of three daughters. Her sisters Margot and Elizabeth also attended RGS. Joining RGS as a day student for Year 8 in 1990, Madeleine achieved success in both the classroom and sporting arenas. From being awarded the Year 8 English prize at Speech Night, winner of the History Bursary in 1991 to several of her written works being published in the Capricornus, one could say Madeleine was destined for a career as an investigator and in delivering information to the public. Madeleine enjoyed success in netball, swimming, cross country and rowing and often represented the Red and Black at inter-School competitions. She joined the cast of Anything Goes in 1993 and was the School’s Vice Captain in 1994. After graduating from RGS, Madeleine undertook an exchange programme to secondary school in France for a year, before attending University of Queensland where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in French and Journalism. Madeleine began her journalism career with ABC local radio in Rockhampton. In 2001 she joined the BBC London where she spent 11 years as an international reporter, presenter and producer, before returning to Melbourne where she again joined the ABC as a reporter for 7.30. Over her career Madeleine has reported from more than 20 countries and has won numerous awards, including a prestigious One World Media award for a BBC World Service Radio documentary on microfinance in India. Madeleine’s proudest career achievement is writing her book Guilt-Free Bottle-Feeding: why your formula-fed baby can be happy, healthy and smart, which has helped families all over the world. She is best known to Australian audiences as the Finance Presenter and Newsreader on ABC News Breakfast, which she joined in 2019, quickly becoming an audience favourite for her balanced reporting and friendly style. In late 2023 Madeleine hung up the early morning alarm and left the ABC. She is now enjoying consulting in strategy and strategic communications and working as a conference MC.
Isobel Chisholm RGS: 2009 - 2014 Outstanding Achiever Award
Born in Brisbane on 27 February 1997, to parents Shelley and Duncan, Isobel is the middle sibling of 2 brothers, Hamish and her twin Callum. All siblings attended RGS. Isobel commenced at RGS in Year 7 as a day student and fully immersed herself in many co-curricular activities - including athletics, cross country, swimming, netball, oratory, softball, rowing, touch football, rugby, tennis, Aussie rules, triathlon and water polo. Isobel was successful from 2009-2014 in making Capricornia teams for athletics and cross-country, demonstrating her commitment and passion for competing. Highlights and prizes won during her time at RGS included being a Year 7 Primary Student Leader in 2009, team netball awards, Captain of Rowing in 2014 along with winning many rowing medals and awards, Australian Rules player of the year, and Female Triathlete of the year. Isobel was a Prefect along with Captain of Triathlon, Rowing, and Athletics. She was also Vice Captain of Wheatcroft House Captain and Cross Country. After school, Isobel had a gap year, working as an Administrative Assistant at Grant and Simpson Lawyers in Rockhampton. In 2016 she moved to Brisbane to commence her first year of Exercise Sport Science at the University of Queensland. In 2016 she was U19 Female World Champion for Olympic distance triathlon representing Australia in Mexico. In the same year, she won a bronze medal at State Championships U19 for a triathlon Olympic distance and placed 4th at the National Championships U19. In 2017 and 2018 she was crowned the National and State Triathlon Champion for Olympic distance and was also National Champion for Long Course triathlon. She went back in 2018 to defend her title at the World Championships on the Gold Coast, winning bronze in the U14 division and silver in the U24 Aquathlon World Championships. Isobel then had a break from racing and found a new passion in longer endurance events. This led to her taking part in the Smiling for Smiddy challenge in 2019; a 1600km charity cycle from Townsville to Brisbane raising money for cancer research. The same year, she competed in the first of many tltra-trail running events which she continues to compete in regularly. Isobel joined the Australian Defence Force in June 2020 and is living in Sydney.
Martin Linnane
RGS: 1961-1976/ 1995-2002 Honorary Life Membership
Martin Nestor Linnane was born 1937. Raised in Rockhampton, he attended Our Lady’s Infants School then the Christian Brothers College for grades 2 - 10. Upon finishing school, Martin obtained his Bachelor of Education from University of Queensland by external study over the course of 9 years. His first teaching role was at Crescent Lagoon State School in 1958, followed by Alpha, Berserker and Gladstone Central State Schools by the Department of Education. In 1959, he was appointed Headmaster of Diamantina State School, a one teacher school, until 1960. Martin joined the RGS Primary teaching staff in 1961, teaching grades 3-6. In 1967, RGS Headmaster Malcolm Hewitson transferred Martin to the Secondary Department to teach English, Math and History. During his time at RGS, Martin gave him time freely to help and coach tennis, cricket, basketball cadets and football, along with adjudicating interhouse oratory and debating competitions. With a passion for all things film related, Martin set up the RGS Movie Club, donating his own camera to get the club up and running. The boys created a school film under his guidance titled ‘Grow in Manliness and Learning’ which ran for 20 minutes. In 1972 he was promoted to Master of Middle School, a role he remained in until he finished at RGS in 1976. That same year, Martin rejoined his first teaching school, Crescent Lagoon. In 1978, the Linnane family took part in a school exchange programme which saw Martin teach at St Catherine’s, Ontario BC, Canada. The pull of RGS was too strong and in 1995 Martin rejoined the Primary Department where he worked until his retirement in 2002. Continuing with his love of teaching, Martin then taught and lectured part time at TAFE and Central Queensland University. Over the years at RGS, Martin gave so much of his own time encouraging students in all areas to do their best and to achieve all they could. He was described by many as patient and the force behind the dynamic progress of the students he taught. He was dedicated in preparing young people for life’s journey. Martin’s highlights whilst working at RGS were seeing changes to the curriculum, growing numbers in teaching staff and the girls returning to RGS.
In the Picture - Awards Dinner
Thank you to everyone who supported the 2024 RGS Alumni Awards. Nominations for the 2025 awards will open soon. If you have someone you believe worthy of a nomination, email rgsalumni@rgs.qld.edu.au
Graham Clark shares his remarkable story accepting his Alumni award
Mr Martin Linnane with some of the “boys” he taught at RGS (from left) Robert Lang (RGS 1968), Greg Beak (RGS 1968), John Morris (RGS 1966), Martin Linnane, Rawdon Dundas-Taylor (RGS 1970), Geoffrey Shaw (RGS 1966) and Jim Randal (RGS 1967)
Penny Beasley and husband, RGS Board Chair Brad Beasley (RGS 1975)
Berenice Payne, husband Errol Payne (RGS 1961) and daughter Alison Payne (RGS 1985)
John Morris (1966) and Madeleine Morris (RGS 1994)
Martin Linnane and his family - (back) Suleyman Linnane-Genc, Sachin Linnane-Genc, Kel O’Meara; (front)
Megan Linnane, Marie Linnane, Mar tin Linnane, Sue O’Meara
Hugh Grant (RGS 1957), wife Gail Grant, granddaughter Isobel Chisholm (RGS 2014), Isobel’s parents Shelley and Duncan Chisholm
Warwick Anderson (RGS 1988) and Steven Deaves (RGS 1987).
RGS 2024 School Captain Martha Dingle represents the current RGS students
RGS Board Secretary Mrs Karyn Johnson and Rachel Trump (nee Milnes, RGS 1995)
Ashleigh Harvey (nee Norford, RGS 2005) and Robert South Jnr (RGS 2009)
RGS Alumni President Tom Birkbeck (RGS 2009) and Isobel Chisholm (RGS 2014)
RGS Parent Association Acting President Anthony Trump, Reiden Jenman, Neil Jenman (RGS 1959) and Headmaster Dr Phillip Moulds OAM.
Rawdon Dundas-Taylor (RGS 1970) speaks with his former teacher Mr Linnane.
Graham Clark visits the “walk of honour” at RGS, viewing his plaque that is the most recent edition to the walk featuring many distinguished RGS Alumni.
RGS 2024 School Vice Captain Lachlan Wilson
“It is hard to beat the everchanging views out of the window. Watching the sun rise over the snowy Hindu Kush mountains on the way home from London was always a personal favourite.”
My story
Ben
O’Regan (RGS 2006)
Ben worked as a charter pilot for the Rockhampton Aero Club, flying scenic flights at the start of 2008. The previous year he went through the selection process for the Qantas Cadet programme. Ben was accepted by Qantas in March 2008 and after graduation, he became a Second Officer at Qantas and began flying in 2009.
What are your memories of your years at RGS, and aviation classes with Ms Zantiotis? I had a great time over my five years at RGS! Athletics and cross country were my main activities, and Mr Kelly’s morning training runs to the Gardens were always a good start to the school day. In my last three years I joined the backstage crew for the school musicals - a busy two weeks! Ms Zantiotis set up a weekly afternoon class to study Basic Aeronautical Knowledge during my Year 10 and I thought it would be interesting to try. I’d always enjoyed the cockpit visits (especially when they used to be inflight!) when I was younger. At the end of the year we were taken for a short flight in a light aircraft, and at some point over the Christmas break, I decided I wanted to start flying lessons. Throughout Year 11 and 12, I did fortnightly lessons with the Rockhampton Aero Club, and was flying solo before I had my driver licence! Initially I’d been interested in a medical career like my Dad, but at some point in Year 12, flying became my focus. I completed my Private Pilot Licence after finishing at RGS, and continued to train further for my Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) over the next year.
How did you enter the aviation industry?
After getting my CPL, I worked as a charter pilot for the Rockhampton Aero Club, flying scenic flights for a few months at the start of 2008. There had been a big flood around that time, so taking people up to have a look was my main job. During 2007, I had been going through the selection process for the Qantas Cadet Programme, and was successful in getting a spot to start in March 2008. The course involved six months in Adelaide, where I completed my multiengine instrument rating, theory subjects for the Air Transport Pilot Licence, aerobatic flying, and time in a simulator to build exposure for multicrew flying. At graduation, my course was given positions as Second Officers at Qantas, and after a month’s break, I started my four-month type rating course on the A330, and began flying in January 2009.
What aircrafts do you fly now and where do your travels take you?
I completed my First Officer training on the Airbus A330 in March, after five years as a Second Officer on the A380, and ten previously on the
Ben O’Regan
A330. On the A380 I often flew to London, while the A330 is more regional. My first roster out has taken me to Singapore, Manila, Jakarta, Bangalore, Denpasar, Auckland, and Christchurch. During my line training I did some domestic flying between Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, and Perth. We work on a seniority system, where we bid for flying and days off, though I’m currently near the bottom in the Sydney base, with a move back to the Brisbane base scheduled for the end of the year. As you move up the list, you can start to get more of what you want, but for now it’s mostly what is left over! I’ve just started a two-month reserve roster, and I can be called out to go anywhere on the network with about 12 hours notice.
What do you enjoy most flying?
No day at work is ever the same! And it is hard to beat the ever-changing views out the window. Watching the sun rise over the snowy Hindu Kush mountains on the way home from London was always a personal favourite. You also will usually not do more than a few flights in a row with the same crew, so you’re often working with someone you haven’t met before - there’s always something new to talk about.
What has been you most memorable flight and why?
My first landing in a jet aircraft in February will stick with me! And I got to do it into Brisbane! Tied first would be when my parents were travelling to Singapore in 2015, and I had been trying to bid
for one of their flights for a while. This time I finally got one! I didn’t tell them, and with the help of the crew it was kept a secret until we were in the air and I made the PA. The cabin crew said they were very surprised and happy to hear my voice! I had taken them flying many times in Cessnas, but it was great to finally have them aboard the 330. I’ve also had a number of friends and other extended family members on board over the years, with almost all of them being lucky coincidences.
What’s involved in keeping your knowledge current and up to date?
Twice a year we do two four-hour sessions in the full flight simulator, which has a complete cockpit and visuals in a room on hydraulic jacks, giving an immersive and full-motion experience. We also do an annual classroom day on emergency equipment and door operations, and a number of online courses for a variety of subjects. Procedures are being constantly updated, and occasionally new systems will be installed on the aircraft, so we need to keep up-to-date with our study of the company and aircraft manuals.
Pilots were stood down during Covid. What training was involved in getting back to flying?
After getting stood down in March 2020, at first I just enjoyed relaxing at home for a few months, but eventually that got a bit boring! I went through a number of odd jobs, including delivering packages for Amazon, some real estate drone photography, and dropping groceries off at Covid
quarantine hotels. As the year dragged on and it started to look like we might be off for a few years, I settled in to a job at Liquorland - my first retail experience! I did just over a year there, and it was enjoyable, with a great crew, a different experience, and I met some very “interesting” characters. I also got to see what I look like with shoulder-length hair! During 2021, we started doing weekly Zoom sessions covering various topics to keep our knowledge up, and after being stood back up at the end of that year, I left Liquorland and started the process of getting re-qualified. This involved a number of class days, and six simulator sessions. I was finally back in the air in April 2022 after just over two years. It was amazing how quickly most things came back from wherever they’d been stashed in my memory, despite not doing any study for the majority of that time!
What is your advice to people thinking about a career in aviation?
If you’re interested in flying, head out to a local flying school and go for a short trial flight! For other aviation jobs, check out if there’s any work experience opportunities at the airport. It can be a small industry, so it may be surprising where a brief contact could get you! It’s important to note though, that it is a 24/7 industry, and depending on the particular job, there could be long stretches away from home, and it is not uncommon to miss significant dates. The study also never stops! But I think it is all worth it!
RGS ALUMNI
Emerald AgGrow Field Days (from left) Lucy Reid (RGS 2014) and Troy Roberts (RGS 2005); Russell Nobbs (RGS 2001); Ashleigh Harvey (nee Norford, RGS 2005) and Damian Howard (RGS 2003)
RGS Rowing Friday on the Fitzroy (from left) Jasmine Rolls (RGS 2016) and Zoe Seibold (nee Richardson, RGS 2001); Alain Li (RGS 2023), Dominique Sleaford (RGS 2022) and Molly Cottam (RGS 2023); Cameron Collins (RGS 2021), Ben Werth (RGS 2021), Rob Price (RGS 2021) and Riley Godwin (RGS 2021).
Queensland Country Rugby Championships CQ Brahmans Open Women’s representatives Faith Maynard (RGS 2022), Bonnie Maynard (RGS 2017), and Alenna Whipp (RGS 2022).
Lachlan MacDonald (RGS 2022) helped with RGS Year 3 cooking lessons during his university teaching studies.
Savithna Jayasekarais (RGS 2022) has joined the RGS staff, working in the Art Department.
A Rowing Journey
From the Fitzroy to an Olympic Games medal, rowing has long been a passion for Sasha
Belonogoff (RGS 2007)
Members of the Belonogoff family were on the banks of the Fitzroy River when the Sasha Belonogoff II boat was named in June. Annie (RGS 2009) read words on behalf of her brother who was unable to attend in person while dad George did the official boat christening honours. Annie shared Sasha’s words of thanks and his rowing journey at RGS. Here are Sasha’s words:
“My rowing journey began on this stretch of muddy water amongst the paperbarks in 2003. And though the journey took me all over this country and to the opposite side of the world, I would often find myself drawn back to this river. I trained on this stretch of water before my first state championship in 2003, before my first national championship in 2005 and before my first world championship in 2008. And in 2015 just prior to the 2016 Olympic Selection Trials, I came and trained here for two weeks by myself against coach and selector advice. I came back because I knew that the muddy water and paperbarks would remind me of why I began the journey from Rocky to Rio 13 years earlier. So for the spiritual effect it has had on me, I thank the Fitzroy River, Toonooba, on which people have paddled for millenia.
Though my rowing journey began on this stretch of water, my life journey began upstream, on
the Dawson River in Moura. And just like water flows from the Dawson into the Fitzroy, my life also moved down-stream to Rockhampton where I began Secondary school. At that point in time, The Rockhampton Grammar School was the only active rowing club in town. To be afforded an opportunity in the sport of rowing, something that I didn’t even know existed prior to starting at RGS, is something I will be forever grateful for. The sport has taught me many life lessons that I draw upon daily, taken me to incredible places and given me friendships across the world. The only thing it didn’t help me with was winning over my wife who in true American fashion tells me that the only real sports are baseball, basketball, football and ice hockey. So for giving me the opportunity to discover Rowing, I thank The Rockhampton Grammar School.
Attending The Rockhampton Grammar School was possible because of my parents. Parents
who prioritised their children’s education and extracurricular activities, and ensured that we were afforded every opportunity to reach our academic, sporting and artistic potential. So to my parent’s, I thank you for moving your life and your young family to give us every opportunity to find our life passions.
Finally, to have a boat named after me by this rowing club that has already given me so much is a real honour. I wish I could be there in person to christen the boat, however my current life chapter of three kids under three and full-time shift work makes getting away from Far North Queensland a tricky operation. So without further rambling, I ask my Sister, Annie, who’s been on the journey with me from day one, to christen this boat the “Sasha Belonogoff II”. May this boat create many opportunities for those who row it, even if that opportunity is simply to be on the muddy water amongst the paperbarks.”
“I came back because I knew that the muddy water and paperbarks would remind me of why I began the journey from Rocky to Rio 13 years earlier.”
World Gold
Grace Sypher (RGS 2019) wins gold at U23
Worlds
Grace won the gold medal in the women’s lightweight single sculls final at the World Rowing Under 23 Rowing Championships in Canada during August.
For Grace Sypher it was a redemption-themed regatta.
After coming fourth in the 2023 World Rowing Under 23 Championships in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, Sypher was determined to come into this year’s regatta with one goal in mind: the Gold medal.
And that’s exactly what she did, leading from start to finish to top the podium.
“We [coach Lachlan Carter] really sat down together and thought, you know, we can work harder than ever and we can achieve it. To come up on top this year, it’s an absolute dream,” Sypher said.
(source: Rowing Australia)
Swimming Quest
Andrew Howlett (RGS 1984) is on a questto swim 1000m in 1000 pools. The RGS pool is now ticked off the list.
Andrew’s story:
“I came across an ABC article in September 2019 where a guy named Kenton Webb had undertaken a pool challenge of swimming 1000m in 1000 pools. I thought what a great challenge to help me get fit, I will try that.
So I started swimming in 2019 when I was in the USA. I started with one swim in California and one swim in Oregon before returning to Sydney and starting in earnest.
I clocked up my 400th pool on the Rockhampton (RGS reunion) trip, stopping off at Brisbane (Griffith University Pool) on the way home. I’m hoping to finish with 100 plus swims for this year as well.
I have a Google map with all the “conquered’ pools as well as quite a few “Unconquered”, but I always on the look out for more pools, hence really appreciating both The Rockhampton Grammar School and Rockhampton Girls Grammar School for allowing me to swim in their pools during my Rockhampton visit.
My wife, family and friends are very tolerant and indulge me when we are travelling. We have seen some interesting sites because of the out of the way places some pools have been located.
Kenton I believe is sitting at mid 600 pools so he is a long way ahead of me, but who knows if I continue at this rate I might catch him before the 1000.”
Swimming Pool Quest Diary:
2019 - I managed 13 pools including NSW (8), USA (2), Singapore (1) and Hong Kong (2), but planned to really hit 2020, but alas COVID hit
2020 - Managed to 51 pools in, even through COVID, mainly in NSW but a couple in Singapore(1), Hong Kong(1) and Queensland (4)
2021 - another 51 pools, once again mainly NSW (38), Qld (6) but added ACT (3) and South Australia (4)
2022 - finally managed to break the 100 pools in a year with NSW (64), Tasmania (11), Queensland (9), Thailand (9), Singapore(8), and Hong Kong (1)
2023 - managed 105 – NSW (59), Queensland (21), Chicago, USA (3), India (4), Vietnam (3), Japan (1), Victoria (8), New Zealand (5), ACT (1)
2024 (Year to date 78) – ACT (2), NSW (13), Hong Kong (3), Singapore (4), South Australia (5), Queensland (14), and a Europe trip (37 pools in 37 days) - Philippines (1), Oman (2), England (5), France (8), Portugal (10), Austria (2), Germany (3), Switzerland (3), Italy (3)
Eye on the prize
Jockeys Tahlia Fenlon (RGS 2020) and McKenzie Apel (RGS 2018) have their sights set on riding more winners in the high risk racing industry.
Tahlia Fenlon
A day after Tahlia shared her words with The Grammarian she suffered a bad fall riding at Ipswich. Miraculously Tahlia picked herself up and after being discharged from hospital was back in the saddle racing.
“I can’t recall when I first had an interest in the racing industry it was more something I grew up in. From when I was young there are photos of my nan and pop holding me as a baby at the races. Dad and pop owned horses and when I was in high school dad was CEO at the Rockhampton Jockey Club. The whole family had an interest and I was raised up in racing. I grew up riding horses through pony club with our family friends the Smiths. Fred Smith was also a racehorse trainer. His kids Elyce (Elly) and Thomas, as well as my brother Rohan, were a bit older than me and they were riding trackwork for him before school of a morning. The age to start trackwork is 16 so when I was old enough I joined them. We were getting up around 3:30am. I’d ride work, have a shower at the track before heading off to school.
When I first started trackwork the thought of becoming an apprentice jockey never crossed my mind. It wasn’t until I had a few trainers start saying to me of a morning ‘when you going to start riding in races girl’, that I started thinking of the idea. Obviously weight is a big thing as a jockey and I was quite lucky I was naturally light so that was never a problem. I was in Year 11 at school and we were having our end of year meetings with the teachers about what we wanted to do after school and what subjects we should be looking into for Year 12. I had no intentions of going to university but wasn’t sure what I wanted to do. I was looking at a TAFE vet nurse course but after speaking with a teacher that’s when I decided maybe I should give being a jockey a go. I was already riding trackwork
before school and I loved the horses so it made sense to build on that. I started my Certificate III in Racing (Trackwork Rider) and completed it through a school based apprenticeship to Fred Smith. I would get approved days off for races and trial days and it was the first step into being a jockey. Once I finished school I began my Certificate IV in Racing (Jockey) and that’s when I began the road to be an apprentice jockey.
When I first began riding I was lucky to have lots of support around me with mum and dad, the Smiths (their daughter Elly was already a jockey), senior jockeys and other people in the industry. My first race day was at Emerald. I had Elly in the room with me so she could look after me and tell me what I needed and what I had to do. I had five rides and got two seconds. The following weekend I rode at Gladstone and won my first races, a double on Absolute Bonza, who broke a track record for Kevin Miller, and Arjaycee for my boss Fred Smith.
The hours are challenging being a jockey, and just being in the racing industry in general. The early mornings having to get up and ride work before driving hours to the races, riding, then driving home just to do it all again the next morning. The
next big thing would be injury. It’s not really a matter of if you’re going to have a fall as a jockey, it’s when and how bad it might be. There’s always that risk, we just don’t think about it. You just have it in the back of your head until it happens. I call myself lucky, the worst I’ve had is a broken right ankle and did the ligaments in my left after a first starter bucked on me to the gates at Twin Hills. I had a cast on one foot and moon boot on the other for about six weeks. The day after I did it I was on crouches at the races, sitting outside the jockeys room and watching. Weight is also a big thing as a jockey so riding light is definitely an advantage. We have ways of making weight like watching what we can eat leading up to the races, having a sweat, whether that be wearing a jumper at trackwork, or sitting in the bath with a heater on. The lightest I’ve ever ridden was at Cairns in a plate race where I claimed my 3kgs off Ela Beach who was given 52kgs so I rode the horse at 49kgs and it actually won the race. It was early in my career so I was pretty light still and did it quite easy. My riding weight now is 50kgs and I walk around 52kgs. Making weight can be just as hard like the day I claimed 4kgs of 69.5kgs. I had to weigh on
the scales 66.5kgs and I was weighing around 49kgs at the time so I used a 10kg saddle and made up extras with heavy gear and a lead bag. It was my first winner at Gladstone. Absolute Bonza set a track record with the massive weight. It’s not a job, it turns into your life and it’s definitely got its fair share of highs and lows. As an apprentice we all learn to ride in the country before we can apply for a provincial and metropolitan licence. I rode as far as Cairns and out to Barcaldine. Some are grass some dirt and some are sand. There were many hours driven. I loved going to the country races because the atmosphere is just indescribable. Dingo and Twin Hills were definitely my favourites, getting to see all my old school friends who would go for the social gathering and party afterwards. After riding 20 country winners I was given my provincial licence where I started riding at Rockhampton and Townsville. I rode my first provincial winner at Townsville on Tennessee Whisky and at my first Rockhampton meeting I rode a winner on Jayjay.
In my third year of being an apprentice jockey I had the opportunity to move to Brisbane as an apprentice for Chris Munce. I never had any intentions of moving away from home but there’s no metropolitan tracks up north so if I wanted to take the next step it was my only way of getting to ride in Brisbane. It was a big change moving to Eagle Farm where I went from having five horses being off course with my old boss to a stable of 46 with Chris surrounded by many other on course stables and trainers. It was a whole new ball game, even the tracks used for trackwork of a morning I went from Rockhampton having one sand, which we did all their work on, to Eagle Farm having two grass, a sand, a dirt, and the course proper. It was definitely daunting when I first moved down but once I settled in it just became a routine. My only goal when I moved was to get my metropolitan licence and ride a winner in town. It helped me immensely with my riding being surrounded by the top jockeys. On 3 January I rode my first metropolitan winner aboard Exotique Miss at Eagle Farm. I’ve now ridden 13 Metropolitan winners, a total of 163 winners and outridden my country and provincial claim.
My biggest win to date is the Mackay Cup aboard Savvy Legend for trainer John Manzelmann July last year. I rode two winners that day and it’s one of the biggest highlights of my career. City winners are a great feeling too especially when I rode my first Saturday winner for my boss on Heroic Miss at 50kgs. All you want to do is ride winners, no matter what track it’s at. I still ride up north but being based in Brisbane makes the travelling easier. Most tracks are only around an hour away. Driving to tracks up north were anywhere between an hour to 8 hours. I still ride work before getting on a plane, riding, then flying home to get up at 2:40am for trackwork the next morning at 3am. My time as an apprentice is due to end January 2025 but because of injury I can apply for an extension which will give me another year before being a senior rider. They’re long days and it definitely consumes your life but the feeling you get from it I couldn’t compare to anything else, and I don’t see myself anywhere else.”
McKenzie Apel
McKenzie Apel started in the racing industry in April 2022, riding track work for her now boss Ricky Vale.
“I came from a show jumping background with no racing history in my family,’’ said McKenzie, who rowed for RGS at school.
“My show jumping coach had ridden track work which sparked my interest and moving back to Rockhampton in 2022 made that possible for me.”
After a year of track work, and a lack of available jockeys, McKenzie pursued her jockey apprenticeship.
“The first few months of my apprenticeship were quite similar to the schedule I was already on. I needed a job while I was at uni and the hours worked out perfectly for me, riding track work in the mornings as well as the afternoon shifts,’’ McKenzie said.
“Being a taller jockey the biggest challenge I face is my weight. Being able to stay light as well as nourish your body is a fine line that can often be overstepped in either direction. Working with a nutritionist has been a big help.”
McKenzie’s first race was riding Class of Royalty for Peter Fleming.
“I had Ricky help me go over the form of the horse and the form for the other horses in the race to create a race plan. Luckily the race panned out how we hoped, often that isn’t the case. I ended up running 7th, beaten by 1.6 lengths.”
McKenzie is learning her craft on the country racing circuit, with most races being non-TAB meetings – an arena where “everyone makes mistakes which is part of learning.” McKenzie currently holds a country license and plans to apply
for a provincial license within the next six months. In her young racing career, McKenzie has only had one boss – Ricky Vale.
“He has been the my biggest supporter and teacher throughout my career. The thing I like most about working for Ricky is he isn’t afraid to tell me when I have messed up. If I make a mistake during races he will tell me and ask our stable senior jockey Ryan Wiggins to watch the replays and help me learn from it,’’ McKenzie said.
McKenzie’s biggest win to day is still her first ever winner, riding Namazu in the H.L. Black at Mackay.
“It was a special win for me, being on the best horse in our stable and being trusted to pilot a horse of his caliber so early into my career was a major confidence boost,’’ she said.
Looking towards the future, McKenzie said she wasn’t a fan of setting long-term goals, especially in the racing industry.
“Things can change in the blink of an eye and that often sets you up for heart break,’’ she said.
“I had a race fall in February this year where I broke my back, fracturing three vertebrae. Before that I had plans of out riding my country claim, gaining a provincial license, and later moving to Brisbane to pursue a metropolitan license however that was all taken away from me.
“Luckily I am still able to ride however it has set all my plans back. It wasn’t until then that I realised it is more important to take this career one step at a time. Being such a dangerous job any ride can be your last.
“My short term goals are to get back into race riding after having two months off after ongoing back problems.”
Remembering Friends
Past and current students unite to remember those whose lives were taken too soon.
The RGS School community gathered on 6 June 2024 to pay respects to the nine boys who tragically lost their lives on the Fokker Friendship “Abel Tasman” Flight 538 on 10 June, 1960.
School Captains Martha Dingle and Riley Sullivan laid a wreath at the Memorial Fountain on behalf of RGS students. Mark and Katrina Brown, whose uncle Donald Brown was among the boys who died, laid a wreath on behalf of the families. The School was privileged to have alumni from the 1950s to 1970s attend to honour their fallen peers, including Hugh MacMaster (RGS 1959), David Stubbs (RGS 1979), Stephen Smith (RGS 1973), Errol Payne (RGS 1961), Paul Lawless-Pyne (RGS 1966), Lorne Bauman (RGS 1959) and Alister Wells (RGS 1961).
Remembering 1960
Hugh MacMaster finished at RGS in the first term of his Senior year in 1959.
The young man from Theodore who started boarding at RGS in 1956, decided he wanted to study a diploma in advertising.
His career aspirations led him to Melbourne before returning to 4RO Radio in Rockhampton in 1960. Hugh would later return to Melbourne to work.
In 1960, it was a timely phone call that changed the course of Hugh’s life.
“I was working at 4RO when the Fokker F-27 Friendship crashed at Mackay,’’ Hugh said.
“I was booked on that flight. It was just a coincidence that got me off the plane.”
The 4RO office hours of 8.30am to 5.30pm were different to elsewhere in Rockhampton. Other offices business hours were 8am to 5pm.
Hugh said on the Friday he was to travel to Mackay and see people at 4MK Radio to do a joint promotion for a client.
“I was to go up in my own car and be reimbursed for the expenses, but the tyres weren’t that flash. A mate of mine Neville Howcroft was going up in his Volkswagen that Friday night so I arranged to go up with him,’’ Hugh said.
“He rang me around midday to say his car was in being
serviced but there was something they couldn’t fix. So I went to the TAA airline office and booked a ticket that I would pay for at the airport.
“Neville rang work at 5.10pm and I answered the phone. So I cancelled the booking. If worked 8am to 5pm, I would have gone and would have been on that plane.“
Hugh and Neville arrived in Mackay close to 10pm on the night of 10 June. Staying with Neville’s family his father mentioned there had been a plane crash and they thought it might have been a smaller plane like a Cessna.
“The next day I went to 4MK and they told me it was the Fokker Friendship and I realised that was my plane,’’ Hugh said.
“4MK were going out to do a news report so I went with them. There were a lot of boats out looking for the passengers bodies. It was a terrible site.”
Hugh recalls there being around 140 boarders and 40 day boys at RGS at the time of the plane crash.
“Everyone knew everyone at school. The crash really knocked the school emotionally,’’ recalls Hugh, pausing as tears still swell in his eyes today.
“It was a terrible time and everyone felt it. I knew the boys socially. I’d say for the rest of that year everything was down at school, and at times around town.”
Navigating Life
From a close knit RGS boarding community to lifelong mateships in the Australian Navy.
Commodore Heath Robertson, CSC, RAN (RGS 1983) has been on a maritime adventure for 37 years. It’s a job that he never knows what tomorrow will bring. His Navy career has been filled with adventures and leadership opportunities. Heath returned to RGS in April to attend the School’s Secondary and Primary School ANZAC Day services.
Heath has commanded a patrol boat with 28 individuals on board to being Force Commander with over 13,000 people under his administrative authority.
It’s a long way from the RGS graduate who initially pursued an accounting career.
After completing Year 11 and Year 12 at RGS, the Theodore boarder was “fortunate” to fall into a trainee accountant job with Jack Casey Car sales in Maryborough. The business also helped put Heath through his university degree.
“I came to the conclusion that this was my life and I didn’t see that being what I was going to do forever,’’ said Heath, who would later stumble into his future career at a defence recruitment van at Boyne Island.
Heath joined the Navy in 1987. He felt like he was back at boarding school at Naval College, but finished his studies and really found his calling when his “more real” training started in Sydney. “In Sydney it was into navigation, seamanship, and warfare training – suddenly it’s more real, more tactical. You’re doing a real thing, ships leave the wharf go to sea and you do something out there,’’ Heath said.
“I’ve been sea sick for 37 years. That’s part of it. If you’re going to do a job like that so much of the job is about turning up – whether sea sick,
tired, issues at home. Serving your country in the military uniform is about turning up and doing that again and again. With that comes self worth and value and great mates.”
Heath has served on 16 ships. He’s now on his sixth command. He has lived overseas in Hawaii and across Australia. Heath has travelled the world on ships - both in wartime, peacetime or diplomacy missions.
“It’s so diverse, whether it’s saving someone’s life who’s in trouble at sea, to enforcing rules-based behaviour to make the sea safer for people to travel it safely.”
Heath said commanding a ship was about “a lot of listening and asking lots of questions.”
“It’s not about you, it’s about the people and the mission. A lot of that is about being humble despite the privilege and honour with the role. It’s also scary because the buck stops with one person – and that’s you.”
A highlight of Heath’s career was on the HMAS Parramatta in the Middle East for six months enforcing counter terrorism and counter piracy patrols.
“Six months of just us and the mission we had.”
The Navy has also provided key leadership opportunities for Heath.
“A key thing is to have as few decisions as possible for me to make. If I’ve done that it means my people are empowered to get on and do it. I need them to do the same thing,’’ Heath said.
“Mission command needs to be real. People understand the intent – we work for the government of the day, it doesn’t matter who is in. You are loyal to that. That’s what our job is and understanding what their intent is and turning that into operational and tactical aspects for them to go about in a coherent, digestible way. You need to communicate in the right way at the right level. Talk up, across, or down, it’s a different language, but in many ways it’s the same outcome. It’s all about effective communication.”
Heath has been with one organisation since joining the Navy, but every 18 months to two years he is in a different job.
“I don’t know what tomorrow is going to be,’’ Heath said.
“You can be frightened or excited by that. I choose to be excited by that. It’s the adventure.
“I don’t know what I’m doing to do when I grow up. I’m so surprised that I’m apparently near retirement age in the navy but I feel like I’ve only just got started,’’ Heath said.
A World of Dance
Caitlin has danced around the world and still finds her way back to support dancing in regional Queensland.
Caitlin McMahon (2009) returned to RGS and witnessed the transformation of the dance facilities that now a central part of the School. Dance only became a subject at RGS when Caitlin was nearing the end of Year 11. The following year she topped the subject and has never looked back from her favourite passion.
Sitting in the RGS Theatre before moving towards the RGS DMTA Dance Studios, it is a world away from 2009 and the opportunities dance presented then and now.
Caitlin returned to support a Dance World competition, hosted by RGS. A dance mum from Caitlin’s Gold Coast business Dance Mafia runs the competitions and she returned to Rockhampton to support the event.
“I was known as the dancer of my grade. Looking at these facilities now is so cool,’’ Caitlin said. Caitlin’s teachers included Jacinta Hinton and Emma Killion, who she still catches up with today when she visits Rockhampton.
“I always connected with the performance side of dance. It’s an escape on stage and going into a different world,’’ Caitlin said.
“When I would see the audience smiling back at what I had created and put the hard work into was really satisfying for me.”
Caitlin said she grew up starting in ballet before moving into all dance genres.
“When I got older and wanted to get into dancing I realised I had to be versatile so I did jazz, contempory, and acro. I grew up singing, did the musicals at RGS, including Grease where I played
Cha-Cha,’’ Caitlin said.
Caitlin’s family moved to Rockhampton when she was in Year 8 - following her Gold Coast dance teacher Diane Talbot and started dancing at Rockhampton Academy of Dance.
After school Caitlin returned to the Gold Coast to continue pursuing a dance career.
“Two days after finishing school I moved back to the Gold Coast. I was 17 years old,’’ she said.
“I lived there for three months and two weeks after I turned 18 I auditioned for Royal Caribbean cruises. Two weeks later I had a contract and off I went.”
Caitlin performed through four contracts across Asia, Hawaii, New Caledonia, Fiji, Seattle, Alaska and across Europe including Spain, Italy, and Greece.
Caitlin loved working with her “family” in the cruise business.
“It’s not a job, it’s like a lifestyle. You live with these people. You work with them, eat with them, travel with them and experience new destinations with them. I had the opportunity to get off the ship at every port - I visited 36 countries,’’ Caitlin said. After the cruise life, Caitlin lived in London for two
years before accepting contracts in Germany and Macau and then returning to England to perform in a West End Show. It was then time to return to the Gold Coast.
In 2017, Caitlin moved into a new phase of her dance passion - running her own studio - Dance Mafia on the Gold Coast.
“It was a big lifestyle change,’’ Caitlin said.
“When I was starting I didn’t realise it wasn’t just teaching. It’s client management, relationships, staff, accounting, administration, payroll. So much goes into running the business. I still love teaching but that’s just one aspect of owning it.”
Caitlin also returns to Rockhampton, helping teach at Epic Studios Australia and Capricorn School of Dancing studios.
“I love seeing the dance industry grow,especially in Australia,’’ Caitlin said.
“It’s amazing seeing all the opportunities and things like this (competitions) for the kids and professionals going into the industry. There’s so much more work available now.”
RGS Netball Club - Centre Circle 16 June, 2024
Tayler Borman (nee Shannen, 2013) and Carlee Lawson. Brooke Graff (nee Bryant, RGS 2003) and daughter Amelia (Year 6)
Adele Acton (nee Vagg, RGS 1996) and Renee Harth (RGS 1996)
RGS past parent Suzie Blair and Debbie Carr (nee Bolton, RGS 1993)
Dominique Sleaford (RGS 2022) and mum Donna Sleaford
Barbara Miller (nee Ashton, RGS 1995) and daughter Kadence Miller (Year 7)
Molly Cottam (RGS 2023, School Captain) and Martha Dingle (2024 School Captain)
Melissa Maxwell (nee Bradbury, RGS 1997) and daughter Lara (Year 9)
Liz Scott (nee Rideout, RGS 1992) and Ashleigh Harvey (nee Norford, RGS 2005)
Centre Circle guest speakers, and former QISSN winners, Lucy Blair (RGS 2015), Taylor Nock (RGS 2014), and Molly Shelton (RGS 2015)
Alumni News
Olympic Swimming Trials
Beef 2024
The Datamars Livestock Young Judges Competition at Beef 2024 was won by 18-year-old Alexandra Olive (RGS 2023, pictured centre), in what was a competitive line-up of beef industry young guns. A fifth-generation beef producer, Alexandra first took out the 18 and under 25 years class, under the watchful eye of renowned international judge, PJ Budler. Alexandra said it was an amazing feeling to be named Champion Young Judge. “It’s a pinchme moment,” she said. “I just feel so grateful for this opportunity to showcase what I love doing and get to have my say in front of such a beautiful, big audience.” Alex followed up this victory by winning the State Stud Beef Young Judges competition at this month’s Ekka in Brisbane.
RGS Alumni Taryn Roberts (RGS 2023) competed in the Australian Olympic Swimming trials in Brisbane. Taryn finished an impressive 5th in the 400m Individual Medley and only 30 minutes later backed up to place 6th in the 1500m Freestyle finals. Taryn also placed 8th in the 800m freestyle, 13th in the 200m Individual Medley and 30th in the 200m Breaststroke. Taryn is pictured here with her Rocky City Swimming Club coach Shane Kingston.
Game Show
Sasky Stewart (RGS 2006) made an appearance on ABC’s Hard Quiz in March this year. Each contestant selects an “expert” topic - Sasky’s was NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing).
US College Accolade
Jett Grundy (RGS 2022) was recently awarded the Golden Bobcats MVP Award which is presented to the top male and female athletes at Montana State University. This award recognises the many achievements of the Montana State Athletics Department Bobcat student-athletes during the 2023-24 academic year. In a Montana State University article Grundy, who was named the Big Sky Conference track and field league’s Freshman of the Year, said: “In Australia, I feel track is very on your own. You have to do everything by yourself, that’s how I used to feel. But coming here, having a team to train with, and being really close with the team, it’s amazing.”
Distinguished Alumni
Cameron Forbes (RGS 1956) returned to RGS to show his family the plaque honouring his induction as an RGS Distinguished Past Student. Cameron received the honour at the 2019 awards dinner. In 2010, Cameron was awarded Australia’s Walkley Award for the Most Outstanding Contribution to Journalism. Cameron was a foreign editor at The Age and held the positions of European and Asian correspondent. Cameron was also a Washington correspondent for The Australian newspaper.
Alumni News
Health Award
London’s West End
Hugo Pilcher (RGS 2015) is continuing his passion for theatre, after being cast in The TailorMade Man by Claudio Macor. Performing at the Stage Door Theatre in Drury Lane, London, the production was on stage from 9 May to 3 August. Hugo plays William “Billy” Haines, a “Golden Age of Hollywood” movie star. It tells the true story of Billy’s life in Hollywood as a (unknown to the public at large) gay man, and the trials and tribulations of this. One critic wrote of Hugo’s performance - “An impressive debut by Pilcher who has a promising career ahead.” Hugo received an OFFIE Newcomer nomination for his performances.
Tom Clayton (RGS 2008, pictured back row left) was a member of the team that won the Minister’s Award for Excellence (2024 Queensland Health Awards for Excellence) for their project that provides Queensland’s free vaccination programme from the Queensland Public Health and Scientific Services Division. The team has worked tirelessly to remove financial barriers to vaccinations, delivering free flu, meningococcal B and RSV vaccination programmes.
Back to RGS
It’s always an honour and pleasure to hear the stories of RGS Alumni. Among our recent visitors to the School were (clockwise from top left): Cameron Porter (RGS 2001); past staff Mrs James with Mr and Mrs Ryan; Annabel Flockhart (RGS 2018); Matariki Kibblewhite-Claus (RGS 2021); Max Morrison (RGS 2023); Chris Pearson (RGS 2001); Reagan Leighton and Jock Menzies (both RGS 2023); George Plumb (RGS 2022) and Alain Li (RGS 2023); and Dr Julian Liew (RGS 1996).
Sydney
Alumni
- March
from top:
National Sydney;
Phil Stockwell (RGS 1984), James O’Rourke (RGS 1991, Andrew Evetts (RGS 1988), Andrew Howlett (RGS 1984), Ian O’Rourke (RGS 1988); Nick Schmidt (RGS 1991);
Matthew Hall (RGS 1998), Miranda Wood (RGS 1992) and partner;
James Pullen (RGS 1996), Jamielle Knight (RGS 1996), Karina Ferguson (RGS 1979), Mark Keepkie (RGS 1996);
John Phelan (RGS 1974), Alfons Masella (RGS 1995)
Brisbane
Alumni
- April
Clockwise from top left: Ray Ashford (RGS 1970), Lachlan Moulds (RGS 2019), Brad Beasley (RGS 1975);
Lance Currie (RGS 1959), Harold Barry (RGS 1959), John Semple (RGS 1955), Graham Clark (RGS 1958);
Steve Brown (RGS 1979), Bruce Woods (RGS 1982);
Bruce Tindall (RGS 1982), Steve Glore (RGS 1985), Tom Birkbeck (RGS 2009);
Doug Yuille (RGS 1968), Steve Brown’s partner Jenny, Michael Orgill (RGS 1979).
Clockwise
RGS Alumni at Little
The Road Unknown
Catherine Cassidy (2016) finished school with a plan. It wasn’t long before that plan changed and new opportunities arrived. This is Catherine’s story.
After School:
“Following graduation, I headed south to Brisbane to begin my studies at The University of Queensland. After a few unexpected events, I ended up relocating back home to Rockhampton. At the time this felt like a setback but it gave me the time and space to reconfigure and pursue something I was more passionate about. Fashion was always something I loved, but since I wasn’t necessarily the most naturally artistic person, I didn’t know the industry could be an option for me. This changed when I gained an internship with a Wholesale Agency, something I didn’t even realise existed until I applied. I loved the combination of fashion and business that Wholesale provides, and I continued there for a few years growing in my role, from Intern to Showroom Coordinator. Wanting to broaden my skills, and gain further experience across other areas of the industry, I began working for an e-commerce company as their E-Commerce Coordinator, Accessories Buyer and Photographer. Throughout the years of working and living in Brisbane, there was always an underlying goal in the back of my mind that had been there for as long as I can remember, to move to London. So I gained as much experience, both in life and my career, as I could and in 2023 made the move across the pond. During my year there, I worked for River Island in their Head Office and was fortunate enough to not only experience so much of what London has to offer, but also travel to several extraordinary countries.”
Overseas Adventures:
“There have been so many special moments over the last few years! Living in London last year was a major highlight. I’ve been lucky enough to travel overseas in the past, even doing some trips with RGS, but I’d never done it on my own before. I started the year off backpacking for a few weeks before settling down in London. The year was then spent meeting new people, travelling any chance I could, visiting endless museums, attending shows, taking in breathtaking scenery, and experiencing different cultures. It was filled with at times challenging but always amazing moments that helped me grow so much as a person and I’ll remember it forever.”
Career Path:
“I wouldn’t say I had a clear path I wanted to follow after school. I had always planned on attending university but I wasn’t necessarily drawn to a particular field of study, so at the time I hoped that once I got started a path would make itself known to me. Those plans changed pretty quickly when I moved home within my first semester and since then the path that I’ve been on hasn’t been shy of twists and turns. How does that saying go? If you want to make God laugh, tell Him about your plans.”
Post-School Advice:
“Firstly, it’s okay not to know, and you’re not alone in feeling that way. Your life will be filled with experiences you can’t even begin to imagine yet, so try and trust that you will find your way. This can be scary, but it’s also so exciting. On the back of that, I would say that when those opportunities do come along, be open to saying yes to them even if it’s out of your comfort zone. It can be easy to box ourselves in and default to saying that something isn’t for us, or that we wouldn’t be good at it but you just never know where it might lead you.”
Future Plans:
“I’ve recently moved back to Brisbane where I’m working in a boutique doing buying, marketing, and business development. Most excitingly though, earlier this year a friend of mine and I launched our brand ‘As You Are Co’ - a range of premium grip socks. We are dropping our second collection in the coming weeks so we’re currently busy working to get that ready to go!”
RGS Today
Round Square - RGS hosts regional conference
The School welcomed students and staff from schools across Australia and overseas when the RGS Round Square Regional Conference arrived at RGS in June. More than 100 guests attended a welcome dinner at the RGS Rowing Club before the visitors explored Central Queensland over the next three days, including visits to Great Keppel Island, Byfield, and Ritamada. The Cultural Adventures in Paradise Conference is primarily focusing on the Round Square IDEALS of Adventure and Environmentalism. Round Square is an internationally diverse network of 250 plus like-minded schools in 50 countries on six continents that connect and collaborate to of fer world-class programmes and experiences, developing global competence, character and confidence in our students. The six Round Square IDEALS are Adventure, Environmentalism, Democracy, Internationalism, Service, and Leadership.
RGS Athletics Carnivals
RGS Primary and Secondary Athletics Carnivals champion houses for 2024 were: (Primary) Jardine and (Secondary) Kellow.
This year’s RGS Athletics Carnivals returned to the RGS Bottom Oval after the completion of the new wall and seating areas. During construction last year, the RGS Athletics Carnivals were held at CQUniversity.
WE CELEBRATE
Marnie Berry (nee Hungerford, RGS 2014)
Marnie married Nick Berry, RGS Year 1 teacher, on 3 April at the Rockhampton Botanic Gardens followed by a reception at Headrick’s Lane in Rockhampton’s East Street.
Amy De Boni (nee Howe, RGS 2017)
After four and half years together, Amy and Hayden celebrated their wedding in Airlie Beach on 26 July 2024 at Freedom Shores Resort. “It was a beautiful day - great weather and we had so much fun spending time with our family and close friends,’’ Amy said. In recent years Amy and Hayden moved back to the family property where Amy grew up - “Hillside”, north of Wallumbilla, Queensland, in between Roma and Taroom. The bridal party was - Brendan Watts, Lara Bishop, (nee Nobbs, RGS 2013 - 2017), Hugh Fordyce (RGS 2011-2012), Ellie Jenkinson Bride: Amy Howe (RGS 2013 - 2017), Groom: Hayden De Boni, Jessica Bourke (RGS 2013 - 2017), Corbin De Boni, Meg Wilson (RGS 20132017), and Mitchell Howe (RGS 2015-2017). Photo credit - Jessica Turich.
WE CELEBRATE
Sophie Elmes (nee Howard, RGS 2013)
Sophie married Tom Elmes on 27 July 2024 at Kingfisher Bay Resort on K’Gari Island. The island has been a favourite holiday destination for Sophie and Tom over the past years. Tom is an electrician/ instrument technician at QNP in Moura. Joining the bridal party was Sabrina Maynard (RGS 2013). Sophie and Tom live in Thangool.
Bek Harding (nee Maguire, RGS 2017)
Bek married Peter Harding on Friday, 31 May, 2024 at Paradise Lagoons, near Rockhampton. The wedding party was Ben Daley, Rick Barnewall, Todd Daniels, Peter Harding, Bek Harding (nee Maguire, RGS 2012), Sophie Cumming (nee Anderson, (RGS 2012), Nicola Borger (nee Farquhar, RGS 2012), and Emily Saunders
WE CELEBRATE
Cooper McCamley (RGS 2015)
Cooper married Ally Barry on 27 April 2024. Cooper is the son of Windorah’s Glenn McCamley (RGS 1988) and Margot McCamley, and the grandson of Julie and Andrew Geddes (RGS 1961). Wedding guests included RGS staff Stewart and Tania Norford, pictured with Cooper, Jack (RGS 2023) and Olivia McCamley (RGS 2019).
WE CELEBRATE
Danielle Beasy
Danielle Beasy (nee Wearmouth, RGS 2007) and husband Deniel, welcomed daughter Charlotte Emilia on 22 February. Charlotte is a little sister to Bobby and Thomas.
Hannah Mason
Hannah Mason (nee Tansey, RGS 2013) and husband Sam welcomed their first child, Margot Elle, born on 3 July.
2009)
Frazer Baker
Frazer Baker (RGS
and Cassy Russell welcomed their son Vincent John Baker on 14 July.
Kenneth (Stumpy) James Walker (RGS 1966 - 1970)
Kenneth (Stumpy) James Walker passed away on Monday 1 April 2024 aged 70 years. Ken attended RGS as a boarder from 1966 to 1970. He was a prevalent figure in cricket, football and swimming while a student at RGS, and in 1970 was a House Prefect.
Russell (RGS 1979 - 1983)
Brad Russell (RGS 1979-1983) passed away recently in Brisbane. During his time at RGS, Brad excelled at athletics, swimming but rugby league and rugby union were his passions. Senior year, Brad was a Sub Prefect (Day School). After leaving RGS, Brad attended Queensland University of Technology where he received a Bachelor of Law. 23 years ago, Brad commenced with McCullough Robertson as a Partner where he became a highly regarded expert in insurance and corporate risk management. Brad’s legacy will live on in McCullough Robertson’s innovative culture and challenging its staff to do things differently. He was passionate about water safety and was well known in the Surf Life Saving community and sat on the Board for many years. Brad was larger than life and beyond his achievements, he was a great friend and mentor. He was a dedicated husband and father and he will be sadly missed by all who had the pleasure of meeting him.
Nevin Hayes (RGS 1951 - 1956)
Nevin Hayes attended RGS from 1951 to 1956. During his time he received the CC Boland Prize for General Proficiency in his grade for years 1952 to 1955. In 1955, Nevin along with Anthony Newman and the late Malcom Gilmore won the R.H McKenzie Cup for showing the most interest and service out of School whilst also involved with Cadets. Nevin passed away 12 March 2024.
Camm (RGS 1959 - 1962)
David Albert Camm passed away at aged 77 years on 29 March 2024. David attended RGS from 1959 to 1962 as a boarder. While at RGS, David was committed to swimming, debating, cadets and football. David was the visionary of the Camm Agricultural Group. Properties in the Camm portfolio include the Natal Downs Longton aggregation near Charters Towers, Picardy Nungaroo and Marraconda in the Clermont and Moranbah districts, Wonga Plains, at Bowenville and Morocco at Surat and Melrose at Kingaroy.
Brad
David
Scott Fixter (RGS 1990 - 1994)
On 30 April 2024, Scott Fixter passed away peacefully in Brisbane aged 47 years. Scott attended RGS 1990 – 1994 and during this time make a big impact in the music community being a member of the Concert, Stage and Musical Bands. He also participated in soccer and was Captain of Volleyball in 1994.
Sandy Williams (RGS staff - 1988 - 2001)
Former RGS Teacher Mrs Sandra “Sandy” Williams passed way peacefully on 14 July 2024. Mrs Williams was a long serving teacher at RGS from 1988 to 2001 focusing on English and History. She also was active with Cadets and the Cadet Committee.
