Alumni accolades

ALUMNI AWARDS

RGS past students take many different paths in life after they leave School. The annual RGS Distinguished Past Student Awards Dinner on 23 July 2022 recognised past students, and a past staff member, who have gone above and beyond in their chosen careers.

DISTINGUISHED PAST STUDENT AWARD ALEXANDER (SASHA) BELONOGOFF RGS 2003 – 2007

Born in Moura in 1990 to parents George and Lauren Belonogoff, Sasha was the second of five children in the Belonogoff family to attend RGS. Starting at RGS in Year 8 (2003), Sasha was a talented sportsman during his school years, excelling in swimming and rowing. At School, Sasha won four national rowing titles at School – the U17 Coxed Quad Scull (2005), the U17 Single Scull and Schoolboy Coxed Quad Scull (2006) and the Schoolboy Coxed Quad Scull (2007). Sasha continued with rowing after School, while also pursuing exercise science and medical studies. Sasha made his Australian Rowing team debut in 2008 at the Junior World Rowing Championships in Austria, winning bronze in the double scull. He then raced three U23 Rowing World Championships (2009, 2010 and 2012) collecting a further two bronze medals in the quad sculls. His Senior Australian Rowing team debut was in 2013 when he gained selection to race the double scull at the World Championships. In 2014, he won bronze in the double scull at the World Championships in Amsterdam. He was then selected in 2015 to race the Olympic Qualification Regatta in France, placing 5th and securing Australia a berth in the double scull at the 2016 Olympics. In 2016, Sasha was selected to race the Men’s Quad Scull for the World Rowing Cup Circuit where his crew won two gold medals, winning the World Cup Leader Trophy and confirming their selection for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. At the Olympics, Sasha and his crew won the silver medal in the quad scull. Sasha has now retired from elite rowing and has continued pursuing his medical career.

RGS PAST STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION OUTSTANDING ACHIEVER AWARD KEN O’DOWD RGS 1967 – 1968

Ken O’Dowd retired from Federal politics before the 2022 Federal Election, after serving four terms as the Liberal National Party Member for Flynn, in the Central Queensland region. Ken was first elected to Federal Parliament in 2010 before gaining re-election in 2013, 2016 and 2019. While at RGS, Ken was a School Prefect in 1967 and Head Senior Prefect 1968. Ken was Wheatcroft captain and represented the School in Cricket, Football and Cadets.

RGS PAST STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION OUTSTANDING ACHIEVER AWARD MEGAN MAGARRY (nee WILSON) 1993 – 1995

Sergeant Megan Magarry has served with the Queensland Police for 21 years. She currently serves at the Fortitude Valley Police Station and is the only female Sergeant, Shift Supervisor. In 2016, the then Senior Constable Magarry was awarded a National Bravery Medal for service with the Queensland Police Service. On 25 July 2013, Senior Constable Magarry assisted a colleague to rescue a woman from the Story Bridge in Brisbane.

CENTRAL QUEENSLAND COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTION AWARD BRAD BEASLEY RGS 1970 – 1975

Brad Beasley is the current Chairman of the RGS Board of Trustees, a position he was appointed to in 2010, having served as a Board member since 2001. In the mid1980s, Brad was admitted as a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Queensland and the following year became a partner in South Geldard Lawyers. Brad was also The Rock Building Society non-executive Director and President of the RGS Past Students’ Association from 1994 – 2001.

RGS PAST STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION HONORARY LIFE MEMBERSHIP GEOFF HADWEN RGS 2003 – 2021

Geoff Hadwen was particularly involved in developing a Primary School built on innovative and evidence-based educational practices and in enhancing the School’s culture. RGS benefitted from Geoff’s educational and School community leadership, and passion for students, learning and co-curricular. Starting his teaching career, Geoff was first posted to Miles State School and then at 22 years was promoted to Principal of Eulo State School.

WE SEE YOUR TALENT

WITH THE PRINCIPAL’S RECOMMENDATION SCHEME

Success at university takes motivation, passion, determination and talent, and we know this isn’t always captured in your school grades. If you’re in Year 12, the Principal’s Recommendation Scheme offers an alternate pathway for eligible courses+ so you can apply for a course and receive an unconditional* offer based on the recommendation of your school Principal. Then you can rest easy, knowing you’ve got a secure spot at CQUniversity. Find out more

www.cqu.edu.au/prs

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