Canberra breakfast

RGS past students meet for their annual catch up in the nation’s capital

RGS alumni continue to enjoy their annual breakfast catch-ups in Canberra, last meeting in November 2022. Meet some of our Canberra alumni:

Richard Vagg (RGS 1990)

“I attended university after high school and studied Civil Engineering. About halfway thought my degree I realised I was not enjoying it. So, I decided to join the Army as an Army Officer. In 1992 I started at the Royal Military College Duntroon for the 18 months Officer training programme and graduated in 1993. I became an Officer in the Royal Australian Artillery which is part of the Australian Army. During my career I have been based all over Australia and a few overseas postings to the UK.”

Letichia Boekel (nee Goodwin, RGS 1995)

“I went on to study a Bachelor of Education in primary school teaching at QUT. I accepted a rural posting with Education Queensland to Charters Towers and later transferred to Townsville where I met and married my husband Jim before starting the posting cycle of a military family. This gave me an amazing opportunity to teach in various locations around the country from Darwin to Melbourne and many places in between. I went back to university to complete my Graduate Certificate in Early Years teaching and I’m now a passionate advocate of quality Early Childhood education for all Australian children.”

Alaina Kennedy (nee Alroe, RGS 2001)

“I graduated from RGS in 2001. In Canberra, I am working for Department of Defence as a civilian in Administration.”

Graeme Power (RGS RGS 1969)

“I moved to the Canberra region from Sydney in 1984 and have lived in either Cooma or Jindabyne since then. I am a Science high school teacher in public education. It is challenging being a teacher, but the most rewarding part of my role is seeing students’ progress into their chose fields.”

Cameron Porter (RGS 2001)

“I graduated from RGS in 2001. Since then, I have joined the Army as a Space Technologist working in our Defence Space Command. I love my job and the best part is pioneering a new domain.”

Peter Rose (RGS 1964)

“I completed Senior at The Rockhampton Grammar School. I had a long career in the Army and I’m now a Clergyman with the Anglican Church.”

David Deaves (RGS 1985)

“I came to Canberra direct from RGS for university. I chose ANU (Australian National University) as it had good physics research facilities but by second year it was apparent (for me) there were more opportunities in the computer field. My career drifted towards IT Security and big hardware. Canberra was the perfect place to support such work. My career has predominately been with small IT companies in Australia specialising in high grade IT security solutions, mostly for Defence and National Security Sector. Outside of work, I discovered grassroots motor racing so track days and hill climb events have become a major hobby.”

Michelle Pratt (nee Eames, RGS 1995)

“I am the Assistant Director of Marketing at the Australian Sports Commission and I work onsite at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra. I am married with 2 children who are 16 and 19. I play basketball and AFL9s and love to get out water skiing and wakeboarding with friends when it’s warm enough. Otherwise, I’m either helping with kids sport, gardening or planning our next adventure in Australia or overseas.”

Darren Wright (RGS 1986)

“I moved directly to Canberra from Rockhampton (but it is my 5th time living here as I’ve moved in and out over the years). I work for a British company called RPS AAP Consulting providing support to environmental work and delivering solutions that help them to recover land and repurpose.”

Jody Davies (nee Schwarz, RGS 1986)

“I moved to Canberra as soon as I finished my University Degree at CQU. I have worked for several Government Departments and am currently contracting at the Department of Defence.”

Luke Whalan (RGS 2021)

“I attend the University of Canberra, studying a Bachelor of Physical Education and I currently work at the Australian War Memorial as a Visitor Services Officer. I play rugby union with Wests. I am on the Brumbies radar, which I am working towards being full time. It was difficult to achieve this in 2022 as I have had another ACL injury, but I was still a part of the U19 programme. I am well into my rehab and I’m planning big things for 2023.”

Sylvia Godwin (RGS 2018) is making time to combine her love of agribusiness and photography after graduating with a Diploma of Agribusiness Management at the University of Queensland’s Gatton Campus.

“I had no idea who I wanted to be or what I wanted to do but everything that has happened has led me to where I am today,’’ Sylvia said.

Sylvia worked for Jamie Seccombe Cutting Horses before mustering cattle on properties near Charters Towers and Greenvale and is now a sales agent in the Knight Frank Agribusiness department in Rockhampton.

Sylvia is also following a passion for photography with her Sylvia Rose Imagery freelance business.

The 21-year-old still calls “Tanderra” home, her family’s cattle and grain property 100km south-west of Springsure.

“At a young age I was taught the essentials to living on a property, if I wasn’t in the Tanderra Schoolroom (home schooled throughout my primary years) then I was out working on the family property.

“Mustering was always the excitement of the year for me, it never took much to convince me to get up early in the morning. I used to sleep in my work clothes on the lounge so they couldn’t leave without me.”

Sylvia said as they say “it takes a village to raise a child’.

“Well that is something I truly believe, as kids we were lucky enough that our mustering team taught us as much as our parents did. They would not only fill us up on lollies or take our bridles off while we were riding along, but also be the one to lead us along walking cattle out, and other skills that we needed to know,’’ Sylvia said.