Students who have attended The Cathedral School for more than one year are automatically granted life-time membership of the Past Students’ Association.
The role of the Past Students’ Association is:
- to preserve a spirit of good friendship between past students of the School
- to foster and develop links with present students
- to promote the history and values of the School
- to foster and promote the welfare and interests of the School.
The Past Students’ Association is not a fundraising body. Its main purpose is to keep past students connected to the School, and it aims to do that through regular communication and facilitation of reunions. All past students are welcome to meetings. The dates are listed below and in the School Board Room (Heatley House) at 5.00pm. For more information please contact the PSA President Mr Tom Porter.
Tom Porter
Weekend Activities Coordinator/School Ambassador
T: (07) 4722 2000
E: tom.porter@cathedral.qld.edu.au
Foundation Weekend: Past Students’ Reunion Events
Past students are invited to come back to the school over the Foundation Weekend. Whether you finished school five years ago or 50 years ago, you are always welcome here!
There are a number of events planned – please register for catering purposes, even when there is no admission fee.
Follow our Facebook page for updates: The Cathedral School Past Students Association
Friday 24 July, 2026
Class of 2021 Five-Year Reunion
5.30pm – 6.00pm by the Lagoon.
Cost: Free (Enjoy a complimentary drink on arrival and then flow onto the Connection Sundowner).
The Connection Sundowner
6:00pm – 9.00pm by the Lagoon.
Cost: $20
The Cathedral School Past Student Association and the Parents and Friends Association invite you to enjoy a Sundowner on the banks of The Cathedral School Lagoon. Entertainment on the night from our very talented school musicians. Drinks are for sale and food platters are provided.
Canapes on arrival and a cash bar is available.
Bus Drop-off ( No cost )
• The Strand
• Finders Street
• Palmer Street
The bus will depart at 8:45 pm from the Birdcage.
Saturday 25 July, 2026
School Tour & Morning Tea
Morning Tea under the rain trees in the Arcade at 9:30 am supplied by the Past student Association.
A guided School Tour from 10 am to 12 pm. Enjoy a walk down history lane and enjoy a tour of the school and the buildings.
Reunion Luncheon 12 pm – 2 pm
Enjoy a Buffet Lunch in the School Dining Hall.
Cost $30.00
A bar will be set up with EFTPOS or cash
Sunday 26 July, 2026
Church Service
Foundation Weekend St James’ Cathedral Church Service, at 9:00 am.
Tickets are available via our TryBooking link below:
Book Now
Our Brisbane Reunion will be held 24 October at 6pm. Location to be announced.
Back to School BBQ – Recent Graduates
The Past Student Association holds a Welcome Back BBQ for recently graduated Year 12 students. The BBQ is held in the first few weeks of Term 1 at lunchtime on the Function Lawn. Come along and enjoy a complimentary BBQ lunch and catch up with fellow graduates and School staff.
Staying in Touch
If you are a past student who has lost contact with the school please email Tom Porter with your updated details or connect with us on Facebook and/or LinkedIn.
Mr Tom Porter
PSA President
4722 2000
thomas.porter@cathedral.qld.edu.au
The Connection
The Connection is issued four times a year to all past students with a current email address on our database. It contains information about recent activities and events, news from past students, and upcoming reunions.
Complete the form to join the mailing list.
View Past Issues
2026 PSA Meetings
PSA Meetings are held at 5pm in the Board Room of Heatley House
Monday 9 February
Monday 11 May
Monday 31 August (AGM)
Monday 19 October
The Cathedral School Past Students’ Association –
Wall Of Honour
The Cathedral School has a proud history of alumni who have made a lasting impact in their careers, communities, and beyond. To celebrate their achievements and inspire future generations, the Past Students’ Association (PSA) has launched a ‘Wall of Honour’.
Recognising Outstanding Alumni
The Wall of Honour will acknowledge past students who have made exceptional contributions in areas such as:
• Service to the school
• Career achievements
• Sporting or artistic excellence
• Contributions to the wider community
2026 Inductees
Robyn Croft
Service to the Arts
Robyn attended St Anne’s School from 1948 to 1957. Her love of ballet started early and has shaped her entire life. She completed ballet exams to the highest level while still at school, then joined the Royal Ballet School in London just after she turned 18. In 1961 she was asked to come back to Australia as a founding member of the Australian Ballet Company, where she performed many soloist and principal roles.
In 1971, she and her husband Douglas Gilchrist (a head ballet teacher) moved to Townsville and set up their own dance studio – Croft Gilchrist School of Dancing. Through this, they have passed on the love of dance to generations of students. Robyn also became a ballet examiner in 1980 and has travelled the world in this role. In 2020, she was recognised with an honorary Fellowship from the Royal Academy of Dance in recognition of her life-time commitment to dance.
Kerrie Richards
Innovation & Success in Business
Kerrie attended The Cathedral School from 1981 to 1985. She was a boarding student from a sheep station near Richmond in Western Queensland. After completing a university degree on the Gold Coast, she returned to the family property to find work. With severe drought and poor wool prices impacting farm income, Kerrie saw an opportunity to add value to their family’s wool by turning it into garments that could be sold directly to the public.
The business started in the shearers’ quarters in 1993 and has now grown into a successful family business called ‘Merino Country’ which sells high quality Australian-made woollen clothing throughout Australia and around the world. In addition to its retail customers, Merino Country also supplies products to the Australian Defence Force, the Australian Antarctic Division and Victoria Police.
Benjamin Chuck
Services to Defence
Ben attended The Cathedral School from 1997 to 1998. His adventurous spirit and love of outdoor challenges led him to enlist in the Australian Army’s Special Forces in 2004. After receiving the Top Soldier award during the gruelling training course, he was posted to a Commando unit in Sydney where he continued to enhance his skills and excelled in all he attempted. His caring nature also led to him volunteering as Medic within his Sniper Patrol team.
In June 2010, on his third deployment to Afghanistan, Ben tragically lost his life in a helicopter crash, just a few days after his 27th birthday. Devastated by this loss, his family established a national memorial, the Afghanistan Avenue of Honour, near their home town of Yungaburra, to honour all who served in Afghanistan.
Curtis Rayment
Services to Community
Curtis attended The Cathedral School from 2011 to 2014. He was a boarding student from Winton and became School Captain in his final year. When a university friend was sexually assaulted, he realised this was part of a wider problem in society and he wanted to do something to address it. This led him to create ‘It’s a Man’s Issue’ to educate young people about informed consent. Since 2021, he has been delivering workshops across Australia on consent, sexual assault, healthy relationships and toxic masculinity. He has empowered other young men to challenge their own behaviours and become part of the solution instead of part of the problem. Curtis exemplifies what it is to be a man and has been an inspiration to young men across Australia. He was nominated for Young Australian of the Year in 2024 for his efforts.
2025 Inductees
Olive Hely (nee Gannon)
Recognised for service to the school
Olive attended St Anne’s for her 4 years of secondary school from 1930 to 1933 and remained a loyal supporter of the school throughout her life. At school she was in Langton House, a school Prefect and a good tennis player who later became North Queensland Women’s Tennis champion. She remained a loyal supporter of the school throughout her life, contributing more than 50 years to the Brisbane branch of the Old Girls Association, maintaining school friendships and fund-raising to support the school.
Marguerita Holborn (nee Phillips)
Recognised for business and community contributions
Marguerita (known as Peg) completed her entire schooling at St Anne’s from 1946 to 1953 and was virtually raised by the Sisters following the death of her mother when she was only 6 years old. At school she was in More House and was passionate about music and school activities. She established a successful florist business in Townsville and was actively involved in the Anglican Church and several other community organisations throughout her life. She continued to support the school through the Old Girls’ Association and Parents and Friends’ Association.
Lynette Illingsworth (nee Martel)
Recognised for art and environmental services
Lynette Illingsworth attended St Anne’s from 1956 to 1961. She was More House Captain and a promising artist. After gaining her teaching qualification, she returned to teach Art and Ancient History at St Anne’s from 1964 to 1968. Her early artwork is historically significant and featured in publications and You Tube tributes. Throughout her life, she was deeply committed to environmental causes and earned local government recognition for her community contributions in this field.
Rosemary Menkens (nee Fox)
Recognised for community contributions
Rosemary attended St Anne’s as a boarder from 1960 to 1963. She was Chatham House Captain in her senior year and loved participating in school sports. Following her career as a Home Economics teacher, she was elected to the Queensland Parliament as the Member for the Burdekin electorate, a position she held for 10 years. She also served for several years on the Board of The Cathedral School, the first past student to be appointed to this role.
Nominate a Past Student
Any past student can nominate a deserving candidate. Each year, the PSA Committee (with the ability to co-opt members) will select a small number of inductees. Their names will be unveiled on Foundation Day and featured on a dedicated Honour Board at the school, as well as on our virtual Wall of Honour.
• Nominations can be made posthumously.
• Unsuccessful nominations may be resubmitted the following year.
The first inductees was announced in 2025, marking the centenary of the first Dawn magazine produced by the Old Girls’ Association.
How to Nominate
Submit a nomination for the inaugural selection via the form below.
Let’s honour the legacy of our past students and inspire the leaders of tomorrow!
Fill in the form below to submit a nomination:
Inquisitive minds. Kind hearts. Purposeful futures.
We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which we gather, walk, teach, learn and live. We acknowledge the Elders past and present and the care they have given this country. CRICOS 00959M. We respect your privacy. SITEMAP.
Copyright 2026 website by CloudThree
