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‘Humble beginnings’: Cairns Adventist College marks 75th anniversary

From operating in a congregant’s house to launching high school classes, one of Cairns’ oldest religious schools has marked a milestone anniversary. How they celebrated.

Cairns Adventist College have celebrated 75 years of operation with the grand opening of the high school building at the Gordonvale campus. Cairns Adventist College principal Adam Coe took Year 6 students Chloe Mills, Spencer Hughes and Venus Creed on a tour of the new high school building, where the trio will study as part of the first high school cohort in 2026. Picture: Brendan Radke
Cairns Adventist College have celebrated 75 years of operation with the grand opening of the high school building at the Gordonvale campus. Cairns Adventist College principal Adam Coe took Year 6 students Chloe Mills, Spencer Hughes and Venus Creed on a tour of the new high school building, where the trio will study as part of the first high school cohort in 2026. Picture: Brendan Radke

A school that began in someone’s lounge room has marked 75 years as it launches an ambitious new chapter.

Staff and students at Cairns Adventist College, located at Gordonvale, celebrated the school’s milestone anniversary with a special assembly earlier this week.

College principal Adam Coe said it was an exciting time.

“It is a massive accomplishment for us as a school,” he said.

Cairns Adventist College have celebrated 75 years of operation with the grand opening of the high school building at the Gordonvale campus. Cairns Adventist College principal Adam Coe took Year 6 students Chloe Mills, Spencer Hughes and Venus Creed on a tour of the new high school building, where the trio will study as part of the first high school cohort in 2026. Picture: Brendan Radke
Cairns Adventist College have celebrated 75 years of operation with the grand opening of the high school building at the Gordonvale campus. Cairns Adventist College principal Adam Coe took Year 6 students Chloe Mills, Spencer Hughes and Venus Creed on a tour of the new high school building, where the trio will study as part of the first high school cohort in 2026. Picture: Brendan Radke

He said the school started in 1950 at a Cairns Adventist Church member’s house, before moving to the church’s Gatton Street site.

“At the time someone from the church decided to start a school, through the proper protocols … then it just grew from there,” he said.

“From humble beginnings in a house, then to the church site for a number of generations … then it was 2014 when it moved out (to Gordonvale) and 2015 was our first official year out here.”

Cairns Adventist College have celebrated 75 years of operation with the grand opening of the high school building at the Gordonvale campus. A large crowd of people attended the official opening of the new high school building at the school's Gordonvale campus. Picture: Brendan Radke
Cairns Adventist College have celebrated 75 years of operation with the grand opening of the high school building at the Gordonvale campus. A large crowd of people attended the official opening of the new high school building at the school's Gordonvale campus. Picture: Brendan Radke

To celebrate, past students were invited to a special assembly and to take part in the school’s legacy project.

“We celebrated with speeches and good old food, tours of the school with past students chatting with each other, then the legacy project where people where able to put their handprint on an outdoor wall to say they were here,” Mr Coe said.

Earlier this year, it was announced the school would start its first high school enrolments for Grade 7, in 2026.

“It’ll be an awesome journey to be part of and we’ve had really positive feedback from current families, and growing interest from the local community,” Mr Coe said.

“It instils Christian values and morals in students, and creates a better future for students and families.”

catherine.duffy@news.com.au

Originally published as ‘Humble beginnings’: Cairns Adventist College marks 75th anniversary

Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/cairns/humble-beginnings-cairns-adventist-college-marks-75th-anniversary/news-story/c29c3f812f094f178639e69b3326623c