Boarder travels 3500km for first day of school

More than 3500km from home and dressed in her first school uniform, one of Toowoomba’s newest boarders is looking forward to the year ahead.

With many students commuting from the suburbs nearby, Year 7 boarder Regina Lethbridge has had to catch two flights for her first day of school, travelling to Fairholme College from a property outside Port Hedland, WA.

This morning, she checked in to the school’s boarding house alongside 50 other students.

“The trip was long, but I’m excited now I’m here,” Regina said.

“I do feel a long way from home, but it’s alright, I’m looking forward to making lots of new friends.”

She was accompanied on the trip by her younger brother, a Toowoomba Grammar School boarder, and her mother Belinda Lethbridge.

“We chose Toowoomba because my parents and family are close by, if we sent them to Perth it wasn’t as easy to get to them,” Mrs Lethbridge said.

“The trip was pretty ordinary – the masks were awful, I haven’t had to wear one before while some people have had to wear them every day.”

Mrs Lethbridge said the family had planned to visit the school in February last year before the pandemic struck.

Year 7 boarder Regina Lethbridge and her mum Belinda Lethbridge unpack with help from Regina's Year 12 buddy Chloe Brazel. Photo: Bev Lacey

Regina instead sat the scholarship test at home and completed the school interview over Zoom.

With restrictions easing, the family was finally able to travel over.

“We hope it stays like this,” Mrs Lethbridge said.

“When I go back to Western Australia next week I will have to quarantine for two weeks in Perth.

“I really hope that’s lifted by the time the kids come back for holidays or they might not be able to come home.”

SCHOOL TIME: After travelling from Western Australia, Year 7 boarder Regina Lethbridge was settling into her new room at Fairholme College today with help from her mum Belinda Lethbridge. Photo: Bev Lacey

For Regina, the start of school had brought many firsts.

“I’ve never really had a school uniform or wore shoes every day,” Regina said.

“Because we were out at the station, (my brother) and I would only put them on to go down to the stockyard or out on our motorbikes.

“(Toowoomba) is very big compared to where I’m from.”

After all the travel and uncertainty, Regina settled into her new room at the school this morning, helped by her Year 12 “buddy” Chloe Brazel from Moree.

Students across the city start back at school tomorrow with school zone speed limits back in effect.