Regional primary school leaders gather for mayor’s morning tea

Students from 56 schools across the Darling Downs gathered in Highfields to share some leadership wisdom with councillors.

For Quinalow State School’s Gabrielle Bartkowski, becoming this year’s school captain came with some big shoes to fill.

Gabby’s father, Darren was the Quinalow school captain back in 1996 and in her opinion, he did a pretty good job.

Aisha Hargreaves (left) and Summer Bone from Fairholme College at the Toowoomba regional mayor and councillor’s primary school captains and leaders morning tea at the Highfields Cultural Centre. Picture: Bev Lacey

“Dad was the school captain when Quinalow was a much bigger school with lots more students and from what I can tell he was a really good student leader,” she said.

“I grew up wanting to be school captain just like him so when I was elected this year it was a really big honour to carry on the Bartkowski history because a lot of my family members attended Quinalow and we’re all really proud to have gone to school there.”

Quade Howe (left) with Chloe Bertram, Annabelle Millett and Annabelle from Concordia Luthern College at the Toowoomba regional mayor and councillor’s primary school captains and leaders morning tea at the Highfields Cultural Centre. Picture: Bev Lacey

Gabby’s addressed hundreds of fellow primary student leaders from 56 other Darling Downs schools across the region this morning at the Toowoomba regional mayor and councillors morning tea and her main message was simple.

Daniel Beit and Bethany Wall from Toowoomba Anglican School at the Toowoomba regional mayor and councillor’s primary school captains and leaders morning tea at the Highfields Cultural Centre. Picture: Bev Lacey

“The world is full of good people, if you can’t find one – be one,” she said.

“That’s something Mother Teresa was known for saying and I think it’s really important to remember because as a student leader our main role is to encourage kindness in everything we do.”

Cambooya state School student leaders (from left) Joey Bonell, Cooper Seddon, Ashleigh Ciesiolka and Gergie Wiliams at the Toowoomba regional mayor and councillor’s primary school captains and leaders morning tea at the Highfields Cultural Centre. Picture: Bev Lacey

Fellow student leaders from Cambooya State School also had plenty of good advice for their year six peers regarding making the most of their year as leaders and how to best prepare for their first year of high school next year.

“Leaving Cambooya state school and going to Harristown State high School next year is probably going to be a bit scary and nerve wracking,” school captain, Joey Bonell said.

“But I’m sure once we get settled in and find our feet we will be courageous and confident in our new schools.”

Gabbinbar State School captain, Kayla Brown (left) Zani Van Aardt from Glenvale State School and Gemma Gardner from Gabbinbar at this year’s Toowoomba regional mayor and councillor’s primary school captains and leaders morning tea at the Highfields Cultural Centre. Picture: Bev Lacey

Vice-captain, Cooper Seddon also had some sage words of wisdom for the students and councillors in his honest and entertaining speech.

“I’ve been at Cambooya State school for seven years and when I leave for high school it will be the hardest thing I ever do, but I will get over it,” he said.

“I won’t take up much more of your time, sometimes you have to keep things short and sharp, especially when morning tea is around the corner.”

Keeley Purser (left) and Jacob Thorneycroft from Meringandan State School at this year’s Toowoomba regional mayor and councillor’s primary school captains and leaders morning tea at the Highfields Cultural Centre. Picture: Bev Lacey