John Sessarago: Fairholme College mourns loss of teacher, photographer after sudden death

Olympic legend and gold medallist Cathy Freeman says she will “never forget” the impact a Toowoomba teacher had on her career, after his sudden passing.

The Fairholme College community is in mourning after the sudden death of beloved teacher John Sessarago, who was considered “part of the fabric” of the school.

Tributes have flowed for Mr Sessarago, who enjoyed a 36-year career at the elite Toowoomba girls private school as both an educator, sporting coach and photographer.

He died on Sunday at the age of 58.

Along with being an educator, Mr Sessarago was known as Fairholme’s photographer who was always around to capture students’ finest achievements.

Known for his involvement in sport, he was heavily involved in the training of Olympic champion Cathy Freeman during her time at the school.

The school community at Toowoomba's Fairholme College are mourning the sudden loss of teacher and photographer John Sessarago, who passed away on January 28, 2024.

The school described him as a “much-loved friend, teacher and colleague” on social media.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with his family especially,” the school said.

“We are so grateful to have shared time with him during his exceptional 36-year career at Fairholme: so missed and so loved.

“Thank you for your care of this news and the people it impacts.”

The news was met with hundreds of tributes from former students, teachers and parents, who praised the impact he made on the school during his three-decade career.

“Sess was the superstar of the sports department and managed to photograph so many special memories as well,” one woman wrote.

“He was critical in helping build and develop the sports programs, and creating a caring environment for all the athletes.”

“Sess will never know his impact on 36 years of girls who have passed through Fairholme,” Jessica Galbraith added.

“Our world has lost one of the best.”

“What a great man you were Sess, truly one of a kind. You will be missed,” Georgia Hogarth wrote.

Both Fairholme College and Cathy Freeman have been contacted for further comment.

Olympic champ Freeman’s touching tribute to Fairholme teacher

John Sessarago; Cathy Freeman; Fairholme College

Australian golden girl and Fairholme College alumnus Cathy Freeman believes the support and guidance of John Sessarago helped make her an Olympic champion.

The 2000 Sydney gold medallist paid tribute to the late Fairholme teacher, who died suddenly on Sunday at the age of 58.

Freeman recalled how Mr Sessarago inspired her as a 14-year-old to push past her doubts and excel as a track-and-field athlete.

“In my time at Fairholme College, as a 14 and 15 year old, a teacher named John Sessarago told me I could be an Olympian like Florence Griffith Joyner and Carl Lewis,” she said.

“He gave me a photograph of myself high jumping with his handwritten quote on it that read, ‘It is our doubts of today that limit our realisations of tomorrow,’ by President Franklin D Roosevelt.

“Sess, as he was affectionately known, grew my self-belief at a time when I was so unaware of what my future might bring, with his generosity of spirit and kindness of heart.

“Thank you, Sess. Rest in eternal peace. I will never forget you.”

Freeman also shared her condolences for Mrs Sessarago’s wife Kristen, their daughter Jaimee and Georgie and the wider Fairholme community.

Before she was an Olympic and Commonwealth Games champion, Freeman was a rising star at Fairholme — particularly in 1988 when she dominated the field at her athletics carnival.

From there, she won gold medals in the under-15s 100m, 200m, 400m and high jump events at the Queensland championships.