St Augustine’s College celebrates 95th anniversary
A Cairns school is celebrating its 95th anniversary in August, and is inviting all former students and their families to celebrate with them.
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In the past 95 years, this Cairns school has developed from flooded swamplands into a thriving school with more than 900 students.
St Augustine’s College in Parramatta Park is celebrating its 95th anniversary on Saturday, August 16, and is inviting all former students and their families to celebrate with them.
“This school has had a longstanding history and tradition in the Cairns community, and part of these anniversary celebrations is just to ensure that we remain connected with our alumni and with our community,” principal Glen Seivers said.
In 1928, Far North Bishop Heavey invited the Marist Brothers to Cairns to set up a school.
“They came in the middle of January and the land was basically a swamp – lots of mosquitoes, lots of flies,” Mr Seivers said.
Opening in 1930 with three Marist Brothers and 96 students, Mr Seivers said “on day one a number of boarders ended up sleeping out on the balconies along our first building, the Gainey Residence”.
“Since those early times, obviously times have changed dramatically, but the Marist Brothers have put a huge amount of dedicated work into getting the school where it is 95 years later.”
The school now has 800 day students and houses 180 boarders, 80 of which are female students who attend St Monica’s College.
Mr Seivers said there were four Marist Brothers still at the school, who were finishing at the end of 2025.
St Augustine’s Old Boys Association president Angelo Caltabiano said the anniversary function was primarily a way to reconnect with old students and staff in the lead-up to their huge centenary celebration in 2030.
“We’re trying to reconnect with as many staff, students and families that have had a connection with the school over the years, locally, domestically and overseas,” he said.
“We’re really trying to connect with as many as we can in the next five years, especially with some of those people that aren’t on social media from the ’70s, ’60s and even the ’50s that are out there.”
The anniversary function will be held at the Boardwalk Social on Saturday, August 16. To buy tickets, go to trybooking.com.
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Originally published as St Augustine’s College celebrates 95th anniversary
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