OLD BOYS 

Old Boys Reflect on their Time at Saints & Impart Wise Words to Current Students  

St Augustine’s College was privileged to have two Saints First Nations Old Boys drop in on Friday October 7. Nichollas Sam-Anau (class of 2012) and Ishmaiel Lui (class of 2014). Nick is originally from Saibai Island and Ishmaiel’s home is Warraber Island, and both were fulltime boarders. These alumni, who are now Australian Armed Forces military personnel, were in Cairns for a three-day stop over. Their platoon was onboard the HMAS Adelaide which was anchored at the Cairns wharf. They are based in Townsville and were on their way north.

Both men joined staff for morning tea. Mr Andrew Dorahy, Mr Chris Chapman, Mr Neil Gregory and Mr Toby McCarthy, who were teaching here when they were students, and Mr John Brimstone sat and spoke with them. 

Nick and  Ishmaiel spoke with all the First Nation students in Br Aquin Theatre for close to one hour and also dropped over to the Tech Block to see Mr Paul Little, their manual arts teacher. Everyone was glad to see and talk with them.

Both spoke highly of their time at Saints as well as our education, discipline, high expectations and the routines of boarding and the day school. They spoke of the great opportunities that are here at Saints and urged students not to waste them but take every opportunity  to better themselves and never to have a slack attitude to anything. 

Both acknowledged that they were Australian Indigenous Education Foundation, (AIEF) Scholarship students and thanked AIEF for the support, guidance and mentoring they had received while at St Augustine's.

We very much appreciate and are grateful to both Old Boys for returning to their old college and speaking with the current First Nations students. We wish them all the best and hope they drop in again next time they are in Cairns.

Mr John Donatiu - Class of '53

Over the September holidays, Mr John Donatiu visited the College. John was the chairman of a fundraising committee that raised $1million for Saints. As well as these efforts, he and his six senior classmates donated the large Honour Board in the Gildas Centre.

Right: John  and his daughter Cathy in front of the Honour Board noting the contributions of his family and others to the College's fundraising efforts. 

Class of 2012- 10-Year Reunion

Saints recently hosted 18 members from the senior class of 2012 for a tour of the College and a meal in Tolle's. It was evident from the stories and banter during the tour that the classmates still enjoy one another's company and have fond memories of their time here. Recollections from school camps and retreats, memories of favourite teachers and absent classmates along with comments on how much the College had changed, even in the 10 years since they had graduated, kept them entertained for over two hours during lunch.

Join the Old Boys Facebook Group

Stay in touch