Kooralbyn International School
| The Kooralbyn International School | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
|
Kooralbyn, Queensland Australia | |
| Coordinates | 28°05′39″S 152°50′35″E / 28.0942°S 152.8431°ECoordinates: 28°05′39″S 152°50′35″E / 28.0942°S 152.8431°E |
| Information | |
| Type | P - 12 Co-Educational |
| Motto |
Latin: Absol Fiducia (Believe in yourself) |
| Denomination | Non-Denominational |
| Established | 1985 (original) |
| Staff | 34 teachers |
| Enrollment | 242 (2011) |
| Colour(s) | Maroon, Grey, White |
| Website | http://www.tkis.qld.edu.au |
The Kooralbyn International School (TKIS) is an independent, co-educational, boarding and day school, located in Kooralbyn, about 64 km south of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. In 2007 and again in 2009, the school was ranked in the Top 20 schools in the state (Queensland) for Year 12 OP results with 89% and 100% of its Year 12 students obtaining an OP1-15 in those respective years. A small school, it manages to produce a high percentage of successful students particularly in sporting endeavours like golf, athletics and equestrian events. TKIS is the only school in Australia to have produced two Young Australian of the Year recipients (Cathy Freeman and Scott Hocknull).
History
The school was originally founded in 1985, at a site on the banks of Cannon Creek now known as the 'Lower campus'. However, in the mid-1990s, it was largely relocated to a nearby hillside after flooding incidents in 1990[1] and 1991 caused extensive damage to the school.[2] A wooden pillar from one of the school's original buildings still stands on the grounds, as a monument to these events.
The original TKIS closed in 2002 due to funding issues. In 2004 TKIS was re-opened with a new Board, Principal (Geoff Mills), new staff and new financial backing, to continue the philosophy and ethos of: 'self belief and a pursuit of excellence' that was created by the school's founders.
Former school principal of the original school Robin Collins and other senior staff members are also responsible for the creation of the Spring Hill-based company 'International Education Services' (IES). This company has, since 1998 successfully run the University of Queensland's Foundation Year program in Spring Hill.
Notable alumni
- Cathy Freeman OAM - Olympic and Commonwealth Games gold medallist for athletics (Class of 1990) (also attended Fairholme College)[3]
- Rajnesh Singh - Entrepreneur and engineer; Chairman of PICISOC, President of IPv6ForumPacificIslands, Director of pacificIT, Chief Operating Officer at PATARA
- Scott Hocknull - Vertebrate palaeontologist and acting Senior curator in Geology at the Queensland Museum; Recipient of the Young Australian of the Year Award 2002; Youngest Australian to hold a museum curatorship; Described and named 10 new species and four new genera.[4] (Class of 1994)
- Evan Paki - Ambassador of Papua New Guinea (Washington, DC); Recipient of a Fulbright Scholarship (Class of 1992)
- Willy Arthur - Rugby Union player for Papua New Guinea (Class of 1992)
- Adam Scott - Golfer currently placed 3rd in the world; Winner of multiple PGA championships. Member of the school's Golf Mastery Program. (Class of 1997)
- Dan Teasdale - Founding member of Pandemic Studios Australia; Co-creator of the "Destroy All Humans!" franchise; Senior developer on Harmonix's Rock Band (Class of 1997)
- Andrew Buckle - Golfer. Member of the school's Golf Mastery Program. (Class of 1999)
- Gurpal Atwal - Entrepreneur - UK Media & Entertainment (Class of 1992)
- Steven Bowditch - Golfer. Member of the school's Golf Mastery Program. (Class of 2000)
- Jason Day #1 World ranked Golfer. Member of the school's Golf Mastery Program. (Class of 2002)
- Jon Riely - Golfer. Member of the school's Golf Mastery Program. (Class of 1994)
- Koraea Kingsley Lore - Former First Assistant Secretary of PNG Government Department; Founder & Principal Consultant of Lavai Consultancy Service (Class of 1992).
- Gavin Flint - Golfer. Member of the school's Golf Mastery Program. (Class of 1998)
- Valerie Sindal - Entrepreneur - Co-founder: Visual Eyez Studio, Inc. & ValBeMar, Inc. (Class of 1998)
- Kristian Poole - Businessman. (Class of 1999)
- Cec Condon - Drummer and vocalist of Sydney indie-rock duo, The Mess Hall (Class of 1999)
- Alex Dunlop - Lead guitarist and vocalist for the Granite Lakes (Class of 1999)
- Yuri Johnson - Bass Guitarist for the Granite Lakes (Class of 2001)
- Chris 'duckboi' Boardman - Guitarist and vocalist for Brisbane rock band Fawn (Class of 2000)
- Michael Kelly - at 12 years of age, the youngest high school graduate in the state and youngest university entrant (Griffith University). (Class of 2007)
See also
References
- ↑ http://www.bom.gov.au/hydro/flood/qld/fld_history/brisbane_history.shtml
- ↑ http://www.tkis.qld.edu.au/ss_about_history.html
- ↑ Suzannah Pearce, ed. (2006-11-17). "FREEMAN (Cathy) Catherine Astrid Salome". Who's Who in Australia Live!. North Melbourne, Vic: Crown Content Pty Ltd.
- ↑ http://www.unsw.edu.au/news/pad/articles/2002/jan/studentYoungAust.html