General News
1 April, 2026
Top level island school visit
CATHOLIC Education Queensland (CEQL) delegates have visited Our Lady Of The Sacred Heart School on Thursday Island and Hammond Island, as the school continues efforts to secure long-awaited capital works.
Deputy CEO Peter Elmore and education advocacy and strategy director Emily Wilson were part of the visit, which school leaders say highlighted the importance of collaboration in addressing infrastructure needs at the remote Torres Strait campus.
The school received a capital grant in 2022 but delivering the planned works has proven difficult due to escalating building costs linked to the region’s remote location.
Catholic Education Diocese of Cairns (CEDC) has been seeking a builder capable of completing the full scope of works within the grant allocation, but repeated tender attempts have so far been unsuccessful.
Despite the setbacks, school leaders say the community remains determined to find a solution.
Principal David Graham and the school community had continued to support efforts to progress the project, alongside building and planning executive manager Lloyd Matheson.
CEDC acknowledged the support of Kate Guy-Hall and the CES building and planning team, who have also been involved in attempts to secure a contractor.
The visit also included Bishop Joe Caddy, parish priest Fr Michael Szymanski and school performance director Bronwyn Buckley.
Students and staff marked the occasion with a performance of traditional dance and song, celebrating their cultural identity and connection to Zenadth Kes.
School leaders said the visit reinforced the importance of working together to address the school’s infrastructure needs and deliver the improvements outlined in the grant.
The visit comes as enrolments are expected to rise in 2026 following the ‘Access For All’ initiative launched late last year, which aims to support First Nations families.
School and Catholic education leaders say they remain hopeful the partnership between CEQL, the diocese and the local community will help deliver the long-awaited capital works for the school.
