Lest We Forget

April 29, 2021

Another Anzac Day has passed – each one unique in the way it observes the contributions of Australians and New Zealanders…

Another Anzac Day has passed – each one unique in the way it observes the contributions of Australians and New Zealanders who have served their nations in war, conflict or peace-keeping operations. Last year, this occurred via my driveway and this year, I found myself at Webb Park with a number of our Boarders and Boarding staff, ‘lighting up the dawn’ and marking the occasion via a pre-recorded RSL service. It wasn’t the Dawn Service that I have attended religiously for so many years, but it was an important commemorative gesture, nonetheless. On Friday, our whole school had joined on the lawn adjacent to the Performing Arts Building for an Anzac commemoration. Such occasions are powerful – they demand our silence and our attention, and they require us to pause and earmark history: lest we forget.


Rightly or wrongly, I always find myself drawn back in my thinking to Gallipoli, such has been the impact of that narrative upon the way I consider Anzac Day. In 2013 I was privileged to travel to Gallipoli, albeit via an interminably long bus trip with a Turkish tour guide who was trying to present a palatable version of events to tourists of different nationalities and different national allegiances. He tried. So too did the Spanish tourist who must have inadvertently joined the tour without knowledge of Gallipoli nor sufficient English to process the volumes of information being shared over the course of that long day.


It is impossible not to be moved by the landscape of Gallipoli – particularly, the diminutive size of the beach landing site or The Nek (of Mel Gibson fame) where nearly 350 Western Australians became casualties in just a few minutes on a battlefield similar in size to a Netball court. Lone Pine also, is small and whilst the name looms largely in narratives about Anzac Day it appears almost vulnerable at its location. One can see from the beach, the second ridge where the Australians were ordered to stop for morning tea. Nine months and 8000 deaths later, they had travelled little distance beyond this point.


But what moved me most profoundly at Gallipoli was seeing the healing words of Ataturk that were attributed to him in 1934 and carved for posterity into marble at Anzac Cove. These beautifully-crafted words (though not without some contention about who the target audience was) form the open letter he allegedly wrote to the mothers of the Australian, New Zealand, Canadian and British soldiers who had died on the Gallipoli battlefields:


Those heroes that shed their blood and lost their lives… You are now lying in the soil of a friendly country. Therefore, rest in peace. There is no difference between the Johnnies and the Mehmets to us where they lie side by side here in this country of ours... You, the mothers who sent their sons from faraway countries, wipe away your tears; your sons are now lying in our bosom and are in peace. After having lost their lives on this land they have become our sons as well.



So, a war narrative can also be read, to some extent, as a peace narrative, and for those who have travelled to Turkey you will know the high regard in which Aussies are considered by so many locals. Irrespective of whether these words were directed to mothers or were merely part of a hastily written speech by Ataturk, delivered by one of his ministers, at Gallipoli in 1934 as a gesture of reconciliation with the (then) British Empire, is a matter for historians. For me, it is an olive branch of sorts, one that sits awkwardly juxtaposed against the detritus of a battle that was ill-conceived, poorly executed, and hauntingly catastrophic.


Forgiveness, reconciliation and clemency are tough concepts for all of us and if this Ataturk gesture has a mythological basis, I’m still keen to honour whatever threads of truth are weft within his words, etched in marble at Anzac Cove. Because, I am ever reminded of the words of First World War I British poet, Wilfred Owen, who warned against us glorifying the myth of war in his epic work: ‘Dulce Et Decorum Est’. Instead, may we value peace and reconciliation as ideals for which to strive…

Lest we forget, this Anzac Day and all that are to follow.



Dr Linda Evans | Principal



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In Principal: Living Our Values, Shaping Our Future

May 6, 2026
As we return from the Easter season and settle into the rhythm of Term 2, our community is reminded of the hope and renewal that sit at the heart of our Christian story. Easter invites us to centre ourselves once again in Christ - His example, His teachings, and His call to live with courage, grace, and compassion. At Fairholme, our value of Christ-centred Faith continues to shape how we learn, how we lead, and how we care for one another. It is also a fitting lens through which to view the many moments of joy, achievement, and connection captured in this edition of our newsletter. The start of this term has been filled with energy and purpose. For me, it marks a personal milestone as well: having completed my first full year as Principal, I now step into my second with deep gratitude for the trust, honesty, and partnership shown by students, staff, families, and Old Girls. Over recent months, we have been working together to shape Fairholme’s next chapter through the development of our new strategic plan. The thoughtful and aspirational insights shared have been grounded in a genuine love for this school and have been invaluable. I am delighted to share that this plan will be launched in Term 3, setting a bold and exciting direction for our future. This edition of At Holme reflects the vibrancy of our community. On the last night of Term 1, our Year 12 Formal was a highlight, with the girls looking stunning and carrying themselves with confidence, warmth, and genuine joy. The soiree with parents was a beautiful reminder of the strong relationships that underpin the Fairholme experience. These are the moments where our values become visible - not only in celebration, but in the way we honour one another, show gratitude, and build memories that will stay with us long after the evening ends. This week we also paused to reflect on ANZAC Day, a solemn and significant moment in our national life. Our Cadets, in partnership with Toowoomba Grammar School, represented Fairholme with dignity and respect, embodying values of service, sacrifice, and humility. Our own commemorations on campus invited us to consider how compassion can be expressed through courage and a commitment to peace. These ceremonies remind us of the importance of remembering well and living with purpose. We were also proudly represented by our boarders, Head Girls and cadets at community commemorations. In this issue, you will also find a timely wellness article from our fantastic Social Worker, Cassie Walton, offering encouragement for navigating the ups and downs of a busy Term Two. School life is full and dynamic, and it is important that we extend compassion not only outward but inward - recognising when we need rest, connection, or support. I am grateful for the expertise and care our wellbeing team brings to our community, ensuring that every student and family feels held and supported. It is very much a part of the Fairholme spirit and often recognised by visitors and our community alike. We are also delighted to celebrate our ten-year anniversary of FACETs, our much loved Art Show. This year’s specially jewelled theme reflects the creativity and imagination that shine so brightly within our community. Art has a unique way of helping us see the world differently, inviting us to appreciate beauty, express emotion, and understand one another more deeply. I encourage you, if you have not already done so, to purchase your tickets to our gala Opening Night – not only to gain a sneak peek (and maybe an early purchase!) of the beautiful artworks exhibited, but to join our community in celebration. And of course, we acknowledge the remarkable achievements of our Year 8 national champion in discus and shot put, Emily Carrigan. Her dedication, humility, and perseverance are an inspiration to us all. Sporting excellence at Fairholme is never just about results; it is about character, discipline, and the joy of striving for personal bests. As we journey further into Term 2, there is a genuine sense of momentum building across the College. With our new strategic plan set for launch in Term 3, we are stepping into an exciting chapter - one shaped by the voices of our students, staff, families, and Old Girls. The months ahead will bring opportunities to grow, to celebrate, and to continue strengthening the connections that make Fairholme such a vibrant and supportive place to be.

10 minutes with Junior School Sports Co-ordinator Lis Irwin

May 6, 2026
Tell us a bit about your background in sport and education? I was lucky enough to have amazing Health and Physical Education teachers, both in primary school and high school, which lead me to a career in teaching. I studied at QUT, then headed out to Wandoan State School P-10 for my first teaching position. I worked as the HPE Teacher and Sports Co-ordinator out there for four years, before making the move to Toowoomba where I have enjoyed teaching at Centenary Heights SHS, Downlands College and now, Fairholme College! What sports did you enjoy most growing up? I grew up in the small town of Chinchilla, so as most smalltown-kids do, I played them all! I loved having a go at any sport that was on offer, but particularly loved playing Touch Football for the Chinchilla Comets. What is your vision for Junior Sport at Fairholme? My vision is to foster a lifelong love of sport, movement and physical activity. I want our girls to leave Junior Sport at Fairholme with positive experiences and memories, confidence in their abilities, and a love of being active that continues well beyond their school years. Goals for this year? My main goals this year are to continue building strong participation, provide positive sporting experiences for all students no matter the sport or event, and encourage the girls to challenge themselves in the sporting space. I’d also love to continue building on the already strong house/team culture and school spirit. How do you hope to develop students’ confidence and teamwork through sport? I aim to create an environment where students and athletes feel safe to try new things and make mistakes. I love to celebrate effort, not just results, and am big on identifying and building on the strengths of each person. When students understand what they bring to a team and feel valued for their contribution, it naturally builds both confidence and teamwork. Are there any new programs or initiatives you’re excited to introduce? This year is a great chance for me to learn, observe and gain a deeper understanding of the wonderful programs already in place at Fairholme Junior. It’s been exciting to see how strong the culture of sport already is here. Over time, I’m looking forward to identifying new opportunities, growing current programs and continuing to create experiences our girls are excited to be part of. What life skills do you hope our students gain through participating in sport? My hope is that through sport, students can learn the importance of winning with humility and losing with grace, knowing there is always something to learn from every result. Olympic sprinter, Wilma Rudolph reminds us, ‘Winning is great, sure, but if you are really doing something in life, the secret is learning how to lose. Nobody goes undefeated all the time. If you can pick up after a defeat, you are going to be a champion someday.’ What message would you like to share with students and parents about Junior Sport? I’d encourage every student to get involved and give something a go! You don’t have to be the best player/athlete to enjoy sport or benefit from it. To parents, thank you for the support and encouragement you give your daughters. I’m really looking forward to a fun and positive year of Junior Sport at Fairholme. 

NQ Campdraft Champions

May 6, 2026
Travelling during the school holidays to Charters Towers to compete in the NQ High School Cup, our Fairholme Campdraft team rose to the occasion in spectacular fashion, securing the title of Overall Team Champions. The girls competed against riders from all corners of Queensland and the Northern Territory, demonstrating not only their skill in the saddle, but perhaps more importantly, the strength of connection between the team. Event organisers were quick to recognise what set this group apart. ‘The Fairholme girls were a standout all weekend,’ they noted. ‘Always presenting beautifully, always together and always supporting one another. Whether it was in the stands or by the cutout yard, you could see the way they backed each other and genuinely rode as a team.’ That sense of camaraderie also translated into individual success with Jaylee Smith, Payton Kane, Amelia Frame and Olivia Hawkins each earning their place among the competition’s top 20 riders. Leading the charge was Jaylee Smith, whose consistency and composure saw her awarded Highest Scoring Female (Average), a fitting recognition of her standout performances across the event. We are so proud of the team for representing the College with such pride and team spirit. 
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