Department News
The Arts
Year 10 Visual Arts Excursion
Year 10 Visual Arts students have been taking part in class excursions to Munro Martin Parklands, developing artistic responses across a variety of mediums.
Supported by teachers Ms Mervyn-Jones, Mrs Musgrave, and Ms Grossman, this program encourages students to respond to real-world stimulus and prepares them for the challenges of senior Visual Art.
ATOM & Asia Pacific Screen Academy Student Jury Day
On Saturday 23 August, Cairns High proudly hosted the ATOM & Asia Pacific Screen Academy (APSA) Student Jury Day, a full-day event from 8.45am to 7.00pm.
Eighteen Cairns High students from Years 10–12 film classes stepped into the role of a real film jury, viewing and critiquing three international films: Happyend (Japan), B00NG (India), and The Brink of Dreams (Egypt). Each screening sparked lively debate as students reflected on diverse voices and cultures before casting their votes.
Adding to the excitement, students joined live Q&A sessions with each director via Zoom, hearing firsthand about the creative process behind the films. They also connected online with peers from Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Gympie, and Brunie in Borneo, sharing insights across schools and regions.
A big thank you to Mr Bermingham and Mr Williams for joining me to support this event held in Cairns for the first time.
DanceX Competition Success
Over the weekend, our Centre of Excellence Junior and Senior Dance students participated in the DanceX Competition at St Andrews College. Performing exceptionally well against strong competition from other Cairns schools, several of our students received awards across year levels, qualifying them to travel to Brisbane in October for the State Finals.
We are especially proud that Cairns State High was awarded the overall “School Spirit” award for the day—an honour that reflects the dedication, teamwork, and energy of our dancers.
A huge congratulations to all students involved and thank you to parents for their support on the day. Special thanks also to teachers Lauren Portman and Nicola Lim for their commitment and extra time spent preparing and supporting the groups.
Agony and Ecstasy – Evening Performance
On Wednesday 20 August, more than 100 parents, students, and friends gathered to enjoy the evening performance of Agony and Ecstasy.
This ambitious COE Senior drama production showcased not only the depth of talent within our drama students but also the creative and technical expertise of our ARTS staff team.
The show combined demanding characterisation, complex lighting, and integrated film elements, making it a bold and memorable work. Full Cast and Crew
Acknowledging Our ARTS Staff Team
We extend heartfelt thanks to the dedicated staff whose vision and support made the production possible:
- Ken Nixon – Lighting design and wrangling the tech crew
- Blake Birmingham – Video production
- Holly Mervyn-Jones – Set design and logistics
- Lauren Portman – Assisting Nicole throughout the production process
- Rachael Terry – Supporting with the writing of the show
- Nicole Cleland – Directing this challenging production with professionalism, positivity, and care.
Special thanks also to Anthony Easton, our guest reviewer, who awarded the show a glowing 5 out of 5, calling it “a great evening to be a Bulldog.” and student Ella Carney who produced the films used in the production
Celebrating Our Students
At the conclusion of the performance, the following Centre of Excellence (COE) Drama students were recognised for their outstanding contributions to Drama at Cairns High:
- Most Promising Actor – Evie Evans
- Best Collaborator – Yasmin Brennan
- Best Actor – Elijah Aler
- Most Outstanding Contribution to Drama – Neave David Stern
David Marsden | HOD of Arts
Global Studies - Humanities and Languages
Year 10 Italian – Migration Interviews Project
This term, our Year 10 Italian students have been exploring the theme of migration as part of their studies. To deepen their understanding, students were asked to research and write a biography based on the experiences of people who migrated to Australia.
As part of this unit, the students conducted interviews with community members who generously shared their personal migration journeys. These conversations provided an authentic and powerful opportunity to hear first-hand about the challenges, achievements, and cultural adjustments faced when starting a new life in a new country.
Through these interviews, students not only developed their research and writing skills, but also gained a richer appreciation of Australia’s multicultural society and the resilience of those who have contributed to it. Many students reflected that the project helped them connect more deeply with stories of identity, family, and belonging.
We congratulate our Year 10 Italian students for their thoughtful and respectful approach to this project. Their work stands as a reminder of the importance of preserving and sharing migration stories as part of our collective history.
Maddy Duncan | Italian and HASS Teacher
International Students
Work Experience = Cairns Experience for our International Students
This term, our Year 10 international students have had a journey exploring the beauty, culture, and unique experiences that Cairns has to offer. They discovered the wonders of Far North Queensland but also spent time with other International Year 10 students.
The Cairns experiences started at Cairns Esplanade and Trinity Beach and our students learned about the local history at the Cairns Museum.
They were able to experience Rusty’s Markets and the diverse flavours and fresh produce of the area, offering a taste of the local lifestyle. The Cairns Aquarium provided experiences with the marine life of the Great Barrier Reef and the ecosystems of the Wet Tropics.
Our international students also participated in the Esports Excursion (Rocket League, Mario Kart, Super Smash Bros). In this excursion they were able to meet with other students at different schools to learn about how Esports can connect people, know about being safe online and use it to build confidence by meeting with others.
One of the highlights was the journey to Kuranda. Travelling on the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway and the Cairns Scenic Railway, students were treated to breathtaking views of the rainforest, waterfalls, and mountains.
It has been an absolute pleasure getting to know our international students through these adventures. These excursions have not only enriched their understanding of Cairns but also strengthened their connection to our school community.
Rachel Wearmouth |HOD International Student Program Coodinator
FUSE Cup Brings Esports Experiences to Cairns High Students
In Week 3, Woree State High School hosted the FUSE Cup, an esports competition that brought together students from across the region to showcase their gaming skills, foster friendships, and learn about the importance of balance and well-being in the digital age. The event, held on 30th and 31st July, featured matches in Rocket League, Mario Kart, and Super Smash Bros, with both boys’ and girls’ teams competing in a spirit of “Good Game” and sportsmanship.
A highlight of the event was the Mario Kart Grand Final in the Girl Gamers Event, where Sora placed first in the competition. The race ended in a tie for first place, leading to a decisive last race. Sora’s was able to handle the pressure as she crossed the finish line first.
Beyond the competitive matches, the FUSE Cup offered students a chance to explore cutting-edge technology, including virtual reality (VR) experiences. The girls also enjoyed a dance break with Just Dance, adding a fun and energetic twist to the day. These activities provided a perfect balance to the intense gaming sessions, ensuring students stayed active and engaged.
The FUSE Cup organisers also delivered sessions on eSafety, partnering with organisations such as Kids Helpline and the eSafety Commissioner. These sessions emphasised the importance of online safety and provided students with resources and strategies to navigate the digital world responsibly. Additionally, students learned about maintaining healthy habits, including the importance of balanced gaming, healthy eating, regular breaks, sufficient sleep, and even warming up before gaming sessions.
A special highlight of the event was the participation of our Year 10 International students, who joined us in the activity. The FUSE Cup was not just a competition but also an opportunity for students to connect with peers from different schools, fostering new friendships and a sense of community.
Congratulations to all participants, and a special shout out to Sora for her incredible victory!
Library
Author Visit
Author Richard Yaxley visited Cairns High on Tuesday, the 29th of July giving students the opportunity to experience a Creative Writing workshop - with the library all to ourselves so there was no disturbance. He let us go wild with our imagination, helping us fix some mistakes that may clash with our plotline or story and worked with us to hone our craft and writing skills. Overall, it was a great day spending time with other literature nerds, learning from someone who has published a few of his own books, and getting more ideas for possible OC lore and our fantasy worlds~ ☆
Richard himself said, ‘anyone can be an author’. Your own world is in your hands!
By Ziah Arabejo
Readers Cup
Students Fatima, Neva, Amadi and Amadinie travelled to St Stephen’s to compete in the annual Readers Cup! Teams from all over the region answered questions on four novels: I Hope This Doesn’t Find You, Anomaly, One by One They Disappeared, and My Family and Other Suspects. The CSHS team tried hard and got 7th place, but most of all they got to enjoy meeting the readers in the region. Well done team!
Catherine Hicks | Teacher Librarian | English teacher
Music
Vale Bernie McKenzie
Bernie Mackenzie employed me as a music teacher in 1989 and 36 years later I am eternally grateful that he did. As we all know Bernie loved music and he was always very supportive of any new ideas.
In 1989 he co-founded the Cairns State High School Symphony Orchestra and in 1990 The North Queensland Philharmonic Orchestra. Over a 15-year period the NQPO raised over $100,000 for music instruments.
After retirement Bernie and Avryl continued to attend music evenings, musicals, the year 12 valedictory, choral and instrumental Fanfares and numerous other performances.
At the end of performances Bernie and Avryl would always embrace me and be so encouraging and complimentary to all.
So many memories but some that stand out - Bernie’s cameo performance of President Roosevelt in the CSHS production of Annie and his rendition of My Way with the CSHS Symphony Orchestra at his retirement celebration.
Bernie was kind, respectful, a true gentleman and I will so miss his presence and that embrace after a performance.
I believe this song is a fitting way to remember Bernie
Thank you for the music, the songs I’m singing
Thanks for all the joy they’re bringing
Who can live without it? I ask in all honesty
What would life be
Without a song or dance, what are we?
So I say, thank you for the music
For giving it to me
Lizanne Smith | Director of Music | OAM
Percussion Eisteddfod, Brisbane – Winners!
Congratulations to our fabulous Senior Percussion Ensemble who were awarded First Prize in the Australian Percussion Eisteddfod, held in Brisbane at St Peters Lutheran College. Their performance was noted as outstanding amongst a field of fierce competition.
Congratulations to: Josh Apostol, Harrison Baker, Tobias Beaven, Oka Beresford, Rafael Cole, Minkyo Jung, Jackson Mulherin, Joseph Seo, Joshua Seo, Viktor Swiggers.
A very special thanks to our selfless Instrumental Music Teachers – Jonathan Barbagallo and Emma Baker and Lizanne Smith. This dedicated and talented team looked after our students throughout the trip, organised everything from music to accommodation.
Thank you all for giving it your all!
Creative Generation Choral Fanfare State Finals 2025
What a trip we had! Seventy-five choristers and five staff jetted off to Brisbane on Thursday 14 August in preparation for our performance at Conservatorium Theatre Southbank the following evening at the Choral Fanfare Secondary School state finals 2025.
Following a great rehearsal at St Andrew’s Anglican Church South Brisbane we checked into our accommodation and had some free time until dinner. Resting voices and getting some sleep before the busy State final day was the goal. Happily, everyone was well and ready to go on competition day. Our soundcheck rehearsal was an adjustment for everyone as the acoustics were so vibrant and clear that every detail of the ensemble could be heard. This was a special acoustic indeed with the sound shells installed in Conservatorium Theatre Southbank for the first time at the Choral Fanfare State Finals.
After a quick dinner break back at the accommodation, we returned to the Conservatorium Theatre dressed in our performance uniforms ready for the Secondary State finals concert. Choristers, conductor and pianist (Ash Cawse) along with our support team (Brendan Begley, Maureen Cameron and Stephanie Grenning) waited with excitement for the secondary finals to begin. Acting Principal, Frank Brunetto was also there to support us back stage in our final preparations.
Our performance received enormous accolades from the adjudicators, conductors and choristers from other schools and our wonderful supportive parents and former students in the audience.
This is our fourth time winning the ‘most outstanding’ award at the Choral Fanfare state finals (out of five performances). We were all elated with the result and most importantly, the performance was a truly special one. Congratulations to the whole community of people supporting this important work!
Lauren Hannay | Chorale Teacher
Year 12 Senior Music and Music Extension Recital, St Monica’s Cathedral
Congratulations and a heartfelt thank you to the students and parents who attended the Senior Music and Music Extension Recital Evening held in St Monica’s Cathedral, Lake Street.
All students performed with a maturity and musicality beyond their years.
We extend our sincere thanks you Ashely Cawse for his skill and generosity as their accompanist and thank our committed music teachers for their expert guidance, encouragement and care. Please enjoy a copy of our recital programme here.
SHEP – State Honours Ensemble Programme
As Griffiths University, State Honours Ensemble Programme continues to gather momentum in terms of student participation, academic vigour and musical excellence in leadership and student activity, we were delighted to nominate and support our young performers in their involvement this year.
Thank you, parents, for drop-offs and pick-ups, early and late, for attending the finale concert and for your ongoing support of each child in their music education.
Congratulations students and community, we are proud of your achievements and look forward to a continued partnership with Griffiths University.
Congratulations to: Ziah Arabejo, Kenshiro Arakawa, Aidan Begley, Emrys Birbeck-McKay, Amy Cork, Jasper Gochee, Dash Heo, Jinwoo Hong, Sean Jeon, Kaon Morgan, Jade Paton, Beau Smith-Marron, Ritsu Suzuki, Lief Green, Elyssa Wilson.
Vietnam Vet Day, RSL – 18 August
Thank you to Cairns High music students Olivia Stein, Cornet and Catherine Hurdley, Voice in representing our college at the cenotaph at RSL, Cairns Remembrance Service for our Vietnam Veterans.
A short, poignant service attended by local service men and women and their families.
Renditions of Last Post and Reveille, and National Anthem were flawless and fittingly atmospheric for such a touching service.
Transition Afternoon Centre of Excellence (COE) Year 6 into 7 Musicians
Every year, we look forward to welcoming our newest young maestri to our music department to take part in a combined orchestra rehearsal.
This year, our orchestra was led by Simon McMenamin. Mr Barbagallo, Ms MacKenzie, Miss Cameron and Mr Cawse were on hand to give direction and a helping hand to our budding virtuoso performers.
The Vocal ensemble was put through their paces by Mrs Grenning and Mrs Hannay and sounded on top form.
For both rehearsals, we had several hand-picked musicians from CSHS Young Singers and Symphony Orchestra to help make this first transition event one to remember.
Thank you to the parents, for their kind words and for their enthusiasm in continuing their music education here at CSHS.
We look forward to continuing the excellent musical tradition that has been built over many years by dedicated and talented students, teachers and community.
Welcome to the Cairns High Centre of Musical Excellence!
Young Mannheim Symphonists National Academy
Recently, Me, Iroha and Sana got the exciting new that we were accepted into Young Mannheim Symphonists National Academy in Adelaide. I got the position of first oboe for the Schubert's Tragic Symphony and second oboe for Mendelssohn's Scottish Symphony. This Program will run during the next holiday, and you will be able to live stream the concert if you buy tickets. There will be more information about that soon. By Quin Hoshino
Congratulations to Tili Green
Tili Green has won a recording contract from Vermillion Records after submitting her own song composition ‘Enough from You’ in their Vermillion High, 2025 song writing competition.Tili has been awarded recording sessions at the world class recording studios, at QUT’s Kelvin Grove Campus and the world premiere of her work will take place at a specially organised concert held at Grove Bar, to coincide with the release and launch of the Vermillion 6 album.
CSHS is very proud of Tili’s compositional and performance skills, and we look forward to hearing all about it.
Welcome to the tuba section Charlotte
It's not often that having a set of braces fitted when you’re a trumpet player warrants a celebration, but in this case, trumpet player Charlotte Milner has embraced the brace and made the BIG move to Tuba!
Congratulations Charlotte, we wonder if you’ll be the next professional tuba player to join the likes of Rachel Kelly, Principal Tuba Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra?
“I am so excited…. I love it” Charlotte Milner, 22/08/25 (first notes on her new tuba)
Iconic tickets available on sale here.
Calendar
Thank you for your continued support and attendance at our events, concerts, eisteddfod, rehearsals ad all things Music.
Please find the latest calendar here that takes us to the end of 2025 (that we know of).
There is still plenty of music opportunities, rehearsals are running as vigorously as always. If you are unable to attend for any reason, can parents please let the teachers involved know. We look forward to supporting you and your child fully.
Maureen Cameron | HOD of Music
Science
Science Week
Volcano Activity (Ian, Elijah & Kai)
As part of National Science Week, Year 11 students ran a volcano demonstration under R Block. Using baking soda, vinegar, and food colouring, we showed how a simple chemical reaction can mimic the eruption of a real volcano.
When the acid (vinegar) reacted with the base (baking soda), carbon dioxide gas was released. This caused the colourful “lava” to bubble up and spill over, just like volcanoes in nature.
The juniors gathered around to watch the eruptions, and their excitement reminded us why these demonstrations are such a fun part of science. It was a great way to celebrate National Science Week and to share a little chemistry in action with the younger students.
Dry Ice (Dhairya and Ashling)
During Science week the chemistry behind pH was explored by using dry ice and it was both intriguing and fascinating. The solid form of carbon dioxide is called dry ice, and it doesn't melt like regular ice does. It sublimates instead, going directly from solid to gas. The reaction was immediate when we put dry ice into water. Mist clouds rose, and the water's pH started to change. We used universal indicator, which changes colour in different pH, to see the change in water pH as the gas dissolved and increased the acidity of the water. This experiment showed that the chemical reactions that happen all around us, even if we don’t notice them.
Elephants toothpaste (Michaelah, Tanya, Claudia & Evie)
This activity was based on the chemical decomposition reaction between Hydrogiene peroxide and yeast. The experiment took place to demonstrate the fast reaction for younger students as a way to entertain or even 'inspire' them. Elephants toothpaste is very well known among the younger generation which sparked their interest in witnessing the experiment under R Block during Science week. Tanya Taxon and Michaelah Hughes were two of the 4 students who performed this experiment for any onlookers during that lunch, it was proven as a great success with many peers taking an interest in the reaction.
STEM Careers Panel (Evie & Claudia)
'On the 12th of August, Evie Evans and I, Claudia Kurowski, had the privilege of hosting our school’s STEM Careers Panel. We welcomed four incredible guest speakers: Professor Rowan Young, a chemistry researcher at UQ; Carolyn Diedricks, Head of Engineering Lecturing at JCU; Bharti Arora, a urology registrar; and Hayley Storey, a nursing student at JCU. Throughout the panel we asked them a wide range of questions, from misconceptions about their careers to why young people should even consider going into STEM in today’s world. Their answers were both candid and inspiring, giving us a real sense of the challenges and rewards that come with pursuing science, technology, engineering and medicine. Hearing how each of them found their path helped us see that there is no single “right way” to a STEM career, and that curiosity and persistence are just as important as technical knowledge.
The inclusion of medicine alongside science and engineering made the panel truly well-rounded, and it was incredibly valuable to see how STEM careers connect to real-world impact. The day left us all feeling motivated to explore the many opportunities STEM has to offer. We would like to sincerely thank our guest speakers for generously sharing their time and experiences with us, as well as Mrs. Wilson, Head of Science at Cairns High, for her support in making this event possible. Without them, this inspiring opportunity for students would not have been the success that it was.'
Guest Speaker visit
On Tuesday 12th and Friday 15th August a number of Science classes attended a presentation by A/Prof Rowan Young from the Unversity of Queensland as part of the O’Donnell Schools Lecture series who spoke on ‘Recycling and Repurposing Fluorocarbons for a Greener World’.
A/Prof. Young was an engaging speaker who spoke about his pathway from school to where he is now, including the range of institutions he’s studied and worked at around the world. His career pathway ranged from banking to leading a chemistry research team in Singapore and was a great example of the diversity of jobs available to those trained in the sciences.
Rowan spoke about his research in the area of fluorocarbons, discussing their unique properties and the incredibly wide range of products that they are used in globally. He explained concerns about use of these ‘forever chemicals’ and the limited understanding of the effect of bioaccumulation of fluorine compounds in the body. An enlightening and informative presentation that highlighted the importance of regulation and monitoring of chemicals in the environment as well as an understanding of the role of recycling to reduce aspects such as bioaccumulation of these stable compounds.
A big thank you to Rowan for sharing his journey in the area of Chemistry research and to the Royal Australian Chemical Institute (RACI) and the Business Liaison Association who organised and funded Rowan’s visit to Cairns.
Kim Wilson | HOD of Science
Sport
Bill Turner
On August 5-6, the Centre of Football Excellence Girls travelled to Brisbane to compete in the Bill Turner Trophy State Finals. After defeating Varsity College 5-0 in the Semi Final, the girls faced Kelvin Grove in the State Final. Although they were defeated 5-1, they came away with a 2nd place in Queensland which also places them in the top 8 schools in Australia, out of 400 schools. Well done on an outstanding achievement!
Futsal
On 19-20 August, the Centre of Football Excellence Girls travelled to Townsville to compete in the FQ Northern State Futsal Championships. The U13 team finished in 2nd place and the U15 and U18 teams came away with a gold medal. As a result, all three teams qualified for the National Championships that will be held at Nissan Arena, Brisbane on 24-26 November.
A big thank you to Kensington Park Horse Agistment & Stud https://www.kensingtonparkmareeba.com.au/ for sponsoring the Bill Turner Trophy girls at the State Finals, and the U13 and U15 girls at the FQ Northern State Futsal Championships. On behalf of the students and parents, I would like to thank you for your ongoing support – it is very much appreciated.
Inter-House Swimming Carvial
Click here for more information.