Alfred's winds and floods couldn't dampen Iona spirits

It is not unusual for students and staff to have to weather a few storms at the beginning of a new school year. But in March of this year, Ionians were presented with something of a unique challenge as we dealt with the arrival and aftermath of Tropical Cyclone Alfred.

Alfred’s slow progress down the east coast gave our community, and the southeast Queensland region as a whole, ample time to prepare.

With Alfred forecast to cross the coast on Friday 6 March as a Category 2 cyclone, Iona decided to shut the campus on the Thursday to keep our students, staff and families safe. While Alfred stalled before reaching the coast, its eventual arrival brought destructive winds, relentless rain, and widespread disruption.

Thankfully, Iona’s campus sustained only minor damage. However, many within our wider community experienced extended power outages, water ingress, and significant damage to homes and properties.

Our mulchers were kept busy, as a couple of large gum trees were felled by the cyclone’s fierce winds. The grounds were littered with branches, leaves, and debris, transforming familiar spaces into temporary hazards. Enormous thanks to our dedicated grounds team and the staff who volunteered their time over that weekend to ensure the College could reopen safely the following Tuesday, with buildings cleaned and pathways made safe for staff and students.

The grounds staff were given a helping hand when students returned to school, with our Year 11 Ionians chipping in for clean-up duty as part of their 3:16 Catholic Studies community service program. They did a great job clearing up debris and cleaning the grounds.

Despite train lines being out of service and many families still without electricity, student attendance reached an impressive 88 per cent on the first day back. This speaks volumes about the resilience, determination, and community spirit of our students and their families.

In the face of adversity, Iona stood strong — not just as a school, but as a community united, demonstrating once again the strength of our shared values and the importance of supporting one another during challenging times.