The Innisfail RSL rang with laughter as classmates embraced, swapped stories and recognised faces not seen in four decades.
Some looked unchanged, others silver-haired, but all were instantly familiar.
The classes of 1983 and 1985 brought a unique twist to their reunion, one that reflected the schooling experience of their era.
In 1983, students at Good Counsel College were unable to continue their studies beyond Year 10 without transferring to another school. Some left for boarding schools, while others transitioned to Innisfail State High School.
To mark their 40-year milestone, organisers brought both groups together, the Year 10 graduates of 1983 and the Year 12 graduates of 1985, for a joint celebration.
The evening, held at the Innisfail RSL, was filled with hugs and the kind of easy conversation that only happens when old friends reconnect after decades. Former classmates travelled from Adelaide, Brisbane, Townsville, and Cairns, while others who stayed in Innisfail brought stories of how the town and community had changed.
“We decided to combine both schools as we had seen other reunions held separately for each. We wanted to bring everyone back together,” organiser Andrea Harding said.
Nostalgia ran deep as attendees swapped stories of teachers, schoolyard pranks, and the challenges of leaving Good Counsel after Year 10. The blending of the two-year groups reflected paths that once diverged yet remained connected.
“I have been living in Brisbane, and I have not seen some of these people for over 40 years. It has been very emotional,” Lorella Durigon said.
Classmates have gone on to follow many paths. Viv Cassady, founding member of Cassady Connections, and Juma Walker, from the band Cross Thread, have both built music careers that are well recognised across Far North Queensland.
“When I heard Juma Walker was coming, we thought it would be fun to put something together for one night only,” Viv Cassady said. “We called ourselves ‘1985’ so we could blend our styles and celebrate where it all began.”
The night was not only about looking back but also about remembering those no longer with them, while celebrating where life had taken each of them as business owners, musicians, parents, and grandparents, all carrying stories that traced back to the classrooms they once shared.
As dinner wound down, many gathered around the tables of memorabilia and watched the slideshow. The call for photos kept the photographers busy as classmates organised themselves into groups from past school days, friendship circles, year cohorts and teams, eager to capture the bonds and memories that had stood the test of time.
Adding to the atmosphere, DJ Rob Smith kept the dance floor alive with a mix of tracks from the 1980s, the music of their youth, weaving nostalgia through the night.
“The night achieved more than just marking 40 years,” Harding said. “It bridged beginnings at Good Counsel, paths that led to Innisfail State High and boarding schools and ultimately brought us all back together.”
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