The 4th February 1987, a day 35 years ago is etched with rawness into my life. I'd like to say I remember a lot about this day and the days that followed; but a part of me has decided it is just too painful to remember so I can only recall snippets of what occurred. I spent years trying to remember and fill in the gaps with little success, now I make time in my life to acknowledge the loss for the families, for my friends and the lasting impact this event had on the Cairns High School and Cairns community at large.
On this day thirty-five years ago a school bus carrying students home from a school camp went off the cliff edge of the Gillies Highway. The bus fell 20m, rolling several times, before coming to a rest upside down in a gully. The impact killed eight students and injured students, teachers and the bus driver.
We were sixteen years old and in our final year of high school attending our leadership camp on the Atherton Tablelands. We had spent days before bonding together as a senior year group but nothing could have prepared us for the tragedy that occurred that day.
Images courtesy of fellow student Elissa Coxen
Three buses carried 135 students back to Cairns from the leadership camp. The first bus arrived on time; I think it was well before 3pm; and we all sat around waiting for the other 2 buses to arrive. It started out with us sitting around and singing and chatting and ended up and hour or so later as a prayer circle. I also recall hearing so many sirens as all the ambulances flew down the street past the school.
Many hours later we were informed that the second bus went over the cliff and students and teachers from the third bus were first on the scene and became the rescuers and helpers to their fellow students.
My thoughts and love go out to all the families and fellow students that lost loved ones as well as those that were survivors and those that were impacted by the event on this day 4th of February 1987. Forever young Mark, Judith, Amanda, Monique, Erica, Liz, Jody and Lee-Anne.
