List of alumni of Brisbane State High School

This is a list of notable alumni of Brisbane State High School.

Business

• Anna Podolsky – Class of 2008 – CEO and Founder of Lyka
• Michael Bryce – Class of 1955 – Principal Design Advisor to the Sydney Olympic Games; husband of Quentin Bryce
• Robin Gibson – Class of 1947 – architect noted for designing QPAC, the Queensland Art Gallery, the State Library, the Queensland Museum and Queen Street Mall
• John Lazarou – Class of 1978 – one of the owners of The Coffee Club
• Andrew Liveris – Class of 1971 – CEO Dow Chemicals, Co-chair of President Obama's Advanced Manufacturing Partnership; selected by President Donald Trump to head the American Manufacturing Council
• Paul Morgan – Class of 1964 – Co-founder of the Brisbane Broncos
• Katie Page – Class of 1973 – CEO of Harvey Norman; co-owner of the Magic Millions; first woman elected to the board of the National Rugby League
• Ed Tweddell – CEO, F.H. Faulding & Co.
• Chris Wallin – Class of 1969 – businessman
• Graeme Wood – Class of 1964 – co-founder and executive director of wotif.com; 2008 Queenslander of the Year

Education

• Paul Memmott – Class of 1966 – architect, anthropologist and academic

Entertainment, media and the arts

• Jess Bush – Class of 2009 – actress
• Jessica Anderson – novelist
• Ray Barrett – Class of 1942 – actor
• Gordon Bennett – artist
• Paul Bishop – Class of 1984 – actor and Councillor for Redland City
• Barbara Blackman – writer
• John Blight – Class of 1931 – poet
• Carol Burns – Class of 1964 – actor
• Edward Chen – Class of 2010 – violinist and YouTuber
• Laurence Collinson – playwright, actor, poet, journalist, and secondary school teacher
• Barry Creyton – Class of 1955 – actor and playwright
• Brett Dean – Class of 1978 – composer
• Paul Dean – Class of 1983 – clarinetist
• Diana Doherty – Class of 1983 – Oboist
• Penny Downie – Class of 1970 – actress
• Jackie French AM – Class of 1970 – author; Senior Australian of the Year 2015
• Luke Haralampou – Class of 2000 – slam poet
• Neil Johnson – Class of 1984 – film and music video producer, editor and director
• Steve Kipner – 1962–1963 – songwriter and record producer
• Becky Lucas – Class of 2006 – comedian, writer and presenter
• Fintan Magee – Class of 2000 – street artist
• Tahu Matheson – Class of 1993 – classical pianist and conductor
• Matt Okine – Class of 2003 – comedian, actor and radio host
• Charles Osborne – Class of 1943 – journalist, theatre and opera critic, poet and novelist
• John Peart – Junior Class of 1961 – artist
• Barrett Reid – Class of 1943 – librarian, poet and literary editor
• William Robinson – Class of 1951 – artist, twice winner of the Archibald Prize
• Lillian Roxon – Class of 1948 – author and journalist
• Donald Shanks – Class of 1956 – bass-baritone singer
• Christopher Sommers – Class of 1994 – actor
• Patrick Thomas – Class of 1949 – conductor
• Avra Velis – singer-songwriter
• Liam Young – Class of 1996 – film director and architect

Governance and politics

• Len Ardill – Labor MLA for Salisbury (1986–1992) and Archerfield (1992–1998)
• Chris Bombolas – Class of 1978 – Labor MLA for Chatsworth; former Channel 9 sports presenter and reporter
• Fred Campbell – Class of 1925 – Liberal MLA for Aspley
• Max Chandler-Mather – Class of 2009 – Australian federal politician
• Mal Colston – Class of 1955 – Australian Labor Party senator representing Queensland 1975–1999
• Manfred Cross – Class of 1946 – Federal member for Brisbane in the House of Representatives (1961–1975, 1980–1990)
• John Dempsey – Class of 1984 – Queensland Minister for Police and Community Safety
• George Georges – Class of 1939 – Labor senator
• Bill Hayden – Class of 1949 – 21st Governor-General of Australia; Foreign Affairs Minister 1983–1988
• Sir Leo Hielscher AC – Class of 1941 – past Head of Queensland Treasury, Head of QIC and QIDC
• Alasdair Hutton – Class of 1960 – Member of European Parliament, Author, Narrator
• Myer Kangan – Junior Class of 1934 – public servant and educationalist
• John-Paul Langbroek – Sub-Senior Class of 1978 – Liberal National MLA for Surfers Paradise – Minister for Education, Training and Employment 2012–2015 – Leader of the Opposition and parliamentary leader of the LNP from 2009 to 2011
• Amy MacMahon – Class of 2003 – Greens MLA for South Brisbane
• Julie-Ann Campbell – Class of 2003 – Labor MHR for Moreton
• Charis Mullen – Class of 1991 – Labor MLA for Jordan (Qld)
• Bill O'Chee – Class of 1982 – National Party Senator; Australian Skelton representative at World Cup and World Championships 1998-2002
• Lin Powell – Class of 1954 – National MLA for Isis
• Guelfi Scassola – Class of 1958 – Liberal MLA for Mt Gravatt
• Lyle Schuntner – Class of 1954 – Liberal MLA for Mount Coot-tha
• Murray Watt – Class of 1989 – Labor MLA for Everton, Labor Senator for Queensland
• Lawrie Willett – Director-General of Health (1983–1984); Chancellor of Charles Sturt University (2002–2014)
• Jason Woodforth – Class of 1984 – Liberal National MLA for Nudgee

Journalism

• Matt Carmichael – Class of 1998 – sports journalist
• Jenny Coopes – Junior Class of 1960 – political cartoonist, illustrator and painter
• Nick Etchells – Class of 1991 – journalist
• Heather Foord – Class of 1982 – journalist
• Archer Hamilton – Class of 2008 – former journalist
• Edgar George Holt – poet, journalist and public relations officer
• Sylvia Jeffreys – Class of 2003 – journalist and Nine Network presenter
• Sandra Sully – Class of 1978 – journalist and Network 10 presenter
• Matt Wordsworth – Class of 1991 – journalist
• Neil Breen – Class of 1985 – Newspaper journalist editor and Nine Network producer and presenter, Walkley Award winner

Law

• Peter Applegarth – Class of 1975 – Justice of the Supreme Court of Queensland
• Glenn Martin – Class of 1972 – Justice of the Supreme Court of Queensland – President, Industrial Court of Queensland

Medicine and science

• Paul Glasziou – Class of 1971 – academic physician
• Martin Green – Class of 1965 – scientist; Research Director of the University of New South Wales Photovoltaic Centre of Excellence
• James Morton – Class of 1980 – medical doctor
• Professor Geoffrey Pryde – Class of 1991 – Quantum Physicist, deputy director, Centre for Quantum Dynamics, Australia

Military

• Virgil Brennan – Junior Class of 1934 – flying ace of the Second World War
• Ray Funnell – Class of 1952 – Chief of the Air Staff – RAAF 1987–1992
• Geoff Shepherd – Class of 1969 – Air Marshall; Chief of the RAAF 2005–2008
• Douglas Vincent – Class of 1934 – Major General in the Australian Army

Religion

• Eva Burrows – Class of 1946 – 13th World Leader of the Salvation Army
• Ken Ham – senior science teacher, young-Earth creationist and creator of the Creation Museum in the US
• John Mavor – Class of 1951 – minister of religion
• David Tribe – Class of 1949 – secularist and humanist

Sport

Many students of the school have gone on to represent Australia at the Olympics and win medals. More than thirty past students have competed in the Olympics during the school's history, winning numerous bronze, silver and gold medals, some with world records, across a range of sporting disciplines.

Athletics

• Naa Anang – Class of 2012 – Australian Long Jumper, Commonwealth Games 2018
• Nik Bojic – Class of 2009 – Australian high jumper, Commonwealth Games 2014
• Norma Croker – Class of 1952 – Olympian 1956 gold medal, 1960
• Cedric Dubler – Class of 2012 – Olympic decathlete 2016 and 2020, Bronze Medal at the 2018 and 2022 Commonwealth Games, 3rd Best Australian Decathlete of all time
• Marion Hoffman – Class of 1967 – Olympic sprinter 1972, Gold and bronze medals at the 1970 Commonwealth Games
• Jenny Lund – Australia long-distance runner

Australian rules football

• Jaspa Fletcher – Class of 2022 – Brisbane Lions

Badminton

• Wendy Chen – Class of 2010 – Olympian 2016 and 2020

Basketball

• Chris Goulding – Class of 2005 – Olympian 2016 – professional basketball player in Australia and Spain
• Shyla Heal – Class of 2016 – Australian professional basketball player
• Mojave King – professional basketball player
• Tiana Mangakahia – Class of 2012 – professional basketball player
• Brock Motum – Class of 2007 – Olympian 2016 – professional basketball player in Italy

Cricket

• Peter Allan – Class of 1953 – Australian cricketer
• John Childe-Freeman – Class of 1951 – Queensland cricketer
• Ian Healy – Class of 1981 – Australian test cricketer, Australian wicket-keeper of the century
• Mel Johnson – Class of 1959 – Australian Test cricket match umpire
• Michael Kasprowicz – Class of 1989 – Australian test cricketer
• Charli Knott – Class of 2020 – Queensland Fire, Brisbane Heat
• Marnus Labuschagne – Class of 2011 – Australian test cricketer
• Stuart Law – Year 9 1982 – Australian test cricketer
• John Maclean – Class of 1963 – Australian test cricketer
• Sandy Morgan – Class of 1962 – Queensland cricketer
• James Peirson – Class of 2009 – Queensland cricketer
• Ian Seib – Class of 1963 – Queensland cricketer
• Glenn Trimble – Class of 1979 – Australian ODI cricketer
• Georgia Voll – Class of 2021 – Australian cricketer
• Jack Wildermuth – Class of 2010 – Brisbane Heat, Queensland and Australian T20 cricketer

Cycling

• Stuart Jones – Class of 1986 – Paralympian

Goalball

• Nicole Esdaile – Class of 2004 – Paralympian

Gymnastics

• Jessica Weintraub – Class of 2025 – Olympic rhythmic gymnast

Hockey

• Fred Quine – Class of 1956 – Olympian 1968 silver medal

Kayaking and canoeing

• Lyndsie Fogarty – Class of 2002 – Olympian 2008 bronze medal, 2012

Motorsport

• Gregg Hansford – Class of 1969 – Professional motorcycle and automobile racer; ten-time Grand Prix winner

Netball

• Peta Stephens – Class of 1995 – Queensland Firebirds Captain

Rowing

• Tim Conrad – Class of 1969 – Olympian 1976
• Ian Edmunds – Class of 1978 – Olympian 1984 bronze medal
• Bo Hanson – Class of 1990 – Olympian 1992, 1996, 2000 & 2004; three bronze medals

Rugby league

• Elijah Alick – Class of 2014 – Brisbane Broncos
• Jay Aston – Class of 2006 – Papua New Guinea Rugby League World Cup Side 2008
• Greg Holben – Class of 1968 – Queensland
• Wally Lewis – Class of 1977 – Australian national team captain from 1984 to 1989
• Andrew McCullough – Class of 2007 – Brisbane Broncos
• Ryan McGoldrick – Class of 1999 – Cronulla, Castleford Tigers, Hull F.C, USA RL Team
• Paul Morgan – Class of 1964 – Queensland
• John Plath – Class of 1986 – Brisbane Broncos
• Murray Taulagi – Class of 2016 – North Queensland Cowboys
• Will Tupou – Class of 2007 – North Queensland Cowboys

Rugby union

• Paul Alo-Emile – Class of 2009 – Samoan International, Melbourne Rebels, Stade Français, Australian U20's,
• Mark Bartholomeusz – Class of 1994 – Wallaby, ACT Brumbies
• Curtis Browning – Class of 2011 – Queensland Reds
• Paul Carozza – Class of 1983 – Wallaby, Queensland Reds
• Joel Faulkner – Class of 2009 – Australian U20's
• Chris Feauai-Sautia – Class of 2011 – Wallaby, Queensland Reds, Highest capped Australian Schoolboy
• Charlie Fetoai – Class of 2005 – Queensland Reds
• Peter Hynes – Class of 2000 – Wallaby, Queensland Reds
• Simon Kasprowicz – Class of 1994 – Waratah
• Mafileo Kefu – Class of 2000 – Tongan International, Toulon
• Samu Kerevi – Class of 2011 – Wallaby, Queensland Reds
• Adam Korczyk – Class of 2012 – Queensland Reds
• Ryan McGoldrick – Class of 1999 – New South Wales Waratahs
• Peter McLean – Class of 1969 – Wallaby
• William McLean – Class of 1933 – Wallaby Captain
• Ben Meehan – Class of 2011 – Melbourne Rebels, London Irish
• Paul Mooney – Class of 1946 – Wallaby
• James Moore – Class of 2010 – Japan International, Sunwolves
• David Paice – Class of 2000 – England International, England Saxons, London Irish
• Jordan Petaia – Class of 2017 – Wallaby, Queensland Reds, Youngest player to debut for the Qld Reds, Youngest player to debut for the Wallabies in a World Cup
• Ed Quirk – Class of 2008 – Wallaby, Queensland Reds
• Christopher Roche – Class of 1977 – Wallaby, Queensland Reds
• Jacob Rauluni – Class of 1989 – Fiji Captain, Queensland Reds
• Mosese Rauluni – Class of 1992 – Fiji Captain
• Rodney Seib – Class of 1992 – professional rugby union coach
• Peter Slattery – Class of 1983 – Wallaby, Queensland Reds
• Brian Smith – Class of 1983 – Wallaby and Ireland International, Queensland Reds, Former England Attacking Coach
• Patrick Tafa – Class of 2016 – NSW Waratahs
• Matt To'omua – Class of 2007 – Wallaby, ACT Brumbies
• Tuaina Taii Tualima – Class of 2015 – Queensland Reds
• Will Tupou – Class of 2007 – Japan International, Sunwolves
• Brando Va'aulu – Class of 2005 – Samoa, Queensland Reds
• David Wilson – Class of 1984 – Wallaby

Rugby union 7's

• Charlotte Caslick – Class of 2012 – Olympian 2016 gold medal, Women's Rugby sevens player
• Isabella Nasser – Class of 2019 – Australia rugby sevens player
• Christopher Roche – Class of 1977 – Australian Sevens Team

Sailing

• Peter Conde – Class of 1975 – Australian sailor and leading Australian sport administrator

Soccer

• Ben Halloran – Class of 2009 – Gold Coast United FC, Brisbane Roar, Fortuna Düsseldorf, Socceroo World Cup 2014
• Chris Harold – Class of 2009 – Gold Coast United FC, Perth Glory
• Grace Kuilamu – Class of 2024 – Matildas, Brisbane Roar
• Golgol Mebrahtu – Class of 2007 – Gold Coast United FC, Melbourne Heart

Softball

• Marissa Carpadios – Class of 1995 – Olympian 2004 silver medal
• Danielle Stewart – Class of 1998 – Olympian 2008

Speed skating

• Deanna Lockett – Class of 2013 – speed skater – Olympian 2014

Swimming

• Evelina Afoa – Class of 2015 – Olympian 2016 representing Samoa
• Duncan Armstrong – Class of 1985 – Olympian 1988 gold and silver medal, 1992
• Susie Baumer – Year 9 1981 – Olympian 1984, 1988
• Jodie Clatworthy – Class of 1989 – Olympian 1988
• Brad Cooper – Class of 1971 – Olympian 1972 gold medal
• Justin Lemberg – Class of 1983 – Olympian 1984 bronze medal
• Hayley Lewis – Class of 1991 – Olympian 1992 silver and bronze medal, 1996
• Scott Logan – Class of 1993 – Olympian 1996
• Lise Mackie – Class of 1993 – Olympian 1992, 1996 bronze medal
• Dwade Sheehan – Class of 1991 – Commonwealth Games 1994 gold medal (relay)
• Jon Sieben – Class of 1983 – Olympian 1984 gold and bronze medal, 1988, 1992

Tennis

• Mark Draper – Class of 1987 – former professional tennis player from Australia
• Scott Draper – Class of 1991 – Australian Open Mixed Doubles Champion with Samantha Stosur 2005

Triathlon

• Rina Hill – Year 9 1983 – Olympian 2004

Volleyball

• Jarryd Christensen – Class of 2004 – Australian team member
• Zane Christensen – Class of 2002 – Olympian 2004

Water polo

• Kate Gynther – Class of 1999 – Olympian 2004, 2008 bronze medal, 2012 bronze medal
• Amy Hetzel – Class of 2000 – Olympian 2008 bronze medal

References