A Glamorous Evening for our Seniors, By Andrew Dorahy

After such an unpredictable 2020 with all the Coronavirus restrictions, it was delightful and reassuring that this year’s Senior Formal on Wednesday 5 May returned to its natural habitat: the Pullman Cairns International.

Back to our usual and highly sophisticated setting, it was a glamorous evening with the almost unrecognisable seniors displaying suave, debonaire and gentlemanly characteristics throughout. Despite donning what looked like bespoke and very stylish suits, our young men were completely eclipsed by their chic and gorgeous partners who looked absolutely stunning. The classic ball gown remained very much in vogue, red and maroon being le couleur du jour for the occasion.

There was much renewed excitement with the return of a crowd of eager spectators, albeit on a much smaller scale, as couples made their grand entrance at the college. This was followed by a trip down the red carpet where each senior and his partner were photographed before being transported by coach to the Pullman Cairns International. On disembarkation, they joined the reception line where they were greeted by Principal Mr Brennan. After a warm speech of welcome from our college captain, Richard Huelin, the seniors could again spin their partners around the floor in a most polished series of the Gypsy Tap. The guests were then treated to a sumptuous three-course dinner.

With the prohibition on dancing happily lifted this year, it was time to crank up the music and trip the light fantastic. All attendees leapt at this opportunity with energy and enthusiasm, and there was many a display of dancing style and prowess on the floor. 

Time seemed to melt before one’s eyes, and before we realised it, the time had come to bid adieu to our night of glamour and return to the normalcy of our everyday lives. Another very special formal had come to an end, and what a wonderful and memorable evening it was. The seniors and their partners demonstrated what a tremendous spectacle rites of passage such as these can prove to be. They are a credit to themselves, to their families, to the class of 2021 and to their college. 

 A very big thank you must go to all our students, partners and parents, to Mr Brennan, to Mr Greg Kinloch and Mr Andrew Willis for providing the transport, and to Ms Elaine Dean and Mrs Tracey Kingston-Bull for their tremendous behind-the-scenes work. Also a special thank you to our student photographers and videographer Jesse Neilsen, Ryan Jackson and Pyper Kingston-Bull. All combined contributed to the 2021 Senior Formal being a grand success. 

 [Editor’s note: Mr Dorahy also played an important role in planning the formal, co-ordinating the arrivals and ensuring the whole occasion went off without a hitch.]