Celebrating 20 Years of the Cape York Leaders Program in Townsville
On Wulgurukaba and Bindal Country, Townsville, Cape York Leaders Program (CYLP) marked a powerful milestone of 20 years shaping futures, strengthening culture and building leaders.
Bringing together students, parents, schools, alumni and staff in the region, the room was filled with pride as generations reflected on the program’s legacy and the pathways it continues to create for young people of Cape York.
Parent Rick Phinesea captured the spirit of the evening, reminding everyone of the responsibility carried forward. “We must do more with more, because our Elders in the past did more with less,” he said.
The evening was rich with stories that reflected how far the program has reached. The Phinesea family shared their journey from being among the first staff and participants, to seeing their children now studying law, medicine and pharmacy through the program.
“It has blessed us so much from community to opportunity,” Rick Phinesea said. “Once you do it and you do it right, everything will always be all right in the end. It will be hard, but it will be worth it because sacrifice brings blessings.” Rick Phinesea said
That spirit of perseverance and reward was felt throughout the night. Alumni stood alongside current secondary and tertiary students, sharing their journeys and inspiring the next generation. Students from schools across the region including The Cathedral School of St Anne & James Townsville, and Columba Catholic College Charters Towers, spoke with pride about the role models before them, while alumni reflected on heir own paths.
“I felt the spirit of our old people tonight,” Cape York Partnership Group CEO Fiona Group said. “They had this vision for our young ones, and seeing the hope and determination in our CYLP students reminds me that the future is strong.”
The event was a moment for reflection. For many alumni, seeing current students brought back memories of their own first days away from home at boarding school. “They reminded me of myself when I was younger,” CYLP alumni Mena Newman shared. “It’s just nice to see the light in their eyes and speak to them about their future, knowing how bright it is.”
The Townsville dinner was a celebration of history and legacy. Two decades on, CYLP continues to nurture leaders who walk proudly in both worlds, carrying forward the vision of their communities with strength, resilience and hope.
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