Palm trees, clean beaches, tropical offshore islands, open fields and attractive single-level air-conditioned school buildings offer a relaxed lifestyle in Mackay, North Queensland, where Whitsunday Anglican School is expanding to meet the needs of a growing community.

The school is 23 years old and is the only regional boarding school in the Mackay region. In 2012 it will add full-time boarding to weekly boarding when it opens an extension allowing it to accommodate 78 boarders.

Students at Whitsunday Anglican School enjoy a tropical lifestyle at school expanding to meet the needs of the growing community.

Director of Admissions, Mike Partridge, conducts school tours of the co-educational school and manages the scholarship program. He said the boarding school draws enrolments from families in the mining industry (coal in the hinterland), the farming community (Mackay is the largest sugar producing area in Australia), the growing tourism industry and increasingly the professional urban community.

“The the school is gearing up to promote itself more widely in the future and is networking with international markets by developing links in Korea, India, Hong Kong and Europe.

“We have a lot to offer international students because of our beautiful and safe environment and our proximity to major universities (UQ, QUT, CQU and James Cook University,” said Mike.

The school has been working to build an academic culture to position it in professional and international markets and it is proud to say that Whitsunday Anglican School is now described as one of the top 15 schools in Queensland.

About the author

Dr Linda Vining, FACE, is the Director of Marketing Schools. Her contacts are 08 8260 7077 or office@marketingschools.net