Class of 1985 alumni returned to BAC on August 3, 2025.By Danny Youlden and the Class of 1985
The year was 1985—a time predating the widespread use of the internet and personal computers. Phones were rotary-dial and only ‘mobile’ for the two to three metres allowed by a long stretchy cord. Joh Bjelke-Petersen was the Premier of Queensland. The Broncos, Lions, and Firebirds didn’t yet exist. Schools were air-conditioned by opening the windows. Corporal punishment was still alive and well—though not for the students on the receiving end. All these things (or the lack of them) and so many more are hard to imagine now. A lot has changed over the last four decades.
On Sunday, August 3, the Brisbane Adventist High School class of 1985 came together at Garden City to celebrate their 40-year reunion. About 35 people attended in total, including students, partners, and a few former teachers who are now friends—although “Mr” or “Mrs” still seems appropriate for those who addressed us from the front of our classrooms for so many years.
Some who came back had attended BAHS for just a year or two, while others had the full experience—the Class of '85 was one of the first cohorts to complete Grades 1 through 12. There were hugs, smiles, a few tears, grey hair/less hair/no hair, conversations about children and grandchildren, descriptions of careers now turning to plans for retirement, stories of the good ol’ (and, sometimes, bad ol’) days—depending on the topic—and remembering those who are no longer with us.
Time goes by too quickly. A big thank you to Anthony Bishop for getting everyone organised and to those who came along. We missed you if you were unable to attend and hope to have an even bigger reunion in ten—maybe even five—years from now. We may not get to see each other all that often, but the bonds remain. We are tied together by shared experiences and an underlying gratitude for the education we received and the life lessons we learned here so many years ago.
