$100,000 Gift To Help Students

December 10, 2024

When people retire, their employer sometimes hands them a gift … but Kingaroy State High School’s Leanne Krosch has turned this tradition upside down in a huge way.

Friday will be Leanne’s last day as Head of Department in the Senior School.

On Monday, Leanne and her husband Barry presented principal David Thomson with a most generous gift for the school … $100,000!

For the next five years, a $2500 Leanne and Barry Krosch Bursary will be presented to one student in each of Years 7-12, a total of $15,000 every year.

As well, a $5000 “discretionary fund” has also been set up for next five years.

“We are overwhelmed,” Mr Thomson said.

“It will make a profound difference to the students. It will be a wonderful opportunity.”

Leanne said the bursary would be presented to “good kids” who were trying hard, but would not be linked to academic success.

“When I went to university it was free. There are kids out there now who don’t have a lot of financial help who would benefit from a hand-up,” she said.

Leanne has been teaching for 49 years, with 47½ years at Education Queensland and a total of 22 years at KSHS.

She said she was going to miss the social interaction when she retired, especially meeting the students arriving on the “first day” of every school year.

Kingaroy State High School is also special for her husband, Barry, who attended the school in the 1960s and also worked there as a Development Officer for several years. 

Mr Thomson praised Leanne’s service at the school.

“The senior school results rest on Leanne’s shoulders. Every student that has left here with a QCE is a testament to Leanne’s professionalism,” he said.

The first bursaries for Years 7-11 will be presented at the 2025 Speech Night while the Year 12 bursary will be presented on their graduation day.

  Kingaroy, School News