Keys to the City for triple champions Ipswich State High School women
10 October 2024
The all-conquering Ipswich State High School has again been presented with the Keys to the City of Ipswich to acknowledge the school’s ongoing sporting success, after winning the Titans Schoolgirl Cup, the NRL Schoolgirls QLD Trophy, and the 2024 NRL National Schoolgirls Cup title.
Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding made the prestigious presentation at the Ipswich Civic Centre on Tuesday night before a packed crowd of players, coaches, teaching staff, family and friends.
“The air was filled with excitement as the victorious Ipswich State High School girl’s rugby league team entered the Ipswich Civic Centre to a standing ovation,” Mayor Harding said.
“Family, friends and the Ipswich State High School community gathered to see the girls awarded our city’s highest honour, the Keys to the City. The players and coaching staff were each presented with a commemorative medallion, a legacy to their hard-earned success.
“Players, coaches and their families exchanged heartfelt congratulations and proud families captured every special moment.
“Ipswich State High School has made history as the only school in Australia to win both the boys and the girls national titles.
“A testament to their success, several players have secured development contracts with NRL clubs. Shalom Sauaso will be playing with the Brisbane Broncos next year in the NRLW and Mercedes Taulelei-Siala is moving to Newcastle to join the Knights.
“It is a real community effort for a high school team to gain this kind of success and a special mention goes to the coaches, teachers, families and sponsors. We celebrated not just the team, but everyone who helped make their dream a reality.”
The Keys to the City can be awarded to an individual or organisation for furthering the ideals of the City of Ipswich or to recognise outstanding achievement in public life.
Economic and Cultural Development Committee Chairperson Councillor Pye Augustine said it was an amazing achievement for the women, with many lined up for NRLW footy careers after school.
“Many of these young women have attracted the eye of rugby league talent scouts throughout the country and have amazing opportunities to play on a bigger, national stage in years to come. We should be very proud of each and every one of them,” Cr Augustine said.
“These young women have followed very closely in the footsteps of their male counterparts, who were presented with the Keys to the City in 2022 for the school’s historic achievement of winning the Allan Langer Trophy, Phil Hall Cup and the National Schoolboys Cup.
“At Tuesday night’s ceremony they were recognised and rewarded for their hard work, diligence and passion for their chosen sport.
“Ipswich will continue to be a rugby league powerhouse and hopefully in a few short years, home of the 20th NRL team, with the strong possibility of the Ipswich Jets/Newtown franchise unlocking the national men’s competition.”
Ipswich State High School Rugby League Academy head coach Josh Bretherton said it was a remarkable honour for the school to be twice awarded the Keys to the City.
“It’s an extraordinarily rare thing to be gifted the Keys to the City – in 2022 we were the first state high school in the state to have ever received that honour,” Mr Bretherton said.
“To be back here again is very humbling, and we are so proud of how hard these young ladies have worked and this recognition for their efforts.
“Our program is not just about rugby league, but about helping young women and men becoming the best students they can be.
“This recognition will significantly impact our school, the wider community, and generations of girls’ rugby league players and students for years to come.”
Ipswich State High School co-captains Shalom Sauaso and Sky-Yvette Faimalie alongside coach Alex Nicholson accepted the Keys to the City of Ipswich from Mayor Harding.
Ipswich will have more sporting heroes acknowledged later this week with the free City of Ipswich Olympic and Paralympic Community Celebration from 5pm to 7pm on Friday 11 October in Tulmur Place in the Nicholas Street Precinct.