YOU CHOOSE

This morning, the atmosphere in McKeague Hall was heavier than usual as our Year 11 and 12 students listened first‑hand to the devastating impacts that one poor choice can make.

Melissa McGuinness from YOU CHOOSE shared her incredibly powerful and emotional story, speaking about the tragic loss of her 18‑year‑old son in a motor vehicle accident, an incident that also claimed four other young lives as a result of a single moment of poor decision-making.

Melissa was joined by local CQ father Shane Yore, who spoke bravely about the heartbreaking loss he and his wife Mandy experienced when their 16‑year‑old son, Rhys, was killed in Yeppoon in 2021.

Both Melissa and Shane shared the profound ripple effects of regret, harm and trauma that follow these incidents, reminding our students that one wrong choice can change countless lives forever.

The You Choose Programs aims to empower young people to become advocates and positive influencers of road safety, encouraging a cultural shift among our younger drivers and highlighting the critical importance of responsible decision-making.

Melissa also presented to the wider community last night during a public event held here at Rockhampton Girls Grammar School, and this morning she was the guest speaker at our Secondary International Women’s Day Assembly. We extend our heartfelt thanks to Melissa, Shane, and Mandy for their courage in sharing their stories and for their dedication to helping keep our young people safe.