Capricornia BOTA: 30 Years of Supporting Rural Education
Founded in 1995, Capricornia BOTA was created to address the isolation felt by rural and regional families, particularly those east of the Great Dividing Range. The branch has spent the past three decades supporting members and improving educational outcomes for rural and remote children in the Capricornia area.
Our journey began with 14 members, many teaching their children through Capricornia School of Distance Education. Our first president, Leonie Lindley, was a strong advocate of students with Special Needs. After years of lobbying, Leonie’s tireless efforts led to the establishment of a dedicated Special Needs portfolio within ICPA Qld.
After careful consideration we underwent a name change in 2023, with the removal of the ‘Branch of the Air’ reference, we are now known as the Capricornia Branch. Whilst making every effort to preserve our branch’s history, we believe this simple change will reduce the misconception the branch was Distance Ed centric and to reflect our broader commitment to supporting all rural and remote children across the wider Capricornia region.
Today, with 30 members across Central Queensland, we take pride in fostering a supportive culture where members - many of whom are in the trenches, educating children through all the ages and stages - can connect and share experiences. Over the years, our branch has seen members serving as Councillors with the ICPA State Council, Barton Lindley, Heidi Flint, Rob McArthur, Di Meikle and Sonya Shelley have contributed at this level. The knowledge gained by these individuals has allowed us to amplify our advocacy efforts. We are also proud to honour Leanne Fordyce as a Branch Life Member for her outstanding contributions to our community.
In the past we have hosted 2 large events. In 2011, we co-hosted the State Conference with the Clarke Creek Branch and again in 2014 at The Mystery Park Garden Day held at Rob & Ainsley McArthur’s home at St Lawrence, strengthening bonds and deepening our commitment to advocating for rural and remote education.
We raise funds through raffles, sausage sizzles, and events like the CQ Carcase Classic and catering at Campdrafts and Dog Trials. In 2019, we co-hosted the Country Style Country Homes in Australia book launch to raise awareness of ICPA. Additionally, we give back to our community with donations to the ICPA Clermont Sports Camp, the Capricornia School of Distance Education, Dux of Primary and Junior Secondary All-Rounder Award along with donations to the Rockhampton CSDE campus library.
As we approach our 30th anniversary in 2025, we remain dedicated to ensuring every rural child has access to the best educational opportunities.
