THE principal of the Catholic College of St Raphael and St Paul at Townsville’s James Cook University has paid tribute to an 18-year-old student who died there of meningococcal disease.
Principal Tom Tarttelin said the student Gurpreet Singh was one of “nature’s true gentlemen and a dedicated scholar”.
Mr Singh, who had arrived at the college from Western Australia at the start of last year, was found dead in his room on July 27.
Mr Tarttelin praised students for their support of each other. “Our community is really, really upset by what has happened, but I must say they have been magnificent in their support and care for each other,” he said.
“I’m very proud of the maturity shown by all students at the Catholic College.
“This goes to show what a tight-knit community can do in such a difficult time.”
He said mourners from the college community and further afield had attended a memorial service for Mr Singh at the college on July 30.
The service was also attended by the dead youth’s parents and uncle. In the same week as Mr Singh’s death, a fellow student was admitted to Townsville Hospital suffering symptoms of the disease. The college principal said he had visited the student.
“I’ve been able to speak with him and I can report he’s almost back to his old chirpy self,” Mr Tarttelin said.
Counselling has been offered for students.
Meanwhile, a child at Playmate Child Care Centre in Garbutt, Townsville, has been admitted to hospital with an infection caused by meningococcal germs.
This case is not considered to be associated with the two cases at JCU.
