By Paul Dobbyn
SHATTERED stained-glass windows in All Hallows’ School chapel and collapsed ceilings and water damage throughout the historic school are reminders of the ferocity of the November 27 super storm.
To add further drama to an already dramatic day, one of the school’s buses burst into flames and was destroyed about 10.30pm on the night of the storm (pictured below).
Principal Dr Lee-Anne Perry said, despite these disasters, there was much to be thankful for.
“Thank goodness there were no injuries; property damage is repairable,” she said.
“Also the event happened at the end of the school year.”
Dr Perry said All Hallows’ facilities and business managers had spent Friday, Saturday and Sunday documenting the condition of every room in Brisbane’s oldest surviving secondary school.
“Quite a few rooms have collapsed ceilings and, as well as the smashed stained-glass windows in the chapel, quite a few other windows have been smashed by hail in the convent area,” she said.
“This has led to quite a lot of water damage to property including IT equipment.”
Dr Perry said the repair bill would be considerable.
She said the bus fire which was quickly attended to by the nearby fire brigade happened well after the storm, although it certainly seemed too coincidental to be unconnected.
“Perhaps water has got into the bus’ electrical components and caused problems,” she said.
