Latest news with #NudgeeCollege
West Australian
4 days ago
- West Australian
‘Not my car': Elite school grad's callous statement after fatal crash that killed grandmother, 72
A former elite private school graduate whose 'reprehensible' driving killed a beloved grandmother in a horrific crash made a bizarre statement to witnesses before fleeing to hide in a muddy drain. Andrew Julian Stewart-Smith, 29, was behind the wheel of a Holden Commodore when he killed Yrsa Christoffersen, 72, after ploughing into her Suzuki Swift in Kippa Ring, north of Brisbane, in September 2023. Devastated members of the Christoffersen family packed out Brisbane Supreme Court on Monday as Stewart-Smith – a former graduate of the elite Nudgee College in Boondall – learnt his fate. In a heartbreaking statement, Ms Christoffersen's daughter Maria remembered her mother as the 'kindest person' she had ever known and the morning of her death was meant to be a normal morning 'like any other'. 'The next thing I knew, I woke up in a hospital bed, feeling pain like I had never known,' she said. 'I remember asking where my mum was, and they wouldn't tell me. 'The way they looked at me though, I knew. I could see it on their faces.' Maria said she felt like her 'world had been shattered' upon learning her mother had died. The court was told her recovery in hospital was difficult and she was left unable to chew food for weeks due to her fractured jaw. 'I still feel the effects today, some days I can't move the way I used to,' Maria said. 'Mum's death was sudden, violent and unexpected. 'I will always miss her. I'm trying to move forward, but it's hard. It's a daily struggle.' She questioned whether Stewart-Smith would ever take responsibility for his actions or continue to cause 'more pain' – to which the 29-year-old did not react. The court was told Stewart-Smith was seen driving erratically – at times swerving between cars and failing to give way – while reaching speeds of more than 100km/h on the morning of September 22, 2023. At one point, he pulled over on the side of the road and stole number plates to attach to the Holden. Ms Christoffersen was driving her daughter Maria to work and turning at the intersection of Anzac Ave and Oleander St in Kippa Ring. Crown prosecutor Jordan Daniels said Stewart-Smith braked but collided with the Suzuki at up to 114km/h, throwing it into the air. He fled the scene while telling bystanders: 'You don't understand, it's not my car.' Ms Christoffersen was declared deceased at the scene, while Maria was taken to hospital with serious injuries. Police located Stewart-Smith several hours later in a storm drain, covered in mud in a bid to conceal himself. When searched, police located clip-seal bags containing methylamphetamine and texts on his phone indicating he supplied the drugs a week before. More than 300 animated child exploitation images were also found on his phone. The court was told Maria would have been left with lifelong issues with her jaw – which left her unable to properly eat for weeks – without surgery. Justice Tom Sullivan said Stewart-Smith's conduct was 'reprehensible' and made worse by his traffic history, which was littered with speeding offences. Stewart-Smith pleaded guilty in March to charges of dangerous operation of a vehicle causing death and grievous bodily harm while excessively speeding and leaving the scene of a crash without obtaining help, supplying and possessing dangerous drugs and possessing child exploitation material. He also pleaded guilty to other charges of stealing, unlawful use of motor vehicles and failing to remain at the scene of an incident and render assistance as a driver. Stewart-Smith expressed remorse to the family in a letter and was experiencing 'nightmares' of what happened that day while in custody. Defence barrister Angus Edwards said his client had 'tried to make amends' through courses, isolating himself from anti-social prisoners 'He is ashamed of what he did that day,' Mr Edwards said. 'He wasn't out to hurt anybody that day, but he did. 'He's out to change.' The court was told Stewart-Smith had developed a drug problem after his substance use as a teenager. Mr Edwards explained his client was drug-affected when he downloaded the images subject to the child exploitation material charge. Justice Sullivan will sentence Stewart-Smith later in the afternoon.
Perth Now
4 days ago
- Perth Now
‘Not my car': Driver's act after fatal hit
A former elite private school graduate whose 'reprehensible' driving killed a beloved grandmother in a horrific crash made a bizarre statement to witnesses before fleeing to hide in a muddy drain. Andrew Julian Stewart-Smith, 29, was behind the wheel of a Holden Commodore when he killed Yrsa Christoffersen, 72, after ploughing into her Suzuki Swift in Kippa Ring, north of Brisbane, in September 2023. Devastated members of the Christoffersen family packed out Brisbane Supreme Court on Monday as Stewart-Smith – a former graduate of the elite Nudgee College in Boondall – learnt his fate. In a heartbreaking statement, Ms Christoffersen's daughter Maria remembered her mother as the 'kindest person' she had ever known and the morning of her death was meant to be a normal morning 'like any other'. Andrew Julian Stewart-Smith caused a horrific car crash that killed Yrsa Christoffersen and seriously injured her daughter, Maria. 7News Credit: Supplied 'The next thing I knew, I woke up in a hospital bed, feeling pain like I had never known,' she said. 'I remember asking where my mum was, and they wouldn't tell me. 'The way they looked at me though, I knew. I could see it on their faces.' Maria said she felt like her 'world had been shattered' upon learning her mother had died. The court was told her recovery in hospital was difficult and she was left unable to chew food for weeks due to her fractured jaw. 'I still feel the effects today, some days I can't move the way I used to,' Maria said. 'Mum's death was sudden, violent and unexpected. 'I will always miss her. I'm trying to move forward, but it's hard. It's a daily struggle.' She questioned whether Stewart-Smith would ever take responsibility for his actions or continue to cause 'more pain' – to which the 29-year-old did not react. Stewart-Smith (centre) was reaching speeds of up to 114km/h when he struck Ms Christoffersen's Suzuki Swift in Kippa Ring. 7News Credit: Supplied The court was told Stewart-Smith was seen driving erratically – at times swerving between cars and failing to give way – while reaching speeds of more than 100km/h on the morning of September 22, 2023. At one point, he pulled over on the side of the road and stole number plates to attach to the Holden. Ms Christoffersen was driving her daughter Maria to work and turning at the intersection of Anzac Ave and Oleander St in Kippa Ring. Crown prosecutor Jordan Daniels said Stewart-Smith braked but collided with the Suzuki at up to 114km/h, throwing it into the air. He fled the scene while telling bystanders: 'You don't understand, it's not my car.' Ms Christoffersen was declared deceased at the scene, while Maria was taken to hospital with serious injuries. Police located Stewart-Smith several hours later in a storm drain, covered in mud in a bid to conceal himself. After fleeing the scene, police tracked the 29-year-old to a storm drain, where he had covered himself in mud in a bid to conceal himself. Queensland Police Credit: Supplied When searched, police located clip-seal bags containing methylamphetamine and texts on his phone indicating he supplied the drugs a week before. More than 300 animated child exploitation images were also found on his phone. The court was told Maria would have been left with lifelong issues with her jaw – which left her unable to properly eat for weeks – without surgery. Justice Tom Sullivan said Stewart-Smith's conduct was 'reprehensible' and made worse by his traffic history, which was littered with speeding offences. Stewart-Smith pleaded guilty in March to charges of dangerous operation of a vehicle causing death and grievous bodily harm while excessively speeding and leaving the scene of a crash without obtaining help, supplying and possessing dangerous drugs and possessing child exploitation material. Stewart-Smith pleaded guilty earlier this year to a raft of charges, including dangerous driving causing death and grievous bodily harm. Queensland Police Credit: Supplied He also pleaded guilty to other charges of stealing, unlawful use of motor vehicles and failing to remain at the scene of an incident and render assistance as a driver. Stewart-Smith expressed remorse to the family in a letter and was experiencing 'nightmares' of what happened that day while in custody. Defence barrister Angus Edwards said his client had 'tried to make amends' through courses, isolating himself from anti-social prisoners 'He is ashamed of what he did that day,' Mr Edwards said. 'He wasn't out to hurt anybody that day, but he did. 'He's out to change.' The court was told Stewart-Smith had developed a drug problem after his substance use as a teenager. Mr Edwards explained his client was drug-affected when he downloaded the images subject to the child exploitation material charge. Justice Sullivan will sentence Stewart-Smith later in the afternoon.
Courier-Mail
06-06-2025
- General
- Courier-Mail
Ignoring scandals at elite schools does not serve students
Don't miss out on the headlines from Kylie Lang. Followed categories will be added to My News. If you've allowed your school to define you – and cause you to ignore or dismiss issues that might taint its public image – try stopping. Immovable pride – in any institution just because you're part of it – is a dangerous thing. All too often, 'old boys' and 'old girls' of private schools, most notably, will feel aggrieved and personally attacked when an alarming issue makes headlines. It's as if their own identity has been targeted and found wanting – and it can explain why they close ranks and, like a scene out of the film A Few Good Men, 'can't handle the truth'. For some people in these tight-knit fan clubs, such as alumni associations, the first instinct is to ask who blabbed. I've written countless articles over many years about schools – independent, religious and state – and that those with strong leadership do best, taking swift and meaningful action. Shouldn't the objective be constant improvement through learning from mistakes and unfortunate incidents – and not pretending they didn't exist? Ridiculous, really, for anyone to have their sense of self enmeshed in a school – because like first names, they are chosen by someone else, specifically parents. If I had been able to name myself, I wouldn't have been Kylie. I rather like Valentina. Had I been in charge of deciding on my schooling, I wouldn't have left my first one to attend another. I am grateful my parents sacrificed, including holding down several jobs, to give me a private education from years 1 to 12 – but it was their decision, not mine. Nudgee College in Brisbane. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Tertius Pickard So I do have to call out this obsession with old school ties. How is it logical to attend an institution for a few years of your life then allow it to define the rest of your life? And why do people, particularly in Brisbane, persist in asking where you went to school, and decades after you left, as if your answer determines if you're an acceptable individual to know? Snobbery or insecurity, perhaps, but it's a bit silly, not to mention limiting. This week I interviewed an alumnus of Brisbane Boys' College who told other old boys to 'stop closing ranks and grow a backbone'. This followed two examples of poor behaviour – BBC boys sharing allegedly serious and potentially illegal nude content on social media, and trashing an Airbnb house during an out-of-control party. Both sparked police investigations. Some old boys shrugged off the incidents as 'boys will be boys' and maintained that BBC always would be a great school. Last week a parent alerted me to a 'disgusting' video made and shared on social media by St Joseph's Nudgee College boys about St Rita's girls. Nudgee said 'the behaviour did not meet the standards expected at this college' and was investigating. An appropriate response. Yet some parents like to vent. A Nudgee mum emailed, asking if we 'stop to consider the broader impact these stories have'. 'My son loves his school and wears his uniform with pride,' she continued. 'How unfair it is for his pride to be undermined by criticism based on the actions of a few.' Hmmm. Pride, in any school, is to be earned and not automatically present because of its perceived pedigree – or the significant financial price parents pay for their kids to belong. The broader impact is why it matters. I like how a parent in a general Brisbane schools chat group put it when another questioned why the story was newsworthy: 'Because silence protects the wrong people. 'Parents, schools and the public need to be informed so we can guide our children, hold institutions accountable and create a culture of respect – not secrecy. 'If girls from St Rita's or any other school are affected, their experiences matter. 'Brushing it aside minimises the harm and perpetuates a dangerous silence. 'We must talk about it – loudly, honestly and without shame.' Principals and teachers have to deal with problems that didn't exist when I was a kid – with social media enemy number one. But it's time past students and current parents wearing rose-coloured glasses ditch them in favour of perspective. Schools are complex entities and will never be perfect. They may shape a person, but they should not define them. Kylie Lang is associate editor of The Courier-Mail LOVE Women who drink coffee (in moderation) are more likely to age well, maintaining physical, mental and cognitive health into their 70s and beyond. Can't see this study translating into cheaper prices though. LOATHE A tone-deaf decision by Queensland's Court of Appeal that juvenile criminals who invade homes and attack residents with knives in heinous acts should not have convictions recorded against them. It apparently aids their rehabilitation.
West Australian
19-05-2025
- Sport
- West Australian
'Best I've seen': Toia's rise from rugby gun to Maroons
Billy Slater has full faith in "world-class" debutant Queensland centre Robert Toia, and his legacy at rugby union powerhouse Nudgee College has certainly left an indelible mark. "I've been here 11 years and he's the best I've seen," Nudgee director of rugby Sean Graham told AAP of the former First XV outside centre. The Sydney Roosters 20-year-old will play for the Maroons in the State of Origin series opener after just 10 NRL games where his right-foot step, strength, balance and speed have been electric. Slater had no hesitation throwing Toia into the Origin cauldron in his preferred centre position rather than on the wing. "Although playing on the centres is man-on-man out there, it is a system. He is a great system player and has some good strengths (NSW) need to defend as well," Slater said. "Hopefully he is going to get some ball in some good situations and be pretty dangerous himself. I think he is a world-class centre." Toia is likely to have to mark Latrell Mitchell on debut. "I've looked up to him,'' Toia said. "He's an unbelievable player ... very strong and he's got it all, but I'm ready to do my job.'' Toia played rugby union for Nudgee and rugby league for the Redcliffe Dolphins as a youth. His YouTube clips are reminiscent of a young Mal Meninga in his pomp, shrugging defenders off at will. "Robert just had an unbelievable step and fend. He wasn't worried about the defender in front of him," Graham said. "He could move the ball in and out of either hand and was light on his feet. "Then as he progressed through the grades at Nudgee this unbelievable body developed. He looked at a squat rack and got big. It was ridiculous … an absolute specimen and super-athletic." He was also a budding basketball gun, who Graham said had "a vertical leap where he could nearly dunk from the free-throw line". Toia has rebounded from two season-ending ACL ruptures and a back injury that kept him out for seven months at school. Through it all the Roosters, who signed him as a 14-year-old, stuck solid when Toia wondered whether he would ever make it. "I'd be lying if I was saying there wasn't any doubt, but my family and the club never lost any of their support, which was through the roof," he said. "I can't thank them enough for their loyalty." It was why Toia stuck solid and re-signed with the Roosters in Year 12 when his junior club the Dolphins came knocking. Toia idolised Maroons great Greg Inglis for his "dominance" of Origin, a legacy the young man hopes to emulate. That he is about to do it so soon blew him away. "It doesn't feel real," he said of the Origin media attention. Toia is just grateful for the great start Nudgee College gave him, even though he chose a professional career in league. "I feel like they moulded me as a person and taught me core beliefs and values. I am definitely the man I am today because of them," he said."Ever since I was young, I knew I wanted to be an NRL player."
Perth Now
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
'Best I've seen': Toia's rise from rugby gun to Maroons
Billy Slater has full faith in "world-class" debutant Queensland centre Robert Toia, and his legacy at rugby union powerhouse Nudgee College has certainly left an indelible mark. "I've been here 11 years and he's the best I've seen," Nudgee director of rugby Sean Graham told AAP of the former First XV outside centre. The Sydney Roosters 20-year-old will play for the Maroons in the State of Origin series opener after just 10 NRL games where his right-foot step, strength, balance and speed have been electric. Slater had no hesitation throwing Toia into the Origin cauldron in his preferred centre position rather than on the wing. "Although playing on the centres is man-on-man out there, it is a system. He is a great system player and has some good strengths (NSW) need to defend as well," Slater said. "Hopefully he is going to get some ball in some good situations and be pretty dangerous himself. I think he is a world-class centre." Toia is likely to have to mark Latrell Mitchell on debut. "I've looked up to him,'' Toia said. "He's an unbelievable player ... very strong and he's got it all, but I'm ready to do my job.'' Toia played rugby union for Nudgee and rugby league for the Redcliffe Dolphins as a youth. His YouTube clips are reminiscent of a young Mal Meninga in his pomp, shrugging defenders off at will. "Robert just had an unbelievable step and fend. He wasn't worried about the defender in front of him," Graham said. "He could move the ball in and out of either hand and was light on his feet. "Then as he progressed through the grades at Nudgee this unbelievable body developed. He looked at a squat rack and got big. It was ridiculous … an absolute specimen and super-athletic." He was also a budding basketball gun, who Graham said had "a vertical leap where he could nearly dunk from the free-throw line". Toia has rebounded from two season-ending ACL ruptures and a back injury that kept him out for seven months at school. Through it all the Roosters, who signed him as a 14-year-old, stuck solid when Toia wondered whether he would ever make it. "I'd be lying if I was saying there wasn't any doubt, but my family and the club never lost any of their support, which was through the roof," he said. "I can't thank them enough for their loyalty." It was why Toia stuck solid and re-signed with the Roosters in Year 12 when his junior club the Dolphins came knocking. Toia idolised Maroons great Greg Inglis for his "dominance" of Origin, a legacy the young man hopes to emulate. That he is about to do it so soon blew him away. "It doesn't feel real," he said of the Origin media attention. Toia is just grateful for the great start Nudgee College gave him, even though he chose a professional career in league. "I feel like they moulded me as a person and taught me core beliefs and values. I am definitely the man I am today because of them," he said."Ever since I was young, I knew I wanted to be an NRL player."
