A dash into the surf has become a tradition for Noosa school leavers and last week was no exception with Year 12s from several schools making the symbolic washing off of the school years.
It was a mix of emotions for students, watched by parents, grandparents and siblings, as they farewelled their school life to embark on the futures before them.
One grandmother said it had been a moving service for students at St Andrews Anglican College and their families before the seniors were ceremonially escorted from the school by a Prep student.
Normally at school farewelling the students from St Andrews was teacher Andrew Linthorne who, for the first time witnessed the surf dash as this year his daughter Harmony was one of 130 students on Main Beach on Friday.
Mr Linthorne said Harmony had been one of about 40 students to begin in Prep at the college when it first opened and remain throughout her school life.
Like several of her classmates, Harmony obtained an early entry to the University of the Sunshine Coast where she plans to study psychology next year.
And, like many others, she planned to head to the Gold Coast for the schoolies event.
On Wednesday the pouring rain and cool weather did nothing to deter the class of about 200 Sunshine Beach State High students end their school days with a cheer on the beach before plunging into the sea.
Parents spoke of their children’s varied plans for the future with some taking a year or two off to work while others aimed to study at university, take on a trade or join the defence forces.
Their immediate plans included a glamorous farewell dinner at RACV and a week of Schoolies with many booked to attend the Gold Coast event.
