April 21, 2026 was the 47th anniversary of an accident at Christmas Creek which took the lives of two adults – a teacher and his wife, and two of the students. The group, from Brisbane Girls’ Grammar School, were enjoying a weekend at the Lamington National Fitness Camp when the accident occurred. The Lamington Camp operated from 1966 to 1990, and was attended by many schools and other groups during its twenty-four years of use.
The BGGS group arrived at the camp on the 20th, and consisted of four adults and 17 students. The intention of the group was to walk to the site of the Stinson Crash which had occurred in 1937. Under the supervision of Outdoor Education Specialist, Ronald Stanford, the group was being transported to a site as close as possible to the beginning of the walking track. Enquiries as to the state of the track had indicated that it was suitable. On one of the bends in the road, the road surface collapsed under the rear wheel of the van, and it toppled 50 meters towards Christmas Creek, rolling several times on its descent. Evidence given at the inquest stated that long grass at the edge of the road gave the impression that it was in fact wider than it actually was.
One of the teachers and a student ran back to raise the alarm. However, the distance from the town resulted in it being two hours for help to arrive. One Beaudesert local, a volunteer ambulance driver, later recounted that although he could remember the trip out, he was unable to recall the drive back – no doubt due to trauma.
A stone memorial, the Marrapatta Stone, was placed on the grounds of Brisbane Girls’ Grammar.
