Adele Rice

Early life Born in India during the second world war, Rice was the daughter of a woman with English, Irish and Dutch heritage and an Irishman who arrived India while serving with the British Army.

Throughout her time as principal of the school, Rice was widely regarded for her work in ensuring children whose second language was English obtained their secondary education through specialist learning and settlement programs.

Despite retiring from teaching, Rice continues to be active in the community, serving in varying capacities with numerous organisations such as Heal Queensland, the Queensland Program of Assistance to Survivors of Torture and Trauma, St James College, Asylum Circle, and Global Citizen Education Network.

Awards Rice received the Save the Children White Flame Award in 2005 which was presented to her by Queensland's Minister for Child Safety Mike Reynolds during the 2005 Children's Week celebrations.

In 2008, the Queensland Minister for Multicultural Affairs Lindy Nelson-Carr named Rice as one of the state's "Multicultural Achievers" alongside hairdresser Stefan Ackerie, pole vaulter Tatiana Grigorieva, and musician Vasilini Lolo.

In 2011, Rice was a co-recipient of the inaugural Professor Betty Watts Memorial Award for Outstanding Contribution to Teaching.

In the 2014 Australia Day Honours, Rice was made a Member of the Order of Australia in recognition of her service to secondary education and to the migrant and refugee community.

Rice received an honorary Doctor of the University degree from the Queensland University of Technology in 2020.

In 2023, she was named as a Queensland Great.