In March 2023, Old Boy Ben Chandler (1995) suffered a serious motorbike accident while mustering cattle on his family’s property near Barcaldine, resulting in a traumatic brain injury and multiple facial fractures. After nine months in Royal Brisbane & Women’s Hospital, Ben and his wife Jayde & their four children returned home to Gregory Park, Barcaldine, where he continues rehabilitation.

In late 2024, it was suggested that using a drone could help Ben reconnect with the property and his love of flying. Fellow Old Boy, family friend, and grazier James Stinson (1988) led the initiative, supported by his son Angus (2024 Gerald House Captain) and the Churchie Boarding community. Together they launched a GoFundMe campaign to buy a drone for Ben. The Churchie Old Boys’ Association (OBA) also rallied support, reaching out to Ben’s 1995 cohort. Thanks to the generosity of the boarding and Old Boy communities, funds were raised for two drones: one for training and another with an 8 km range and thermal imaging, making it ideal for monitoring fences, water points, and livestock.

In early June, James and his wife Nat visited Ben and his family, staying with Ben’s parents, John (1970) and Jocelyn. James says: “To witness Ben’s first drone flight was incredibly humbling. Watching John and Jayde show Ben the live footage from out in the paddock and the possibilities this opened for Ben, was truly heartwarming.”

The Chandler family expressed deep gratitude to all involved, especially the OBA and Will Wilson (1995), a schoolmate and drone pioneer in Queensland’s livestock industry, whose guidance was instrumental to making it all happen.

The Chandler family are a four generation Churchie family, whose long association with Churchie commenced in 1939, when Ben’s grandfather Ranald entered Sub-Junior (Year 9). Two of Ben’s three sons are current students and the other will start at Churchie in 2026.