Community
18 June, 2024
Tributes flow for much-loved school careers advisor
Fiona Coghlan helped shape the lives of many Mount Isa students.
Mount Isa is mourning the loss of one of its finest people in Fiona Coghlan, who passed away last week.
The wife of James Coghlan and the mother of Charlotte, 20, and Ella, 19, was best known as the careers advisor at Good Shepherd Catholic College.
It was somewhat of an accidental career path, but one that ended up shaping the lives of hundreds of Mount Isa students.
“We came back to Mount Isa so that she could be a stay-at-home mum,” James recalled.
“Then, when the kids went off to school, she tried a couple of different jobs and then ended up as a student school officer.
“Wayne Wood, who was three principals ago, was the one who asked if she would be interested in being a careers advisor.
“I remember that she really doubted herself at the start but threw herself into the role.”
The rest, as they say, is history.
Not only did Fiona, or “Mrs Coghlan” as many students would remember her, embrace the job, she also made it her own.
Fittingly, the Good Shepherd Catholic College business breakfast – an initiative started by Fiona – was the school’s first event following her passing. The school used the occasion to pay tribute to their long-serving staff member.
“She started that event; that was her baby,” James said.
“One thing that’s overwhelmed us has been hearing from all the students that she helped with their careers over the years.
“The number of kids who have contacted Kim or me to express their sorrow and to tell us a tale about how Mrs Coghlan believed in them and that’s why they took a certain path ... it’s been so good to hear.”
Sister-in-law Kim Coghlan said Fiona was a true Mount Isan.
“I knew she was good at her job but until recently I had no idea about how much impact she had on so many people’s lives,” she said.
“I remember when she first came to Mount Isa, she just embraced the city. She tried everything – squash, touch, softball.”
It was on the softball field where James and Fiona met, although it wasn’t in Mount Isa.
“We actually met when I was her softball coach down at Redlands,” he said.
The pair dated for a while and James said “I knew she was the one”, however, it wasn’t to be the first time around.
“She was four years younger than me and probably didn’t want to be as serious as I did ... she broke my heart.
“It was a 10-year break but I knew she was the one.”
They married in 2006 and have raised two beautiful, community-minded girls together.
“She loved this town – I knew she’d love it before she even got here,” James said of Fiona.
“I remember the first Christmas she had here and she said to my mum that she loved it. She said ‘wherever I go people say hello’.”
Fiona will be farewelled on Thursday (June 20) with a funeral service at 3.30pm at Good Shepherd Catholic College’s Lumen Christi Centre.
The venue was changed from the parish to accommodate the expected number of attendees.
The Coghlan family has asked those attending to wear bright colours. The wake will follow at Kruttschnitt Oval.
James said there would be an opportunity for people to write a message at the wake.
“All we want is for people to come and write a message or tell a story about Fiona,” he said.
“We’ll collect them and put them into a book.”
