A MEMORIAL service will be held tomorrow at St Rita's Catholic Primary School for assistant principal Shane Thompson who died suddenly on March 21.
The 33-year-old father of three worked at the school for four years and had grown to become a much-loved and valued member of the St Rita's.
After finishing school at St Lawrence's Catholic College at South Brisbane, he went on to study at the Australian Catholic University in Brisbane before graduating as a teacher.
He went on to work at remote posts and was acting principal at St Joseph's, Biloela in 2008 and other schools in the Rockhampton Diocese, before taking up a position at St Rita's four years ago.
He was known at the Victoria Point school for standing near the gate every morning to welcome students and parents.
He played a major part in educating children at the school about the environment.
Hundreds of tributes from across the state were posted on Redland City Bulletin's Facebook page and the school was in mourning after the news of his death.
Parish priest Fr Paul Kelly said Mr Thompson had played a major role in the school's leadership team and the school's seniors looked up to him.
Principal of Gladstone's St John the Baptist Catholic Primary School Timothy Franzmann remembered the "larrikin" who was a fellow principal in the Rockhampton Diocese for five years.
Mr Franzmann said his friend was a lot of fun at conferences and his "shiny white teeth smile" would be missed.
Central Queensland teacher Clare Carpenter, who worked with Mr Thompson at St Therese's Catholic Primary School, in the rural community of Monto, said he was a kind man who was always smiling, loved wearing modern sunglasses and would always carry a 1-litre bottle of water.
She paid tribute to his work as a school principal and as an assistant to the principal religious education teacher and hoped his legacy would continue through his three children Archie, Violet and Henry.
Former Biloela parish secretary Ellie Verschaeren remembered the young teacher when he first arrived at St Joseph's Catholic Primary in Biloela as assistant to the principal religious education teacher.
"This was his first appointment in this role and he would often pick my brains on certain things because he was so conscientious about his job. I loved working with him."
Helen Fitzgerald also remembered Mr Thompson for his time at St Josephs Biloela.
"He mixed equally well with parents and students alike and had a great rapport with the kids," she said.
Parents from St Rita's also took to Facebook to express their grief.
Fran Fleming remembered Mr Thompson for the day he joined students in an impromptu "flash mob" dance.
Another mum, Kym Teunis, said Mr Thompson was the reason she decided to send her child to St Rita's.
"It was after meeting Mr Thompson at our son's prep interview that I knew St Rita's was a perfect fit for our family."
