MUSIC enthusiast Isaac Lourie’s legacy will live on forever at Newcastle High, through a scholarship designed to foster budding talent and provide access to the instrument he loved most.
“Isaac made a major impact not just on the kids, but on our staff and the whole school community,” principal Nathan Towney said about Isaac, 17, who died on January 5 in a ski boat accident on the Williams River near Raymond Terrace.
“He was a very bright young man, loyal to his friends, stood up for what he believed in, had a very good sense of humour and was quite cheeky.
“The graduation was a really emotional day – his year wanted him to be a part of it and it was not fair that he was not there.”
Isaac’s parents Ross and Anna placed one of the guitar picks he had made from recycled plastic and credit cards on every graduating student’s chair at the assembly, apart from one chair that held his school bag.
The bag, which he had owned since year seven, had pride of place in the school’s senior study space while his grade prepared for the Higher School Certificate.
“Isaac’s friends have thought of a number of different ways to remember him,” Mr Towney said.
“They felt he was still part of their school year.”
Isaac’s life will be celebrated on Friday when one of his favourite bands, Lime Cordiale, performs at the school and his family launches the Isaac Lourie Scholarship.
Mr Towney said school captain Natalie Cox approached him at the start of the year about the possibility of the band playing at the school formal.
Mr Towney contacted The Cambridge’s Greg Mathew, who reached out to the band.
“He told us about the band coming on the 23rd and we were just blown away.”
Lime Cordiale frontman Oli Leimbach told the Herald the duo didn’t think twice.
“For someone to already be a fan of our band is pretty emotional for us, especially when they’re outside of Sydney,” he said.
“Hearing that someone has passed away it felt like one of our crew, one of our family, had passed away.
“It hit pretty hard.
“To not even know [Isaac] and to know this school is remembering him with this music, that’s amazing.”
Isaac’s family will attend and explain the scholarship, which comprises a year of access to a guitar and tuition from Reynolds & Co.
The school has helped establish AFL tournament, The Isaac Lourie Cup, between Newcastle High and Merewether High. It was held on July 27.
The school will present to the Louries on Friday two jumpers signed by the players in each team.
Helen Gregory
Helen Gregory joined the Newcastle Herald in 2010. She is the masthead’s education reporter and has written for the H2 and Weekender sections, as well as across a range of issues. Helen is a Walkley Award winning journalist and was also part of the Newcastle Herald team that won the United Nations World Environment Day Media Award for Environmental Reporting.
Helen Gregory joined the Newcastle Herald in 2010. She is the masthead’s education reporter and has written for the H2 and Weekender sections, as well as across a range of issues. Helen is a Walkley Award winning journalist and was also part of the Newcastle Herald team that won the United Nations World Environment Day Media Award for Environmental Reporting.
