Toowoomba student Zoe Hulme-Peake remembered as ‘exceptionally gifted’ young student who was dux of her year before sudden passing
A gifted young student is remembered by her loved ones and the local community for her intellect, creativity and talent following her tragic death.
Zoe Hulme-Peake, a high-achieving student at Downlands College in Toowoomba, recently died near Taree in New South Wales.
Ms. Hulme-Peake was dux of her year group when she graduated from college in 2018.
She was also among the top 0.06 percent of students in the state and was recognized as one of the top 30 Year 12 students.
Due to her impressive results, the bright student was offered a place at Homerton College of the University of Cambridge in Great Britain.
Zoe Hulme-Peake (pictured center) is remembered by her loved ones and the local community for her intellect, creativity and talent following her tragic death
She was due to start a philosophy course at university, but was forced to postpone her studies due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mrs Hulme-Peake moved to Brisbane after school and in the meantime studied a few units of environmental philosophy at the University of Queensland.
She had a huge passion for art and was an actor and musician in her spare time.
Last year she wrote a play called Ash and Andie which earned her the Queensland Theater Young Playwright’s Award.
Ms Hulme-Peake was also a strong advocate for social justice issues such as the environment, refugees and asylum seekers.
She organized and participated in demonstrations for refugees and the climate.
Many of her former teachers shared their heartfelt tributes.
“Zoë was a student who thought, reflected and wrote beyond her years,” a teacher told the paper Toowoomba Chronicle.
Mrs Hulme-Peake and playwright Blake Hohenhaus wrote a play called Ash and Andie which earned them the Queensland Theater Young Playwright’s Award
“She has unique points of view and skillfully synthesizes disparate concepts to develop a body of work that would not be out of place in a tertiary-level research journal.”
Another said she was “always striving to improve and expand herself” and possessed “extraordinary intelligence.”
Others called her “exceptionally gifted” and “passionate” with a thirst for learning new things.
In a 2020 social media video, Ms Hulme-Peake, as a former pupil, gave an insightful online talk to the Downlands school community on how to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic, thanking teachers for the learning environment they had created.
A spokesperson for her school told the Queensland publication that ‘there is no doubt that Zoe’s co-curricular involvement had helped expand her intellectual growth and capabilities.
‘Time and time again we have witnessed a young scientist who takes pleasure in and gives meaning to the intriguing interplay of science and art.
“Our prayers and thoughts are with Zoe’s family and friends at this difficult time.”