Confraternity Carnival has lured people back for decades.
Former State of Origin stars, players, coaches and teachers have returned to a carnival that has been a turning point in their lives.
But none have been lured back in the same way as Alex Wilson.
Alex’s story is one of the most inspiring in 45 years of “Confro” history.
Alex’s dash to Rockhampton, just to join his teammates and soak in the Confraternity Carnival atmosphere again was the best story of Confro 2025.
“I just had to come back,” Alex said.
“I was watching (the livestreamed games from home) and I just wanted to be here.”
Last year, Alex played in the front row for McAuley College, Beaudesert in their third appearance at the carnival.
He wore the No.10 jersey and thrived in the team environment in Townsville. After returning from that carnival, Alex circled June 2025 for the Rockhampton Confro when he would play with his Year 12 teammates.
That changed on 23 December last year when Alex was injured in an accident on his family’s cattle farm.
This was a serious accident and when Alex’s school principal Jason Pacey visited the student in hospital two days after Christmas, the outlook was challenging.
“Doctors have told me I’ll probably never walk again,” Alex said.
“I’ve known that for a while now.”
His schoolmates stuck by him.
They visited him in hospital every week, turning up to watch Friday night footy games on TV with their mate.
McAuley College altered Alex’s learning plan and have supported him to continue his studies so that he can still graduate with his mates this year.
But there was still the realisation that Alex would never play Confro with his mates. He only left hospital two weeks before the carnival, ending six months of care.
So a trip to Rockhampton wasn’t in his plans until he watched his teammates play on the carnival’s livestream coverage.
On the side of the field, draped across a chair, was the bright orange and blue No.10 jersey of McAuley College
Alex’s jersey.
On the second day of the carnival, Alex asked mum Stacey if he could go to Rockhampton. She agreed to drive him up on Wednesday.
“I just want to get on with my life so I wanted to come up here and be with the guys,” Alex said.
Word spread among the McAuley College playing group that Alex was heading to the carnival.
The McAuley players had three very tight wins and needed to win their fourth game against St John’s College, Nambour to stay in the running for a shot at a Division 3 trophy on Friday.
Their chances looked slim down 0-12 in that game until they dug deep and fought back to win.
“They told themselves there was no way they were going to let Alex come all the way here and not give him a chance to watch them play for some silverware,” Mr Pacey said.
“That inspiration from Alex was enough to get them going. They won that game because of him.”
McAuley College won again on Thursday with Alex sitting on the sideline in his wheelchair, a part of the squad once more.
He wheeled himself on to the ground after the game to shake hands with the opposition at the end of the handshake chain.
McAuley College didn’t win the Division 3 final. They fell to Townsville’s Ryan Catholic College in the Confraternity Cup final.
But the scenes after the match in the McAuley College camp were scenes of winners.
The school had the largest group of travelling fans including some 20 graduates, including 10 former players who insisted on being in Rockhampton.
“That’s not bad because we’ve only been in two carnivals before this and have only had three graduating classes in our short history as college,” Mr Pacey said.
“That shows you what this carnival means to the people who are part of it.
“It’s already become such an important event for our community.”
Rugby league legend Wally Lewis was at the carnival and met Alex, Stacey and the McAuley College team.
“What a privilege to meet Alex and to hear his story,” Lewis said.
“He’s a very impressive young man and he’s clearly very well respected by his teammates.
“Alex’s story is about more than rugby league and I’m sure he’ll inspire a lot of people.”
