From the Headmaster
Dear TGS Families,
This week at the Senior School Assembly I spoke with the boys about two powerful and defining moments in the life of our School - moments that both reflected the best of who we are and reminded us of the values we hold dear.
We began by reflecting on the extraordinary success of the Year 12 Gift Run, held the day before. In a tribute to a 1968 Interact Club fundraiser, our Year 12 cohort completed a 100-kilometre run in relay format, totalling a collective 1500km - a powerful example of teamwork and shared purpose. Adding to the significance of the event, one student, James Petersen, made the remarkable decision to run the entire 100 kilometres solo. Beginning at 4am and running into the early evening, James undertook the challenge in honour of his late grandfather, raising funds for Hope Horizon. I am also grateful to James for honouring Mrs Kinniburgh as well. It was an exceptional demonstration of character, courage and commitment. Seeing his family join him for part of the run, and witnessing the overwhelming support from his peers, staff and the broader TGS community, was both moving and inspiring.
It reminded us that character is often shown not in grand gestures, but in quiet determination - the choice to keep going, to endure pain and push through doubt. And while James' achievement stands out, it was the collective spirit - of staff running alongside students, boys cheering one another on and the community standing shoulder-to-shoulder - that truly defined the day.
In that moment, we were living our School values:
- Community – coming together in support, encouragement and shared purpose.
- Commitment – to causes greater than ourselves, and to each other.
- Character – demonstrated through resilience, humility and strength.
Later in the Assembly, we turned our focus to National Reconciliation Week, an opportunity to pause, reflect and reaffirm our shared responsibility in walking forward together as a nation. This year’s theme, Bridging Now to Next, urges all Australians to honour the past, stay grounded in the present and move into the future with unity and respect.
At Toowoomba Grammar School, this theme holds particular resonance in our 150th year. It invites us to reflect on the legacy of those who came before - and to consider how we, today, can contribute to a culture that values truth-telling, mutual respect and reconciliation. Our students are not just inheritors of tradition; they are participants in shaping what comes next.
We discussed with the boys that Reconciliation is not confined to a week, a poster, or a message - it is an ongoing practice. It lives in our willingness to listen, to learn and to act. Through assemblies, classroom discussions and personal reflection, we aim to deepen our students’ understanding of Australia’s shared history and foster a sense of responsibility for building a more just and inclusive future.
As I shared with the boys, we all have the freedom to choose our attitude in any circumstance — a message captured powerfully in a favourite quote from Viktor Frankl:
"Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the freedom to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances."
In recent weeks, we’ve seen some wavering in our School spirit - lapses in behaviour, moments of disengagement. But what we saw through the Gift Run and our reflections on Reconciliation Week was a timely reminder of the kind of community we are capable of being when we live our values fully and intentionally.
As we continue through this landmark 150th year, I encouraged the boys to consider what legacy they wish to leave. Not just in the milestones we celebrate, but in how we carry ourselves - every day, in every interaction, in the values we choose to live.
The boys concluded the Assembly with a preview of a musical piece from the upcoming School Musical with Fairholme College, Midnight: The Cinderella Musical. They performed "Being the King", a musical piece from the first act featuring the Prince and his father. The full performance will take place at the Empire Theatre on Thursday, 5 and Friday, 6 June. I encourage all families to attend and enjoy what promises to be a memorable and entertaining show. Tickets are available via the Empire Theatre Box Office or online.
Kind regards,
Dr John C Kinniburgh
Headmaster