THE BLUE AND GOLD - Friday, 4 April 2025

Dear TGS Families

As I write this Blue and Gold article, Junior School students have completed their final week of Term 1 and Senior School students have returned from their Outdoor Pursuits and Activities Week. While some boarders are still making their journey home today, most students are already settling into their well-earned break. It has been a full and rewarding term and I would like to take a moment to express my sincere appreciation to all staff. No matter their role, their dedication to supporting our boys is invaluable and I am truly grateful for the commitment each member of our team brings to upholding the high standards and traditions of our School.

I would also like to acknowledge our parents and families for their ongoing support throughout the term. At the same time I recognise that many in our community have been affected by the devastating flooding in western Queensland. We are acutely aware that some of our families are facing significant challenges as a result of these extreme weather conditions and our thoughts are with them during this difficult time. The strength, resilience and sense of community shown in times of adversity never fail to inspire and I encourage those impacted to reach out should they need assistance or support.

Despite the wet conditions in Toowoomba, we were fortunate that one of the School’s signature events, the Grammar Art Show, proceeded as planned last weekend. Now in its 32nd year, this highly anticipated event was once again a resounding success for the Parents & Friends’ Association, bringing together families, friends and the wider School community to celebrate the exceptional talents of artists near and far including our students. Such an event is only possible through the tireless efforts of the Art Show Committee led by Jodie Humphreys and the many volunteers who generously contributed their time across the three-day event. Their dedication ensures this cherished tradition continues to thrive and I sincerely thank them for their hard work.

With the holidays now upon us, I encourage all students to take this time to rest, recharge and reflect after a busy and productive term. The coming weeks will provide a valuable opportunity to refresh before stepping into Term 2, which promises to be another exciting and engaging period of learning and growth. A significant occasion early in the term will be our ANZAC Day Service, held at 9:00am on Thursday, 24 April on Old Boys' Memorial Oval. This important event coincides with Senior School Grandparents’ Day, offering a special opportunity for students to share this meaningful occasion with their grandparents. I trust that parents have received their invitations and have RSVP’d accordingly.

I wish all families a safe and enjoyable holiday break and look forward to welcoming our students back for the start of Term 2.

Kind regards
Dr John C Kinniburgh
Headmaster

The School has never looked better, with blue and gold banners adding a festive touch all over campus. The standout? A massive G150 flag waving proudly from the Hutchinson Builders crane at the DET Centre site—definitely a sight to see!

To make sure everyone is part of the celebrations, Headmaster gifted every student and staff member was a special G150 pin. The boys were given commemorative G150 ties, while our female staff were gifted beautiful silk scarves.

G150 Merchandise: Flying Off the Shelves!

G150 merchandise has been a huge hit, with plenty of fantastic keepsakes available through our G150 website and the Uniform Shop. Some of the top sellers? The stylish G150 watch and our special edition gin and vodka from Pechey Distillery. These limited-edition items have been popular among our community, giving everyone a chance to take home a piece of this special year.

You can purchase your merchandise here: 150 Merchandise – Toowoomba Grammar School

A Special Read: The Launch of Mr Hauser’s G150 Book

One of the biggest moments of the term was the launch of Toowoomba Grammar School: A Celebration of its Sesquicentenary, 1875-2025, written by our 15th Headmaster, Mr Peter Hauser.

Having led TGS for 18 years and lived on campus for 17 of them, Mr Hauser has a unique perspective on School life—both as an educator and as a parent. His book is a heartfelt tribute to TGS and its incredible history.

The launch event in Old Hall was a wonderful evening, with 100 guests coming together to hear Mr Hauser share his stories and reflections. If you haven’t grabbed a copy yet, the book is available for purchase, and there’s even a free downloadable e-book for the whole community.

Across All Borders: Bringing the G150 Celebrations to Our Boarding Families

The Across All Borders event was something truly special. Designed to connect with our extensive boarding community, it was held on Saturday, 22 February 2025, and brought the celebrations to regional families rather than expecting everyone from our regions to travel to Toowoomba.

Thanks to Old Boy Warwick Fraser from Frasers Transport, this became the first-ever ‘hybrid’ TGS event, linking boarders past and present across different locations. Table Captains hosted luncheons in their own regions for anyone connected to Grammar—current families, Old Boys, past and present staff and even future students.

One of the highlights was a live video cross, where each gathering tuned into a TGS Teams meeting. We got to hear some fantastic stories from Old Boys reminiscing about their school days, including Mr Howard Jensen from Roma (1945-46). He told of his most special memory when peace was declared, and he and several mates ran all the way to The Glennie School. They performed the war cry on their oval then ran all the way back in their pyjamas! In total, nearly 900 people joined in from locations including Toowoomba, Taroom, Roma, Augathella, St George, Goondiwindi, Palamallawa, Warwick and even Darwin.

G150 Art Show: A Rainy but Wonderful Weekend

Despite some very wet weather, the G150 Art Show was a huge success. The committee went all out, putting together a fantastic pictorial display featuring old photos and memorabilia from TGS’s long history. It was a perfect way to celebrate our past while showcasing incredible artwork from the G150 Art Prize finalists.

Visitors also got to enjoy a special G150 cocktail featuring our Bookfellow Gin, blended with locally made mead and lemonade—a unique blend inspired by the bunya nuts from our very own School grounds. Fun fact: this gin was created at Pechey Distillery, which was founded by one of TGS’s earliest trustees, Edward Wilmot Pechey MLA.

G150 Women of Grammar: Postponed but Still Highly Anticipated

The G150 Women of Grammar event was set to be held on March 8, but due to Cyclone Alfred, it had to be postponed. While this was disappointing, the good news is that it’s now rescheduled for Mother’s Day Weekend on Friday, May 10—and the excitement is still building.

With all 310 seats sold, this event will be a fantastic celebration of the incredible women who have shaped TGS over the years. A major highlight will be the unveiling of the G150 Jo Kinniburgh Brooch, a stunning piece crafted and gifted to the School by Old Boy Lachlan Hogan from Hogans Jewellers. It’s going to be an unforgettable night!

What’s Next?

With Term 1 done and dusted, we’re only just getting started with our G150 celebrations. There’s so much more to come, and we can’t wait to see what the rest of 2025 brings. The blue and gold spirit is alive and thriving—here’s to more unforgettable moments ahead!

Jo Capp
Grammar 150 Project Manager

Character and Virtues Education – Caught in a Community Environment

Positive, patient and respectful relationships are a crucial element of character caught. For most teachers and staff working in education, the formation of positive and productive relationships - whether staff to staff, staff and students, between students, or indeed between all members of a school's community - is one of the most important conduits for learning to take place.

The quality, consistency and direction of positive relationships are certainly vital for character education. A number of research studies (Jubilee Research Centre, Birmingham 2024) have suggested that having a positive relationship with an adult is among the most important prerequisites for fostering positive social development in adolescent males.

The American character educator, Marvin Berkowitz and his colleagues (2017: 18) have suggested that 'the strategic and intentional nurturing of relationships is foundational for effective practice’. School structures and schedules that are dedicated to relationship building must be intentionally implemented to support the formation of such relationships. All stakeholders and their interrelationships should be included in this relational focus. Schools should connect to and leverage non-school community members and organisations. This includes parent involvement, but also includes local government, local business, law enforcement and possibly community organisations.

We are very fortunate at Toowoomba Grammar School to have a vast array of professionals working within the educational pastoral industry committed to bringing a shared vocabulary into the wellbeing educational landscape for the boys in blue and gold. Professionals such as Damon Joseph from Character Builders are able to tap into the world that the boys are managing and through a shared lens build character through actions beyond words. Other groups such as Tomorrow Man, Lorin Nicholson and Paul Dillon all play an important role in encouraging character, reminding boys of the character they display and why it is important to provide opportunities for boys to catch it through valued experiences.

The quality of relationships within a school will be influenced by whether, and how, character and virtues feature in the schools vision and/or mission statement, as well as how character is lived within the ethos and culture of the school. In turn, those relationships will impact on the back of the school’s ethos and culture. In other words, where ethos and culture and relationships are positive, a virtuous circle operates between members of that community.

At Toowoomba Grammar School, we embed this through our character and wellbeing curriculum, whilst also incorporating them into our academic and co-curricular activities too. These elements embedding character education typically emphasise the significance of open communication, peer-learning, dialogical classrooms and post consequence discussions for developing and sustaining positive and productive relationships. Research studies also show that schools which have an explicit focus on virtues are more likely to prioritise a school community which is honest, compassionate, accepting of difference, fair, respectful, co-operative and inclusive.

A recurring theme, when discussing character development with educational colleagues that have embedded character education into their schools, is that it can be the informal interactions with students that bring the greatest levels of connections. One of the greatest lessons I have learnt in education came from our own Lance Treloar “Speak to boys when they make a mistake but don’t forget to catch them when they do something right”. These are the moments when character is caught. Staff that are able to visit properties on which boarders live, coach sports, interact at lunchtimes and be part of mentor activities often develop greater and more positive relationships with students through knowing the whole child.

Michael Hall
Head of Pastoral Care

2025 Next Step Survey

By now the 2024 Year 12 students should have received a letter from the Queensland Government about completing the 2025 Next Step Survey. This letter has been sent to their home address. If you are a parent of a student who graduated last year, can I please ask that you encourage your son to take a few minutes to complete this survey as the results give us a snapshot of where and what the boys are doing after school. Please see below some further information about the Next Step Survey from JOHN-PAUL LANGBROEK MP, Minister for Education and the Arts.

2025 Next Step Year 12 Completers Survey

All Year 12 completers from last year will have received an invitation to participate in the Next Step survey. This is their chance to help our School to understand the different pathways of the 2024 Year 12 students and to improve our senior programs and supports for future students. The survey only takes five minutes and asks graduates about their study and work activities since finishing school.

As a thank you for participating, Year 12 completers who complete the survey will be entered into a draw to win a MacBook Air.

Graduates may receive an invitation by mail, email or phone. The survey can be completed online or by phone.

For more information about Next Step, including previous results, visit http://www.qld.gov.au/nextstep.

Thank you for your assistance with the 2025 Next Step Survey.

Bond University - Virtual Open Day 2025

• Location: Online
• Date: Saturday, 5 April 2025

Experience Bond's deliberately different approach to learning at their Virtual Open Day. Register to unlock exclusive content, available to you on-demand and watch the broadcast streamed live from campus on Saturday, 5 April 2025 from 12pm AEST.

See for yourself why the Gold Coast is Australia’s favourite classroom. From our personalised attention to our exceptional graduate outcomes, Virtual Open Day is the place to uncover everything Bond University has to offer. Find out more and register.

We wish you all a relaxing break and look forward to seeing you all again in Term 2.

Happy Easter!

Anthea Richters
Head of Department - Careers

Holiday reading

The holidays are rapidly approaching for our young men, and with the holidays comes that most precious thing, time. This is the one thing money can't buy and the number one excuse people give for not reading.

What to read though? Why not try something new, something different, who knows, you might just gain from the experience.

I like fantasy and science fiction, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Dune, the Dragonlance Chronicles and Discworld are among my favourite books. Recently, however I have been reading romance and romantasy, thanks to Netflix and my daughter.

Having watched Netflix butcher the Bridgerton characters in Season 3* I decided that I needed to read all of the Bridgerton books before they destroyed them all**. I generally go by the mantra of read the book first in any case, for the specific reason that movies, shows, plays etc are just one person's interpretation of the text, and you rob yourself of the joy of imagination if you see these before reading the book.

I digress, in any case, I loved them, they were great, not particularly deep and of course we know how they'll end - they're romance novels, but the joy is in the journey, not the destination. For those that don't know Bridgerton it is a series of books about the love lives of the members of the fictitious Bridgerton family, set in Georgian England, but with very modern sensibilities. Each book follows a different child and builds upon the last, they can be read independently of each other, but work well when read in sequence. All of the tropes are represented and they vary in spice level, but they were fun characters to spend some time with as they journey toward finding 'a love match' in a time where that wasn't so common.

Another book series I read and enjoyed, was A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J Maas; well, I'll be honest I gave up on the last book in the series, but that focussed on a different character and had a massive change in tone (I think she wanted her books to be read by adults instead of being lumped in with young adult (YA). The first book is loosely based on Beauty and the Beast, but a bit darker and spicier (they get spicier as they go, be warned). This was my first romantasy, which is pretty big at the moment; you might see the following if you visit bookshops or libraries, Fourth Wing, A Court of Thorns and Roses, The Folk of the Air and Powerless, and there's bound to be more.

I guess this has been a kind of long way round to say, I probably wouldn't have picked these books myself; they don't fit what I usually read, but I gave them a go, and I enjoyed them, I'd be missing out if I didn't read them and that would be shame. I think that even if I grabbed a book from outside my comfort area, and didn't enjoy it, there would still be something to learn, perhaps a new viewpoint, perhaps some new vocabulary or even just that I didn't like that book and now know myself a little better.

Perhaps this holiday, visit the library, bookshop or op shop and grab something a little different, you may just surprise yourself.

Happy holidays and keep reading.

Daniel Crook
Head of Library and Information Services - Senior School

*The book is far superior, Colin and Penny deserved better than this.
** This is all my opinion of course.

Thank you and well done for a fabulous Term 1. It's such an important term for both students and staff to form connections with their new classes and build great routines that will set them up for the year of learning.

Our community events are important too for reconnecting after the summer break and welcoming new families into the School. The Grammar 150 launch did this beautifully, along with the Junior School parent information evening where all families met their son/s teachers for the year. A few weeks later we gathered again for a Junior School Family Fun Night on Old Boys’ Memorial oval on a Friday evening. This event, only in its second year, is becoming a feature of community connection in the Junior School and an ideal way to start the year together. I won’t be able to capture all the happenings in this article but the fullness of school life is evident by mid-term with swimming carnivals, co-curricular activities, NAPLAN assessment, camps, concerts and an Art Show to round out the term. The breadth of activities our boys can access is immense. Thank you all for your support of these activities, events and occasions to make the TGS experience truly special for everyone.

Wet weather has been a feature of Term 1 this year. Firstly, ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred caused some disruption to our operations but thankfully no overt damage to School grounds or facilities. Then only a few weeks later more rain soaked the ground for nearly two weeks but again only minor adjustments to our routines and the boys navigated the changes very well. Moving into Autumn we are hopeful for some clear skies and mild temperatures to start Term 2 nicely and hold our postponed Cross-Country carnival in the first couple of weeks.

Looking ahead to Term 2 – some key dates to note

• It’s a short first week back with students returning on Wednesday, 23 April and our School ANZAC Day service on Thursday, 24 April followed by the public holiday on Friday, 25 April.
• Parent/Teacher meetings will be held throughout the second week of Term 2, which are a great opportunity to get an update on your son's progress.
• Wednesday, 7 May – Mothers’ Day stall for boys to purchase an item for Mum.
• Friday, 9 May – Mothers’ Day breakfast in the Junior School Hall for mothers and their sons/daughters to enjoy together.
• Thursday, 15 to Sunday, 18 May – Toowoomba Eisteddfod choral groups will be performing, more information will be shared from Mrs Dixon closer to the date.
• Wednesday, 21 May – Under 8’s Day, a favourite day of fun and activities for our Prep to Year 2 students.
• Lots of excursions and class happenings throughout the term which your class teachers will share with families ahead of time.
• Wednesday, 18 June – Junior School Track and Field carnival to close out Term 2.

Best wishes for the break period ahead. For those travelling, enjoy and take care. Those remaining local, take advantage of this beautiful time of year. I look forward to an exciting Term 2 ahead with everyone.

With warmest regards and appreciation.

Ken Raven
Head of Junior School

The Importance of Daily Reading and Numeracy Practice at Home

Dear Families

As we approach the holiday break, it is worthwhile emphasising value of maintaining daily reading and numeracy practice at home. These activities are not only crucial for academic success but also for the overall development of our young learners.

Why Daily Reading Matters

Reading is a fundamental skill that underpins all areas of learning. Regular reading practice helps our boys improve their vocabulary, comprehension and critical thinking skills. It also fosters a love for literature and encourages lifelong learning. Benefits of daily reading include:

• Enhanced Language Skills: Reading exposes children to new words and phrases, helping them develop a richer vocabulary and better understanding of language structures.
• Improved Concentration: Regular reading sessions can help children build focus and concentration, which are essential skills for academic success.
• Stimulated Imagination: Books transport children to different worlds, sparking their creativity and imagination.
• Stronger Parent-Child Bond: Reading together provides an opportunity for quality time, strengthening the bond between parents and children.

Research shows that reading for at least 15 minutes a day can lead to substantial gains in reading achievement. Students who read for this amount of time see accelerated reading gains higher than the national average. Additionally, a rich home literacy environment, including parental involvement and literacy expectations, significantly enhances children's reading comprehension.

The Importance of Numeracy Practice

Numeracy skills are equally important as they form the foundation for understanding mathematical concepts and problem-solving. Daily numeracy practice can help children develop confidence in their mathematical abilities and prepare them for more complex topics in the future. Here are some benefits of regular numeracy practice:

• Improved Problem-Solving Skills: Engaging in numeracy activities helps boys develop logical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
• Better Understanding of Concepts: Regular practice reinforces mathematical concepts, making it easier for children to grasp new topics.
• Increased Confidence: As boys become more proficient in numeracy, their confidence in tackling mathematical challenges grows.

Studies indicate that a supportive home numeracy environment positively influences children's numeracy and literacy skill development. Parents' involvement in mathematical activities at home can significantly boost children's numeracy skills and overall academic performance.

Tips for Incorporating Reading and Numeracy Practice at Home

1. Set a Routine: Establish a daily routine that includes dedicated time for reading and numeracy activities. Consistency is key to developing good habits.
2. Make it Fun: Use games, puzzles and interactive activities to make learning enjoyable. This can help keep children engaged and motivated.
3. Read Together: Spend time reading with your son, discussing the story and asking questions to enhance comprehension.
4. Use Everyday Opportunities: Incorporate numeracy practice into daily activities, such as cooking (measuring ingredients) or shopping (calculating costs).
5. Praise and Encourage: Celebrate your son’s progress and efforts, providing positive reinforcement to boost their confidence.

As we enjoy the holiday break, let's ensure our boys continue to grow and thrive academically by incorporating daily reading and numeracy practice into their routines. Your support and involvement are invaluable in helping them achieve their full potential.

Wishing you all a wonderful and restful break.

Chantelle Bauer
Deputy Head of Junior School (Teaching and Learning)

It has been a fantastic first term of sport in 2025. With lots more to happen this year, things are only just warming up.

GPS Cricket and Volleyball

Congratulations to all boys who have participated in Term 1 GPS sports. The boys have certainly improved their skills, had fun and met some new people. Thanks to all coaches involved for adding so much to the TGS community.

GPS Football and Tennis

There has been a hive of activity surrounding next term’s GPS sports, football and tennis. The boys are excited about the term and have been training well in the lead up. We wish all boys involved the best of luck.

GPS Swimming

Congratulations to all boys who participated at the recent GPS Swimming Championships, postposed due to Cyclone Alfred. With a disrupted preparation, the boys represented the School very well. Chandler is a daunting arena to swim in, but with Olympian and TGS Old Boy Isaac Cooper on pool deck, the boys were certainly able to give their best. Numerous personal best times testified to the improvements they have made. Well done!

Club Football and Club Rugby

Club Football and Rugby pre-season training has finished with an excellent afternoon of activities last Friday. We are very thankful to the many guest coaches who gave up their time to help our youngest members of the TGS sporting community prepare for their season ahead. It was also an added treat with members of the First XI and First XV helping out at training and then joining the boys for a sausage sizzle. The sausage sizzle was a big and hit and we thank the Football Supporters’ Groups for their generosity. It is great to see such wonderful school spirit.

Draws for Term 2 will be released shortly and will be shared accordingly.

Cross Country

Our Inter-House cross country carnival was unfortunately postponed due to the inclement weather. Those boys aspiring to represent the School at a representative level ran a modified course to allow us to select boys moving to the next level.

The 2025 House Cross Country carnival will be moved to a date in Term 2. Communication surrounding the new date and logistics will be disseminated shortly.

Have a great break and we look forward to an even bigger term of sport in Term 2.

Brendan Doherty
Junior School Sports Coordinator

Eisteddfod – choral

All boys from Prep to Year 6 will be performing at the Toowoomba Eisteddfod in Term 2. Boys have been preparing pieces in their weekly Voiceworks rehearsals. The Eisteddfod schedule has been released and session times are listed below. Please be aware a letter with all details (including arrival times, pick-up times and travel arrangements) will be sent home in the near future. Please add the following times to your family calendar.

• Thursday, 15 May, 2:00pm session – Voiceworks 4
• Friday, 16 May, 2:00pm session – Voiceworks 5, Voiceworks 6
• Friday, 16 May, 5:30pm session – Tribe and Tribe Junior
• Saturday, 17 May, 12:30pm session – p/1 Voiceworks, 2/3 Voiceworks, Tribe

Choral rehearsals

Some extra choral rehearsals have been scheduled for Tribe and Tribe Junior on the Student Free Day (Tuesday, 22 April) to ensure we are prepared for our Term 2 performances. These extra rehearsals are in addition to all regular scheduled rehearsals. Please see the rehearsal times listed below. A note with all details has been sent to relevant parents.

Choral Showcase – Thursday, 1 May

The Choral Showcase will feature performances from Tribe and Tribe Junior, as well as all Senior School choirs. The Choral Showcase will be held in the Senior School Assembly Hall on Thursday, 1 May, commencing at 6:00pm.

All members of Tribe and Tribe Junior are expected to attend for their performances. Voiceworks groups will not perform at this concert.

Ensemble Rehearsals

All ensemble rehearsals will resume in Week 1 next term, from Wednesday, 23 April. If your son is unable to attend a scheduled rehearsal, please email his conductor to inform them of his absence.

Kellie Dixon
Head of Junior School Music and Director of Performing Arts (Acting)

Term 2 Football

Registrations closing soon

Parents are reminded that registrations for Term 2 Football close this weekend. Boys seeking to participate in Term 2 Football must be registered via the Clipboard for Parents website.

Clipboard login details are the same as your Parent Lounge login details.

Blazers Football Holiday Clinics

Monday, 7 and Tuesday, 8 April here at TGS

If you’re at a loose end this holiday season and are seeking to get season ready, why not consider attending our Goalkeeper or Skills Academy.

These camps are ideal for boys and girls born between 2010-2016. Be quick, register today.

Week 1 Schedule for Term 2

Football Muster/Camp | Tuesday, 22 April 2025

Week 1 of Term 2 is a busy week with two public holidays and only two days of School. Term 2 Football has an important fixture away at BBC on the Saturday, 26 April meaning teams will need to be formed quickly.

On Tuesday, 22 April, the Football program will run two or four hour training camps for boys and teams. Boys who missed pre-season training, should attend C/D training sessions as a start point.

Boys in C/D Teams should be prepared to conduct a second training session the next day – Wednesday, 23 April.

Boys in A/B Squads will train on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons.

You can access the Term 2 training schedule, which includes Tuesday's Football camp schedule here.

Wednesday, 23 April – First Day of School

• C/D Training as per the normal schedule and Junior School U6/8/9/10

Thursday, 24 April – Second Day of School

• A/B Training + Junior School U7
• First XI Season Launch – Burke and Wills Hotel

Friday, 25 April – Anzac Day Public Holiday

Saturday, 26 April

• GPS Round 1 vs BBC in Brisbane
• Darling Downs Junior Competition – Round 1

Nigel Fanning
Head of Football

The 2025 volleyball season has come to a close, and what a fantastic season it has been. Across all age groups, our players have demonstrated outstanding commitment, teamwork and sportsmanship. The growth and development of our teams throughout the season have been exceptional, with many hard-fought matches and memorable performances along the way.

A huge thank you to our players, coaches and families for their dedication and support. Your efforts have contributed to another successful and enjoyable season. Special mention to our Year 12 players, who have represented the program with distinction—we wish them all the best in their future endeavours.

We also enjoyed celebrating the season at our Volleyball Presentation Evening on Saturday, 29 March, where we recognised individual and team achievements and enjoyed a fun evening of awards and games.

Thank you once again for a great season, and we look forward to building on this success in 2026!

View the full list of 2025 GPS Volleyball Award Recipients

Friday Night saw the completion of a successful Schools Basketball Competition for our TGS teams.

Both our 9/10s team and 11/12s teams went through the regular season undefeated. The intensity stepped up in the finals and both TGS teams rose to the occasion to secure grand final wins.

All students and coaches have put in a lot of work heading into the Club Basketball competition starting up in early Term 2.

Congratulations to all students on a great start to TGS Basketball in 2025.

Read My Lips

Congratulations to all performers who were involved in the recent Read My Lips competition. This proved to be a wonderful evening of entertainment, with a huge variety of performances. Thank you to Mrs Lucy Andreas for her planning and coordination of this event, and thank you also to our judges on the evening, Mrs Jenny Bazley, Mr Giles Murfin, Mr Michael Hall and Nicholas Baulch. The judges awarded the following prizes:

• First Place: Academic Imports
• Second Place: Junior TiGGA
• Third Place: Unconventional Comedians
• Most original performance: Fairholme Friday night live
• Most Entertaining Performance: Senior TiGGA
• Encouragement awards: Glennie 1, Taylor House, Senior Prefects, The Brown the Blind and the Bland.
• House Buddha Trophy: Groom Gladiators

Toowoomba Grammar Art Show - performances

Our musician’s were extremely busy last weekend, providing a huge variety of performances at the TGS Art Show. Grammarphones performed for the Opening Night celebrations, while Harry Bland provided some exquisite piano playing at Opening Night, all of the High Tea sessions, as well as performing numerous times at the Cafe.

We were fortunate to have a large number of our talented musicians’ perform at the Toowoomba Grammar Art Show Café across Saturday, 29 March and Sunday, 30 March. Our musicians’ from Year 1 to Year 12 provided a wonderful atmosphere for Café patrons. Thank you to all musicians’ for your performances – it was wonderful to have such a variety of instruments across the weekend, and feature performances from students across both the Junior School and Senior School.

Student Free Day – extra choral rehearsals

We are extremely fortunate to have Mr Paul Holley coming to Toowoomba to work with our choirs on the Student Free Day, Tuesday, 22 April. These additional rehearsals will assist the Choir and Grammarphones with their Eisteddfod preparations and other performances early in Term 2. Please see times below.

Choral Showcase – Thursday, 1 May

The Choral Showcase will feature performances from Senior Choir and Grammarphones, as well as our Junior School choirs Tribe and Tribe Junior. The Choral Showcase will be held in the Senior School Assembly Hall on Thursday, 1 May, commencing at 6:00pm. Parents and friends are welcome to attend to hear our choirs perform and support them prior to their involvement in the upcoming Toowoomba Eisteddfod.

Kellie Dixon
Director of Performing Arts (Acting)

What an epic start to 2025! The Toowoomba Grammar School Army Cadet Unit has hit the ground running with Open Day's, Fairs, Training Day's, Exercise Greenhorn, Weapons Training, Optical Rifle Shooting, Run Army and to finish it all off, a spectacular Dining-in Night with our amazing guest speaker and helicopter pilot, Captain Andrew Wilson.

The TGS Army Cadet Open Day welcomed all of Corfe House to the Jacaranda Grove with plenty of target practice, green faces and questionable direction-giving skills on display. After the Open Day, we welcomed 30 new Army Cadet recruits, with the mammoth task of kitting them all out with packs, webbing, uniforms and hats before heading off on their first overnight exercise.

Exercise Greenhorn did not disappoint, with recruits and cadets alike navigating the terrain to construct shelters, observation pits and patrol the area in order to locate and observe ‘Pineapple Man’ and his band of misfits. I am happy to say that ‘Pineapple Man’ was defeated, and his delicious pineapple treasure was consumed by staff.

In addition to all that fun, TGS Army Cadets continued to serve the community by attending the National Servicemen’s Memorial in February, participating in both the Catafalque Party and Flag Party, to aid our friends from the AAFC.

Also in February, we witnessed the promotion of our new Sergeants—congratulations SGT Chen, SGT Lindenmayer and SGT Hurford on your well-deserved promotions. On Assembly, both SCUO Angus McKenzie and WO1 Erik Sheppard received their Bronze Commendations from 2024’s Chief of the Army Team Challenge.

TGS Army Cadets is always on the lookout for new, exciting and unusual opportunities to offer our young cadets. In 2025, we introduced Optical Rifle Shooting, which originates from the Olympic pentathlon, where members are tasked to sprint 400 meters and then shoot five targets accurately. The challenge is in reducing your heart rate enough to accurately shoot at a 5mm dot. Points are awarded for closeness to the bullseye. The TGS Army Cadets got their first lesson on these rifles in March, with some aspiring target shooters identified.

Finally, the end of Term 1 culminated in our Dining-in Night, a treat for all the cadets who have worked so hard. The formal dinner is an Army tradition stemming back to the times of knights and round tables. In modern times, it provides an opportunity to socialise with ADF members, School staff and other cadets, with 2025’s guest speaker providing inspiration on building friendships, putting yourself out there to try something new and becoming a better person.

Thank you, Captain Wilson and Mr Fryer, for attending.

Where to now? TGS Army Cadets has the enormous job of promoting, organising, and continuing the legacy of the ANZACs, with Week 1 of Term 2 completely chock-full of services, meetings and training. As always, we welcome all parents, guardians, friends and siblings of TGS Army Cadets to attend the 2025 TGS ANZAC Day Service, occurring on Thursday, 24 April 2025, on Old Boys' Memorial Oval. This year, we celebrate 150 years of TGS and the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. We would love to see you all there.

From the TGS Army Cadet Staff, have a great Easter break and make sure to follow us on Facebook #tgsarmycadets to keep up with all our goings-on. Good luck to our Corporals heading to their Promotion Course in Canungra—you will be amazing!

Lauren Trevasani
TGSACU Cadet Officer - Assistant

This year, we celebrate 150 years of TGS and the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. We would love to see you all there.

New Payment Portal for TGS Parents

We are pleased to announce that TGS is transitioning its payment portal to the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA). This change aims to provide a more streamlined and secure payment experience for all our parents and guardians.

Starting from Monday, 7 April 2025, when you log into Parent Lounge to make payments for fees, excursions, events and other activities, you will notice a new look on the payment screen. The updated interface is designed to be user-friendly and efficient, ensuring a smooth transaction process.

Here are some examples of what the new payment portal screen will look like:

We believe this change will enhance your experience and make managing payments easier than ever. If you have any questions or need assistance, please do not hesitate to contact our School's Finance Team for more support on 07 4687 2527.

There will be further communications sent via the TGS App on Monday.

Thank you for your continued support and cooperation.

TGS Communications

This month on SchoolTV - Cybersafety

Young people today are growing up in an increasingly connected world where technology is part of their everyday lives –– for learning, socialising, and entertainment. While the digital world offers enormous benefits, it also comes with serious risks. From cyberbullying and online predators to inappropriate content and screen time concerns, navigating the online environment can be challenging for young people and their families.

Cybersafety is not just about blocking access –– it's about empowering young people with the knowledge and skills they need to use technology responsibly and safely. This includes understanding privacy settings, recognising scams, and developing healthy digital habits. At the same time, it's important for parents and caregivers to stay informed, have open and judgement-free conversations with their children, and lead by example through positive online behaviour.

In today's digital age, safeguarding a child's wellbeing must also include protecting their online life. This edition of SchoolTV will help you better understand the digital landscape your child is navigating and offer practical strategies to help them stay safe, confident and in control online.

Access this edition of SchoolTV.