THE BLUE AND GOLD - Friday, 8 August 2025

Dear TGS Families,

On Tuesday, 5 August 2025, Toowoomba Grammar School marked a truly historic milestone, our 150th Foundation Day. It was a day of reflection, celebration, and connection, as we honoured the legacy of those who came before us and looked ahead to the future we are shaping together.

The day began with the ceremonial opening of a time capsule, sealed behind the Centenary Hall foundation stone in 1975. This capsule, laid during the School’s centenary, was a symbolic gesture of hope and foresight. As we carefully unveiled its contents, we were reminded that while artefacts may fade, the values and spirit of our community endure.

The capsule contained items that echoed the life and culture of the School at that time, simple yet powerful reminders of the boys, staff, and families who shaped our story. These were not just relics, but reflections of a community deeply committed to education, character, and belonging.

Later that day, our Foundation Assembly brought together students, staff, Old Boys, dignitaries, and friends of the School. We were honoured to welcome former Headmasters, members of the Board, and distinguished guests . Their presence reminded us of the enduring partnerships that have helped build and sustain our School.

In my address, I spoke of the School’s founding values, rooted in Christian principles and enriched over time by diverse cultures and beliefs. These values continue to guide our mission: to educate boys and develop their good character for life.

We reflected on the story of Jim Atkinson, a 12-year-old boy who travelled from Greenvale Station in North Queensland to enrol at Grammar in 1913. His journey, by bicycle, schooner, and train, took two weeks. It was a testament to the value placed on education and the belief in what this School could offer. Jim’s story is one of courage, commitment, and faith in the future.

We also celebrated the contributions of General Sir Harry Chauvel and Mr Les Weis, two Old Boys whose leadership and innovation have left lasting marks on Australia and beyond. Their stories remind us that the legacy of Grammar is not held by a few, but carried by many.

Among the most touching moments of the day were the anecdotes shared by the Dent family. Tessa Dent, daughter of our 13th Headmaster Mr Bill Dent, recalled her childhood on the School campus as a “children’s paradise”- filled with bike rides, fort-building, and hide-and-seek in the pine forest. Her reflections brought warmth and humanity to our celebration.

As we prepare to seal a new time capsule later this year, we invite our students to contribute. But more importantly, we ask them to consider what legacy they are building today. What values will they carry forward? What stories will they leave behind?

To our parents and guardians - thank you for your unwavering support. You are part of this legacy. Together, we continue to nurture boys of good character, confident in themselves and committed to making a difference.

Happy 150th birthday, Toowoomba Grammar School.

Kind regards,
Dr John Kinniburgh
Headmaster

Reflections on Youth Mental Health First Aid

Across two recent Mondays, staff from Toowoomba Grammar School and The Glennie School gathered to complete the Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) course. This nationally accredited program equips adults with the skills to recognise signs of mental distress in young people and offer initial support until professional help is available.

The course covered a wide range of topics, including anxiety, depression, substance use, and suicide risk, providing participants with practical strategies and confidence to act early and compassionately. At a time when schools are playing an increasing role in student wellbeing, this training couldn’t be more relevant.

While the course was filled with valuable tools and insights, one of the most powerful outcomes was the space it created for personal reflection. So often in schools, our focus is on the wellbeing of our students—which is as it should be—but these two days also reminded me of the importance of caring for ourselves and each other as colleagues.

During one of the breaks, I wandered into the Pavilion and found myself standing quietly in front of a painting by David Hinchliffe. The artwork depicts a beautiful, light-filled tree—one that stands just outside the Headmaster’s office window. For a moment, I stood still, watching how the brushstrokes echoed the sunlight falling through the real branches outside.

That moment stayed with me.

We often underestimate how even small encounters with beauty—especially nature, or representations of it—can help restore clarity and focus. Psychologist Stephen Kaplan (1995) called this the Attention Restoration Theory: the idea that our minds recover from fatigue when we are immersed in peaceful, natural environments. Even in a busy school day, a brief pause to notice something beautiful can make a difference.

Another powerful part of the two-day course was the quiet sense of camaraderie it created. Breaks were filled with friendly chats—about football, family, school life and shared stories. These weren’t just casual conversations. They were reminders of the strength that comes from being part of a team. When we feel connected to others who understand the pressures and joys of our work, it lightens the load. Social Identity Theory (Tajfel & Turner, 1979) explains that this sense of belonging contributes meaningfully to our emotional wellbeing. I felt that—and I know others did too. As educators and support staff, we naturally focus outward—supporting students, families and school goals. But this course reminded me that the people doing the caring need care too. The best way we can serve our students is by ensuring we are emotionally balanced, socially supported and willing to pause and breathe when we need it.

The YMHFA course gave us more than a framework to support others—it gave us time and space to reflect on how we show up each day, how we restore ourselves and how we remain connected to the people and places that keep us grounded.

In the end, it’s not just about responding in a crisis. It’s about noticing earlier. Listening more. Reaching out. And knowing that even the smallest moment of care—whether for a student, a colleague or yourself—can change the course of someone’s day.

Lyle Gothmann
School Counsellor
Telephone: (07) 46872 627
Email: L.Gothmann@twgs.qld.edu.au

References

Kaplan, S. (1995). The restorative benefits of nature: Toward an integrative framework. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 15(3), 169–182. https://doi.org/10.1016/0272-4944 (95)90001-2

Tajfel, H., & Turner, J.C. (1979). An integrative theory of intergroup conflict. In The Social Psychology of Intergroup Relations (pp. 33–47). Brooks/Cole.

Year 12 QTAC and Tertiary Application Information Evening for Year 12 parents

QTAC opened this week, and we are hosting an information evening for parents in Week 6 following the Year 12 Parent/Teacher Interviews. This event will also be live streamed via Teams for parents who are unable to attend in person. Year 12 students are also welcome to attend. The Teams link will be sent to Year 12 parents separately.

• When: Monday, 18 August
• Where: Jacaranda Room
• Time: 5:30pm – 6:30pm

Year 12 QTAC Application and ATAR Registration Workshops

The Careers Department will run lunchtime workshops to assist the Year 12s with creating a QTAC account and ATAR registration. These will start on Wednesday, 6 August and run until Thursday, 21 August. All students who are on an ATAR Pathway, regardless of whether they are submitting a QTAC application, will need to attend one workshop to register to receive their ATAR. Students intending to apply through QTAC for Queensland university entry, will need to attend one workshop only. We ask that all university applications be finalised and submitted by the end of Term 3.

University Open Days

There are still some open days coming up in the next few weeks. These are a great opportunity for parents and students to explore the many opportunities available.

• UQ: Sunday, 17 August (Gatton)
• UniSQ: Saturday, 9 August (Springfield and Ipswich)
• UniSQ: Sunday, 17 August (Toowoomba)
• Griffith: Sunday, 10 August

Pathways and Possibilities – Darling Downs

• Tuesday, 19 August
• 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
• Oaks Hotel, 25 Annand St, Toowoomba
• Free event but bookings are essential. Register here.

What’s Involved?

This event is targeted at parents/carers and aims to provide them with information to support their child to make informed career pathway decisions, although students are also able to attend.

• Industry Round Tables: parents and students can speak face-to-face with up to three industry areas of interest (industry reps from approx. 30 different businesses across 11 different industries), including:
  • Energy Queensland
  • Newlands
  • McNab
  • SwarmFarm
  • Obadare
  • Kotzur
  • Boeing Defence Australia
  • Russell Mineral Equipment
  • Herries St Dental
  • Optimise Health
  • Big Dog Support
  • Morgans Chalk
  • Power Tynan
  • Boucher Khan Lawyers
  • Webster Cavanagh Marsden
  • Australian Well Control Centre
  • ADF Careers
  • Kehoe Myers
• Speakers: hear about how to maximise school options for pathways, VET and higher education
• Future Workforce Insights: find out which jobs and skills are in demand locally

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Careers Department to make an appointment.

Anthea Richters
Head of Department - Careers

Phone Usage

A reminder to all parents that Toowoomba Grammar School bans mobile telephones in the classroom and has clear guidelines for the boys and staff to follow. Our guidelines are outlined in the Senior School Student Handbook and state that the following expectations are in place for mobile phone and technology use:

• Should day parents wish for boys to bring a mobile phone to School, it is to be secured in the boy’s locker on arrival to school.
• The phone is permitted to be used only after 3:10pm.
• Urgent messages to boys and to parents can be directed to Student Services for distribution.
• Boarders have no need for mobile phones at School and are expected to keep these secure in the Boarding House.
• Laptops are not permitted to be used before school or during breaks, unless in the Library. Boys wishing to use technology for work are permitted to do so in the Library.

As mobile telephone usage for teenagers is a significant topic, I include below article that you might find interesting or helpful.

School TV SPECIAL REPORT: Mobile Phone Separation Anxiety

Please be aware that if your son’s behaviour online breaches our behaviour management policy then the School may issue consequences as per our behaviour management policy.

Further to the discussion regarding technology use, I remind all families that the school supplied laptops that each boy receives at TGS is to be used for schoolwork and is not to be used for gaming. We have software on each boys’ laptop that monitors his use and access to any dangerous or inappropriate content. However, there are always new websites created that are not appropriate for our teens. If you do discover that your son is able to access inappropriate content on his laptop, then please contact our IT Helpdesk at ithelpdesk@twgs.qld.edu.au.

New Sport Socks

As the current stocks of white TGS sport socks run out we are replacing these with navy blue TGS sports socks. The TGS uniform committee has approved the use of the new socks for HPE classes and court sports. The advantage of the new navy-blue sports socks is that boys are welcome to wear them under their long trousers. There are no changes to the long socks as they must still be worn when the boys wear shorts in Terms 1 and 4. The current white socks will be phased out over a three-year period.

Year 12 References

Parents of Year 12 boys will have received an email from me at the end of last term regarding School References. Should Year 12s require a School Reference for university, work or accommodation application, then they must email their Head of House requesting a reference.

Mark Oliphant
Head of Senior School

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it's Superman!

With the new Superman movie in theatres (it's great by the way), there has been a resurgence of interest in the Man of Steel. In this article, I cover a brief history of Superman and recommend some classic tales for anyone interested in reading Superman books.

Creating the Man of Steel

Superman, widely regarded as the first superhero was created by writer Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Shuster in 1938. He first appeared in Action Comics #1 in 1938. In the iconic, now 87-year-old cover, he is depicted as holding a car over his head to help save a man. His debut launched the Golden Age of Comics.

Who is Superman?

Born Kal-El on the doomed planet Krypton, he was sent to Earth as a baby by his parents, Jor-El and Lara. Raised by the Kents in Smallville as Clark Kent, he grew up to discover his extraordinary powers under Earth’s yellow sun—super strength, flight, heat vision, x-ray vision and near invulnerability.

As Superman, he defends humanity, originally protecting Truth, Justice and the American way. His alter ego, Clark Kent, works as a journalist at the Daily Planet alongside Lois Lane. Over the decades, Superman evolved to reflect changing times—facing Cold War threats, exploring identity crises and even dying and coming back in major comic story arcs.

He has remained one of the most iconic superheroes ever created—symbolising hope, integrity and moral strength.

Where to Next?

If you've seen one of the many interpretations of Superman on the screen or are new to the Man of Steel and want to try his comic book origins, here are some classic tales to try.

Classic Superman Stories to Read

1. Superman: Birthright by Mark Waid, Leinil Francis Yu and Gerry Alanguilan (2003–2004)
   Given that Superman came out in 1938, DC wanted to modernise his origin for newer readers. Waid manages to do this and give greater emotional depth and relevance to the well-known tale.
2. Superman: Red Son by Mark Millar & Dave Johnson (2003)
   A personal favourite that asks the question, what if Superman had landed 12 hours later in Soviet Russia instead of Kansas. What if Superman was a communist? How does the ideal of Superman hold up in a different context, and what does that mean for the rest of the DC universe?
3. The Death of Superman (1992)
   In the 90s in an attempt to subvert expectations and create a powerful story that would shake up Comicdom; DC decided to kill Superman, creating a powerful enemy called Doomsday, they face off in a brutal battle that leads to his death. Or does it?
4. Superman: Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow? by Alan Moore & Curt Swan (1986)
   As DC comics was about to wrap up their Silver Age comics and move to a newer, grittier style. Alan Moore asked to give Superman a poignant final farewell in a Superman story that pays tribute to his long Silver Age history.
5. All-Star Superman by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely (2005–2008)
   In 2005 DC brought back its most celebrated writers and artists in Batman and Superman to create the All-Star series. They could not be further apart, while All-Star Batman was incredibly bad; All-Star Superman is widely regarded as one of, if not the best superman stories of all time. A poetic, mythic take on Superman as he deals with his impending death.

All these books are available from our Library. Whatever you're reading, enjoy.

Daniel Crook
Head of Library and Information Services

Year 12 QTAC and Tertiary Application Information Evening for Year 12 parents

QTAC opened this week, and we are hosting an information evening for parents in Week 6 following the Year 12 Parent/Teacher Interviews. This event will also be live streamed via Teams for parents who are unable to attend in person. Year 12 students are also welcome to attend. The Teams link will be sent to Year 12 parents separately.

• When: Monday, 18 August
• Where: Jacaranda Room
• Time: 5:30pm – 6:30pm

Year 12 QTAC Application and ATAR Registration Workshops

The Careers Department will run lunchtime workshops to assist the Year 12s with creating a QTAC account and ATAR registration. These will start on Wednesday, 6 August and run until Thursday, 21 August. All students who are on an ATAR Pathway, regardless of whether they are submitting a QTAC application, will need to attend one workshop to register to receive their ATAR. Students intending to apply through QTAC for Queensland university entry, will need to attend one workshop only. We ask that all university applications be finalised and submitted by the end of Term 3.

University Open Days

There are still some open days coming up in the next few weeks. These are a great opportunity for parents and students to explore the many opportunities available.

• UQ: Sunday, 17 August (Gatton)
• UniSQ: Saturday, 9 August (Springfield and Ipswich)
• UniSQ: Sunday, 17 August (Toowoomba)
• Griffith: Sunday, 10 August

Pathways and Possibilities – Darling Downs

• Tuesday, 19 August
• 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
• Oaks Hotel, 25 Annand St, Toowoomba
• Free event but bookings are essential. Register here.

What’s Involved?

This event is targeted at parents/carers and aims to provide them with information to support their child to make informed career pathway decisions, although students are also able to attend.

• Industry Round Tables: parents and students can speak face-to-face with up to three industry areas of interest (industry reps from approx. 30 different businesses across 11 different industries), including:
  • Energy Queensland
  • Newlands
  • McNab
  • SwarmFarm
  • Obadare
  • Kotzur
  • Boeing Defence Australia
  • Russell Mineral Equipment
  • Herries St Dental
  • Optimise Health
  • Big Dog Support
  • Morgans Chalk
  • Power Tynan
  • Boucher Khan Lawyers
  • Webster Cavanagh Marsden
  • Australian Well Control Centre
  • ADF Careers
  • Kehoe Myers
• Speakers: hear about how to maximise school options for pathways, VET and higher education
• Future Workforce Insights: find out which jobs and skills are in demand locally

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Careers Department to make an appointment.

Anthea Richters
Head of Department - Careers

Celebrating 150 years

In this edition of the Blue and Gold we are celebrating a significant milestone for TGS, the sesquicentenary - 150 years. It’s a remarkable period of time, providing a wonderful opportunity to reflect as a community on the School's history but also the passage of time that has past since the laying of the Foundation stone on 5 August, 1875. So many things have evolved and changed both within the School and around the world more broadly whilst comfortingly the core purpose of education and supporting the community has remained the same.

The Junior School's history is much younger than the Senior School, with the Junior School (Grammar Junior as it was known then) first opening its doors in 1997 for Years 5 to 7. The footprint of the Junior School was once a pine forest students walked through on the way to Kent and Trustees oval, up a rather steep hill where now the P.B Hauser Aquatic Centre and Glen McCracken Sports Centre resides. Over time the Junior School developed further to meet the needs of the community with cohorts growing through to Prep in 2005. Many traditions of TGS were echoed within the Junior School immediately through academic and co-curricular programs, pastoral care, uniforms and ceremonies. The community though has incorporated their own memorable occasions over time that the boys and their families treasure like Book Week festivities, musicals, camps, Mothers'/Fathers'/Grandparents' Days and milestone moments for cohorts like the Billy Cart building day in Year 3. These personalised features have woven into the fabric of TGS where every boy and family is known and valued in the Junior School. Grammar 150 has provided an opportunity to recognise and celebrate all the features of TGS we are grateful for and proud of. In this spirit we thank everyone in our community, both past and present for your connection and contribution to the Junior School since 1997.

Semester 1 Recognition

Both Junior and Senior School’s in recent weeks have held respective assemblies to acknowledge and celebrate academic achievement, endeavour and application to studies from Semester 1. The Junior School honours effort and learning behaviours at the mid-point of the year to promote the value of applied effort having a significant impact on their learning progress.

It was lovely to acknowledge all students in the Junior School for their collective efforts during Semester 1. We can wholeheartedly say that everyone is indeed applying themselves and making progress each day. The assembly provided an opportunity to recognise students who have demonstrated sustained efforts across subject areas and are seeing incremental progress from these efforts. Congratulations to all.

In preparation of Book Week

Our Librarian Mrs Worthington recently sent an information letter to families regarding the upcoming Book Week celebration this term. She shares some wonderful messages on the value of reading as a lifelong pursuit. It can’t be understated how powerful the ability to read is for all of us but particularly young people. Accessing reading skills opens up a young person's world. They will learn from what they read, develop their literacy skills and hopefully connect with different genres and enjoy what they are reading. I encourage all families to connect in with this year's Book Week theme "Book an Adventure" and help your son select a book they really enjoy and bring it to life with a simple costume. The dress-up component of the Book Week parade is a bit of fun, so please don’t feel obliged to go to great lengths in consume preparation, the value of reading is the core message from the occasion. To this point it was wonderful to acknowledge the Readers Cup winners at the recent assembly, who are noted in Mrs Worthington’s Library section of the Blue and Gold. Congratulations to these enthusiastic readers and best wishes for the upcoming state finals.

Lastly, it’s been a busy period for our musicians with instrumental Eisteddfod over the past two weeks. Congratulations to all performers on your preparations and performances. Mrs Dixon has made reference to specific groups in her Music section of the Blue and Gold, but I also want to acknowledge the valuable contributions all families and music tutors make for the boys in helping them prepare. It’s a tremendous commitment from everyone to maintain rehearsal schedules and practice from home in order to perform at their best come Eisteddfod time. Well done to everyone.

Ken Raven
Head of Junior School

Bullying No Way Week of Action: Building Belonging Together

11–15 August 2025

At Toowoomba Grammar School, we are proud to stand with schools across Australia in recognising Bullying No Way Week of Action—a national initiative dedicated to creating safe, inclusive and respectful learning environments for all children.

This year’s theme, “Be bold. Be kind. Speak up.”, reminds us that it takes courage and community to spark change. Bullying prevention is everyone’s responsibility—from students and teachers to families and the wider community.

Why Belonging Matters

Throughout the week, our focus will be on belonging—a powerful protective factor against bullying. When children feel connected to their peers, teachers and school environment, they are more likely to feel safe, happy and supported. As the Bullying No Way campaign reminds us:

“When someone has many connections to people and places, they feel safe, happy and supported. The more connections they have, the better they are at coping with challenging situations in their life. Being connected and having people to talk to or to ask for help are great ways to prevent bullying.”

Activities at School

To celebrate and strengthen our sense of belonging, students will engage in a variety of activities throughout the week:

• Daily Belonging Messages: Each morning, students will hear messages that promote empathy, and encourage inclusive behaviours
• Big Mates, Little Mates will see our Prep and Year 5 boys engaging in activities related to boundaries and belonging
• Our Noticeboard in the Junior School breezeway will be a reminder of the focus for the week

How Families Can Support

Families play a vital role in bullying prevention. You can support your child by:

• Talking about what belonging means and why it matters.
• Encouraging empathy and kindness in everyday interactions.
• Helping your child identify trusted adults they can talk to.
• Reinforcing that bullying is never okay—and that speaking up is brave and important.

Let’s work together to make our School a place where everyone belongs, and where bullying is not accepted. Thank you for being part of this important week of action.

Amanda Hall
Deputy Head of Junior School - Students

We are excited to announce the commencement of the annual Writing Competition at Toowoomba Grammar Junior School. This creative event encourages all boys from Prep to Year 6 to showcase their writing skills and imagination. We place a high value on developing the literacy skills of all our boys in the Junior School. Celebrating writing allows us to show our students different ways they can express their thoughts, ideas and emotions clearly.

Writing is more than just putting words on a page—it’s a powerful tool that helps our boys grow as thinkers, learners and communicators. It teaches them to organise their thoughts clearly, understand complex ideas and express themselves with confidence. Whether they’re crafting a story, building an argument or reflecting on what they’ve learned, writing strengthens their ability to retain knowledge and think critically. It also sparks creativity, allowing them to imagine new worlds and explore different perspectives. Most importantly, strong writing skills empower our boys to share their voice, influence others and make a meaningful impact in their communities.

Writing Competition

• Entries Due: Friday, 12 September (Week 9)
• Winners Announced: Term 4 Assembly; families will be advised closer to the date
• Writing Formats by Year Level: information reports, retells, narratives, historical recounts and persuasive texts
• Word length: Years 1 and 2 - approximately 100-200 words. Year 3 and above - approximately 300 words (with an upper limit of 500 words for older boys). Teachers will use their professional judgment in assessing word length.

Students’ writing pieces will remain at school for checking, editing and publishing purposes. Teachers will guide students through planning, drafting, editing and publishing. Text deconstruction and explicit teaching will be integrated into current or built on previous units of work. Class teachers will initially mark student writing as part of regular programming and assessment. The top 4 to 6 entries will be selected and moderated by cohort teams to determine 1st, 2nd and 3rd place.

We’re excited to see your son’s ideas come to life and look forward to celebrating his creativity, effort and growth.

Chantelle Bauer
Deputy Head of Junior School - Teaching and Learning

Toowoomba Eisteddfod

Congratulations to all boys who participated in the recent Toowoomba Eisteddfod. We had a large number of Junior School boys compete in solo, duet, trio and ensemble sections, with some outstanding results. Thank you to all staff, parents and students for your support in the lead up to the Eisteddfod, and also for your attendance at the Eisteddfod sessions.

Eisteddfod results

Ensembles

• 1^st – Orchestra (Primary School Orchestra)
• 1^st – Percussion Ensemble (Primary School Recorder or Orff Ensemble)
• 1^st – Chamber Winds (Primary Chamber Ensemble)
• 2^nd – Percussion Ensemble (Primary School Percussion Ensemble)
• 3^rd – String Ensemble (Primary School String Ensemble)
• 3^rd – Chamber Strings (Primary School Small String Ensemble)
• 3^rd – String Trio (Primary String Trio / Quartet)
• 3^rd – Year 6 Sax Trio (Primary Woodwind Trio / Quartet)
• HC – Introductory Strings (Primary School Strings Beginner Ensemble)
• HC – Concert Band (Primary School Concert Band)

Individual and Duets

• 1^st – Joseph Chu (Year 5 and under Clarinet Solo)
• 1^st – Zackaidyn Fleming (Year 6 Popular / Jazz / Movie Solo)
• 1^st – Francis Fu (All Age Graded String Solo Grade 2 Level)
• 1^st – Quentin Fu (All Age Graded String Solo Preliminary)
• 1^st - Gursaanj Randhawa and Joseph Chu (Primary Clarinet Duet)
• 2^nd – Francis Fu (Year 4 or under Violin / Viola / Cello / Double Bass Solo)
• 2^nd – Xavier Terrey 9year 6 Trumpet or Cornet Solo)
• 2^nd - Gursaanj Randhawa and Josef Geiges (Primary Any Other Woodwind Duet)
• 3^rd – Aarav Desai (Year 6 Clarinet Solo)
• 3^rd – Zackaidyn Fleming (Year 6 Flute Solo)
• 3^rd – Xavier Terrey (Year 6 Popular / Jazz / Movie Trumpet or Cornet Solo)
• 3^rd - Andrew Reeves and Zackaidyn Fleming (Primary Any Other Woodwind Duet)
• HC – Harrison Castley (Year 6 Other Brass Solo)
• HC – Harrison Castley (Year 6 Popular / Jazz / Movie Brass Solo)
• HC – Harry Spencer (Year 6 Saxophone Solo)

Musicians’ Concert – Thursday, 28 August

Our Term 3 Musicians’ Concert will be held on Thursday, 28 August, commencing at 2:30pm in the Junior School Hall. A letter with all details, as well as a nomination form will be sent home in the coming weeks. Should your son be receiving private tuition on an instrument (including voice), and has a piece polished and ready to perform, then I encourage him to nominate.

Thrive Festival

25 to 28 September

The Empire Theatre’s school holiday festival for kids is back—and it’s bubbling with fun. From giant jellyfish and crafty sea creatures to bubbles, fairy bread and live performances, Thrive is a jam-packed four-day celebration for children aged 0–12 and their grown-ups. With both free and ticketed events, there’s something for every family to dive into this spring.

For more information, head to the Empire Theatre website.

Athletics

We are right in the middle of Athletics Season at the moment. Boys are loving all of the opportunities they have to improve their running, jumping and throwing. The Range Zone Athletics Carnival will be held on Tuesday, 12 August at O’Quinn St Oval. We wish all boys involved the best of luck.

Mini Meets

The boys enjoyed their start to the Mini-meet season, finding The Glennie School, Fairholme College and Downlands College students to be tough competition. It is enjoyable to see the interaction between the students of all schools.

Club Rugby and Club Football

After a long season, where boys have had a great deal of fun and have improved dramatically, the Club Rugby and Football seasons winding down. With only a few matches to go, I would like to thank all coaches, parents and supporters for helping in providing a great chance for boys to test their mettle against their local peers. More information about season break-ups will be disseminated shortly.

Darling Downs representatives

Congratulations to Harry Allen, Takumi Inoue, James Jenkins and Jordan Seddon who recently represented the Darling Downs Under 12 Rugby Union team at the State Championships. Facing opponents much bigger than themselves, they played with a lot of character and came away with some impressive victories. Well done boys!

Henry Carige has recently returned from representing Darling Downs in the state Football championships. Congratulations Henry!

Congratulations also to Joshua Koeppe, who has been selected in the Darling Downs Softball team. We wish Josh all the best at the State Champs.

PE Homework

All boys have been participating in racquet-based skills in PE recently. Try playing some badminton with your son. I am sure you will be pleasantly surprised with his ability and enjoy the time playing together.

Please let me know if your son has achieved any success in sport. I would love to highlight it within our community. Wishing everyone a great Term 3.

Brendan Doherty
Junior School Sports Coordinator

Toowoomba Eisteddfod

We had a large number of boys compete in the recent Toowoomba Eisteddfod in solo, duet and ensemble sections. Congratulations to all boys who participated and thank you to parents and staff for your support.

Please find our results below.

Ensemble Results

• 2^nd – RnB Band (Secondary School Woodwind / Brass / Rhythm Ensemble)
• 3^rd – RnB Too (Secondary School Woodwind / Brass / Rhythm Ensemble)
• 3^rd – Guitar Ensemble (Secondary School Small Instrumental Ensemble)
• 3^rd – Brass Ensemble (Secondary School Woodwind or Brass Ensemble)
• HC – String Orchestra (Secondary School String Ensemble)
• HC – Chamber Strings (Secondary School Small Ensemble A Grade Ensemble)
• HC – Big Band (Secondary School A Grade Stage Band)
• HC – Jazz Ensemble (Secondary School B Grade Stage Band)

Individual Results

• 1st - Joshua Green - All-Age Graded String Solo Grades 7 or 8 Level
• 1st - Santhosh Periyannan - Year 7 and 8 Clarinet Solo
• 1st - Henry Geise - Year 9 and 10 Clarinet Solo
• 1st - James Dixon - Year 9 and 10 Other Brass Solo
• 1st - Charlie Lunn and Hamish Lunn - Secondary Any Other Woodwind Duet
• 1st - George Paton and partner - Secondary Saxophone Duet
• 2nd - George Paton - Year 11 and 12 Saxophone Solo
• 2nd - Riley Frappell and Santhosh Periyannan - Secondary Any Other Woodwind Duet
• 2nd - Henry Geise and partner - Secondary Flute Duet
• 3rd - Aarav Kansagara - Year 7 and 8 Popular/Jazz/Movie Woodwind Solo
• 3rd - Henry Geise - Year 12 and under Woodwind or Brass Concerto
• 3rd - George Paton - Year 11 and 12 Popular/Jazz/Movie Woodwind Solo
• 3rd - Charlie Lunn and partner - Secondary Flute Duet
• HC - Joshua Green - Years 10 to 12 Baroque Strings Solo
• HC - Joshua Green - Years 10 to 12 Cello or Double Bass Solo
• HC - Charlie Slider - Secondary School Electric Bass Guitar Solo
• HC - Smith Waring - Year 7 and 8 Other Brass Solo
• HC - James Dixon - Year 9 and 10 Popular/Jazz/Movie Brass Solo
  

RSL Combined Anniversaries Dinner

The President and Committee of the Toowoomba RSL Sub-Branch have invited TGS choristers to perform at the Combined Anniversaries Dinner on Saturday, 9 August. Eight choristers were selected from the Grammarphones for this occasion. This dinner is to honour the following anniversaries:

• 75th anniversary of Australian service in the Korean War
• 75th anniversary of Australian service in the Malayan Emergency
• 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, VE day 8 May and VP Day 15 August
• 100^th anniversary of 7^th Signal Regiment

The boys will be performing a number of brackets to entertain the guests on the evening, while also enjoying a meal with the attendees. In addition, a number of boys will deliver a short presentation to the RSL committee members and guests. Thank you to Mrs Egan and Ms Burns for preparing the boys for this performance, and to the boys involved for the time dedicated to learning the repertoire for this event.

TiGAA Showcases

Book your tickets for both shows through the Empire Theatre:

• Junior and Intermediate TiGAA Showcase
• Senior TiGAA Showcase

Kellie Dixon

Director of Performing Arts (Acting)

Stay up-to-date with all upcoming TGS events via the Events Calendar.

Stay up-to-date with all upcoming TGS events via the Events Calendar.

Have you got your tickets?

Register here or head to the TGS website for more information.

Rising and Leading in Sport

Join us for the Rising & Leading in Sport with special guest Tony Squires, host of the Back Page and Triple M - Saturday Scrum.

Proudly brought to you by Newlands Group, this Luncheon event featuring a panel discussion with past TGS sportsmen.

• Friday, 15 August 2025
• 12:00pm to 4:00pm
• Rumours International
• $195 per person; tables of 10 available

Secure your tickets via TryBooking.

Grammar Downlands Day

TGS is hosting the 76th Annual O'Callaghan Cup on Saturday, 16 August 2025. Head to our website for the Game Day Schedule.

Grammar Boy for a Day

Grammar Boy for a Day is specifically designed for boys and their families who are exploring their schooling options to discover all that TGS has to offer. Know a family that might like to attend? Our next event for new boys entering Prep to Year 7 in 2026 and beyond is on Tuesday, 19 August.

Stay up-to-date with all upcoming TGS events via the Events Calendar.

Celebrating our Sesquicentenary

This G150 Podcast is a tribute to the legacy, character and community of Toowoomba Grammar School. As we mark our 150th anniversary, this series offers a rich oral history by sharing triumphs, traditions and the remarkable people who have shaped our School.

Every Podcast is a Lesson Shared

Each episode explores the heart of our School and its people. From inspiring Old Boys to dedicated staff and students, we share stories that reflect our values of aspiration, kindness, collaboration, respect, integrity and accountability.

The podcast will feature uplifting and respectful storytelling; voices from past and present: students, staff, Old Boys and volunteers; musical accompaniment from our talented pianists, choirs and ensembles; insights drawn from the books written about our School by the late Mr J.K. Winn and Mr P.B. Hauser (our immediate past Headmaster) and historical facts from our TGSOBA Museum.

We hope that Ompelliargo will be a living archive of our School's journey—capturing the essence of what it means to be part of this enduring institution.

Why Ompelliargo?

Ompelliargo, spelled O-M-P-E-L-L-I-A-R-G-O, is a word you won’t find in any dictionary. It’s not Latin and not from another language (as far as we know—we Googled it).

It’s one of the wonderful, mysterious words found in our School’s war cry. Our war cries are a huge part of our history and still play a big role in daily life at TGS.

Your Co-Hosts

Year 12 students Hamish, Harry, Hayden, Hazim, Olly and Will have worked incredibly hard on the podcast. Their energy and dedication have brought this project to life and we’re confident you’ll enjoy hearing from them.

We hope that Ompelliargo will become a living archive of our School, capturing the essence of what it means to be part of this enduring institution.