TGS BOARDERS' TELEGRAPH - Friday, 6 September 2024 - Toowoomba Grammar School

It was wonderful to catch up with many boarding parents during the Grammar Downlands weekend. The highly anticipated rugby match between the two rival schools was hosted at Downlands and the weather was a stark contrast to last year’s Antarctic conditions; this year, we sweltered in the hot sun. It was great to see TGS bring home the O’Callaghan Cup and generations of our community come together to celebrate this tradition.

A highlight of the weekend was the annual BPSG Boarders Mothers’ Luncheon, where we introduced a new format - a seated three-course meal with the option for attendees to choose their seating by year group. The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, as it provided new mothers with the chance to meet and connect with others in their son's year, while allowing those with established friendships to enjoy a more intimate catch-up.

For those who couldn’t attend, I wanted to share my speech “Life of a Boarder Mother” below, which seemed to deeply resonate with the mothers in the room - many were moved to tears, something I hadn’t anticipated.

As the end of Term 3 fast approaches, we will be concluding with the Boarders' Formal Family Dinners for Mackintosh, Taylor, Boyce, and Stephens Houses. This special event, introduced by Mackintosh and Boyce Houses last year, has now been embraced by these other houses as well. Groom held their traditional Formal House Dinner earlier in the year with just the boys, but they will adopt this new format next year to include parents, grandparents and siblings. During these dinners, the boys will honour the departing Year 12s and welcome the new House leaders for 2025. If you plan to attend, please ensure you RSVP. Parents will receive an email with a link to purchase tickets and will also need to confirm their boarder boy's attendance in Parent Lounge.

Additionally, the BPSG Annual General Meeting will be held on the last day of this term and all committee positions will be declared open (details at the end of this article). If you’re interested in applying for a BPSG Representative position, please email me at s.smart@twgs.qld.edu.au by Monday, 9 September. We encourage fathers to apply as well, as it would be great to have a male perspective on the committee.

We've concluded our series on the “Influential Women in Boarding.” A heartfelt thank you to the Advancement team, and especially to Arlie Felton-Taylor, for pulling these interviews together and showcasing the amazing women who enrich our TGS Boarding program. We'll be featuring snippets of what these wonderful women have had to say at a later date, so keep an eye out.

“Life of a Boarder Mother” by BPSG President, Stephanie Smart: speech from the Boarder Mothers’ Luncheon

Welcome and thank you for being here today. As I gaze around the room, I am met with numerous familiar faces - some of whom I've come to know very well, others who I've only met once or twice and many of whom I am yet to meet. We all share a common role as the mothers and caregivers of TGS boarders.

As boarder mothers, each of us finds ourselves at distinct stages in our boarding journey. Some of us are just embarking on this path, affectionately known as "newbies." We've identified you today with a star on your name tag. Newbies might still be navigating through homesickness and the novelty of every new experience. You may not know many faces here yet and might find events like this a bit overwhelming. To the seasoned boarding mothers, I urge you to seek out at least one newbie today, introduce yourself and share a valuable piece of advice to guide them through the years ahead.

Then there are the "middies," halfway along their journey, striving to keep their boys engaged and interested when the end seems distant. Perhaps they have multiple children here, including girls at other schools and maybe a child or two still at home. This phase entails juggling being everywhere for everyone at once - certainly the busiest stretch of the boarding journey.

Or some of you may be feeling a sense of nostalgia, realising that this marks your last Boarder Mothers' Lunch as you near the end of your time at TGS - the "Graduates." Many of these mothers express sentiments like, "I can't believe how fast it has flown by" or "What will I do with myself next year?" Newbies, I encourage you to connect with the Graduates who have successfully navigated boarding at TGS with grace and most of their sanity intact.

And then we have the empty nesters, mothers who could be in any of the previously mentioned stages, with all their children away from home. I’ve heard it's almost like returning to the pre-kid stage, but on a part-time basis with a second honeymoon period. I'll be seeking out these mums as I approach this phase next year, feeling a mix of sadness, excitement and nerves.

Collectively, we are the MOB - Mothers of Boarders - and we must stick together and support each other.

No matter which stage we find ourselves in, events like these foster connections and cultivate friendships. There's a unique tie between boarder mothers, understanding the shared challenges and triumphs in ways others cannot comprehend.

Just as our boys forge lifelong friendships at TGS, we too have the opportunity to build lasting connections.

I hope today’s seating arrangements help you get to know other mothers in your son’s grade, making it easier for newcomers to connect with those who’ve already formed friendships.

I encourage you to reach out to the mothers of your son's friends; they’ll be your strongest allies in challenging times and your biggest supporters in moments of success. They also become your special intelligence agents as this is often the way you find out about things that your sons may not want you to find out about!

Above all, fellow boarder mothers share a bond that goes beyond words. We understand the indescribable feeling of leaving a piece of ourselves behind when we drive away from our child on that first day of boarding. While that feeling may soften with time, it never truly fades.

They relate to coming home to silence after the liveliness of holidays, to the emptiness at the dining table and to the quiet that follows constant noise.

They understand the heartache of ending a call with a homesick child and the all-consuming worry that follows. They know the pain of missing pivotal moments - like watching your son receive an award or score a try - and the difficulty of sharing sad news from afar, such as the loss of a grandparent or beloved pet.

They too miss the everyday moments once taken for granted—helping with homework, offering a comforting hug, or sharing dinner conversations. Boarder mothers empathise with the lows, like when your son struggles to find his place and celebrate the highs when he finally hits his stride and introduces you to his friends.

They comprehend the shift when your son's attention suddenly turns to a new relationship, requiring you now to share your precious time with someone else.

They also understand the long goodbye, as our boys leave home so young and often become independent much faster than those who stay home year-round. They leave us as little boys and return as young men.

We have roughly just 11 weeks out of 52 each year to be with them. For some boys they will never celebrate their birthday at home with their family again.

Despite the heartache, knowing that sending your child away from home is one of the greatest sacrifices a parent can make, we’re deeply grateful for the opportunities that TGS provides.

So, enjoy the day and I encourage you to embrace this time with these incredible women who share this bond, and may you forge cherished friendships - like I have been so fortunate to do - on your boarding journey.

IMPORTANT DATES FOR BOARDING FAMILIES TERM 3 2024

DATE	EVENT	VENUE
Friday, 6 September	Welcome function new 2025 Senior School parents	Pavilion Lawns
Wednesday, 11 September	Mackintosh and Taylor Boarders’ Family Formal Dinner	Burke and Wills Hotel
Thursday, 12 September	Boyce and Stephens Boarders’ Family Formal Dinner	Burke and Wills Hotel
Thursday, 12 September	BPSG AGM and General Meeting	Jacaranda Room
Thursday, 12 September	Term 3 concludes

Please refer to the TGS School calendar for further information

PARENT WHATSAPP HOUSE CHAT GROUPS

Each Boarding House has a Parent WhatsApp group to keep everyone up to date with matters relevant to your individual House. These chat groups are for parents only and are monitored by the House Representative. The group chats are for positive information sharing, support and providing an avenue for parents to connect and organise informal social interactions, such as "Anyone in TWB today keen to catch up for a coffee or drink?"

Anyone approved in the group is welcome to post; it is about building community, connection and getting to know the other parents within your houses (just be mindful to follow the TGS social media policy guidelines).

Please be advised that there is a process involved in approving people into the groups. For privacy and security, the house reps are required to confirm your identity via private message if it is not visible (some people only show as a phone number). It would be helpful if parents could check their WhatsApp profile settings to ensure that your first and surname are listed so they display. It would also be great if you could upload a photo so we can put names to faces.

There are still little quirks with WhatsApp, such as not seeing any prior history in the chat when you first join (quite annoying). If you get stuck and need help, check out the WhatsApp help section first and then reach out to your house rep or me and we will hopefully be able to help you get connected.

At the end of Term 4 2024, departing TGS parents will need to leave their current House chat. A new Corfe House chat for 2025 will be created and the old one will be deleted. Parents of Corfe students in 2024 can then apply for access to the new chat for the house their sons will join in 2025.

Please note that these group chats are NOT the forum to raise concerns; please direct these to your Head of House/ Mr Nick Byron and ensure you follow the Who should I go to when I have a question about my Senior School son? You are welcome to contact your House Rep or myself if you need a sounding board or extra support.

If you wish to join your house WhatsApp Chat Group, see the links below:

Boyce House – https://chat.whatsapp.com/BzTc6r6MoNyEeIq9OzFlMH

Taylor House – https://chat.whatsapp.com/IlPtce6YDnt48xnbI47sFu

Groom House - https://chat.whatsapp.com/GWQfOZ2Kh400lU8DiPFBI4

Mackintosh House – https://chat.whatsapp.com/ID4PHKH7US2LIUWPGojBCM

Corfe House - https://chat.whatsapp.com/G7TOQTfsbFJFgqQngxtsUD

Stephens House - https://chat.whatsapp.com/HIvqsLDZeUFJKM5ILcs0Wj

BPSG HOUSE REPRESENTATIVES CONTACT DETAILS

Please do not hesitate to reach out and connect with me and/or your House Representative if you need help, we are all here to support you on your TGS boarding journey.

Name: Stephanie Smart

House: Mackintosh/BPSG President

Phone: 0417 421 133

Email: s.smart@twgs.qld.edu.au

Name: Megan Officer

House: Stephens/ BPSG Secretary

Phone: 0419 212 208

Email: wmofficer@bigpond.com

Name: Susan Cameron

House: Groom

Phone: 0417 717 770

Email: brad.suz5@bigpond.com.au

Name: Sarah McInnerney

House: Mackintosh

Phone: 0427 695 133

Email: tsmac6@outlook.com

Name: Margot Black

House: Boyce

Phone: 0428 349 818

Email: margot@rubyredfarming.com.au

Name: Melissa Hoare

House: Taylor

Phone: 0417 739 563

Email: mhoar9@gmail.com

Name: Lisa Baker

House: Corfe

Phone: 0412 686 572

Email: lisarussbaker@gmail.com

BPSG MEETINGS

At the end of this term, the BPSG AGM will be held and all positions will be declared open. If you are interested in becoming a BPSG House Representative or taking on the roles of President or Secretary, you are welcome to apply in writing to myself at s.smart@twgs.qld.edu.au by Monday, 9 September.

Megan Officer will be concluding her TGS Boarding journey this year, leaving vacancies in Stephens House and for the Secretary position. Additionally, we need a new Corfe House Representative for 2025, ideally a current TGS parent with a boy starting in Corfe that year. We encourage fathers to apply as it would be nice to also have some male parent representatives too.

No formal qualifications are required for these positions. We simply ask that you are willing to attend all meetings (either in person or online), assist with BPSG events and monitor the WhatsApp House group chat. It is essential for a House Representative to be approachable, outgoing and comfortable meeting new parents, making all families feel welcome in your House. At times, you will act as a sounding board and liaise with your Head of House and Mr Nick Byron if any boarding issues need to be addressed.

Next Meeting:

Annual General Meeting & General Meeting

Date: Thursday, 12 September 2024

Time: 1:00pm – 3:00pm

Location: Old Hall and online via Teams (a link will be sent out closer to event)

All parents are welcome to attend.

If you have a matter you would like raised at the meeting, please email your BPSG House Rep, BPSG President or Mr Nick Byron.

Stephanie Smart
Boarder Parents' Support Group President

Full Steam Ahead!

Since my last Bugle article, it feels like the boys have managed to squeeze even more into their active schedules, giving us lots to recognise and celebrate. Beginning with birthdays, we have had a flurry of days to acknowledge with Eli, Arch C and Tom R all enjoying birthday brownies at the time of writing, with Tom P’s milestone following later in week. Further recognition has followed for Commendations awarded to Nate and Ben H, with Henry receiving a Head of House Commendation for his efforts to support the family of an injured teammate during the Nudgee round of fixtures.

On a sporting note, I hugely enjoyed my first experience of a Grammar Downlands Day / weekend. It was wonderful to see so many families over the course of the weekend, with the added bonus of the fixtures largely ending in positive results for the Grammar boys. A special mention to Myles, who followed up his athletic performances at the Darling Downs Track and Field Carnival earlier in the term with a try double for the First XV. As we approach the final round of GPS Rugby and Basketball fixtures, all of the boys involved can be very proud of their efforts – whether they were playing a sport for the first time or developing existing passions.

Whilst the sport of Term 3 gives lots to smile about, we also must recognise the efforts of Archie B in the recent Photography Competition which saw him receive a Highly Commended 3^rd place award. Also, Chris gained a Credit Award in the Australian History Competition. Chris also deserves applause for his performance with the intermediate TIGAA group at the Empire Theatre. Plainly, our boys hold talents in a range of areas!

It was exceptionally pleasing for several of our Year 11 boys to progress to the final stages of the Prefect selection process for 2025, and it is testament to the sustained excellence of Emmanuel that he has been chosen as a Prefect to join next year’s leadership cohort. Those appointed to House leadership positions will be revealed during Week 10 of Term 3.

Wings Wednesdays have continued for Years 9 and 10, with Year 11 to follow this week. These midweek social outings have been a great chance to chat with smaller groups of boys, and both Meg and I appreciate the energy the boys have brought to these evenings, even if they have struggled with the spice of some of the offerings!

Following on from Sam’s contribution to the last edition of the Bugle, Jonah, Year 8, has provided his thoughts on his first term in Boyce House:

I have joined Boyce House as a boarder this term from a small Catholic school in Inverell, where I have completed all of my schooling to this point. Going from such a small, rural town to a place like TGS was very daunting but exciting. My dad was a boarder at Nudgee, and he talks of his experiences very fondly. However, it was still a massive change in school environment for me with everything being different.

I did eventually find my way. Much of that was due to the Boyce boarders who helped support me. I couldn’t have done it without them. I like all of the boys and I feel very much involved with the House because of them. I believe that I have really connected, understood and enjoyed spending time with the Boyce boarders. I am very grateful that I found such a good network of mates in Boyce.

Overall, the first four weeks were hard and unfamiliar but as I progressed, I really started to find my feet and I have sincerely enjoyed my boarding experience. I feel at home at Boyce thanks to the boarding masters, staff, boys and mates in the house.

Turning to events, Todd’s impromptu 40^th birthday celebrations provided a lovely occasion to celebrate someone who has been a key figure within Boyce House for many years. I know that Todd enjoyed the afternoon enormously, and he has provided a few words below to thank the Boyce community:

Dearest Boyce families,

It is with huge appreciation that I wish to reach out and thank each of you who contributed to the four pages of birthday wishes that I unexpectedly received last Friday afternoon. I was very grateful, especially after I tried to keep it quiet. Apparently turning 40 is the new 20? The effort Margot Black made to organise the lavish hamper at such short notice was very impressive, thank you.

I would also like to thank the boys who made the day even more special with all their well wishes. There were so many and even the Taylor boys got on board. To all who contributed to setting up the BBQ and drinks and to the boys for cooking – thank you. A special acknowledgment to the Year 11s who also organised a bombardment of party poppers (Josh Fraser shot me in the head), balloons, cake and a Yeti water bottle. Thank you all.

Kindest regards, Todd

The Boarder Mothers’ Luncheon was another occasion to come together. Meg had a great afternoon in the company of all those who were able to attend. Whilst I was only able to pop through briefly, it was warming to see how comfortable Meg has become already in our short time here. Thank you to all those who have made this possible.

As I communicated previously, I have launched a Boyce House Updates WhatsApp group for the regular sharing of media from the house, and related activities, via a less formal platform. If you are yet to join, please open this link on your device, or you are welcome to use the QR code which I have attached to this newsletter: https://chat.whatsapp.com/LFioFgN4UUK8N99M7UUhYj

To finish with a couple of routine reminders, sign-ups for the Boyce House Boarders’ Formal Dinner on Thursday, 12 September have now closed. If you need to make any changes to existing arrangements, please do let me know as soon as is convenient. I appreciate the timing of this event has not been ideal for some of our families and I will be reviewing this as part of the calendaring of events for 2025. Lastly, please do continue to submit your son’s holiday arrangements for the September break via Reach if you have not done so already.

If we don't manage to catch up before the holidays, I wish you all a restful break and hope you enjoy having the boys at home. Thank you again for the welcome Meg and I have been afforded to Boyce House, and for your support and patience as we found our feet.

John Troxler
Head of House - Boyce Boarding

A word from Henry White, Head of House

Dear Corfe Boarding families of 2024

Thank you once again for tuning into the final edition of Corfe Courier for Term 3, 2024. As I write this piece – albeit struggling with one hand as I recover from shoulder surgery – I’ve taken the opportunity to reflect on this term. A 10-week third term is really a recipe for challenges, yet we're closing this one out with a smile.

Term 3 is arguably the hardest stretch for a Corfe boarder; the honeymoon period of Semester 1 is well and truly over, Toowoomba’s weather dips to new lows, the cooler weeks bring with it new and unwelcome viruses that linger for far too long, and a new sort of fatigue kicks in with the vast majority of our boarders engaging in more physically demanding sports with GPS Rugby and Basketball. This concoction is often stirred amongst the onset of new and unrecognisable hormones and growth that bring new attitudes and outlooks to our already fragile ecosystem.

While saying all of this, Corfe House at the end of Term 3, is in a remarkably good position. Our residents are tired, and the usual and natural rumblings of adolescent communal living are present. However, there is a good nature and vibe amongst our ranks and great excitement about the upcoming holiday period. This is in stark contrast to previous years where it’s felt like the Spring holiday is reached only by a slow limp over the finish line.

This relative calm is no doubt thanks to our brilliant team and the ever-helpful support of our Year 10 residents – all of whom I cannot thank enough for their efforts over the past months.

Thank you.

New Model for Prep in Corfe = Heightened Efficiency and Time for Activities!

Upon listening to the boys’ feedback concerning evening fatigue and perceived challenges in completing a solid hour of homework each evening, we adopted a new approach to ‘Afternoon Homework’ in Corfe House from Week 7.

As such, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, boys have engaged in 75 minutes of afternoon homework, replacing the previously assigned 60 minutes of evening prep. We’ve noticed a huge turnaround – there is a newfound sense of efficiency, diligence and fewer distractions. Moreover, should boys require more time for prep beyond the assigned 75 minutes, they have an opportunity for a ‘second prep’ in the evenings, meaning fewer early wake-ups and less stress for those boys who find themselves challenged fitting it all in. Perhaps the best thing to come from this is that the boys are thrilled with the change and haven't even realised they're clocking up to 45 minutes extra homework a week! It's a win for all teams!

In making these changes, we’ve opened up a new window for constructive social time and activities in the evening. Our only rule – no devices and nothing rowdy! The boys have enjoyed being kids the old-fashioned way, breaking out our collection of board games, playing Twister, building pillow forts, hanging out with their senior mentors, watching an evening movie, playing cards, or retiring to their beds early to read. It’s been a really lovely change of pace and shift to regular routines that we hope to transfer over entirely in Term 4 with limited afternoon trainings scheduled for that season.

Corfe Superstars - well done Artie and Hamish!

A huge congratulations to our very own two superstars Hamish Baker and Artie Hudson who were amazing in the recent TIGAA Intermediate Showcase. The boys were hilarious and had the audience in stitches for the entire performance. Ten lucky Corfies took the night off to step out to the Empire Theatre and support their peers. Well done gents!

End of Term 3 – Travel Arrangements and Informal Corfe Gathering

End of Term Travel: Bus sign-ups for airport transportation are accessible through the Parent Lounge. Remember that parents should register their sons for bus services and provide flight details in their end-of-term Reach leave requests. Boarders must remain at School throughout the final week and any early departures or missed lessons require permission from Mr Oliphant, Head of Senior School.

Boarders can be collected from school from 3:10pm on Thursday, 12 September.
Boarders can be returned to school from 2:00pm on Monday, 30 September.
May I request that all boarders are returned to Corfe for the commencement of Term 3 by 5:00pm on Monday, 30 September.

End of Term 3 Gathering: I’d like to extend an invitation to each of you to stop over and enjoy an informal BBQ and refreshments in the Corfe Courtyard upon collection on Thursday afternoon, 12 September. I will fire up the hot plate and put on a sausage sizzle with a few sides and some cold beers (plus soft drinks for drivers). There is no obligation to join if you’re in a hurry, but I thought this might be a nice opportunity to say hello and catch up before the two-week break and to fill your bellies before the journey home.

Exact details are: 3:30pm – 5:30pm, Corfe Courtyard, Thursday, 12 September

Signing off for Term 3

Thank you all for your ongoing support, constructive communication and trust in our program for Term 3. I wish all Corfe families a safe and relaxing holiday and hope to catch up with many of you either at the end of Term 3 or the start of Term 4.

Henry White
Head of Corfe House

The last few weeks have flown by as boys are getting themselves geared up for their assessment cycle. The junior boys have been (mostly) working hard during prep and a few have even been seen to be on their laptops, working before school, to complete some boyishly last minute revision! The Year 12s seem to have changed gear, with a little additional time release as the Year 11s have taken over duties, focusing on mock exams as they enter the home straight of their school careers.

It would be remiss of me if I did not mention that it is proving to be a tiring term; a long one, with lots of training, physical activity and early bus trips at weekends with almost every boy involved in GPS sport. We are constantly doing our best to guide the boys through this tricky time when it is so easy to think slightly irrationally and for tolerance levels to reduce.

This said, the house community continues to be in a good place, but the end of term is a destination that almost all of us are yearning for! There are still lots of events to go (info below), including Walk to Defeat MND - our house service event and the House Carnival on the last day of term.

I hope that I will see you all next Thursday as you collect the boys, but if not, I hope you have a great break. The boys certainly deserve it.

Leadership

The senior leadership process has been occurring since the start of term, both in the boarding houses and the wider School community.

Ed Webster must be congratulated for his selection as a School prefect. This is no small feat as the process is thorough including application forms, student voting and interviews in which Ed had to present to a number of senior staff on his views on how he would lead the School.

It has been great to see the warm response that Ed has received from the boys in Groom after this announcement. I wish him all the best in this role; I know that he will do a wonderful job.

House seniors have also been through a selection process for House leadership roles, including a written application and interviews, as well as recently having taken over the senior duties from the Year 12s. These positions will be announced early in the final week of term.

Final Boarder Mothers' Lunch for some

For a number of our mothers and sons it was the last time they would attend the wonderful Boarder Mothers' Lunch held last Friday on a sunny yet blustery day.

The boys presented special posies to their mums and managed a number of photos to commemorate their years in the boarding house, it has been a pleasure to watch these boys become young men and we will miss them.

Walk to Defeat MND - Sunday

Sunday is our annual service event as has been communicated recently. All boarders in the house will be expected to join us.

We will start in Queens Park at 9:30am and return to the house before midday.

This is an extremely valuable and worthwhile event. I hope that as many as possible will be in attendance.

Chris Stearn
Head of House - Groom Boarding

Grammar Downlands Day - Reports from the Boys

Well done to all the boys who performed against Downlands College last Saturday. Following are a few reports by the boys from the day;

Opens – by Xavier Austin

3^rd XV

The 3^rd XV saw a convincing win of 84-0 against a strong Downlands team. Will McDonald and Campbell Schutt were linked up in the middle of the field and packing down in the engine room. Ed Webster was an impact player coming on late in the second half. Will and Cam both crossed the line showing their skills for their team.

2^nd XV

The 2^nd XV saw Xavier Austin, Campbell Gourley and Isaiah Wuruki running on at 1:00pm in front of a keen TGS crowd. After a long first half the boys had fought hard but were down 14-10 entering the second half. After a strong start to the second half and two unlucky disallowed tries to Campbell’s name the final whistle was blown and TGS celebrated a 22-14 win.

First XV

After watching a thrilling game of Glennie vs Downlands, the First XV were ready to play. Jonah Allen was packed down in the second row dominating the line out throughout the entirety of the game. A dominant lead after the first half had the crowd roaring and ready for another exciting half of rugby. TGS ended up with a convincing win of 40-15.

U16s – by Braith Neven

16As

The 16As including Tom McDonald and Keegan Cook came away with a win to beat Downlands 38-0. Tom was sent from the field for 10 minutes for a spear tackle he claimed to not make. He came back on firing on all cylinders and made sure if someone ran at him, they knew they wouldn't want to do it again. Whilst injured, Keegan Cook still managed to make an impact, doing an exceptional job running water.

16Bs

The 16Bs consisting of Braith Neven and James Lasker kicked off their stellar performance at Downlands with a solid win. The lads showed great dedication from the beginning of the game with Braith taking on the outside defenders giving TGS momentum for them to go over with an early lead. James was solid as usual in his fullback role getting us out of danger and making sure if anyone made it past the strong TGS defence they had a problem on their hands waiting for them out back. In the last dire seconds of the match, Braith took the ball in two hands and faked a dummy to go over for himself to finish the game with a convincing win of 37-7.

U15s – by Declan Cameron

15As

The 15A rugby team had a solid win with a final score of 19-7 against Downlands. With Tua Reea dominating the scrums and forward pack, we soon found momentum through the middle where we were lucky enough to seal the game with a late try.

U14s – by Lawson Morris

14As

The 14As haven't had the most successful of seasons, with only one win with one more game to go but Ben McDonald has been playing well and got player of the match in Round 1. Against Downlands the 14As had a good game but eventually lost 19-5.

14Bs

The14Bs have had a good start to the season winning a few games with Hugh Gordon and Charlie Webster performing well. In the match against Downlands the 14Bs had an easy win coming out as 48-12 winners.

14Cs

The 14Cs have won all their games except against Nudgee. Jimmy Baker, Luke Shepherd and Callum Lees are all in this team and have been playing some good rugby.

14Ds

The 14Ds have also been going well with Jason Haynes and Campbell Head performing well and having fun.

Dan McDonald is the only 13s player in Groom house. The 13As won a convincing 50-0.

End of Term Logistics

House Carnival - Thursday, 12 September - 8:30am to 3:00pm
Can we please do our best to keep the boys in for this important day. The Headmaster's Shield is tight this year, and after a good start (but a slightly mediocre middle) we are still in contention for a top spot. The boys have been enthusiastically signing up for key events, and Mr Epetahui's table tennis clinics are in full swing!

Departures

Could we all please make sure that HOLIDAY LEAVE is entered into REACH. We will continue to encourage (pester) the boys to get this into the system. The return to school day is Monday, 30 September and the house should be open from midday.

All boys will need to clean their cubicles prior to departure. As always, if boys are flying home then they can leave belongings boxed up in storage. This is an important process to ensure that the house can be thoroughly cleaned while boys are away.

A Busy Old Boys' Weekend

Boarder Mothers' Luncheon 2024

The time that I got to spend in the TGS Pavilion last Friday afternoon was truly special, heart-warmingly authentic and relaxing all at the same time. On a beautiful afternoon, it was an occasion were old friends caught up, new connections were made and experiences in life and at TGS were shared. A real highlight of the afternoon was when the graduating mothers (mothers with their last son finishing Year 12 at TGS) were given a memento recognising the time that they were connected with Toowoomba Grammar School. Leona Bailey, Shelley Hawkins, Carolyn Maurice and Mardi Winter were all presented with beautiful cheeseboards, inscribed with the Toowoomba Grammar School logo and the names of their sons who have attended Toowoomba Grammar School. How very special for all of us.

Grammar Downlands Day / Weekend

The beauty of this historic weekend, the 75th edition of the O'Callahan Cup, was and is the fact that the weekend brings together a vast range of community members to visit Toowoomba. As the weekend began, as always, on a Thursday night, I enjoyed a meal in town with a great group of Mackintosh House families from Darwin, our families that had travel the furthest to be here for the weekend. The fact that Derek and Carolyn Maurice, Tamara Toussaint, Tracy McCoy and Glen Ferguson make the effort to travel from Darwin to watch their sons Cale, Bodhi and Al play rugby on the weekend, highlights the significance of the weekend, how much the boys love it and how the families embrace it and take the opportunity to visit.

I have to acknowledge that Toowoomba Grammar School were the winners on the day, winning 11 of the 13 matches played, which includes the First XV fixture where the score was 40-15, to us! It is also important to recognise that this fixture is always played with the utmost respect for their opponents, passion for their School and exemplary sportsmanship at all times. The boys from Downlands and TGS both acknowledge this fixture, its place in history and how important this is in developing and excellent culture and rivalry for both schools.

During the weekend there were serval Old Boys' events and tours of the TGS campus. It was a great experience for me and some of our boys to meet and speak with Old Boys as they toured the campus.

Term 3 Concludes

This is a busy end to Term 3 for everyone as the term has absolutely flown by. Please note all boys need to have their end of term leave arrangements in Reach ASAP and ensure that they have communicated via Parent Lounge if they need any airport transfers.

Term 3 concludes on Thursday, 12 September at 3:10pm when the annual Senior School House Carnival concludes. For those who don't know what the 'House Carnival' is, let me try to explain. The House Carnival is a full day of diverse continuous competitions that include table tennis, theatre sports, tug of war, e-sports, a rowing competition, other team sports and a House portrait / art piece competition. It is an enthralling and engaging day for all our boys and spectators, great fun and has something for everyone.

I am looking forward to Wednesday, 11 September, the final night of term and the Mackintosh Boarding House Formal Dinner. I hope to see you there.

Brad Allen
Head of House - Mackintosh Boarding

Yalari Pathways Camp gives a glimpse into the future

Yalari is a non-profit organisation founded by Old Boy Waverly Stanley AM (TGS 1980-1984) and Llew Mullins in 2005. It has been providing Indigenous children from regional and remote communities across Australia the opportunity to receive a full boarding school scholarship for their entire secondary education.

Yalari hosts the Year 11 Pathways Camp – a weekend long camp hosted at Bond University designed to give Year 11 students a taste of university life and an insight into a variety of career options to inspire their post school ambitions. Students participate in workshops, presentations and a career roundtable.

Kainen Beezley and fellow TGS student Tallen Robinson at Bond University

Kainen Beezley's experience at the Year 11 Pathways Camp

Being a Year 11 student at TGS, I got the opportunity to go to Bond University for a weekend alongside Tallen Robinson. We got the bus down to the Gold Coast and met up at Bond University where the adventure began. Bright and early Saturday morning, we were able to participate in a yoga class before breaking off into groups to discuss plans for our future when we finish school. We answered questions relevant to what we wanted to become after school and what different pathways you can take to achieve your goals. Before this camp, I didn’t really know what I wanted to do after school, but I knew I wanted to do something with mechanics. We got the opportunity to sit down and speak to different companies and people that have their own businesses and have also been in our very situation we are in right now. After school I know want to go to the mines or into the Australian Army as a diesel mechanic. It was a great experience for me at Bond University and it was great fun with being able to watch the Roosters vs Titans game at Cbus Super Stadium. All in all, it was a good way to explore new pathways for my future.

Kainen Beezley
Year 11, Mackintosh House

Achievements and Shout Outs

Ryan Mackay Year 11 - Highly Commended in TGS Photography Competiton

Brody McInnerney Year 11 - School Prefect 2025

Stirling Gould Year 12 - Half House Colours

Josh Smart Year 11 - Half House Colours

Christian Moore Year 9 - Half House Colours

Kicken For Chicken

Invite

The Remains of Term 3

I have very little to write about this afternoon as we go to press for the final issue of Term 3 and there is so little of the term left, but here we go.

It was lovely to catch up with many of the Stephens House mums on Friday of last week. My third Mothers’ Luncheon was a great chance to talk to the very people that place their trust and their sons, in our care for approximately 40 weeks each year. It is only when we write words like this and read them back, that the magnitude of such statements get chance to resonate. Not a day goes by when I am not aware of the fact that you would rather have your boys at home with you, however, circumstances present challenges and all of us associated with Stephens House remain fully committed to doing the best we can to make the House the second best place that each of them can be.

The lunch was a great occasion to take photos and pack them into these pages. Sorry, I failed on that front as well. I am all too aware that the occasions that we get chance to spend time together and have good conversation are so few that an interruption by me trying to capture it for digital prosperity, kills the moment. To this end, I just decided to put the phone down and try to enjoy the day for what it was. To all of you that I did not get to spend time chatting to, my apologies. To all of you that did give me a few minutes, thank you.

The Downlands game was my next missed photo opportunity! Having spent Saturday morning at St Vincent’s with poor old Nathan Voss following an arm break in his early game, I arrived late, frazzled and unprepared for an afternoon of photo-bombing. Again, it was a lovely afternoon and it was pleasing to see that TGS took out so many games, with convincing winning margins in most, and playing some very good rugby. From our House, Ethan Ramsay enjoyed a fine first O'Callaghan Cup game and was a credit to the history of the fixture, and Trace Beattie played in his second Downlands weekend.

With two functions ahead of us – and the camera rested and primed for action – we enter the final stretch of the Term 3 race. This Friday sees a chance to catch up with us down at Fitzy’s from 6:30pm. I am hoping to rearrange a couple of shifts on the roster so that Dave Tranberg can make it down to the pub and I am also hoping Peter Wilson can get along for a couple of hours.

Then, we have the Stephens House Family Formal Dinner at Burke and Wills on the final day of term at 6:30pm. Tickets and confirmation/payment is via Parent Lounge and Kate Wormwell is your go-to contacts for all details associated with this event. It is a whole House function however the farewelling of the Year 12 leaders and welcoming of the 2025 leaders will be the focal point. As some members of Year 8 and 9 are struggling with the long term, it is a nice reminder for all of our boys of the values that we hold dear to us in the House and in the school. Gratitude, Respect, Integrity and Trust underpin everything we do, I hope that this dinner is a time to celebrate these values and the fact that we have a two-week holiday upcoming.

This coming Sunday morning will see all of the boys Walking to Defeat MND in Queens Park. A valuable service event for a worthy cause. I have added a link for you to be able to read a little bit more about this condition and the Rob Burrow/Kevin Sinfield Story. The UK Rugby League community has been moved enormously by the incredible feats of human endeavour from Sinfield as he raised money for MND and his Leeds Rhinos team mate, the late Rob Burrow. Rob passed away earlier this year and the passion of Kevin and the way he moved a nation, is a story worth reading. Any donations to support research in this country would be greatly appreciated.

Kevin Sinfield leads tributes to 'dear friend' Rob Burrow - ESPN

On a cheery note, I am delighted to confirm to our House community that Gilbert Tighe has been selected as a School Prefect for 2025. The Deputy Headmaster, Mr Anderson, announced the final list of boys last week and Gilbert, following a rigorous selection process, several interviews and presentations, was deservedly awarded this position. Congratulations to Gilbert. I speak for the entire Stephens community when I say how delighted, and deserved, this honour is. Well done.

I wish you well for the Spring holiday and a long-overdue chance to spend some quality time together as a family.

News from Rugby School

Whilst it seems a long time ago that we enjoyed the company of Gabe Downes and Rugby School enjoyed the banter of Campbell Newell, I had a WhatsApp from Clare, Gabe's mum, earlier this week.

Gabe has, this very week, started his final year at Rugby School (as the Head of School) and the new school year kicked off in Chapel. He has been following the rugby season with interest and he is hoping that a Stephens House boy is selected for the 2025 Exchange. We have had a number of worthy applications and they lie with Mr Oliphant at the moment, pending final decisions.

I have included a photo of Gabe and his sister on a trip to the famous English seaside holiday town of Blackpool*, where I imagine they spent a few days dressing up in patriotic clothing!

Birthday News

I tend to be a little bit forgetful on the birthday front. Kate frequently nags me and even made a birthday chart for my office, so this week, we both remembered and celebrated the special days of the Gray boys and Mac Sanderson. All of the boys celebrating their 15th birthdays with plenty of cake and entertainment from the ever-willing Year 8 chorus.

There was a bit of cross-river rivalry as Mac sought to build a cake that would reach up to the heavens, held (briefly) together by butter cream and Maltesers, whereas the Gray boys celebrated with a chocolate mud cake, with the emphasis most certainly being on the chocolate mud. All told, a Monday night chocolate extravaganza was followed by a Wednesday evening of malty-creamy-buttery goodness which saw cake as the winner!

Mr Tranberg was happy to stay a little bit later on Monday when he opened the cake box!

The Cake with a Column of Its Own

The Bible story of the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes is what first came to mind when I saw this picture! And whilst not wanting to trigger the TGS fishing group by mentioning fish (as they still have yet to catch a single one) there was more than enough for everyone on the occasion of Mac Sanderson's birthday celebration.

Mac's 'catch' of seven cakes, a few bags of Maltesers and several Tim-Tam/Kit-Kat flavours I never knew existed, were all put together, cemented by butter cream icing, in a way deserving of its own paragraph in the Telegraph.

This photo, courtesy of 'Dr' Vargese shows Mac hard at work in the pre-birthday cake phase. Watched on by an astonished Mr Garratt and Mr Tranberg, Mac is crafting the most bespoke of cakes in his own Jesus moment. Soon to be feeding the Stephens 'fifty,' with his carefully curated creation, Mac can be rightly proud of his 15th birthday, his first in Stephens House.

The orange (seen here in the photo) was not used in the creation of this masterpiece!

Hamish in Victoria

In Week 7, Hamish Finlay travelled down to country Victoria, just outside of Melbourne, where he competed in the National Championships for Cross Country.

Hamish performed admirably in the Under 16 category representing Queensland, having qualified a few weeks prior at an event held in Blad Hills, Brisbane.

Taking out 4th place in the individual category over 3kms, he followed this up in the team event where the Queensland team registered a podium 3rd place finish. Lastly was the relay event and Hamish ran a further 1km race and the team took out the top gold medal position.

Hamish Finlay's performances in Victoria were fantastic

A testament to all of his hard work and early morning training efforts, Hamish is rightly delighted with his efforts across the four days and looks forward to building on these successes going forward.

Phil Kefford
Head of House - Stephens Boarding

As we approach the end of Term 3, it feels as though time has flown by. This is particularly poignant for ten of our boys, who are nearing the end of their 13-year schooling journey. While we are in the midst of a busy academic period, it's also a time for reflection on the memories and experiences they've accumulated over the years. This is indeed a busy time for all, as the boys finalise their assessments and prepare for important examinations. It's not always easy to head downstairs for study after a long day, especially this late in the term. However, many of our boys have shown impressive dedication to their studies. Tom Croft, for instance, has changed his study environment, moving to a more open area and has been consistently earning strong prep scores in recent weeks. Additionally, it’s been great to see our Year 10 students making the most of our downstairs study rooms during extended prep. For those familiar with the movie, walking downstairs in the evening to see a whiteboard filled with equations is reminiscent of a scene from A Beautiful Mind!

This time of year also marks a significant shift in responsibilities for our Year 11 students, both within the house and the broader School community. While our House Leadership team is still being finalised, we are proud to congratulate Rupeni Baravilala on being appointed as a prefect for 2025. Rupeni is incredibly deserving of this role, and we are proud to call him one of our own! It has been wonderful to see the boys pursuing their individual interests, in addition to the usual Sunday afternoon touch football games. Whether it’s Lewis Anderson and Chayce Smith zooming out the front door on their mountain bikes, or Fletch Worland, Hewie Graham and Hughie Bunker practicing their golf swings around the oval (with soft training balls, of course), it’s uplifting to witness their enthusiasm for personal growth. The diversity of character and interests within Taylor House is what makes our community so special.

Last weekend, we faced off against our long-standing rivals, Downlands College. The boys were energised all week, ready to wear their School colours with pride and confidence. A big congratulations to all our boys who participated in rugby and basketball. The following is an excerpt from our House Vice Captain:

This past weekend was one to remember for Toowoomba Grammar School as we took out the 75th O’Callaghan Cup in front of our friends, family and Old Boys!

Members of the Taylor boarding house were involved in numerous teams that were victorious such as members of the 13As, 15As, 16Bs, 2nd XV and even four boys playing in the big game of the First XV! It was certainly a memorable day with heaps of boys participating and supporting throughout the hot day out at Downlands.

From personal experience, taking out the 75th O'Callaghan cup with three of my fellow Taylor House boarding brothers in Adam Davis, Sam Elms and Rupeni Baravilala, was a memory that I will never forget and that I am ever grateful for the opportunity for. I’m so proud of the way our boys exemplified the Taylor standards we abide by and have no doubt that they will make us proud again next year.

The best part of the day I would say was sharing the moment with mates and celebrating the victorious day with our famous war cry and School song. As we approach Round 9 this weekend, whether it be basketball or rugby, all the boys in Taylor boarding are itching to play their last game of the season and some last game ever for Grammar and we wish good luck and safety for everyone heading into their holiday endeavours!

Illy Baravilala
Vice Captain - Taylor House

Year 10 Service and Residency of Corfe House

William McKay has been part of the newly initiated Year 10 Service and Leadership Residency of Corfe House (our Year 7 boarding house) aimed to bolster the pastoral network of our youngest boarders. He has given an account of his time there:

My time in Corfe

This term, I have had the privilege of being one of the four students selected to be living in Corfe House. Living in Corfe comes with some minor challenges but is filled with positives. Our job is to be anything from a role model in the way we act and present ourselves in and outside of School to simply someone the Corfe boys can come to for advice, help with School, sport and organising schedules. Over the course of the term, all the Year 10s have built a unique bond with every one of the boys, with the aim to make it easier for them to move into the senior houses as they already know multiple senior figures across all houses. Not only do the younger boys benefit from this opportunity but we Year 10s also learn the ins and outs of effective leadership and being able to control groups under challenging circumstances.

William McKay
Year 10 Service and Residency Corfe House leader

Looking ahead, this weekend marks the final home game for Term 3, 2024, in rugby, basketball and chess against BBC. For some of our boys, it will be their last time donning the Blue and Gold. A special shoutout to Alistair McKay and Rory Brimblecombe, who, despite being unable to play this season, have selflessly dedicated their time to coaching and supporting their teammates—a true testament to the character of our Taylor boys.

Before signing off on this final Taylor Tribune for Term 3, I would like to remind everyone to submit Reach leave requests as soon as possible to ensure a smooth transition home for the boys.

Wishing all the boys a safe trip home, a restful break and looking forward to an exciting Term 4!

Mr Christopher Dodd
Acting Head of House - Taylor Boarding

TGS BOARDERS' TELEGRAPH - Friday, 6 September 2024