Old Boy leads Vanuatu’s Climate Fight
The Impact of Year Level Bursaries
Sports Science Lab Explores Future of Athletic Performance
Event Update
Message from Headmaster Anthony Micallef
As we put forward our second edition of The Impact of Giving, I reflect on the power of community and generosity that has long shaped our school, and the impact these values continue to have on our boys now and into the future.
It is through this generosity that we have been able to plan to reinvigorate the School’s Outdoor Education Program at Moogerah, a unique learning environment that generations of boys have experienced for the past 50 years
Here, boys step outside the classroom to test themselves, build confidence and strengthen friendships through time spent together while immersed in nature Through camps and leadership programs, boys are supported in developing independence and empathy –skills that can’t be replicated in the same way in a classroom
Now, our outdoor education facilities are undergoing a redevelopment, allowing us to enhance the experience for both students and staff, bringing the facilities into the modern day.
To get these important improvements off the ground, we invite your support. There are several ways to get involved, including attending a Night Under the Stars, a luxury glamping experience at Moogerah, and taking part in the School’s annual Giving Day, both held in May
All donations will be complemented by a generous pledge of $1 million over four years from the P&F Auxiliary to support the upgrades The Auxiliary oversees the operations of the Tuckshop, Maud’s Café and the Grammar Shop, thanks to the support of numerous volunteers The group has a long history of generously raising money to help fund the School’s critical projects You can read more on Page 4.
This edition also highlights the impact of Year Level Bursaries, shining light on our boys’ remarkable willingness to think beyond themselves On Page 10, you will read how the 2026 cohort has chosen to spend the year fundraising for its own bursary, supporting students from rural communities, First Nations backgrounds and refugee families
This generosity, coupled with our students’ commitment to looking beyond themselves, is a powerful example of the values our school upholds and instils in everyday life. It is a testament to our boys who embody our ideal of leaving the world in a better place than they found it.
I hope you enjoy the latest edition of The Impact of Giving, and I thank you for your ongoing contribution and support
Sincerely,
Anthony Micallef Headmaster
A History of Giving
Written by Courtney Adam
For nearly 80 years, generations of parents have quietly shaped life at Brisbane Grammar School by volunteering as part of the P&F Auxiliary
What began in 1950 with just three mothers volunteering to run a modest tuckshop soon grew in popularity Homemade pikelets and hamburgers, cooked on a gas stove, quickly became a favourite among students
Today, the P&F Auxiliary consists of both a committee and an executive team, which are made up of volunteers who oversee the running of the Tuckshop, Grammar Uniform Shop and Maud’s Café as commercial businesses, generating funding for critical school projects.
The Auxiliary has a long history of raising money for the improvement of Brisbane Grammar School, on the back of countless volunteers who give up their time and skills, without expecting anything in return
In recent years, funding from the Auxiliary has supported the STEAM Precinct and STEAM Café, the Bursary Fund, and renovations of boarding facilities at Griffith and Harlin houses, just to name a few
In 2026, the Auxiliary has taken its commitment even further, pledging $1 million towards the redevelopment of our outdoor education facilities at Moogerah, with funds to be delivered over the next four years
P&F Auxiliary President Rachael Dauber said supporting the future of Moogerah is deeply important to the parent community
“Everyone on the committee is a parent, and everyone's got boys who have thoroughly enjoyed the camp opportunity”
In May, BGS will celebrate the 50-year anniversary of the Outdoor Education Program
“We all have really strong altruistic values and really care about facilitating connection between the parents and also offering opportunities to the boys.”
To mark the occasion, the School has launched a $1 8 million fundraising campaign to deliver Stage 2 of the Moogerah redevelopment, ensuring the next generation of students can benefit from its unique educational experience.
Stage 2 will include the addition of six dormitories, expanded activity areas and emergency accommodation capacity, with enhanced accessibility
It comes after Stage 1 works, which included driveway improvements, new road access, shed construction, and upgrades to water and sewerage infrastructure, were completed earlier this year
To support the upgrades, the School is hosting several events to raise money, including the annual Giving Day and a Night Under the Stars, a luxury glamping experience paired with a paddock-to-plate long lunch at Moogerah.
Moogerah is a place where boys can leave the classroom behind, test themselves and build confidence through time spent together in the outdoors, she explained
“It takes them back to grass roots; it gives them an opportunity to be in nature with their mates
“It offers a different type of learning and growth experience, so we are really supportive of that ”
Beyond its financial contributions, the Auxiliary plays an important role in strengthening relationships between families and the School.
“It's important to us to have that relationship, to continue collaborating in the education of boys and in the wellbeing of boys, but also just community,” Rachael said
“I think BGS does it really well in teaching boys to think beyond self and really give back to the community
“We all have really strong altruistic values and really care about facilitating connection between the parents and also offering opportunities to the boys.”
To learn more or donate, please contact the BGS Advancement Team or click here
Generational Generosity
Written by Courtney Adam
A deep commitment to giving back has defined the Fenwick family’s connection to Brisbane Grammar School for more than a century
Their generosity has taken many forms, including sharing knowledge, dedicating time and providing significant financial support, which have shaped the opportunities provided to BGS students
The family’s legacy began with Osborn Fenwick who graduated from BGS in 1923 after attending on a scholarship He captained the Rugby team and won an Open Scholarship to the University of Queensland, where he graduated in Civil Engineering
Multiple generations have since attended BGS, including Osborn’s sons Thomas Fenwick ‘58 and John Fenwick ‘61 followed by his grandsons Matthew ‘85, Simon ‘87, Craig ‘89, Nicholas ‘91 and Jonathan ‘92
Following in their father’s footsteps, Tom and John both went on to study engineering at UQ
John became the 17th Old Boy to receive a prestigious Rhodes Scholarship for the University of Oxford Tom went on to be appointed as Commissioner of Water Resources in 1986, where he stayed until he retired in 2003
“After over 100 years of family at BGS, the School is just part of our family’s life experience, the start of happy and productive lives, within a supportive community,” John said.
The family supports many of the School’s significant capital infrastructure projects, making a generous contribution to the STEAM Precinct, which prepares students for the jobs of the future
“When I entered BGS, the ‘new science block’ overlooking the oval was the ‘latest and best’ in lab design Unfortunately, the passage of 60 years, and the tripling of student numbers, meant drastic change was needed,” John recalled
“Hopefully our support creates life-changing opportunities for curious, bright boys, those that need a hand up, not a handout, and benefit from a BGS education.”
“The concept of teaching STEAM subjects in an interactive manner, so boys grasp the interaction of these subjects in a creative process was the core motive in building a magnificent building.
“If you are going to create, create beauty as well as function ”
As part of the third generation to attend the School, Old Boy Simon Fenwick 87’ told The Impact of Giving he is passionate about making a lasting contribution after observing how top overseas educational institutions operate their bursary programs
“World-leading educational institutions have explicit targets for students receiving bursaries. Twenty per cent is common in the USA, where I lived
“As a result, they create broad and robust learning academies, benefitting society
“Our family had been the recipients of scholarships and bursaries to enable their education,” Simon added
Simon established the Fenwick Bursary in 2015, providing tuition and boarding fees for First Nations and regional students
In 2020, the first recipient of the Fenwick Bursary graduated from BGS, and in a full circle moment, also went on to study at UQ
“Decades working overseas and travelling to developing countries helped me appreciate the life-changing opportunity that an excellent education can provide to a young person lacking financial means,” Simon said
“It is one of the biggest returns on investment in philanthropic giving ”
Looking back across the generations, Simon and John reflect on the meaning behind their family’s generous giving
“I would hope that one day some of my great-grandsons will enter BGS, have a look through the archives, find some familiar names and add a contribution of their own,” John said
“Hopefully our support creates life-changing opportunities for curious, bright boys, those that need a hand up, not a handout, and benefit
Old Boy leads Vanuatu’s Climate Fight
Written by Courtney Adam
For Old Boy and Vanuatu’s Climate Minister Ralph Regenvanu ‘87 giving back has been about serving his country.
Serving as Vanuatu’s Minister for Climate Change Adaptation, Energy, Environment, Meteorology, Geo-Hazards and Disaster Management, he has built a career on protecting vulnerable communities, while advocating for action on climate change
His almost 20-year career as a Member of Parliament was no accident Like many before him, his path into politics began in the classrooms of BGS
“When I started Year 8 as a boarder, it was not only my first experience of living away from home, but I was also thrust into living in a foreign country within a foreign cultural milieu and away from all my friends,” he said
“It was a very challenging time for me I developed a ‘thick skin’ which has undoubtedly helped me in my political career”
Ralph was co-chair of the National Sustainable Development Plan Core Group which was responsible for developing Vanuatu’s ‘National Sustainable Development Plan 2016-2030, which currently guides the Vanuatu Government's development agenda
“Students need to look beyond Australia to better understand that it is only through combining strong national actions with multilateralism that we can solve the triple planetary crisis: climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution.”
Elected to Parliament in 2008, he has since held several other ministerial portfolios, including Lands and Natural Resources, and Foreign Affairs
“The primary reason I got into politics was to change the land laws to protect the rights of Vanuatu’s indigenous landowners, and we achieved this in 2014,” he explained
“This is the achievement I am most proud of
“As Foreign Minister from 2017 to 2020, I implemented Vanuatu’s single-use plastic ban, with our ban on plastic straws being the first one in the world ”
“Vanuatu contributes 0 0016% of global greenhouse gas emissions, yet we are on the frontline of the destructive impacts of climate change,” he emphasised
“High-emitting states need to drastically reduce their greenhouse gas emissions for Vanuatu’s children to have a safe future ”
Before entering Parliament, the Minister served as Director of the National Museum of Vanuatu, where he spent 11 years working in cultural heritage, laying the foundation for his lifelong passion for people and community
His journey from BGS to Parliament highlights the ways Old Boys can contribute, not just financially, but through service to community.
“We all depend on a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment… so we need more people to get in and help,” he added
“Students need to look beyond Australia to better understand that it is only through combining strong national actions with multilateralism that we can solve the triple planetary crisis: climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution.”
Opening Doors: The Impact of Year Level Bursaries
Written by Courtney Adam
There is something powerful in watching young men think beyond themselves.
Since 1869, Brisbane Grammar School has offered financial support to boys who would not otherwise have access to a BGS education, a tradition that has removed barriers for more than 150 years
In the early 1990s, the Bursary Fund was created so the original capital could be invested and protected, with the earnings used to support students year upon year.
In 2016, graduates began directing their valedictory gift toward a Year Level Bursary instead, which has since become tradition It was a simple idea: pay it forward and leave the place better than you found it
For Old Boys Eddie Barrett ‘96 and Brett Frostick ‘96, that idea became personal They renamed their Year Level Bursary the ‘Dugald Parry Bursary’, honouring a friend and ensuring his name would continue to open doors for others
A gifted athlete, scholar and treasured friend to many, Dugald struggled with medical issues in his early teenage years His schooling life was significantly impacted from Years 9 to 12
“Dugald taught us that strength does not need to be loud, and character is revealed when times are difficult,” Eddie said
“This bursary is intended to support boys who may be navigating hardship, but who demonstrate the same quiet perseverance and integrity that Dugald showed
“His example reminds us that the true measure of a BGS education is not just achievement, but the kind of men we become,” he added
“Our hope is that the boys who benefit from this bursary feel supported, valued and part of a strong community and that, in time, they too will extend that same generosity to others ”
“This bursary is intended to support boys who may be navigating hardship, but who demonstrate the same quiet perseverance and integrity that Dugald showed.”
The Class of 2026 is now ‘paying it forward’ in its own way
Speaking at the Parent and Son Brunch in Term 1, School Vice Captains Om Thaker and Jack Fleming took to the stage, thanking families for the sacrifices they make, before launching their goal for the year ahead.
“As a cohort, we’ve started the year strong There is pressure as last year’s cohort achieved eight 99 95s, which sets a high bar,” Om said
“But instead of intimidating us, we’ve chosen to let it challenge us
“Our cohort’s motto, Beyond the Blue, reflects that mindset, thinking beyond ourselves and recognising that real success is shared ”
Jack further explained the meaning behind the motto
“We have decided to target an opportunity to provide underprivileged students access to our school, and the incredible resources we have, which we often take for granted ”
“The privilege you have provided us with can be passed onto later generations.”
The cohort is fundraising for its own bursary, supporting students from rural communities, and First Nations and refugee backgrounds
Old Boys are being encouraged to use their milestone reunions as a platform to fundraise for a Year Level Bursary to help change the life of a boy whose talent is limited only by circumstance.
Because of these bursaries, some students are able to attend BGS who otherwise never would have had the chance
One day, they may choose to open that same gate for the next boy
Sports Science Lab Explores Future of Athletic Performance
Brisbane Grammar School has officially opened its new Sports Science Laboratory, a dynamic space designed to combine science, technology, and the latest practices in health, wellbeing and sporting excellence
Director of Sports Performance and Old Boy Greg Di Losa ‘94, described the facility as “a statement piece for innovation in sports science, human movement studies and physical education”
“The development of the Sports Science Lab represents a transformative step in Brisbane Grammar School’s commitment to becoming the best school for boys in Australia,” Mr Di Losa added.
“Through philanthropic support, this initiative brings to life a state-of-the-art facility that unites education, athletic performance
development, wellbeing and community engagement within one purpose-built precinct ”
Located within the STEAM Precinct, the lab will be utilised by the Physical Education and Athletic Development departments, as well as cocurricular programs
This facility completes the Sports Science Precinct, which also features a dedicated strength and conditioning gym, alongside the pool and surrounding playing fields
The lab will play a key role in supporting performance analysis through data tracking and monitoring technologies, such as the Integrated Video Analysis and Feedback Systems.
Students can monitor their performance in real time and engage in discussions with teachers and peers to refine aspects such as technique and agility
“Through philanthropic support, this initiative brings to life a state-of-the-art facility that unites education, athletic performance development, wellbeing, and community engagement within one purpose-built precinct.”
“The laboratory is the product of extensive consultation with the Headmaster, Senior Leadership Team members, sport and performance directors, STEAM leaders and information technology specialists,” Mr Di Losa said
“It ensures alignment with the School’s vision, purpose and values, and forms a central component of the strategic goal of building a unique, integrated ecosystem for student development ”
Funds raised through the 2024 and 2025 Giving Day campaigns made this significant addition possible
Students will learn to collate information through wearable technology, whether it be in the gym, pool, oval or court, which will be analysed, interpreted, tested and challenged
The generosity of the community has enabled Brisbane Grammar School to enhance student wellbeing initiatives, while fostering the next generation of innovators in human movement studies.
To view the completion of the project Click Here
Event Update
The Garden Party
The inaugural Garden Party was held on Sunday 29 March 2026, bringing the BGS parent community together for an afternoon of celebration and fundraising in support of the Moogerah Upgrade Project.
More than 830 current BGS parents attended the event on Oval 1, enjoying live entertainment and a vibrant garden party atmosphere throughout the afternoon
With a Mediterranean–inspired theme, the event provided an opportunity for parents to connect with their year cohorts and strengthen connections across the broader school community.
A raffle draw featuring a range of generously donated prizes was a highlight of the day In total, more than $45,000 was raised at the Garden Party, with all proceeds going towards the Moogerah Upgrade Project
The Garden Party was highly successful and is hoped to be a feature on the BGS calendar The School extends its sincere thanks to all guests, donors and partners who contributed to its success
OBA President’s Drinks
Each year, the Old Boys’ Association warmly welcomes parents new to the Old Boy community at the BGSOBA President’s Drinks On Thursday, 26 February 2026, the OBA welcomed 24 new Old Boy fathers, reconnecting them to the BGS community and celebrating the proud tradition of their sons continuing their education at the School.
A highlight of the evening was the presentation of the exclusive Old Boys’ cap, a meaningful symbol of legacy and connection, to parents whose sons commenced at Brisbane Grammar School in 2026
Friday 8 May
OBA Grapes and Grazier Lunch
Giving Day 2026
Friday 15 May
Art Show Gala
Saturday 16 May
Open Day 2026
Saturday 30 May
Moogerah - Donor event 'Night Under the Stars'
Saturday 6 June
Class of 2006 - 20-Year Reunion
Friday 24 July
BGSOBA Sportsman's Lunch
Saturday 25 July
Back to BGS Weekend
Class of 2016 - 10-Year Reunion
Class of 1986 - 40-Year Reunion
To learn more about our fundraising campaign for the upgrades at Moogerah Click Here
Key Upgrades
Six dormitories (six beds each) to support improved pastoral care and student wellbeing
A new, safely located workshop facility
Expanded activity areas and emergency accommodation capacity
Enhanced accessibility, pathways and fire safety compliance
A place of significance, acknowledging Indigenous culture and Country
Your Impact
Ways to Give
Name a Dormitory:
$30,000 (Six opportunities)
Giving Pavers:
$2,000
Pledge Gifts:
Minimum of $5,000/per year. Please contact the BGS Advancement Team to discuss options.
Your gift will support student wellbeing, hands-on learning and a legacy at Moogerah. This is more than a building project, it is an investment in young people, in learning beyond the classroom, and in a place that has shaped generations of boys.
Please contact the Brisbane Grammar School Advancement Office To discuss your gift or learn more:
