COLLEGIAN, Issue One 2024

On

Collegian

BRISBANE BOYS' COLLEGE MAGAZINE

Published by Brisbane Boys’ College CRICOS Code 00491J

Kensington Terrace, Toowong, Queensland, 4066

T 07 3309 3500 W bbc.qld.edu.au

A SCHOOL OF THE PRESBYTERIAN AND METHODIST SCHOOLS ASSOCIATION

Marketing and Communications Manager

Editor

Graphic Designer

Marketing Assistant

Ms Jo Belford

Mr Lawson Kiehne

Mr Arnold Chan

Mrs Angela Doherty

This publication is an initiative of the BBC Community Engagement Department with contributions from College Staff and the wider BBC community. The views expressed in this publication are those of individual contributors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of the College. Every effort has been made to ensure the information is correct at the time of printing.

To submit content for consideration, please email communications@bbc.qld.edu.au

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We invite you to discover our unique BBC spirit for yourself. Connect with us online or contact our Admissions Team to arrange a tour of the College.

Isn’t it funny how day by day nothing changes, but when you look back, everything is different?

C. S. Lewis

From the Headmaster MR ANDRE CASSON

I share my favourite C. S. Lewis quote as the genesis of this Collegian as I feel that we, as a community, are about to embark on a new and invigorating chapter in our journey. Notwithstanding the magnificent celebrations and reflections contained throughout this edition, a crucial moment for the College has been the launch of our Strategic Plan and how this document will chart our course for the next five years. This significant paper acknowledges and learns from our magnificent past, was developed through consultation with our community and reflection on our present, and will chart a path toward an exciting future in which BBC continues to produce Gentlemen of Honour who make a positive impact on our world. Over the coming months and years, I look forward to sharing this journey with all of you as we reinforce the College’s prominent place in the Queensland educational landscape – a place that draws from our past, understands the importance of remaining cognisant of the present, and keeps an eye firmly focused on a breathtaking future. It is my aspiration that we will look back on this period and be proud of what we have achieved through our united endeavours.

It is my fervent ambition that our Strategic Plan does not lie dormant on the shelf nor impotently adorn the walls of the College. Rather, it must be a living and breathing manuscript that offers a blueprint for the success of our great school. This manifesto may ‘pivot’ to meet the evolving needs of our community and broader society. It may evolve to embrace a new and exciting technology or educational advantage that, at the time of writing, was the stuff of dreams. But all alterations will have a firm bedrock rooted in the values of our school – Honour, Aspiration, Wisdom, Achievement, and Community.

Rising from the bedrock of our values are six Strategic Pillars, which curate the twenty-six Strategic Intentions that will drive our College forward. The Pillars focus on the key elements of College life and, like all aspects of this vision, were derived from engagement and consultation with our community. Our Pillars are:

1. Teaching and Learning –Grow education by living and breathing the BBC Pedagogical Framework.

2. Wellbeing – Create an environment in which all members of our community can thrive.

3. Beyond the Classroom – Be distinctive so families choose and remain at BBC.

4. Our People – Invest in our people and be a great place to work.

5. Innovation – Place BBC at the forefront of boys’ education.

6. Stewardship – Actively manage our resources so we are able to re-invest in our school.

Sitting above our pillars are our purpose, our mission, and our vision, for these are outcomes that can only be achieved if we work together to bring the ambitions of our Strategic Intentions to fruition. As billionaire investor Seth Klarman stated, we must “be focused on our process,

not on our outcome.” In essence, the outcome will take care of itself if we have a clear set of non-negotiables –our values – that form the foundation on which we undertake the actions of the plan – our Strategic Intentions.

The College’s 26 Strategic Intentions were derived from a comprehensive and exhaustive consultation process that involved all stakeholders. Each intention will have a sponsor who will work with a team to move this idea from concept to reality. It is with much excitement that I share our intentions with the community in this publication.

TEACHING AND LEARNING

Review and embed the BBC Pedagogical Framework from Prep to Year 12, which is informed by the College Values and Christian faith.

Champion a data-based culture that supports learning and academic monitoring.

Develop a BBC Certificate of Graduation, which acknowledges academic, co-curricular, and service opportunities.

Nurture a culture of high expectations through a diverse range of individualised learning pathways.

Research the latest innovations in education to determine their place at BBC.

WELLBEING

Embed and evaluate through tracking the Tartan+ Wellbeing Program as a holistic and explicit model that utilises multi-faceted layers of support to educate the whole boy.

Provide authentic opportunities for the boys to explore their spiritual development through Christian faith education.

Enhance strong connections with our Old Collegians to honour our history and provide pathways and support for our boys beyond the portal.

Establish a BBC diversity framework that acknowledges the myriad of cultures and backgrounds that make up our community.

BEYOND THE CLASSROOM

Integrate a holistic, transformational BBC service-learning and leadership program informed by our Christian ethos.

Integrate the House system as part of each boy’s journey.

Develop a BBC elite athlete support/ mentoring program.

Support our students in becoming well-rounded individuals through their involvement in academic, spiritual, cultural, service, and sporting endeavours.

OUR PEOPLE

Focus on a holistic approach to staff wellbeing through the vehicle of the BBC Staff Wellbeing Framework, which is empowered by a Christian ethos.

Utilise our staff’s signature strengths to provide opportunities for personal growth.

Foster an environment of lifelong learning through a professional learning framework available to all staff with clear themes and goals that are aligned with our strategic intentions.

Promote BBC staff to present at conferences that are aligned with our strategic intentions.

Promote diversity, equity, and inclusion by cultivating a workplace that reflects the diversity of our people.

INNOVATION

Establish BBC as the ‘go-to’ thought leaders in boys’ education due to our reputation and creativity.

Establish stronger, meaningful relationships with tertiary institutions and industry groups that act to promote and extend the benefits of a BBC education.

Articulate a compelling BBC journey/ roadmap with irresistible, properly classified touchpoints.

STEWARDSHIP

Define BBC Digital framework.

Establish a culture that prioritises the best outcomes on investment opportunities to develop new income streams that are complementary to our core business.

Develop an effective campus rectification program that supports our historic grounds and buildings.

Present a Master Plan that supports the College’s ambition to provide innovative and collaborative spaces for all staff and students.

Develop a plan that is aligned with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and defines activities and targets that support a sustainable future.

As we move into this next phase of our journey, I am filled with much anticipation and a little trepidation for an unknown yet exciting future.

As Winston Churchill said in a quote I shared with our Year 12 students at their 2023 Valedictory Dinner, “This is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.”

Our Strategic Plan provides a map by which we move into our collective future. It charts a path, but it must never be viewed as a panacea. The plan offers us a set of guiding principles, but as with all things, it is the work of our outstanding community, students, staff, parents, and Old Collegians that will ultimately secure the future success of our great school. The journey ahead is one full of opportunity and perhaps the occasional pitfall. But importantly, it is a journey that we will share united in the Green, White, and Black. As our boys so aptly put it as they cheer their teammates on, “This is College!”

Please enjoy the celebrations and the reflections contained within this latest publication of the Collegian They serve as a testimony to the collective excellence that I witness daily at our school. Spiritually, academically, physically, creatively, and socially, our community continues to achieve remarkable feats of excellence. I can think of no aspect of a student’s development that is not explored through the lens of a BBC education, for as our guiding purpose declares, “There is more than one way to THRIVE at BBC.”

BRISBANE BOYS' COLLEGE ▪ COLLEGIAN

From the Chaplain

MR STEPHEN WARD

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.

Romans 8:28-29

These Bible verses bring comfort to me. God is working for my good. The problem most of us have is that we would define that ‘good’ in very different ways. Life this year has brought many joys my way but also many struggles. Do I thank God for both the good times and the bad times because he is ‘working for my good’, or do I only ask why God isn’t doing more to help when I am going through the tough moments?

I think many of us have this idea of ‘it’s not fair’ whenever a hardship hits us or someone we love. In our immediate grief over the situation, we want to blame someone, and somehow, we grasp onto the idea that nothing bad should ever happen

to us or our loved ones. But the world doesn’t work like that – and the Bible actually says hard things will come our way.

And so, when we sit in the reality of our joys and our pain, what is the ‘good’ that God is working to achieve in us? Well, the definition, I believe, is in the verse above, where it says we are predestined to be conformed to the image of the Son. In other words, God’s goal in all the experiences we are going through is that we become more like Jesus in character. The Bible says that Jesus is “the exact representation of God’s being” (Hebrews 1:3). We see Christ, we see God.

Jesus is loving, just, compassionate, virtuous, kind, righteous in anger, patient, joyful, peaceful, faithful, and good.

This is who God is trying to shape us to be like. We may not see it at the time when we are caught up in our celebrations or hurting in our pain, but I am glad that God is always working for ‘my good.’

BBC Feature

SUNDAY, 21 APRIL 2024

10am - 2pm

The Place to Be is BBC

Brisbane Boys’ College is excited to announce that we will be opening our campus to our entire school community and beyond for the BBC Open Day on Sunday, 21 April 2024, from 10:00am to 2:00pm.

It’s been a while since we’ve had the opportunity to come together as a College and celebrate the many things that make BBC so special, which meant that this year’s Open Day had to be our biggest yet. We’re especially thrilled to showcase the talent and skill of our students, whose participation in this event promises to steal the show at every available opportunity.

There’ll be something for everyone, from current families to Old Collegians to those considering joining our community. All are welcome, so tell your friends, bring your family, and join us as we show all of Brisbane why the place to be is BBC.

Celebrate

After 122 years of continuous operation, the name ‘Brisbane Boys’ College’ stands proudly as a heavyweight of Australian boys’ education. With a legacy steeped in rich tradition, we’re thrilled to take the opportunity to pay tribute to the incredible heritage we’ve built along the way.

Old Boys will find plenty of interest in one of our school tours, conducted by current students, which will give them a chance to explore the campus and see how it has evolved. Future and prospective families will be equally absorbed as they experience the learning environments their boys will one day thrive in for themselves.

Take part in our legendary College War Cry, taught with the passion and love that only Collegians can muster, and meet the Highlander, the iconic embodiment of BBC’s traditions of honour and excellence. There’s even a Highlander face paint stall for younger visitors… and the young at heart.

Connect

BBC Open Day is a phenomenal opportunity to catch up with schoolmates, reconnect with teachers, and make new friends. Whether you’re a past, present, or future Collegian, come along and immerse yourself in the vibrant culture and spirit that make the College the special place that it is.

Our dedicated staff and Parent Support Groups are pulling out all the stops. There’ll be exhibits all over the campus, ranging from an expert panel of school leaders discussing our dynamic approach to boys’ education to showcases of our Scottish heritage to a remarkable series of stalls covering every aspect of College life.

Hear about the BBC difference directly from Mr Andre Casson at our Meet the Headmaster event and connect with current staff and school leaders as they share their passion and expertise across a variety of topics.

Play

It’s not a celebration without good food, so there will be some delicious dining options available, including jacket potatoes, sushi, and gelato. But if a sausage sizzle is more your style, we’ll also be firing up the barbeque and serving some delicious sausages and bacon and egg rolls.

Throughout the day, our student musicians will entertain guests across campus. You can expect both choral and musical performances in College Hall, in the Middle School, and in the Junior School. There will also be solo performances from Shumo Grygoruk (Year 7) and 2024 Australian Idol contestant Jet Cameron (Year 12). These miniconcerts will give you a sense of the breadth of musical talent and opportunities at the College. Whether your son aspires to play the strings, the piano, the tuba, the drums, the guitar, or even the bagpipes, there is a place for him to thrive.

Being part of the Great Public Schools Association of Queensland (GPS) provides outstanding opportunities for boys at BBC to compete in an extensive range of sporting and cultural activities. Put your game face on and test your fitness level with a time trial on one of the rowing machines, put your bowling skills to the test in the cricket nets and see how fast you can bowl when the radar’s on you, watch our Old Collegians play an exhibition game on the tennis courts, listen to our debaters discuss hot topics, or take part in one of numerous other activities. Our experienced coaches will be on hand to offer expert advice and give your family just a taste of what our boys experience every week in the GPS Competition.

Of the many special guests already on the schedule for Open Day, a few will melt your hearts more than any other. A puppy playpen will be open to all animal lovers, young and old. Our small but enthusiastic four-legged associates stand ready to provide exclusive cuddles to all comers in the Junior School.

Don’t Miss Out

Save the date now for this magnificent commemoration of who we are, where we’ve been, and our plans for the future. It promises to be one of the premier events of the 2024 BBC calendar.

The heart of any school is the community that defines and supports it. BBC simply wouldn’t be the same without each and every one of you, and we can’t celebrate this very special place without your help.

By itself, a school is just a collection of bricks and mortar. What defines its character is its people: the students, families, and community members who shape its culture and bring it to life. Our College is magnificent, but that’s because our people are.

We look forward to welcoming you to our campus on Open Day. It wouldn’t be the same without you.

BBC NEWS

From the Head of Junior School

MRS SUMMA TODD

When I reflect on 2023, I am incredibly proud of what the young gentlemen of the Junior School achieved throughout the academic year. The boys had the opportunity to shine and demonstrate their capabilities. Triumphs were had, from the field of academic excellence to co-curricular endeavours. During the year, there was much to celebrate, with many personal achievements and milestones reached.

Thriving in The Junior School

In the academic realm, our boys experienced outstanding performances in GPS Debating and Chess, various mathematics competitions, and the Readers Cup. They consistently achieved these results while showcasing their dedication to learning. Young athletes of the Junior School excelled on the sports field while demonstrating their commitment and sportsmanship. I would like to acknowledge all of the Junior School Boys for the contribution they made to the College in 2023.

The young gentlemen in Prep to Year 6 are committed to pursuing academic achievement and excellence. In 2023, they demonstrated to their teachers that they are respectful and kind to one another and to the staff who work with them to help them succeed. It is through their passion for learning that our staff have been able to engage and take them on an educational journey of development. The boys are to be congratulated for their love of learning and commitment to the expectations of the Junior School.

STaff Making a Difference

I have the pleasure of working with amazing people, and the Junior School academic and corporate staff demonstrate a genuine commitment to the care and support of our boys from an academic, social, and emotional perspective. The only way we have been able to make a difference for our students is through their dedication to ensuring that every boy has the opportunity to thrive.

The Junior School staff are committed to the success of every boy. As leaders in the education of boys, they understand the need to educate the whole boy to create Gentlemen of Honour. Each staff member strives to create learning opportunities for our boys in the classroom, but where we see their dedication shine is in their involvement in Junior School events and co-curricular endeavours.

You will often see our staff on the training field or rustling up a crowd to get involved to represent their House in the Interhouse Championships. They are not passive in the development journey for each boy; instead, they get in there and get involved. From College camps to Saturday morning sports and beyond, they are there championing our boys to be their best and give it a go.

BuilDing our coMMuniTy

Thank you to all parents and members of the Junior School community for your valued contribution. Your engagement with, participation in, and support for the Junior School are integral to ensuring our boys continue to flourish during their time at the College.

An extended ‘thank you’ goes to the Junior School Support Group (JSSG) and Parent Class Representatives for your support of families throughout the year. The introduction of new family events, like the Movie Night and Monsters Ball, saw our Junior School community come together for an evening of entertainment and connection.

Alongside these new events, the JSSG continues to support our boys and provide opportunities for our community to celebrate. The offerings at the Mother’s and Father’s Day stalls throughout the year ensured that smiles of delight adorned the faces of parents as they received their gifts on their special day. The Ladies Lunch and Father’s Day Breakfast successfully united parents in celebration of our community support and connection.

Over the last 12 months, you may have heard me refer to the Junior School as the ‘jewel in the crown of the College’. While I would like to take credit for this phrase, I have, in fact, borrowed it from a previous Junior School parent. When it was announced that I had been appointed to be the Head of Junior School at the end of 2022, I received a message from this parent using

this phrase. She spoke at length about what the Junior School did to make her son the gentleman he is today.

I watched this young man address a room full of new parents to the College at the Orientation Information Session at the end of 2023. He spoke about starting in Year 4 in the Junior School and how public speaking was not something he was comfortable with. I saw as he spoke that passion oozed from him. This passion was for the College and the journey our boys undertake here. He is a young man who is thriving, and I like to think that is because of the foundations that were laid in the Junior School.

These foundations are not made of bricks and mortar. They are built from the jewels that are embedded in the heart of the crown as boys begin their journey in the Junior School. We look forward to seeing these jewels sparkle in 2024 and beyond.

Guy Browning said,

“Growing up is when you understand you get what you give, not what you’re given.” So much of the journey through the Middle School centres around helping students understand the concepts of servant leadership and gratitude. That journey begins well before the first day of Year 7. The transition from Junior School to Middle School is a crucial milestone, and various initiatives occur throughout the year to welcome boys into the next chapter in their educational journey.

From the Acting Head of Middle School

MS AMELIA APOGREMIOTIS

Early in Term 4, all our current Year 6 classes got their first taste of life in the Middle School. The BBC Ambassador program allows current Year 7 boys to guide our newcomers from the Junior School, offering valuable insights and advice. At the end of a week of visits, four students who are now well settled into life as a Year 7 impart words of wisdom and field questions from the Year 6 cohort. Orientation Day at the end of Term 4 enables new students to familiarise themselves with the Middle School routines and introduces them to the House System, which helps to form lifelong bonds. Our current Year 8 students diligently write their buddy letters to the incoming Year 7 cohort. As the leaders of the Middle School next year, the personal insights and connections they form through their letters help to ease the concerns that might creep in during the holidays. Once the year begins and the 2024 Year 7s set foot on the campus, they are no sooner here than they

are off on their Outdoor Education experience with assistance from Year 11 students acting as camp mentors. The program is designed to foster independence and leadership skills without the added pressures of juggling new experiences on campus. Strong friendships are formed on the Outdoor Education experience, and they continue to flourish back on campus with the assistance of the Shepherds, our recently graduated Year 12 students who return to assist the boys grapple with the everyday challenges of managing lockers, combination locks, and timetables.

year 7

From engaging experiences like Discovery Day, where students applied their knowledge to realworld projects like Redesigning Future Brisbane, to the mind-blowing performances during Activities Week, our students this year really shone. Developing skills essential for

life beyond the College gates, the boys put on a masterful performance of William Shakespeare’s work with the assistance of the Grin and Tonic Theatre Troupe. Parents joined us again this year and were certainly not disappointed by the skill and confidence on show.

year 8

The midpoint of the journey through Middle School is a time when students are developing their sense of where they belong. With a clear focus on effort and the impact that actions can have on others, the wellbeing program in Year 8 is deeply connected with the emotional development of our students. Boys were challenged to go out of their comfort zone again this year on the Amazing Adventure, which saw them working together throughout the week to solve a series of challenges throughout Brisbane. The students handled all situations with great maturity and were proud of the newfound skills they developed.

year 9

The Tenx10 Week presented exciting opportunities for Year 9 students to explore areas of interest, emphasising leadership to prepare them for the Senior School. Our

Middle Leaders have continued their servant leadership initiatives. The Boater Repair Shop has repaired over 80 boaters this year under the skilful leadership of Jules Kleibacker, ably assisted by Mr Richard McLoughlin. As the Year 9 cohort concludes their time in the Middle School and prepares to depart on the next leg of their journey, they reflect on the key messages passed on to them: to lead by example, to give your all to every endeavour, and to be grateful for the opportunities and support around you.

Our Middle School students excelled again this year in external competitions such as the UQ/QAMT Problem Solving competition, the Metropolitan West Maths Problem Solving Competition, the Big Science competition, the da Vinci Decathlon, and the ICAS awards. From Eugene Jeung’s performance in mathematical problem-solving competitions to the acceptance of David Rentoul’s research paper at the International Young Researchers’ Fall 2023 Conference in Tokyo, our Year 9 students excelled academically this year.

Our dedicated teachers have played a pivotal role in guiding students through their academic journey, and none more so than Mr David

Bell. Two signs that someone is a great leader are caring about others and inspiring others to grow. This is certainly true of David, who cared deeply about all the students who passed through the Middle School under his leadership. Jamie Alexander, the 2023 College Captain, has spoken about the lasting impact Mr Bell had on his own leadership journey and how his passing earlier this year affected all the boys who had the pleasure of knowing him. David’s eloquently delivered stories at assembly imparted strong messages to the boys, and we all miss hearing his wise words. The Hall of Inspiration, which David suggested should line the walls of our Middle School, carries on his legacy of inspiring young men with the biographies and leadership journeys of great alumni from BBC’s history.

We look forward to our students’ continued growth and success in the years to come. Our focus remains on nurturing students’ wellbeing and passion for learning while fostering their sense of self. The transformation of the Middle School Precinct will bring energy and excitement throughout the 2024 academic year.

From the Head of Senior School

MR SCOTT MURPHY

As we conclude the 2023 school year, I am humbled by the journey we have embarked on as a community. We have faced immense challenges together, pivoted where needed, and problem-solved to overcome hurdles. Amongst the events, celebrations, learning, and personal growth in all of our students, there have been significant achievements that we have all contributed to and should be proud of. 2023 has been a year that has clearly shown the tenacity, dedication, and love that sets BBC apart from any other school.

Our 2023 graduates were ‘COVID kids’: students who hadn’t been to a camp since Middle School, experienced new deliveries of hybrid learning, lived through intermittent lockdowns, and witnessed the deadliest pandemic in living memory. Despite these challenging experiences, it was truly wonderful to see our Year 12s graduate having navigated these uncertain times in their schooling with perseverance. They have come out the other side stronger, with a greater understanding

and appreciation of the small things in life, and with their studies and cocurricular pursuits at the forefront of their ambitions.

2023 had a myriad of memorable moments that encapsulate the true spirit and essence of BBC: our Year 7s’ arrival in Secondary School, formals, Valedictory, the 7–11 Awards, drama productions, our Pipe Bands competing on the world stage in Nova Scotia and at other formal events, our music ensemble evenings, pool jumps, the electricity of Miskin throughout the GPS calendar, Prefect Camps, and the academic competitive pursuits across the College such as robotics, debating, maths olympiads, and chess to name a few. All of these events allow our community to come together and celebrate, cheer, and add to the cache of memorable moments in our 121-year history.

Our rejuvenated Prefect model and selection process showcased our students’ leadership potential. The responsibility for, love of, and service to

BBC shone through with all applicants, and I am thrilled with the initiatives they will achieve as a Prefect group in 2024.

The Prefect Camp (the first offsite for several years) was an opportunity for students to:

• Develop the group’s ability to work as a team

• Highlight the qualities and characteristics of strength-based and servant leadership

• Harness the creativity, personal strengths, and energy of student leaders

• Learn from each other and leaders within the College and collaboratively explore leadership styles

• Construct a direction for next year and contribute to the legacy of the College community

• Develop strategies to look after oneself physically and mentally.

Students engaged in a range of challenge-by-choice activities, ranging from outdoor adventures such as surfing, high ropes, standup paddle boarding, and goalsetting to team-building exercises, strengthening their relationships, and creating a sense of purpose and connection beyond the four walls of a classroom.

Our Prefects, Houses, and student leaders across the school conducted some brilliant student-led initiatives and services that made an incredible difference to those much less fortunate than ourselves, both near and far. Across programs and events like Movember, Coffee for Cambodia, Amnesty International, soup vans, refugee education programs, Christmas hampers, the College Campout, the Push-Up Challenge, and R U OK? Day, our leaders demonstrated a commitment to making a positive difference beyond school whilst raising much-needed awareness within the community. I would like to thank our portfolio leaders, Heads of Houses, and service leaders throughout the school for making such opportunities possible.

A highlight and pinnacle of the school year was the Year 12s’ graduation and the events that ensued, like the Guard of Honour, the Valedictory and Prize Giving, the pool jump, the final Chapel, the Gratitude Barbecue, and the Old Collegian presentations. As our graduating students bid farewell to BBC and their Secondary School journey, we celebrated their academic successes, their personal growth, and the legacies

they leave behind. The finale at Valedictory with our Pipe Band playing Highland Cathedral, our Year 12s performing Coldplay’s Viva la Vida, the Leaving Song, and the academic recognition of our students captured the spirit, belonging, and passion that the Green, White and Black represent to our community. These moments showed our student body’s incredible talents, affirming our school’s commitment to nurturing well-rounded Gentlemen of Honour.

As I look towards 2024, I am inspired by Principal Samantha Mitchell, who says, “In continuity lies our strength. The challenges of today shape the leaders of tomorrow.” Our school community can move forward collectively with a sense of solidarity, knowing that the challenges we have overcome have made us stronger. An exciting prospect for 2024 is the consolidation of our Tartan+ Wellbeing Model, a comprehensive wellbeing program designed to holistically support the development of each student. It leverages the support of experts throughout the school with a focus on equipping our students with the skills and tools they need to negotiate adversity in life. It builds the soft skills required to navigate a complex world with a refined focus on mental health, physical wellbeing, and academic support. This bespoke and developmentally appropriate program reflects our determination to create an environment where all students can thrive.

2023 was a year of challenges and triumphs, forming an unforgettable chapter in our rich history. From tragedies to outstanding

achievements in sports and academics, the year showed what a formidable force we are and what defines our school community. I eagerly await the opportunities and growth that 2024 will bring.

A brilliant career, Dr Og ilvie…

As the sun sets on a remarkable career spanning five decades, the Brisbane Boys’ College community bids a fond farewell to someone who began his tenure at our school at a time of great upheaval for Brisbane.

The summer of 1973/74 left the city reeling after a catastrophic flood, the likes of which had not been seen for generations. The school year began later than usual, in February, as it would many years later in 2022 under similar circumstances. As the academic year began, so did the distinguished career of a talented young cricketer.

After 50 years, a lengthy tenure unlikely to be matched, Dr Alan David Ogilvie or, with much endearment, ‘Doc’, leaves BBC to enjoy a well-deserved retirement.

David recalls his interview for the position with Mr Alf Birtles, BBC’s fourth Headmaster, in December 1973. “The process did not start well,” he explains. “I answered the phone at home, ‘Kelly’s Woodyard, Kelly speaking,’ followed by a clipped ‘Birtles here, Brisbane Boys’ College.’ The resulting interview of 15 minutes in the Headmaster’s office comprised 14 minutes focusing on the state of cricket in Queensland and, in the final minute, a very direct question: do you want the job?”

David recalls thinking, ‘So, this is when the interview proper starts,’ followed quickly by the careerdefining question, “Yes, or no?”

Having originally begun his esteemed teaching career at another school, David’s initial responsibilities at BBC included coordinating the

Senior Biology program, teaching Junior Science, and duties as a live-in Boarding Master. In time, and in response to David’s recognition of the need for greater diversity within senior schooling, he convinced the then-Headmaster to allow the introduction of a standalone Vocational Education and Training (VET) program in Years 11 and 12. The introduction and coordination of this VET program and the International Baccalaureate program led David away from the classroom towards student and parent advocacy and ultimately towards his current role as a counsellor.

The years from 1974 to 1980 were marked with absences of weeks at a time as David represented both Queensland and Australia as a cricketer. He played five Tests for Australia from 1977 to 1978, was the Sheffield Shield Player of the Year in 1977/78, and was awarded an Australian Sports Medal in 2000 in recognition of his Australian Test selection.

“The then newly-appointed Headmaster, Mr Graham Thomson, championed the efforts of a number of international sportsmen on staff during the 1970s,” David explains, “and it was his interest in our development that enabled us to continue to work full-time while also persisting with our chosen sporting interests. Whilst this, I suspect, was

a pragmatic decision on behalf of the school community, his genuine personal interest and the time given away from the classroom to pursue my cricket career were critical factors in my development, given that cricket at this level was only semi-professional and players had to supplement their income with full-time work. I am forever grateful to Graham for this support, although it has to be said that he gave equal time in assemblies to my batting failures as he did to my successes.”

Mr Matt McEwen, current Head of Boarding at Brisbane Boys’ College, fondly recalls being taught by David during his time as a BBC student. “In late January 1984, I first walked into my Year 8 Science room in McKenzie Wing,” Mr McEwen recalls. “Then it happened: ‘My name is Mr Ogilvie, and I will be your Science teacher this year’. David went on to help me understand important concepts like photosynthesis. He also had

It would be no surprise to most that David turned his hand to boating, woodworking, ‘throwing clay’, winemaking, Qigong, and leatherwork. Although not a rower in his early years, he became a masters rower at 58, winning bronze at the state level and competing at the World Masters Games in Sydney in 2009.

David was a true pioneer of his time when it came to teaching. His passion for ensuring the success of every boy ultimately led to the introduction of Vocational Education at BBC. David convinced the Headmaster to offer a curriculum that addressed the motivation for students who were keen to engage in work-related activities whilst still at school. David’s philanthropic nature and life experience saw him leave the classroom and begin full-time counselling in 1994, having completed his Master of Guidance and Counselling to better support all students. He ultimately became the school’s Senior Counsellor in 2003.

An integral member of the counselling team for over 30 years, David’s approach to counselling centres around creating a psychologically safe environment to provide support for parents, students, and staff, regularly acting

a dry sense of humour, which he still has today. David was a good teacher and role model, and we all admired his cricket skills. He was one of those teachers who we liked but also truly admired, and I am also blessed nearly 40 years later (as a teacher and Director of Boarding at BBC) that David still takes the time to help and guide me through the rollercoaster ride of educating young men here at the College. Thank you, David, for being a great mentor, teacher, counsellor, and friend.”

David’s passion for learning extends far beyond the classroom. Heralded as Brisbane Grammar School’s finest all-round sportsperson, David has coached sports over many years at BBC, including rugby at all levels, tennis, cricket, and athletics, also managing both cricket and athletics as Master in Charge.

As well as his involvement as a coach, David played rugby for

as a therapist, advocate, mediator, and motivator. He provides support for boys as they grieve, parents as they come to grips with life-changing circumstances, and young men and their families managing the effects of persistent low mood and anxiety.

Ms Hazel Raymond fondly remembers Tuesday afternoon counselling meetings, which ranged from presenting different theories on approach and practice to discussing whether or not the counselling space needed a coffee machine. “I think David spent as much time counselling us as he did the students,” she explained. “He’s a great listener; always kind, good-humoured and with a brilliant mind. We always benefited from his wisdom, whether it was about our studies, relationships, rules of games we cared nothing about, or his very own blueprint for Career Development. Many hours were well spent deciphering David’s ideas scribbled on sheets of A3 paper or reading his many articles on mental health, wellbeing, and global competencies. It was my favourite time of the week.”

David also taught regular Life and Belief lessons where he developed and delivered a mental health program to all Year 12 students,

Wests, Pennant tennis for The University of Queensland (UQ), Pennant golf, shot ‘down the line’ and skeet clay targets competitively at the Brisbane Gun Club, and played A-grade cricket for university.

helping them to better understand identity; the relationship between thoughts, feelings, and behaviour; the relationship between wellbeing and mental health; coping mechanisms; and identifying and appropriately addressing suicidal ideation.

Reflecting on the impact that David has had on the community, colleague and former Knox Housemaster Mr Paul McDonald shares that “David has helped countless numbers of BBC boys in his role. David’s levels of knowledge, maturity, and life experience have been key to his understanding of and empathy with schoolboys of varying ages. The boys whom David has counselled trust him implicitly. He is very observant and an active listener. David has very good communication skills and always provides useful strategies for boys to work on to improve their situation. He always follows up with boys with whom he has talked to make sure that they are making positive gains. In many cases, there is no doubt that David has made life-changing differences to boys he has counselled.”

Later in his career, David was awarded his PhD, making a valuable contribution to scholarly literature regarding education. David

worked with a group of students in their final year at the College and examined the extent to which they utilised personal reflexivity (internal conversation) to construct vocational identity.

In addition to this contribution, David was the first member of staff to sit on the school’s governing body in the 1980s, was awarded membership to the prestigious group of Honourary Old Collegians in 2015, and has been recognised as a member of Career Development

Association Australia for 36 years. David continues to guide students as they navigate their years of senior schooling and beyond.

David has served under seven Headmasters, welcoming a second and now a third generation of boys over his 50 years of service at BBC, many of them the children of his prior students. He is the first and most likely the last staff member ever to achieve such an honourable milestone. As he looks towards retirement, David is anticipating

travelling with his partner, continuing to research and learn, repurposing a lobster boat for recreational use, and visiting family to spend as much time with his beautiful granddaughter as possible.

Farewell to our esteemed colleague and steadfast companion, Dr David Ogilvie. It is the end of a remarkable career, and an enduring spirit of empathy and understanding will forever be associated with his name. We hope that retirement brings David the same comfort and fulfilment that he has bestowed upon others throughout his 50 years at BBC.

It has been a privilege and an honour to have you serve at Brisbane Boys’ College, and we humbly thank you for your extraordinary contribution. You have left us all with a remarkable legacy.

Ms Hazel Raymond

School Counsellor/Wellbeing Portfolio

Ms Roma Deo Careers Counsellor/VET Coordinator

I am unlikely to ever be able to properly address or express my gratitude to Brisbane Boys’ College for the time and energy that this institution invested in my development from my midadolescence in my early 20s through to my early 70s. These 50 years have seen me develop from my enigmatic, arrogant (a former Test Cricket Captain was very clear that a measurable amount of this characteristic was needed for success), and sometimes self-important, self-absorbed adolescent state into, well, a much older adult version of the same, but hopefully with the addition of more appropriate and vigorously utilitarian characteristics, unambiguously aligned with doing good, helping, and caring for others.

By the 1990s, after 20 years in the classroom, I was inspired to coordinate and implement the College’s VET program after I began to see an opening to offer greater subject variety and additional support for the students. At the time, BBC offered far fewer subjects than we are able to today. This meant

some students had to take electives that did not interest them in order to maintain their pathway to future tertiary entry. When students lack access to educational subjects that interest and engage them, they can become unmotivated and academically lethargic, collectively acting as a handbrake on the rest of the class. It wasn’t fair (not for them and not for their classmates), and I began to realise that solutions existed that would benefit both the students and the College. This realisation proved to be a catalyst for me to look for other options for these students and to move towards the very satisfying and intriguing role of student advocacy.

The development and coordination of a standalone VET program for these students, the amazing reciprocity of ideas and unwavering cooperation from grateful parents in the program and (now) motivated students, coordination of the school’s International Baccalaureate program, and enrolment at UQ in a Masters of Guidance and Counselling accelerated my move out of the classroom.

For the last 30 years, I have been honoured to listen to and work with people’s stories. It is profoundly humbling to be trusted with, oftentimes, very sensitive and deeply private information. I continue to be fascinated with three things, in particular, to do with people’s stories. Firstly, of all the stories that we could tell about ourselves, why do we choose the ones that we do? Secondly, from a therapeutic and solution-focused perspective, what are the themes that emerge from these stories? Finally, when (and if) these short stories are combined into a single autobiographical life story, to what extent do they reveal the meanings that individuals attach to themselves – their identities?

Education is wildly complex and byzantine, providing rich opportunities for study and research. I hope, in time, to find renewed energy and enthusiasm to pursue many unfinished topics that currently pique my professional curiosity.

Dr David Ogilvie Senior Counsellor

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CLASS OF 2023

ACADEMIC RESULTS SNAPSHOT

The persistence of every boy, the love of every parent and guardian, and the dedication of every teacher have been crucial in ensuring the success of the Class of 2023. The facts and figures on the next page are reflective of that monumental effort.

In addition to these phenomenal achievements, we are delighted to share that over a quarter of the cohort have received early acceptance into their preferred university courses. This is an outstanding outcome for these young men, and we look forward to seeing them joined by many of their classmates following these exceptional ATAR results.

Statistically, BBC alumni perform well above the norm at university. In an article published in the last issue of the Collegian, BBC’s Deputy Headmaster in charge of Academic Performance and Innovation, Dr Leigh Hobart, shared some information provided by The University of Queensland (UQ). In

2020, 92.9 percent of BBC graduates stayed with their original program during their commencement year at UQ, well above the average of 80.9 percent. Additionally, only 1.8 percent of BBC alumni changed programs, a number far better than the average of 8.6 percent.

Our graduates also statistically maintain much higher university Grade Point Averages (GPAs) than the norm. Our alumni averaged a 5.15 GPA in 2021, well above the overall average of 4.85. Dr Hobart wrote that, according to UQ, “this was very much the exception as compared with other state, Catholic, independent, and GPS schools.”

I am delighted to congratulate our graduating Year 12 students on their exceptional ATAR results this year. The BBC community is immensely proud of each and every one of them, and they should be equally proud of themselves. Their years of study and effort have paid off, and the results they have achieved set them up for a successful and

prosperous future. While these scores are hard-won, the Class of 2023 has achieved more than these final numbers can communicate. At BBC, we take pride in educating the whole boy and while academic results are important, they are but one of many ways to observe a young person’s development. Talent and accomplishment can be extended in many arenas, and our graduating Year 12s have taken that philosophy to heart. To ignore their activities outside of the classroom would be to obscure the scale of their efforts and the totality of their success, not only as students but as people. The Class of 2023 is comprised of well-rounded young men with a depth of talent and the wisdom to use it. It has been a privilege to call them our students, and I know they will make us proud as they take what they have learnt here and use it to thrive. Their future is very bright indeed.

Mr Andre Casson Headmaster

College Dux | Cielo Nicolosi

9 Perfect Study Scores

Physics

Music

English Design

53 BBC Graduates received early offers to Australian universities and TAFE institutions.

Junior School Interhouse Events

Each year, the Junior School comes alive with a collection of unique offerings in the battle for the Martens’ Shield. Our Interhouse Competition encompasses a range of activities from the sporting field to the academic and performance arenas. It also provides the boys with experiences to enhance their Junior School years through the creation of lasting memories.

The year started with Knights striding to the front of the leaderboard, taking the win in the Cross Country, War Cry, Choral, and Track and Field Competitions. The other Houses banded together and planned strategies to come out on top in the events that followed. What looked like it was going to be a runaway year for Knights became a closely fought competition.

Term 4 rounded things out with the Chess, Cricket, and Swimming Competitions. Each of these events saw the top points go to another House and kept the competition alive.

During the Awards Ceremony held at the end of the year, the overall House champions were announced and awarded the Martens’ Shield. Despite the tireless efforts of the other Houses, the early frontrunners were not to be stopped. Congratulations went to Knights for taking out the award after a hotly contested year of competition.

Each of the four Junior School Houses was led by an exceptional group of young leaders.

Congratulations to all of the Junior School House Captains for their commitment to their role and the promotion of House spirit and participation. It is through their leadership that we had a successful year in the Interhouse Competition. Well done to Tom Coleman (Year 6) and Jordan McEwen (Year 6) for their motivational leadership of Knights to take out the Shield at the end of the year.

We would like to thank the staff for their dedication to the Interhouse Competition. Each contest listed above is organised by staff who give their own time to plan and execute such an array of offerings. The events are designed with such passion that the boys cannot help but be excited.

We look forward to the 2024 Interhouse Competition and watching the Junior School boys embrace the opportunity to come together as a House group to try to take out the Martens’ Shield.

Mrs Summa Todd Head of Junior School

Event Winner

Cross Country Knights

Choral Knights

Writing Crusaders

Chess Crusaders

Track & Field Knights

Tennis Vikings

FootballCrusadersKnights

Gymnastics Gladiators

Public Speaking Knights

Mathematics Crusaders

Basketball Gladiators

Rugby Vikings

Swimming Crusaders

War Cry Knights

Cricket Gladiators

Collegian Knights

FROM JAMES ALEXANDER’S FAREWELL ADDRESS TO THE CLASS OF 2023

Good evening, Mr Casson, staff, parents, and gentlemen of the College.

It is an impossible task, I feel tonight, to put into words our journey as Collegians – as the graduates of 2023. How does one do justice to a journey that has spanned and shaped the majority of our lives? A journey that has been defined by mateship and brotherhood. A journey made up of thousands of individual moments and memories that, collectively, we will cherish forever. Perhaps it is something only those of us lucky enough to have been on that journey together will ever truly understand.

You see, it doesn’t matter when your journey with us began – whether you came through the Junior School or whether you were a wide-eyed Year 7 setting off on camp on day one. What matters is that now, sitting here tonight at the end of that journey, you have felt part of it.

Part of an extraordinary journey shared by a cohort of 240 brothers.

Boys, this journey would have been nothing without every single one of you. You each have different strengths and talents, and every one of you has made your own

unique contribution to the Green, White, and Black. And together as a cohort, we are leaving an indelible mark on the College.

This year alone, we have watched our rowers secure a three-peat. We’ve seen the tennis boys bring the premiership back home. Our pipers and robotics team have excelled on the world stage. We have brought record crowds to water polo and cheered on our debaters. We’ve helped each other through the loss of Mr Bell and faced our external exams together.

For years and years, we have waved our boaters and cheered until our throats grew hoarse. We have celebrated the highest of highs and weathered the lowest of lows.

And I hope, like me, you’ve had the time of your life.

Because boys, this journey we’ve been on has changed our lives forever. We’ve faced challenges and overcome them. We’ve built relationships that will last forever. We’ve grown from boys to men. And we’ve done it together.

Of course, on this journey, we have not travelled alone. While we, the boys, may be brothers, there are so many of you that helped make us a family.

To all our teachers, coaches, and the staff of BBC: thank you on behalf of the boys for your tireless efforts and your endless support along our journey. In particular, thanks to our Year Team Leaders, Ms Karydis, Mr Bates, and Mr Clutton, for getting us to the finish line.

To our Headmaster, Mr Casson: your energy and enthusiasm for BBC are awe-inspiring. And on a personal note, your support and guidance on my journey this year have meant the world to me.

To all the parents: thank you for all the hours you have dedicated to making our

collective journey what it was. For all the days in the canteens and on the sidelines cheering, for all the raffles and the barbeques, the boys will always be grateful. You have made our College a home.

To my own family: I can’t thank you enough for supporting me, caring for me, and giving me the opportunity to go to this amazing school.

To two Collegians who have shared a special part of my journey, our ViceCaptains Fergus Mills and Angus Seeto: thank you for always having my back this year. I will forever have yours. You are both true Gentlemen of Honour.

And now, boys, after all the years of our journey together, it is an indescribable feeling we share now. The feeling that the journey has ended. For me, there are feelings of deep sadness – that I will never again have a Saturday where I can proudly pull on the Green, White, and Black and run onto Miskin. There are feelings of regret – that I never made a hundred on Oakman or that perhaps I could have studied more in Chemistry. But the main feeling I have at the end of our journey is excitement.

I am excited for the future, and all it offers. For I know each of you will approach the next stage of your lives with the same commitment and passion that you gave to BBC. Remember, boys, that although we are leaving the College, the College will never leave us. No matter where we find ourselves or what lies ahead, we will always be brothers.

It has been my greatest honour to serve as your College Captain this year and to walk side by side with all of you on this remarkable journey.

Congratulations, boys. Even though this part of our journey has ended, our hearts will forever be Green, White, and Black. And remember always, and for the rest of your days, I am… you are… we are… Collegians.

Year 12s' Last Day

My last day at BBC was full of emotion. Having spent 13 years at the school, leaving the gates of Kensington Terrace for the last time was something that, for so long, was hard to imagine. One of my earliest memories at BBC is eagerly watching the 2011 graduating class storm down the poolside steps (College Hall was getting built) and charge into the pool. The cries of joy

NICHOLAS GOFFAGE | CLASS OF 2023

and roars of the College War Cries echoed throughout the school and all the way to our Prep Centre next to P&F Oval.

In my early years in the Junior School and prior to the Middle School Precinct being completed, our classrooms always had a partial view of the pool. Each year, on Year 12 pool jump day, we would always gather around the windows or on the balconies to watch in excitement and observe the fascinating dives the seniors would do. As any young Junior School student understands, this was a day we all envied and wished would come sooner. However, as the years passed, we would all come to appreciate the moment more, as leaving the Junior School and starting our second chapter of BBC life was coming sooner than expected. So when the day came, the mere thought of celebrating in the pool was surreal.

Meeting in the morning outside College Hall, it was incredible to see our Prep teacher, Mr Maurice Awhy, join us for our special day. Preceding the assembly and presentation in College Hall, we made our way through the Guard of Honour, starting at the old Prep Centre. As we retraced our paths through the school, it was incredible to see the faces of old teachers who helped make this journey possible. Making our way to the chapel and then down into the pool, it was difficult for the moment to sink in. However, the joy and our last renditions of the College War Cry in the pool will be with me for life. Saying goodbye to my home of 13 years is difficult; however, the lessons I have learnt and the BBC values instilled into me since I was five will keep me grounded and ready to thrive in the future.

Year 6 Graduation

MRS SUMMA TODD | HEAD OF JUNIOR SCHOOL

Each year, we farewell a cohort of Year 6 boys from the Junior School as they make the journey up the stairs to the Secondary School. 2023 was no exception, and on Wednesday, 29 November, families were invited to join in the celebration.

Year 6 student Hursh Menon was announced during the ceremony as the 2023 Junior School Dux. Hursh excelled academically while representing the College and participating in a wide range of co-curricular programs. A notable mention was also made of his achievement in Mathematics, receiving the Year 7 Mathematics Prize.

A special Graduation Ceremony followed our 2023 Junior School Awards, where the Year 6s were celebrated for a successful year as leaders of the Junior School. Each boy received his graduation portfolio and was welcomed into the next stage of their BBC journey by Ms Amelia Apogremiotis, Acting Head of Middle School.

Each of the Year 6 boys leaves the Junior School with a bucketful of memories and a copy of the Dr Seuss classic, Oh, The Places You’ll Go! This story encourages them to take all that they have learnt in their journey and go out into the world to do something great. Or, in the words of Dr Seuss, “You’re off to great places! Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting, so get on your way!” Thank you to the Junior School Support Group for providing this gift for the boys.

We concluded the afternoon with a Guard of Honour, leading the

Year 6 students from the Junior School stairs for the last time to be welcomed by the gentlemen of the Middle School. They were received into the Middle School precinct with open arms and passionate War Cries. The 2024 Prefects and Years 7 to 10 boys came out to demonstrate the brotherhood that exists to support each other as they navigate change.

The celebrations continued the following day with their end-of-year celebration at Wet’n’Wild. This was an opportunity for the boys to spend time together and thank each other for their support over their years in the Junior School. It was also time for the Year 6 teachers and support staff to have some fun with the boys on their last day.

As we farewell these young gentlemen from the Junior School, we will watch their progress through the College with immense pride, cherishing the shared memories and milestones that have defined this chapter of their lives. Congratulations to the Year 6 Class of 2023 for reaching this milestone.

2024 Student Leaders

Limits, like fears, are often just an illusion.

Michael Jordan

In Shravanth’s College Captain Speech, he heralded that in 2024, we will strive to push our brothers beyond perceived limits and realise the true potential that lies within us, a potential that is only fully realised together as a brotherhood. The Prefects’ vision for 2024 is split into four aspects: Gentlemen of Honour, College Spirit, Sense of Belonging, and Leadership. This vision is aimed at improving our College in all areas through innovation and teamwork. We are well underway with our plans for 2024 and look forward to working with the BBC community.

Following the appointment of our new Deputy Headmaster, Mr Murphy, it was time for a change in the Prefect selection process. A more thorough and well-thought-out process was created with multiple stages. This included a two-minute speech, a CV-like application, and a teacher endorsement, along with voting from Years 10 and 11. There

was also a cut in Prefect numbers, resulting in only 29 available positions instead of the last year’s 55 positions: 18 College Prefects and 11 House Prefects. Six candidates for College Captain were then chosen from the 29 Prefects. They prepared a three- to four-minute speech for the position, which was presented at the Middle and Senior School assemblies, followed by a vote from all teachers and students in Years 7 to 12. The final step for the College Captain candidates was an interview with the Headmaster and Deputy Headmasters.

Inevitably, cutting the Prefect body by almost half led to boys missing out. In light of this, we Prefects have given strong encouragement to the wider cohort that we lead together. Yes, there are the Prefects with their roles; however, the white shirt that unites us as seniors shows that we all have a role to play. There is strength in numbers, and the image we portray does set the tone and standard for all our brothers. Furthermore, along with being role models day to day, we call upon all seniors to support their activities and find their own ways to lead and give back in 2024.

Shravanth Reddy, Hugh McNaught,

and Ashton Trevor-Roberts

2024 College Captains

From the 2024 College Captain

FROM SHRAVANTH REDDY'S INDUCTION SPEECH

In the words of Michael Jordan, limits, like fear, are often an illusion.

Let me say that again. Limits, like fear, are often an illusion. We are all endowed with boundless potential, waiting to be uncovered, waiting to be set free. Yet, it is human nature to be hesitant, to be cautious, to believe in the limits that society and even our own minds impose upon us.

But today, as I stand before you as your College Captain for 2024, I encourage you to question those limits. To challenge your potential. To dare and dream bigger than ever before. Think about the great

visionaries and legends throughout history. Think about any underdog story and think about your own successes in the past. To me, it’s simple: if you don’t believe in it, it will not happen.

If our rowers did not BELIEVE in themselves, our three-year winning streak would not be a reality. If Seth Mahony did not BELIEVE in his abilities during a gruelling race at Limestone, he would not be a GPS champion. Against Toowoomba, if Emerson Juhasz did not BELIEVE in his plan, the comeback would remain a dream. If Jack and Frank Howarth did not BELIEVE in their teams, their outstanding performances on Miskin would not be possible. If Ryan Atley

and Oscar White did not believe in themselves, they could not have gotten the College home on Oakman last year. And if we do not BELIEVE that we can exceed all limits and venture beyond what we think is possible, it will not happen.

Boys, each one of them conquered their goals and transcended their limits to achieve greatness. Because limits, like fear, are often only an illusion.

As a College, next year, the only limit will be the one we set. Together, as a community, as a collective force for change, we have the power to transcend the boundaries that hold us back. We have the power to infuse passion and energy into the crest we wear proudly each day. The power to form a community like no other. Picture the triumphant flutter of the Green, White, and Black while our War Cry echoes not only on Miskin but wherever our journey takes us. Around our campus, we will support and back our brothers and respect our teachers – embodying

the very essence of a BBC Collegian. As the weekend arrives, we will battle fearlessly, giving our all until the final buzzer. And at the same time, we will hold the highest regard for our opponents and show sportsmanship at all times. In both triumph and defeat, we shall maintain our humility and embrace hope, anchoring our teams in strong values and a bond of brotherhood. And we shall do so because it is the BBC way. We shall do so because we are Gentlemen of Honour.

Now, I would like to take a moment to thank the BBC community for bestowing me with this amazing opportunity. I am truly honoured and grateful, and I cannot wait to work with each and every one of you. To my parents, thank you for everything that you have done – I would not be the person I am today without you. To my grandparents and family here and watching from India, thank you for your continued support. And lastly, to my sister, thanks for always inspiring me to do better.

To our Prefect body, as we embark on this shared journey, we must be reminded that “No single person leads our great College in isolation.

Our success is driven through collective effort.” To achieve our goals, including the ones that may seem big to start off with, we must work together, shoulder to shoulder with our brothers, through both the ups and downs. In 2024, we will continue to rise. We will always strive to improve. And together, we will exemplify what it means to be a BBC Collegian.

Boys, if you feel the same energy that I do, if you feel the same urgency that I do, if you feel the same passion and hopefulness that I do, and if we do what we must do, then I have no doubt that all across our College, from rugby and cricket to debating and academics to support to brotherhood, we will transcend all limits along our journey. Because, in the words of Michael Jordan, limits are only an illusion.

Grandparents' Day

Gentlemen of Inspiration

HELEN JACKSON | ARCHIVIST

An evening of heartwarming affirmation was felt on Thursday, 5 October 2023, when the Hall of Inspiration was opened in the Middle School. The Hall contains 108 permanent window panels depicting the images and biographies of BBC Old Boys. The subjects of these panels, their families and friends, and other members of the BBC community mingled, met, connected, and, in numerous cases, reconnected as they inspected these legacies displayed over three floors.

A fledgling idea of choosing 12 Old Boys for research during Activities Week in Term 3, 2019, evolved exponentially, first into a celebration of the centenary of the Old Collegians’ Association and then into an ongoing project to honour the Old Boys who have represented the BBC values and traditions long after they graduated from our campus. Our remarkable alumni have inspired,

led, helped, followed, created new directions, and pioneered paths forward. These men are proud Old Collegians and serve to inspire our current students.

From their humble beginnings as small black and white JPEGs printed in the two 2020 editions of the Collegian, the designs of these panels have been enhanced by Mr Arnold Chan, Graphic Designer, to pristine quality to adorn the Middle School walls. Mr Lawson Kiehne has completed a remarkable assignment as Editor in verifying, clarifying, and consolidating biographical details.

As this is an ongoing project, please contact communications@ bbc.qld.edu.au if you would like to recommend an inspirational Old Collegian for future inclusion.

The support of Mr Peter Roe (OC 1966) and Mr Dereke Seeto (OC 1991) and the trust and belief of the

Headmaster, Mr Andre Casson, have contributed to making the Hall of Inspiration a reality.

EDITOR'S NOTE

The College would also like to express its sincere gratitude for the work of Helen, herself. This project would not have been possible without her indomitable efforts and steadfast dedication.

Have Your Say on Our Greatest of All Time

At Brisbane Boys’ College, we have a proud history of producing Gentlemen of Honour. Our Old Collegians include uncountable numbers of men who have made a profound impact on the world around them. Among them stand war heroes, titans of industry, dedicated philanthropists, entertainment superstars, and sporting legends.

OUR BBC COMMUNITY IS TRULY THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME

To celebrate the incredible individuals who have been educated at BBC, we are hosting the inaugural BBC Greatest of All Time (GOAT) Ball on Saturday, 18 May 2024

The event will celebrate the many thousands of BBC graduates and will award top honours to a select few whom our community deem to be the greatest of all time in a variety of categories.

As an Old Collegian, parent, grandparent, guardian, friend of the College, or current student, we’re inviting you to help us choose the recipients to claim the greatest of alltime titles. Nominations are now open for all members of our community to select who they believe are the very best in their field.

You are invited to submit your nomination for any of the following categories. Perhaps you’ve been through these hallowed halls yourself.

Maybe you sent your son or grandson here to be educated. Either way, you know better than anyone the profound impact that our Collegians, both past and present, have on those around them.

Help us honour the best of the best by nominating an Old Collegian* for one of the awards below.

GENTLEMAN OF HONOUR

This person is an all-rounder. He is someone who has achieved highly in his chosen field and has made a profound difference in the community. A Gentleman of Honour is someone who acts with integrity and always chooses the right decision over the easy one.

He is someone who embodies the BBC values of honour, community, wisdom, aspiration, and achievement. It’s likely his name is on the tip of your tongue if someone were to ask you, “Who do you think of when asked to think of the quintessential BBC alumni?”

BBC SPORTING LEGEND

While many great sportsmen have graduated from BBC, this Old Collegian will either be or have been a professional or semi-professional in their chosen sport. More than that, the greatest of all time will act with honour both on and off the field and is just as likely to have won ‘best and fairest’ as

How to Nominate

Nominations for the Greatest of All Time Awards are now open until Friday, 12 April 2024.

Please nominate by visiting

https://bit.ly/Nominate-BBC-GOAT-Ball-2024

he is to have broken records or won gold medals.

BBC ARTS AND HUMANITIES LEGEND

You might remember this person as the creative one while at school. Since graduating, they’ve entered the world of creative industries. Perhaps they were the lead architect for a team that designed a building that won awards for its environmental sustainability. Maybe they were the lead in a production at QPAC. Then again, they might have written a best-selling novel or worked on a Hollywood blockbuster.

GREATEST BBC TEACHER

This teacher is the one that you will always remember. They are the teacher you credit for your early successes or for igniting your passion for your future career or favourite hobby. They’re the one who helped you feel ‘seen’. They listened to you and went that extra mile to ensure you understood complex information in class. They set you up for success, and you would appreciate the opportunity to tell them how grateful you are.

For further enquiries, please contact Ms Morgan Winlaw, Foundation and Events Partner, on (02) 3309 3572 or email events@bbc.qld.edu.au. We look forward to celebrating our remarkable alumni with you at the Ball.

PURCHASE A TICKET

Tickets are now available for purchase until Thursday, 9 May 2024.

Please purchase by visiting

https://bit.ly/GOAT-Ball-2024

*Gentleman of Honour, BBC Sporting Legend, and BBC Arts and Humanities Legend awards are only open to Old Collegians. Greatest BBC Teacher is open to any teacher, male or female, past or present, who has taught at BBC; they do not need to be an Old Collegian. These awards can be awarded posthumously. We look forward to celebrating the recipients of each of these awards with you on the night.

Thank you to our community partners

Father's Day BREAKFAST

BBC ArtS

Art Show 2023

The 2023 Art Show was titled Feast Your Eyes and presented the audience with a broad range of works in many different genres but had, at its centre, the ‘long table’ of ceramic food items. Art is so much about personal expression, and that was obvious when observing the very realistic sushi plates or toasties with melted cheese that looked good enough to eat.

The Art Show displays works from every Art student from Prep to Year 12, as well as pieces from the cocurricular Art Club. The boys worked so hard through the year to produce works that fit the dual purpose of being assessment items but, more importantly, being

expressions of themselves. This gave the show such a special feel as the works helped the boys creatively communicate with people around them and allowed the audience a glimpse into what makes them tick. As such, there were works that conveyed humour and joy alongside

pieces that were moving and provocative, just as art should be.

The show is also where our senior students present pieces they submit for ATAR assessment, and there were some very professional artworks on display. It is difficult to mention just one item, but it was hard to miss the large painting of a bushfire scene by Ashton Trevor-Roberts (Year 11), which was a snapshot of a family holiday interrupted by the devastation and fear of this, sadly, all too common Australian danger. As with all good art, this painting challenged onlookers to feel the fear and adrenaline that the family must have felt but also to think more broadly about our country and the things that make it what it is, as well as how we treat it and look after it.

The Feast wasn’t just for the eyes, though, with tactile ‘feely boxes’, three-dimensional sculptures, geometric patterns, kaleidoscopes, and some incredibly life-like drawings of nature, to name a few. If you were inspired to be a little arty yourself, there were also opportunities to draw, colour, and speak to the artists while they made their own works. It was a

thoroughly interactive and engaging event!

While every piece was unique in some way, the Year 10 Art students displayed the fruits of their labours in a special segment called iPresent The boys spent time in the Bisset Gallery earlier this year and chose a piece to be the stimulus for a series of their own works. At the show itself, these boys had their works hung in the Gallery next to their stimulus and were on hand to speak with visitors about what inspired them, how they interpreted the stimulus work, and what their thought processes were in creating their own pieces. In addition, the boys’ works were presented in a catalogue that was sold during the show and contained photos of their works and a brief artist’s statement. This project gave the boys a glimpse of how professional works might be showcased and hopefully inspired them to continue with their art-making, either as a career or as a meaningful hobby, for the rest of their lives.

An event such as this cannot take place without the hard work of many people. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the students

who worked hard during the year to create works for the presentation, as well as the Art staff, Ms Nicole Scott, Ms Sarah Cattoni, Ms Laurine Field, and Ms Mel Mons Wolff and our Art Aides, Mrs Paula Keys, Mrs Kerry Brown, and Mrs Sasha Griggs. In addition, thanks must go to the volunteers and support staff, as well as Foundation and College staff more broadly, for their assistance. Furthermore, I thank the boys and staff from the Music Department for providing performances prior to and during the show. Finally, I would like to thank the hard-working group of parents who not only worked in the lead-up but also during the course of the show. This group is forming an Art Support Group for 2024, which will continue to support the Art program at BBC and, most importantly, the students whose works we love to view.

Once again, thank you to everyone involved in the Art Show and in the Art program at BBC.

Mr Stuart Quill Head of the Arts

The 2023 Darren Middleton Songwriting Competition

In 2017, following the success of the Rock Band program and Indie Rock Concerts, the Music Department decided to approach Mr Darren Middleton (OC 1988) to see if he would help us start a songwriting competition in his honour: the Darren Middleton Songwriting Competition (DMSC). The purpose of this competition was to give BBC students the opportunity to further their skills as songwriters. The competition would require Rock Bands to write their own song and perform it to a live audience, receiving feedback from Mr Middleton. The competition winners would then be given the opportunity to record their song to an industry standard.

Having graduated from BBC in 1988, Mr Middleton has had a stellar career as a member of the celebrated Australian band Powderfinger. His experience and knowledge of the rock music industry have provided our students with a wonderful opportunity.

“I never would have imagined that I would be back at my old school, seeing how much development and support has gone into the music program,” Mr Middleton said at the time. “I’m totally honoured to be able to help out in some small way. No matter what path the students choose in life... having this music experience... the writing, the recording, the performance in front of friends and family, will always be helpful and, hopefully, a proud moment for each of them.”

The Rock Band program continued to grow from its early days under the guidance of Mr Dan Pratt, followed by Mr Steve Williamson in 2020, and Mr Tyler Cooney and Mr Paul Ballam-Cross in 2023. Our staff have empowered our students, teaching many new skills and imparting knowledge from their experience in the industry.

In 2018, with the help of past student and later parent Mr Harry White (OC 1990), the DMSC received a very generous prize donation from Hutchinson Builders. This prize went a long way towards helping with the costs of recording and producing the winning song. BBC Music is very grateful to Hutchinson Builders for their support of this important event over a number of years.

The 2023 DMSC was held in College Hall on Tuesday, 8 August. As a lead-up to the event, our students had the opportunity to perform their new songs at the Indie Rock Concert at the end of Term 2. We were excited to have eight bands make it through to the DMSC Final. Following the performances, Mr Middleton awarded the 2023 prize to the threepiece band None the Wiser for their song Little Things. We congratulate None the Wiser for their performance and composition.

A huge thank you to Mr Darren Middleton, Mr Harry White, Hutchinson Builders, Mr Dan Helmstedt, the College Executive, and the families involved in the Music Support Group (Rock Bands) for making this event possible.

Mr Middleton’s observation captures the essence of the impact music has on each of our lives: “Music is a bridge between our lives; it connects us, shares our stories, and transports us to another world.”

Mr Theo Kotzas Head of Performance Music

BBC Music Grand Concert

BBC SportS

From the Head of Co-Curriculum

MR MARK PAVONE

BBC has again performed exceptionally well within the GPS Competition in 2023, securing a commendable fourth position across various statistics in this highly competitive contest. The fourth position overall is a testament to the relentless dedication, hard work, passion, and support from boys, parents, coaches, staff, and our wider community. What makes this accomplishment even more satisfying is that, despite our overall school population size being smaller than the majority of GPS schools, we continue to make remarkable strides across various metrics.

Comparing GPS Official Competition results, BBC finished with a winning percentage of 57.3 percent. This result is calculated based on the number of wins/matches played across our Premiership Sports –basketball (First V), chess (Premier Team), cricket (First XI), debating (Senior A), rowing (First VIII), volleyball (First VI), tennis (First IV), rugby (First XV), and football (First XI) – as well as the results for championship sports, calculated based on the number of points achieved out of points available – swimming (13-Opens), cross country (13-Opens), track and field (13-Opens), and the rowing Old Boys’ Cup (Year 10 Sixth Quad to First VIII).

While the GPS Competition is important, BBC also ascended to fourth position across a range of other statistics, using similar calculations. Our Year 5s to 12s

(10s to Opens) across all year groups and teams achieved a winning percentage of 52.8 percent. Similarly, when calculating our Secondary School results from Years 7 to 12 (13s to Opens) across all year groups and teams, we achieved a winning percentage of 52.2 percent.

BBC contested the year with 269 teams across all premiership and championship activities, amounting to a combined total of 2,926 boys across all sports and activities. 133 academic staff members were involved in the GPS Competition, collaborating very closely with 318 casual staff.

The College’s overall GPS results signify continually improving outcomes within an exceptionally competitive schoolboy environment, showcasing our boys’ wonderful

collective capabilities and talents. We gladly reaffirm our commitment to fostering a well-rounded educational environment that nurtures personal growth and skill development. Our BBC community should be extraordinarily proud to celebrate the boys’ accomplishments as they are a testament to their unwavering pursuit of excellence and continuous improvement.

BOYS' COLLEGE

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BBC Insight

A New Set of Tools

Change provides opportunities to rethink and innovate. Excellent educators embrace the chance to learn and grow as part of this process. By setting an example, we can guide young people on a journey that is dynamic and healthy.

In the ever-evolving landscape of education, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) has arrived as a transformational power, offering both engaging opportunities and unique challenges. For educators committed to fostering student success, embracing change is not just a necessity but an exciting journey toward redefining the educational experience.

AI has extraordinary potential to personalise learning experiences for students. Algorithms can analyse individual student data, learning styles, and progress and allow the teacher to personalise their approach, giving them greater opportunities to address the diverse needs of learners more effectively. At the College, we have been operating

with various AI platforms over the past years to assist students in developing a variety of foundational skills. These platforms have included ways for students to engage with mathematics problems, scientific knowledge, and the basics of the English language. This has allowed students to engage with relevant learning while providing instant

feedback regarding progress. Students can be tracked, and modifications can be made to ensure the learning is bespoke. AI serves as a dynamic and responsive platform to enable the effective tailoring of learning to suit each student.

From a teaching perspective, another advantage of AI has

been its use to improve workflow efficiency outside of the classroom. This frees up valuable time, which allows educators more of an opportunity to craft innovative learning experiences, utilising essential human skills to balance the complexity of the classroom and individual student requirements.

Head of English, Mr Max Forbes, has recently published an academic article discussing BBC’s use of a customised chatbot to give feedback to students about their essays on William Shakespeare’s classic play Macbeth. Students have engaged with this extensively and have been very positive in their responses. They have been provided very specific feedback by the chatbot, within the bounds of academic integrity, to ensure their knowledge and skills are developed to create their best work.

As technology evolves, so do the possibilities for creative and interactive learning experiences. Virtual reality, AI-driven simulations, and AI image generators have the potential to add flair to the learning experience, transporting students to historical events or imaginative spaces and enhancing their understanding of complex subjects. During a recent English lesson, where we used image generators to illustrate students’ creative writing, the boys were astounded that their

imaginative settings and characters were appearing before their eyes.

“It is just like it was in my head!” was one student’s gleeful response to seeing the pirate monkeys from his writing piece presented in a colourful, comic-like image. By embracing these technologies, educators make learning more engaging and memorable.

With any exciting change, there are often hurdles to overcome. Privacy, data security, algorithmic bias, and academic integrity are challenges to grapple with for educators. Ensuring that assessments are authentic and well-structured to support learning and learner progress assists, but these challenges take constant vigilance and ongoing learning to address. To successfully navigate the impacts of AI on education, educators must embrace lifelong learning, as they should with all challenges. With a commitment to professional learning, staying abreast of emerging technologies, and understanding how to integrate these into our curriculum, embracing what is new allows us the chance to grow and guide our students into a dynamic and ethical future. While AI is a powerful tool that we need to harness to equip students with the skills they need to thrive in a rapidly changing world, it is not a replacement for educators.

Collaboration and team alignment become essential components of this journey. Establishing teacher networks and engaging with technology experts and industry professionals fosters an environment of shared knowledge and support. Fortunately, we have a terrific team of educators who have embraced this collaborative opportunity and have been regularly meeting to investigate the latest developments and how this impacts our students. Together, they are navigating the challenges and celebrating the successes of integrating AI into our educational framework.

AI can be a powerful tool to engage students and enhance the learning experience. At Brisbane Boys’ College, we are committed to continuing to learn about the transformative opportunities of AI and harnessing its potential to create a dynamic and adaptive educational environment that prepares students for extraordinary futures.

Dr Leigh Hobart Deputy Headmaster – Academic Performance and Innovation P-12

Men’s Health and Wellbeing

Men’s health is an essential component of wellbeing; however, it sometimes takes a ‘backseat’ due to limited resourcing, stigma, misunderstanding, or religious and cultural sensitivity. It seems selfevident that our young men should understand and prioritise all aspects of their health (mental, occupational, academic, economic, cultural, spiritual, social, and physical) and that early intervention is critical. Beyond Blue, one of Australia’s leading mental health and wellbeing support organisations, reveals concerning statistics about men:

“On average, one in eight men will experience depression, and one in five men will experience anxiety at some stage of their lives. The number of men who die by suicide in Australia every year is nearly double the national road toll.” Furthermore, men’s physical health is particularly vulnerable to cardiovascular disease and prostate cancer. These statistics highlight the need to prioritise men’s health.

As a school community, we are endeavouring to do just that through early intervention, including universal and targeted programs and integration into the curriculum. Our program promotes the value of healthy lifestyles, what to do and where to go when feeling different, and the benefits of exercise. It furthermore helps develop an understanding that the choices we make impact quality of life and provides the opportunity to break down any stigma associated with having ‘healthy’ conversations.

Professor Sharon O’Neill, a leading

men’s health expert, emphasises and reinforces BBC’s perspective that “early intervention acts as a preventive shield for men’s health. By imparting essential knowledge to young Australians, we empower them to actively manage their wellbeing, making informed decisions that can positively shape their health trajectory throughout life.”

As a school community, we continue to make significant inroads to normalise ‘healthy’ language through great initiatives like R U OK? Day, Mission Australia’s Youth Mental Health Survey, and Beyond Blue, alongside partnerships with Old Collegians, active counselling, and conversations in Mentor Groups, to champion men’s health. By encouraging our students to prioritise their health from an early age, raising awareness, and developing a culture of proactivity, we will continue to support the needs of all students. Ultimately, this work can even save lives.

Our programs are an investment in the future. We continue to equip our young men with the knowledge, tools, and skill set to navigate life’s challenges and prepare them with the knowledge and tools they need to ensure healthy, satisfying lives. It is time to transform the narrative and culture surrounding this topic into one where men’s health is valued from an early age.

Men’S MenTal healTh

Adults and young people alike manage their mental health and wellbeing daily (all day, every day, 24/7 – yes, even when we are asleep). Both of these are, for the most part, psychological and subjective adherences. Our real-time perception of both these adherences is the result of a quite sophisticated juggling and balancing act. This realisation leads us to appreciate that being mentally healthy and well is a feature of each individual’s ability to effectively understand and process new information and manage perceptions about past experiences.

Our mental health can be most easily understood and assessed, therefore, according to our ability to cope with a lot of new and historical information. Happily, most coping is done intuitively, automatically, successfully, and very quickly – we are not even aware it is happening. We are most challenged when our ability to cope becomes a

conscious and relatively slow cognitive exercise (for a number of reasons). This somewhat ponderous consciousness exposes us to the possibility of anxious rumination and tests our personal toolbox of coping strategies, including our resilience, ability to be self-aware, and ability to self-soothe. Sometimes, we need help to learn about and practice coping skills, and it is at these times that we all need ‘to look up and around’ to seek help. Regular checking for coping is very important and easily done.

Our mental health, in turn, influences our ongoing attempts to be welladjusted, content, productive, and contributive; that is, it influences our wellbeing. Mental health, therefore, is a domain of major influence over our wellbeing but needs to be understood as separate from but correlated with it. Mental health and wellbeing are often (wrongly) conflated into the single term ‘mental wellbeing’.

Of significance is Mission Australia’s recent Youth Survey (2023) infographic (see top right), in which mental health is identified as the second most important challenge identified by young people between 15 and 19 years of age.

ProMoTing MenTal healTh

In response to the survey, Year 9 students connected with the concept of mental health first aid in their Activities Week at the end of Term 3 this year. The purpose of mental health first aid training is to equip individuals with the knowledge and confidence to recognise a mental health problem and to provide some immediate and targeted support. The session was built on the understanding that individual students have a responsibility to themselves and those close to them regarding managing their mental health. It included information about ways to manage stress and anxiety and the importance of sleep for young people.

Raising awareness of mental health was further supported by the Wellbeing Prefects through the process of enrolling Brisbane Boys’ College in the 2023 PushUp Challenge. For the period of one month, students were given information to consider relating to mental health and a specific number of push-ups to complete throughout the day. It was a successful and engaging way to encourage better health and wellbeing through connection, physical activity, and education.

Additionally, the Prefects determined that R U OK? Day was an important day to recognise men’s health. Students were permitted to wear a yellow wristband on R U OK? Day for a gold coin donation, which was presented to Headspace. The focus for the day was, ‘I’m here to hear’. Students were encouraged to genuinely check in with their friends, an exercise that fostered active listening.

The school also promoted positive mental health and wellbeing among staff, highlighting mental health as a universal human right. To heed the World Health Organisation’s theme of ‘Awareness, Belonging, and Connection’ in World Mental Health Week in October, staff were encouraged to wear green, share morning tea with their colleagues, and show their support for mental health by making a thumbprint on a mental health tree which is displayed in the Senior Counsellor’s office.

Mr Scott Murphy

Deputy Headmaster – Student Wellbeing P-12

Dr David Ogilvie Senior Counsellor

Ms Hazel Raymond School Counsellor / Wellbeing Portfolio

Boys' Pedagogy

MR SEAN RIORDAN | HEAD OF PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE AND PARTNERSHIPS

Imagine this scene. Two young men poised to make a dream a reality. One crouches at the net stealthily, waiting for an opportunity to pounce. The other rocks back, then drives upward, his racquet striking the small, green ball just at the height of its trajectory. The power and precision are too much. The serve is unplayable, and the return shot rumbles forlornly into the net. Elation, relief, and a tribal pride – all cascade in a crescendo of emotion. The two are joined by four others. One through six have played their part over the course of the day and the days preceding. As the scene unfolds, it is evident to onlookers, connected and otherwise, that two slightly older gentlemen are deep in the midst of the throng. They are coaches. Mentors, educators, guides. Their calm but passionate spirit is key to this success.

In late November, the Brisbane Boys’ College tennis program claimed another milestone: National Tennis Champions. The team, comprised of Alex Despoja (Year 12), Carter Lennon (Year 12), Ani Nallaparaju (Year 11), Kaylen Timbrell (Year 11), Rohan Hazratwala (Year 10), and Will Genberg (Year 9), claimed the national title in stunning style, victorious by just one game, having finished even on rubbers and sets, at the end of a tumultuous and epic

four days of play against the best young talent in the country. At the centre of this achievement, yet never keen to take the limelight, were the two educators who guided them on this incredible journey: Director of Tennis, Mr Ethan Wilkinson, and Head Coach of the First IV tennis team, Mr Ben Mitchell.

There is so much that is impressive in this story, and tracking this success would lead back to countless hours on the training court and a raft of ordinary and extraordinary conversations, sometimes supportive, sometimes challenging. The situation is indeed remarkable in its uniqueness as an experience, but more so in that it is not isolated, nor without peer. The incredible way in which boys and their educators relate and connect to make dreams a reality is evident across a plethora of events at the College. It could be World Championship performances from our robotics boys, the Pipes and Drums performing to a worldwide audience at the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, our rowing fraternity making waves at the Henley Royal Regatta, our entire College cohort falling in behind the Birtles House drive for Movember, our Junior School Passion Projects, our musicians showing their creative energy at the Darren Middleton Songwriting Competition and the

Grand Concert, or our Coffee for Cambodia team striving to create connection and make a difference in the lives of others. There can be no doubt that there is more than one way to thrive at BBC.

Our work with young people leads us to understand that so much of what we do as educators, parents, coaches, tutors, and supporters is about making connections. Our students at Brisbane Boys’ College are wired to connect and belong. There is no greater evidence of this than in the array of opportunities available to our young men to challenge themselves to do more than they conceive possible for themselves. So many of our rites of passage, celebratory events, and learning experiences are about relationships and connection. We celebrate this sense of belonging as the ties that bind our tribe together, but, moreover, as the essential ingredient in the learning journey, one that extends beyond the academic sphere.

Boys are certainly tribal creatures, and they are always looking for teams, cohorts, ensembles, House groups, and other mechanisms that allow them to connect and relate. At Brisbane Boys’ College, we cultivate these opportunities with purpose. In their seminal work, Reaching

Boys, Teaching Boys: Strategies That Work – and Why, international boys’ education experts Michael Reichert and Richard Hawley assert that relationship is the key vehicle in creating fertile ground for boys to succeed in learning. Reichert and Hawley write that “the teacherboy connection does not merely contribute to or enhance teaching and learning; relationship is the very medium through which successful teaching and learning is carried out.” The research identifies several factors of importance, including a transitive element where motor activity, competition, and role play are integral, a pedagogy and teaching practice that meets the needs of boys as they seek out strategies that work specifically for them, the ubiquity and power of technology in all its forms, and a notion that learners are inherently looking to connect with educators to whom they relate.

BBC’s rich history of working with boys and our desire to continue to use best practices and contemporary research leads us to identify a number of pillars of good practice when educating our students, all of which are underpinned by the notion of connection. A connected boy is a happy and successful boy who can thrive across the domains of school

life and beyond, making a difference in the world.

Relationships: As noted, boys are relational. They experience content and learning through relationships with teachers, peers, and others. As such, it is essential that both boys and those working with them foster this relational element. Taking the time to know boys individually is the first step in creating a learning relationship.

Action: Boys respond to active learning. There is an element in the makeup of boys that responds to action, movement, and motor activity. Active learning is effective with boys.

Authenticity: As well as authenticity in relationships, boys connect to purpose, meaning, and learning, which is contextual. Boys often look for ‘real-life’ examples of the application of learning concepts, ideas, and theories.

Collaboration: Boys enjoy learning in teams. They love to engage with others and discuss their learning. Peer editing, feedback, and ideas generation often work best when boys are in dialogue with each other.

Choice: Boys respond well to having ownership over their learning. They

enjoy options and choices, and they engage well when they feel they have a say in their education. This concept of student voice is wellreported in the current literature for learning.

In her book Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead, Brené Brown suggests that “we are hard-wired to connect with others. It’s what gives purpose and meaning to our lives.” Further, Brown asserts that to do so, we must truly allow ourselves to be seen. We must let ourselves be vulnerable. Boys are seeking authenticity. To connect and educate, we must all show up without our masks. We must also note that boys want to be ‘seen’ for their authentic selves as well. This is where the connection exists.

The great successes that are part of a Brisbane Boys’ College education are steeped in these premises and practices. As we launch into a new phase of our journey through a Strategic Plan developed under the leadership of Headmaster Mr Andre Casson, we are excited to place educating our young men at the centre of all that we do, leaning on contemporary research and rich experience to connect our students with themselves and the incredible future they will be part of building.

CONNECT

From the Foundation CHAIR

MR IAN MACPHERSON (OC 1979)

The BBC Foundation is dedicated to raising funds to support Brisbane Boys’ College as it ensures a future where its students will continue to thrive. We have continued to build on this premise in 2023.

We held our fifth Matched Giving Day in October, which saw our magnificent community come together to ensure we achieved our goal of raising $200,000 to support the College. Thank you to all our supporters for their very generous contributions to this year’s Giving Day. Every dollar raised will go towards ensuring that a BBC education remains accessible to boys from a wide range of backgrounds and to improving our facilities.

The Foundation’s Bisset Subcommittee was thrilled to support the College Art Show on 13 and 14 October in College Hall and the Bisset Gallery. The Bisset Gallery was transformed for the Art Show by College Archivist Helen Jackson, who, in collaboration with Art teacher Ms Sarah Cattoni, curated works by the Year 10 Art students for display. These works sat alongside a collection of artworks from the Bisset

Collection that had inspired the boys’ own pieces. This initiative was a true reflection of Mr Phil Bisset’s vision for the Collection upon his bequest, and I wish to thank Helen Jackson, Sarah Cattoni, and the Bisset Subcommittee, chaired by Mr Richard Bell, for their work in putting together this project.

Throughout the year, the Foundation continued to raise funds for BBC’s co-curricular sports and activities programs via the Australian Sports Foundation (ASF). Funds raised through the ASF in 2023 went towards coaching, equipment, and travel for cricket, rowing, and rugby.

I would like to thank my fellow Foundation Directors, Mr Ross Baildon (OC 1980), Mr Richard Bell (OC 1972), Mrs Vanessa Taylor, Mrs Freya Robertson, Headmaster Mr Andre

Casson, and Council Chairman Mr Don O’Rorke (OC 1977), as well as BBC’s Director of Corporate Services, Ms Leanne Smith (Company Secretary) for their continued service on the Foundation Board.

Thank you also to Ms Hayley Blumenthal, Director of School Development and Community Engagement, and Ms Morgan Winlaw, Foundation and Events Partner, for their support of the Foundation’s fundraising efforts and to Ms Lauren Davies, Director of Finance, for all her hard work.

On behalf of the Foundation Board, I would like to extend our thanks to all donors who supported Brisbane Boys’ College this year. We look forward to continuing our fundraising and friendraising in 2024.

2023 FOUNDATION DONOR LIST

Thank you to all who donated to the BBC Foundation in 2023. We are very grateful for the generous supporters listed below and to those who have chosen to remain anonymous.

*List includes donations made directly to the BBC Foundation or via the Australian Sports Foundation.

A Member of the Class of 1961

Mr V. Alafaci

Mr P. and Mrs K. Alexander

Dr D. M. Allan

Mrs C. Atkins

Mrs J. Atkins

Mr R. and Ms B. Atkinson

Mr J. and Mrs K. Atley

Mrs E. Ayres

Mr A. N. Baildon

Mr R. and Ms L. Baildon

Mr C. Baird

Mr H. and Mrs A. Baird

Mr T. Baker and Ms P. Astuti

Mr B. H. and Mrs G. Barclay

Mr R. I. and Mrs M. Barclay

Mrs E. Bates

Ms J. Bauer

BBC Old Collegians’ Association

Mr S. Beak and Ms J. Yang

Mr P. and Mrs J. Beauchamp

Mr C. Beech

Mrs K. Behm

Mr R. and Mrs T. Bell

Mr R. F. N. Bell

Mr D. and Mrs J. Bendzala

Dr T. and Mrs N. Bergin

Mr C. and Mrs K. Bird

Mr C. Blucher

Mr P. D. Bolton-Hall

Ms J. Boughen

Mr C. and Mrs W. Brown

Mrs P. Brown

Mr J. Bryce

Mrs L. Bryce

Mr R. Bryce

Mr J. and Mrs J. Cameron

Mr A. H. Campbell

Mrs K. Campbell

Mr A. Casson

Mr I. D. Charlton

Mr S. and Mrs S. Chaudhury

Mr L. Chen and Mrs M. Lu

Ms N. Chen

Mr Z. Chen and Mrs Q. Kong

Mr A. and Mrs A. Clark

Mr S. and Mrs K. Clark

Mr R. P. and Mrs A. V. Clarke

Ms L. Colledge

Mrs E. Compton

Ms A. Coon and Mr T. Cavanagh

Mr T. Craig

Mrs K. Crosbie

Mr G. F. Cumming-Harris

Mr D. Currie

Mr H. Dai and Mrs Q. Yan

Mr H. Davies

Mr J. Deal

Ms M. Deal

Mr A. N. Dempsey

Mr J. and Mrs I. Dimock

Dr D. Ding and Dr G. Ge

Mr P. Drewett

Mr U. Dubey and Mrs H. Gour

Mr S. and Mrs P. Duffy

Mr G. Duggan

Mr M. Duncan

Mr J. Eagle

Ms J. Eggar – In memory of the late

Ken Gold

Dr D. Feinbloom and Ms K. Bruce

Mrs K. Fischer

Mr J. and Mrs O. Flipp

Mr T. and Mrs L. Forbes

Mr T. Francis

Mr B. and Mrs S. Frisbie

Ms J. Fry

Mr L. and Mrs O. Gaidarenko

Ms C. Gerber

Mr G. Gerber

Mr J. and Mrs L. Gerber

Mr P. Gerber

Mr P. and Mrs K. Gerber

Dr T. and Mrs K. Gianduzzo

Mrs G. Giblett

Mr J. Gill

Mr D. and Mrs A. Godden

Mr D. Goffage

Mr B. Graham and Ms C. O’Rorke

Mr P. and Mrs C. Graham

Dr L. W. Gregory

Mr S. C. Gregory

Mr P. Griffin and Ms S. Schleicher

Mrs K. Grimley

Dr O. Grygoruk and Mrs N. Que

Mr R. and Mrs M. Gunnell

Mr G. R. Hadwen

Mr B. and Mrs L. Han

Mr N. and Mrs K. Hann

Mr A. Hanson

Mr B. and Mrs A. Harrison

Mr C. Hawke and Ms H. Blumenthal

Mr S. Hawkings and Ms J. Hammond

Mrs S. Hawthorne

Ms G. Hedger

Mr G. and Mrs K. Heelan

Mr J. Hendry

Mr M. Hendry

Mrs P. Hendry

Mr A. and Mrs E. Hillier

Dr S. and Mrs F. Himstedt

Mr S. Hoadley

Mr D. Howson

Mr H. Huang and Mrs H. Liang

Mr C. Humphrey

Mr M. and Mrs R. Humphrey

Mr J. E. Hutchinson

Mr A. Ie and Ms M. Chong

Ms C. Jayawardena

Mr A. and Mrs N. Johnson

Mr C. and Mrs K. Juhasz

Mr P. and Mrs O. Kanissery

Mr N. Karam

Mr A. Kelly and Ms V. Taylor Kelly

Mr T. and E. Kennedy

Mr B. and Mrs E. Kidston

Mr L. Kiehne

Mr M. and Mrs A. Kneipp

Mr J. Ko

Mr B. and Mrs N. Korst

Mr T. and Mrs T. Kotzas

Ms N. Lambie

Mr S. and Mrs N. Landy

Mr B. and Mrs S. Larkham

Mr E. H. Larmar

Mr G. I. Lee

Mr S. Lee

Mrs S. Leporc

Mr H. Li and Ms C. Xu

Ms Z. Li

Mr Z. Li and Miss A. Cui

Mrs P. Lilienstein

Mrs N. Lin

Mr A. Liu

Mr T. C. and Mrs E. Lloyd

Mrs N. Lockley

Mrs P. and Mr W. Long

Mr L. Loucaidee

Mr I. Maclean

Mr Q. M. Maclean

Mr I. C. Macpherson

Mr D. and Mrs K. Madden

Mr S. and Mrs D. Manu

Mr D. and Mrs B. Marschke

Mr C. McCallion

Mr A. McGregor

Mr M. and Mrs J. McKenna

Mrs M. McKenzie

Mr A. McLellan

Prof I. B. and Mrs R. J. McPhee

Mr R. and Mrs M. McPhee

Mr C. J. Mellor OAM

Mr C. and Mrs K. Middlemis

Mr C. and Mrs A. Mills

Mr A. C. Millis

Mr Z. Min and Ms L. Xiong

Mr D. K. H. Moffatt

Mr A. and Mrs A. Morey

Mr I. Morrison

Mr B. and Mrs S. Muthumuni

Mrs B. Naglw

Mrs W. Nelson

Dr P. Nguyen and Mrs R. Gardner

Mr C. Noble and Mrs Y. Noble

Mr J. and Mrs H. O’Brien

Mr S. Cha and Mrs M. Oh

Mr B. and Mrs N. O’Neill

Mr D. C. O’Rorke

Mr J. O’Rorke

Mr F. Orr

Mr G. Orr

Mrs L. Orr

Mr S. Orr

Ms T. Orr

Mrs K. Page

Mr M. Parker

Ms L. Parr

Mr T. Patrick

Ms O. Perkiss

Mr A. Persley

Mr C. and Mrs J. Phillips

Mrs E. Pidik

Mrs N. Pidik

Mr D. Pohio

Mr R. and Mrs S. Pohio

Mr A. and Mrs R. Pollock

Mr R. Potlapally

Mr W. and Mrs S. Pratt

Mr R. Pressland

Mr X. Qian and Mrs L. Shen

Mrs L. Rennie

Mr A. C. and Mrs E. Rentoul

Mr S. Richardson

Mrs E. L. Robertson

Mr A. T. Robinson

Mrs E. Robinson

Mr P. Rodman

Mrs T. Rodman

Mr N. Rudland

Mr R. Rudland

Mr G. and Mrs E. Ryan

Mr G. J. Sagar

Mr J. Savage

Mrs P. Savage

Mr R. Schneider

Mr A. T. Scott

Ms L. Scott

Mr R. and Mrs P. Seymore

Mr C. and Mrs E. Seymour

Mr T. Shanks

Mr D. Sharp

Mr R. and Mrs S. Shaw

Mr P. J. Short AM

Mr A. Simpson

Mr S. Singh and Mrs H. Kaur

Mr W. D. Slade

Mrs L. Smith

Mr D. So and Ms R. Nursalim

Mr S. So and Mrs K. Tsang

Mrs C. Steemson

Mr G. H. Stehn

Mrs J. Stuckey

Mr H. Sun and Mrs S. Jiang

Mr A. and Mrs Y. Tauialo

Mr D. N. Thams

Dr P. Thiruchelvam

Mr G. and Mrs J. Thomas

Mr J. and Mrs S. Thomas

Mr K. and Mrs V. Thornton

Mr M. Tian and Mrs W. Ran

Mr R. and Mrs G. Tollenaere

Mr S. J. and Mrs L. Tonge

Mr M. Turton

Ms J. Van De Pol

Mr J. and Mrs L. Van De Pol

Mr P. Vella

Mr V. Vella

Mrs A. Vinning

Mrs V. Vinning

Mr A. and Mrs C. Wake

Mr D. and Mrs T. Watt

Mr M. A. Waugh

Mr P. D. Waugh

Ms G. Werner

Mr C. Westwood

Mr H. Westwood

Mr S. and Mrs C. Willebrands

Ms J. Wilson

Mr S. Wilson

Mr N. Wojcik and Ms S. Golightly

Mrs S. Won

Mr M. D. Wood

Mr J. and Mrs G. Woolmer

Mr D. Ye and Ms X. Yuan

Mr R. N. Young

Mr A. Yu and Ms L. Jiang

Mr X. Zhang and Mrs Y. He

In September, Parent Connections held their annual Spring Bling at Hillstone St Lucia. Parent Connections would like to thank those who attended, donated prizes, contributed to prizes, and bought raffle tickets. It is thanks to the support of the BBC community that

Parent Connections were able to make a generous donation of $40,000 to the development of the new recreational area within the Middle School Precinct at BBC.

From the President of the Old Collegians’ Association

MR PETER HUNT-SHARP

The core mission of the Old Collegians’ Association (OCA) remains unchanged: to nurture a strong bond between Old Boys and the College, ensuring the preservation of cherished traditions. In the second semester of 2023, we continued to provide networking opportunities through reunions, social functions, and engagement in the BBC community.

Our Vintage Collegians, a cherished segment of our community, gathered

(OC 1991)

at their monthly meetings and enjoyed a Christmas in July Lunch in Mount Mee before ending the year with a memorable luncheon on the Gold Coast.

Old Boys’ Day, a highlight in the OCA calendar, surpassed expectations this year. The nostalgia of touring the College combined with witnessing the Green, White, and Black spirit of the First XV rugby team created an atmosphere of shared pride. Post-game, over 500 Old Boys and community members convened in the OCA Marquee, sharing stories and laughter.

The annual BBC OCA Long Lunch at The Boatshed restaurant at the Regatta Hotel was a celebration of the enduring spirit that binds us as BBC Old Boys. Likewise, the cherished tradition of the BBC OCA Golf Day at the Brisbane Golf Club in November brought together old friends, golf enthusiasts, and community members for a day filled with camaraderie, laughter, and friendly competition.

We continued hosting decade reunions, and these gatherings were a poignant reminder of the profound impact our classmates have had on our lives and the lasting friendships nurtured over shared experiences.

Excitingly, we are witnessing a surge in engagement from Old Boys volunteering, mentoring, and serving as ambassadors for the College. The OCA Portal, our digital community platform exclusively for BBC Old Collegians, continues to grow. With features like a mentoring program, a job board showcasing current opportunities, group conversations, and invitations to upcoming OCA events including reunions, we encourage all Old Collegians to join this dynamic hub at ocaportal.com.

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In closing, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the OCA’s executive members and volunteers, alongside BBC’s Alumni Relations Manager, Mrs Tanya Bester, for their outstanding contributions throughout 2023. Together, we hosted memorable events and activities that fostered meaningful connections among our Old Collegians.

VALE

MR TREVOR LLOYD (OC 1949)

It was with immense sadness that the school learnt of the passing of Trevor Lloyd on 1 July 2022. Trevor was a generous benefactor to BBC, especially to the boys of Rudd House. On 21 April 2014, the refurbished common room in the Boarding House was officially named the Trevor Lloyd Room in honour of his generosity. This area is a place for the boarders to relax and mingle.

As the son of a Blackall grazier, Trevor’s primary lessons were via the Correspondence School. He arrived at BBC in Year 6 in 1943. He quickly adapted to boarding life and immersed himself in Junior School sports, playing both cricket and football, and was selected for the GPS Athletics team. Trevor’s leadership qualities were in early evidence as a Class Captain (194546), a House Senior (1947), and a Prefect in Year 11 in 1948, his final year.

In the photo above, Trevor (front right), with younger brother Don over his left shoulder, is seen rolling the cricket pitch with the heavyduty roller in 1948. As a member of the First XI cricket team, Trevor received Half Colours the same year. The Portal described Trevor as “a right-hand batsman who has some measure of success with the bat ... As a fieldsman, he has proved his worth.”

On the rugby pages, Trevor is described as a wing threequarter

who was “very fast off the mark and handled [the ball] fairly well.” Trevor was a member of the First XV rugby team, for which he also earned Half Colours.

As a student, Trevor absorbed BBC culture and participated in numerous activities from 1943 to 1948. The camaraderie and friendships formed, particularly in the proximity of the Boarding House, were long-lasting and influential throughout his life. In giving back to the school, Trevor and his wife, Eunice, hoped Old Boys would be able to provide their sons with similar life-enriching experiences.

In promoting ties to the school and each other, Trevor was the instigator of the Vintage Collegians travelling to Toowoomba for an annual lunch so that those from the Darling Downs area did not have to travel to Brisbane. Lunch provided the opportunity for celebration, rekindling bonds, and reliving memories.

BBC is grateful and gives thanks for the generosity, kindness, and support of Trevor Lloyd.

Helen Jackson Archivist

Milestones

In each edition of the Collegian, we include a number of community announcements regarding our alumni as part of our Milestones section, covering weddings, the birth of children, the awarding of national honours, and vales for those we have lost.

If you have an announcement you would like to share with us relating to yourself or a fellow Old Boy, please inform our Alumni Office via oca@bbc.qld.edu.au

VALE

• Mr Stuar t Reid (OC 1945)

• Mr Peter Pollard (OC 1952)

• Mr Evan T. O. Jones (OC 1956)

• Mr Ian Clifton Macdougall (OC 1956)

• Mr Geoffrey H. Fulcher (OC 1959)

• Mr John Ker (OC 1961)

• Mr Bruce Chorley (OC 1971)

BIRTH

Congratulations to Nick Knowlman (OC 2009) on the birth of his son, Oliver. Oliver will be a fifth-generation Collegian at BBC.

Weddings

• 29 April – Hunter Thomas (OC 2003) and Felicity Abraham

• 13 June – Morgan Ruig (OC 2005) and Remy Lester in Tonnara di Scopello, Sicily (pictured)

• 16 September – Hamish Gomersall (OC 2016) and Carlie McNally at Mount Nathan

• 7 October – Michael Williams (OC 2003) and Arielle Hickson at Mount Mor t

Stay in Touch

ALUMNI RELATIONS MANAGER

Mrs Tanya Bester 07 3309 3526 | tbester@bbc.qld.edu.au

Update your details www.oldcollegians.com.au/stay-in-touch

Community is about connection, so we invite you to share any announcements about yourself or fellow Old Collegians. Announcements may include interest stories, notable achievements, marriages, births, or vale notices. Please email the details to our BBC Alumni Office at oca@bbc.qld.edu

Where are they now?

Mr Troy Sinclair (OC 1995) is a businessman based in Indonesia, where he runs a successful holiday resort. BBC recently reached out to Mr Sinclair to learn more about his experiences after graduating from the College.

When did you attend BBC? What are your favourite memories from the College?

I attended BBC from 1991 to 1995. Some of my fondest memories would be the early morning rowing and the camaraderie in the Boarding House.

How did the BBC values and traditions assist you in adult life, including in your business journey?

The values and traditions learnt at BBC that have helped me navigate both my social and business journeys have been discipline, tolerance, and teamwork. The discipline and routine learnt at BBC have aided me through my various studies at university, both in contact and distance learning. The tolerance and teamwork I gained through being immersed in such a multicultural environment in the Boarding House at such a young age have provided me with the ability to assimilate and understand the different cultures and backgrounds of different people. As a result, I’m able to work within and around these differences. Being a teammate on rugby and rowing teams, sharing a room in the Boarding House, and many other experiences during my time at BBC have been invaluable when negotiating life and business abroad. Now, living in a country with such a large cultural, religious, and political distance from Australia, many of those experiences have enabled me to more easily establish relationships here than I would have been able to without my time at BBC.

Are there any special achievements you’re particularly proud of (awards, superlatives, achieved goals, etc.)?

Surviving the COVID-19 pandemic has been a significant achievement for my family and me. Having established our business in Indonesia, when the world closed up for two years, the shutdown had significant consequences for us. Many Australians may not be aware that there was no JobKeeper payment or similar assistance provided in Indonesia – you just had to survive. It was a two-year hiatus of no revenue. Navigating our way through two years of no business and a third year of minimal business to get restarted, especially considering our business relies solely on international tourism, was indeed a very challenging experience. To still be operating today and to see so many of our guests coming back in support of our venture has been surprisingly rewarding and, whilst a proud moment, a very humbling and grateful one at the same time.

What are you currently working on? How have your experiences at BBC helped you to this moment in your life?

We have the ongoing recovery and consolidation of our original business, Batu Karang Lembongan Resort, which has been a two-year effort since we began to re-establish ourselves. In addition to this, I am working on the development of a public transport company to service the outer islands of Bali, like Nusa Penida and Nusa Lembongan. It’s still very much in its infancy, but it’s coming along steadily. My experiences at BBC have provided the base of confidence to go out and have a go. It’s an amalgamation of all the elements at BBC that have made a difference, from the camaraderie of, say, the rowing team striving to achieve a common goal through tough training to the friendships made with both boarding and day students that still exist today to the educational pathways on offer over and above other schooling options.

What message would you like our students to take away from your story?

My story is probably not a usual one. I have spent nearly 21 years in Indonesia building a life and a business in a foreign land with different rules, a different culture, and a different language. It’s not necessarily something you can prepare for or learn at a university; it’s something you have to do. It’s time in the saddle, and it can be a long and arduous process. The School of Hard Knocks comes to mind – often the best school, as the learning, whilst more painful, is deeper and more enriching.

As a surfer, I had always dreamed of living in Indonesia and surfing the world’s best waves, but this was not something that necessarily seemed achievable when I was at school or during my first Bachelor’s degree. The opportunities and pathways aren’t as laid out abroad as they can be in Australia, where you are coming up through a system that you are familiar with and have essentially been prepared for from a young age. Yet here I am, fortunate enough to be living exactly that dream, but it hasn’t necessarily been easy.

Nothing worthwhile is easy to achieve, and it has certainly been a long journey for me and my family. You have to follow your dreams, find a passion, and jump into it. The pathways to success are varied, and it doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to go to a particular university and achieve perfect grades – this is just one path of many. Choosing a career at such a young age can be difficult and confusing. It’s easy to choose too quickly based on external expectations or norms. Search out your own path. Perhaps moving straight into the workforce or taking the time to travel can be your pathway to finding your passion, followed by a return to study to harness and sharpen your knowledge in a particular field once settled. The race to a nine-to-five job, whilst the dream for some, may not be the dream for you.

Success comes in many forms. I think if you are going to do something and do it well, it has to be something you enjoy or are passionate about. You can be successful in any field if it’s one you enjoy. If you’re passionate about something, you naturally become good at it, and when you become good at it, your skill set will be in high demand and, therefore, of high value. The financial rewards and other measures of success will become the side effects of your pursuit; they should not be the prescription or the reason for it.

It can be laying bricks or fashion designing; it can be accounting or the legal and medical professions; the field doesn’t matter. All those careers can lead to equally successful outcomes, and if it’s something that you enjoy, then it’s not a burden. It will ensure balance, which will flow into the other elements of your life. That’s equally important and often not considered in traditional metrics of success. If you end up in a job or a career you don’t enjoy, then this can have negative effects on the other elements of your life, and that’s not cool. This doesn’t mean that you should quit when the going gets tough (which it will in any chosen field). No, you should embrace those challenges; it’s just more easily done when you’re doing or pursuing something that you enjoy. I would also suggest that you plan a work-life balance early on. It’s easy to get sucked into the rat race keeping up with the Joneses and forget what life has to offer.

We only get one life. No amount of corporate or financial success can buy you more time living.

Celebrating a Pillar of Dedication

On the momentous occasion of Old Boys’ Day, the Old Collegians’ Association proudly welcomed Mr Alan Cheel into its esteemed fold as an Honourary Member. A man whose legacy spans over two decades, Alan has demonstrated unparalleled dedication to Brisbane Boys’ College, serving not only as an educator but as a guiding force, colleague, and mentor.

Alan joined the College in 2002 in his role as a Christian Education teacher and soon cemented himself as an invaluable member of staff. Over the course of his tenure, he has served with distinction as BBC’s first Associate Chaplain (2002 to 2007), Senior Housemaster of Campbell House (2008 to 2019), Head of

Campbell House (2020 to 2021), and as a Year Level Mentor (2020 to 2023).

Alan’s commitment to the College and to its students has extended to his deep involvement in the school’s co-curricular program. He has been heavily involved in Amnesty International, the Inter-School Christian Fellowship, Australian rules football, rugby, tennis, and water polo. Alan’s selfless nature and generosity of spirit have been evident time and again in the many volunteer efforts he has undertaken in conjunction with BBC, including his work with African Enterprise, The Salvation Army’s Red Shield Appeal, and numerous sausage sizzle fundraisers for various charities.

During his time at BBC, Alan has made a hugely positive impact on an entire generation of young men. His dedication and compassion mark him as a true Gentleman of Honour.

CALendar of events

HOSTED BY THE OLD COLLEGIANS' ASSOCIATION

April 2024

• 16 - Vintage Collegians’ Morning Tea

May 2024

• 7 - Vintage Collegians’ Morning Tea

• 9 - Melbour ne Old Boys’ Reunion

• 16 - Vintage Collegians’ Lunch in Caloundra

• 18 - Old Boys' Tennis Day at BBC

June 2024

• 4 - Vintage Collegians’ Morning Tea

• 7 - BBC Networking Breakfast

July 2024

• 9 - Vintage Collegians’ Morning Tea

• 18 - Vintage Collegians’ Christmas in July in Mt Mee

August 2024

• 3 - Old Boys’ Day

• 6 - Vintage Collegians’ Morning Tea

• 15 - London Old Boys' Reunion

September 2024

• 3 - Vintage Collegians’ Morning Tea

October 2024

• 1 - Vintage Collegians’ Morning Tea

November 2024

• 1 - BBC Golf Day

• 21 - Vintage Collegians’ End of Year Lunch

19641974198419942004

BBC

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSOR

LONG LUNCH

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS

GOLF DAY

2023 SEMESTER 2 OCA Events

Snapshots and Sponsors

1963 REUNION

1973 REUNION

1983 REUNION

1993 REUNION

VINTAGE COLLEGIANS' CHRISTMAS IN JULY

BRISBANE BOYS' COLLEGE

VINTAGE COLLEGIANS' END OF YEAR LUNCH

The Remarkable Legacy of Alan Gordon Cornes

A while ago, Mr Stephen Tonge (OC 1974) provided the BBC Archives with an unexpected donation. In 1973, BBC’s Master in Charge of the Junior School, Mr Alan Gordon Cornes, gave Stephen’s parents a gift of a wooden board on which he had used pyrography (hot pokerwork) to craft a work entitled Preceptes of Writing, which he had copied from the 1587 piece The Petie Schole by Francis Clement. This was a most unusual archival donation but one that typifies its resourceful and talented creator, one of the most dedicated and distinguished of BBC’s teachers.

Before beginning his BBC career, Alan served aboard a ship that was torpedoed and subsequently hit with a depth charge during World War II, resulting in him being taken captive as a prisoner of war. Despite this traumatic background and increasingly poor health as he grew older, he always looked to the interest of others. On the passing of this energetic educator, the First Master, Mr Peter Lawton, noted in his eulogy, “Few people have outdone Alan Cornes in devotion, in industry, in enthusiasm, in loyalty, in versatility. His personal qualities were a model for others. He had courage; he had humour; he had an appropriate amount of impatience with foolishness and with mediocrity of performance.”

Alan had fought tenaciously for a Junior School Library; therefore, the space now honours him with a plaque that reads, “The A.G. Cornes Memorial Library. This library has been named as a fitting memorial to the devoted service of the late A.G. Cornes, Teacher and Master in Charge of the Junior School, from 1955 until the date of his death on Tuesday, 24

February 1976. Unveiled by his wife on Saturday, 31 July 1976.”

For 20 years, Alan Cornes, known as ‘Barley’, unstintingly shared his talents with the boys of BBC. On arrival, he created a Hobbies Room (in the Senior Staffroom area), which became a hive of animated activity where balsa wood creations of model boats and aeroplanes were constructed. The 1960s was an era of change where boys’ interests shifted from crystal sets to transistor radios. The introduction of plastic model kits only requiring glue skills was frowned upon in contrast to the designed, fabricated, and painted models produced by enthusiastic hobbyists.

Hobbies ceased during the footy season when backdrops and props were produced for the September school plays. If an appropriate play could not be found to provide enough parts for a class, this imaginative man composed a work that he then produced and directed. Mr Quentin Maclean (OC 1962) recounts stories of a lighting system created from the boarders’ jam tins fashioned into footlights with an ingenious dimmer system that incorporated an old kerosene tin, soldered wires, salt, water, and a handle for controlling the brightness.

As an accomplished calligrapher, Alan annually wrote in copperplate to inscribe the prizes received at Speech Night, and he also engraved the sports trophies. These craft skills, along with pyrography, were taught to the students. In the Hobby Room, boys also learnt how to use a printing press and a lathe and to master working with the appropriate wood tools.

Remain up to date with the Old Collegians Network. Follow our official social media channels.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE OCA, PLEASE VISIT WWW.OLDCOLLEGIANS.COM.AU

Help Us Keep the History of BBC Alive

Moving, lifestyle changes, and downsizing all mean sorting, making piles, re-sorting, and making more piles, followed by a trip to the tip. If you are in such a situation, please don’t dispense with reminders of your BBC journey. Rather, consider donating them to the Brisbane Boys’ College Archives.

To further authenticate and enlarge the collection, the Archives are always happy to receive new

contributions, namely photographs, uniforms, magazines, and memorabilia that were part of your time at BBC. Ephemera, by its very nature, is short-lived, but such things as programs, circulars, reports, dockets, and newspaper cuttings are extremely important as they reflect the era and document the changing flavours of the decades. Alternatively, if you wish to keep your precious photos, I am very happy to scan them and return them immediately.

PLEASE HELP US UPDATE OUR HONOURS LIST.

As the College Archivist, it is my job to conserve, preserve, research, catalogue, and make available the resources of the Archives, which are the collective and historical memory of Brisbane Boys’ College.

Helen Jackson Archivist

If you know of an Old Collegian who doesn’t appear on our Honours lists, please advise College Archivist Helen Jackson at (07) 3309 3629 or by emailing archives@bbc.qld.edu.au

https://oldcollegians.com.au/old-boys-honours-list/

SUNDAY, 21 APRIL 2024

10am - 2pm bbc.qld.edu.au