TAS Friends For Life 2023

FRIENDS FOR LIFE

Issue 23 | Winter 2023

ENQUIRIES

Please direct any enquiries, feedback or change of contact details to reception@taschool.qld.edu.au

2 Campbell Street, Toowoomba QLD 4350

Telephone: 07 4639 8111

Facsimile: 07 4639 8100

Email: reception@taschool.qld.edu.au

Web: www.taschool.qld.edu.au

The Corporation of the Synod of the Diocese of Brisbane trading as Toowoomba Anglican School

CRICOS. No. 00712 A

CONTRIBUTORS

Friends for Life Magazine would like to thank all of its contributors and advertisers for their continued support

Welcome from the Head of School

Celebrating Academic Success

Welcome to the 23rd issue of the Toowoomba Anglican School Friends for Life magazine. The pages within this book highlight the fantastic accomplishments of both our current and past students, our staff, parents, and the wider school community alike.

At TAS, we celebrate the opportunities that students are afforded within our school. Our wonderful programs, robust learning activities and exciting extracurricular groups would not be possible without the work of our amazing staff. Our teachers recognise that every student is a unique individual with diverse learning needs, abilities, and interests, and therefore are committed to nurturing each pupil’s potential. Additionally, being a co-educational school means that our students can enjoy a well-rounded, inclusive schooling experience.

In Primary, the commitment to research-based, best practice pedagogy and programs, such as the InitaLit program, has reaped great rewards for our young students. Last year’s NAPLAN results were astounding, where an average of 75% of our Year 3 students achieved within the top 2 bands in all areas of literacy. Regarding numeracy, again, over three quarters (77%) of our Year 3 Students placed within the top 2 bands. 100% of our students in both Year 3 and 5 are above the National Standards.

In Secondary, we celebrated the wonderful ATAR achievements of the 2022 Year 12 cohort, with over two-thirds (67%) of our students placing within the top 15% of QLD scores, indicating an ATAR of 85 or above. We are equally excited for those who decided to pursue a vocational pathway or an apprenticeship in 2023, and we wish them the very best in their careers. This year is looking bright for our current seniors already, with several students having been accepted into University HeadStart programs.

Sports Uniform Upgrade

TAS has introduced a new Inter School / Inter ClubPlaying Uniform that sees new designs and modified garments supplied by Gilbert. We have also designed supplementary items of uniform to compliment our current Physical Education standard uniform. These items have been designed in consultation with students and will be more appropriate to help deal with the varying Toowoomba climate.

The refreshed Inter School / Inter Club Uniform was been developed to create consistency of design, colours and apparel across the range of sports that TAS offers. The Inter School / Inter Club Uniform is an important part of the School’s identity and culture. It reflects the value we place on traditional standards of excellence in sport whilst being modern, sustainable and future-focused. We want TAS students to be proud of the Uniform and know that it is of the highest quality for their playing level.

Gratitude & Thanks

2022 was a year of achievement, growth and venturing out into the unknown. Whether that meant our Year 12 Students taking their leave and walking out of the school gates for the final time, or the new and exciting plans and proposals which will see our school thrive well into the future.

Our students deserve much praise for all of their achievements, both academic and extra-curricular. I take this opportunity to thank the members of staff and the Senior Leadership Team for their integrity and hard work in helping and supporting our students toward these goals. I also thank you as parents for your wonderful support, with a particular thank you to our Parents and Friends Association, The School Foundation and The Past Students Association for their efforts which have yielded such impressive results. Events such as The 50 Years of Coeducation Ball, The Foundation Golf and the P&F Colour Balst add such a rich fabric to our community.

Strategic Plan and Campus Master Plan

The 2023 Strategic Plan has been developed with the intention to advance our school over the next five years. Whilst the plan acknowledges past achievements, it recognises the imperative of establishing an effective blueprint for the sake of our future. With purposeful direction, a clear vision, and aspirational yet attainable goals, the project was approved after extensive consultation with Staff, Student leaders, Parents and Friends, The School Foundation, our Past Students Association, the School Council and the Anglican Schools Commission.

The Strategic Plan and TAS Campus Master Plan places an emphasis on future-focused learning and the contemporary learning spaces will take students out of the traditional classroom structure. All buildings are designed with flexible classroom structures and break-out spaces to enable students to collaborate or work independently.

The redevelopment of the Connal Precinct is scheduled to be completed in 2023. Works are well underway and currently on track to completion around the midyear mark. The new development will allow for a more modern and professional first impression of the school whilst developing a new administration entry. The Connal Precinct will enhance the dining space for our students, and we will make use of the views with a new external outdoor deck area. The building will increase the number of bathrooms for both students and staff and add a modern new staff lounge. Upstairs,

Connal will hold two state-of-the-art learning spaces that can be combined to create one larger room. New music practice rooms, meeting areas and staff administration will complete the building.

The proposed Gill Precinct was open for public consultation in 2022 with our aim to complete the project once the planning process is completed. The Gill Precinct will accommodate three new generalpurpose learning areas and a specialist room to be used as a Strength & Conditioning suite. There will be covered tiered seating from the 1st floor to the ground floor that will be used as an outdoor learning space, an outdoor Strength & Conditioning space and a viewing area for the adjacent Tennis and Netball courts. Changing facilities will be included and an outdoor seating area that can be used as a second smaller outdoor learning space.

Opposite Top: The Connal Building in 1966, used then as a Boarding Precinct with an admin building at the front.

Opposite Middle: The Connal Building in it’s current state as it undergoes redevelopment.

Opposite Bottom: The renovated and completed Connal Building, estimated for completion in 2023.

Boss Connal inspecting the pouring of the original footings for the Connal building.

TASA Report

The Toowoomba Anglican School Association for past students was established over 80 years ago with the objective to bind members of the school and to promote and maintain fellowship amongst all of those students and families that were part of our school community.

We have some fantastic opportunities to get together this year with casual catch ups around the country, “2’s and 3’s reunion on the 4th November and a special gathering for the class of 1957 on Sunday 3rd September.

We would like to take the opportunity to thank the TASA committee who have been focusing this year on the strategic aspirations of the Association and how we might better support current and past students via a number of avenues including bursaries, professional and industry connections and improved engagement. We encourage our past students to connect to our Alumni LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram pages to keep up to date with current news. Those past students who might have an interest in being involved with the committee are always welcome, please contact Mrs Peta Hawes –phawes@taschool.qld.edu.au

Get in touch:

TASA

2 Campbell St East Toowoomba

QLD, 4350

President: Mr Andrew Drysdale

Email: andrew@alsajadnrm.com.au

Secretary: Mrs Peta Hawes

Email: phawes@taschool.qld.edu.au

50 Years of Coeducation

In 1972, Toowoomba Anglican School embarked on an initiative that would change our school and enrolled 29 female students which began a new era of education. These first female students became an integral part of Toowoomba Anglican Schools history, and we acknowledge their everlasting contribution to our school.

As we reflect on the history of the past 50 years, we are profoundly grateful for students and families who have supported and embraced the coeducation model. Both socially and academically, the move to coeducation has changed our school and when we walk the campus today you will understand it is the central pillar in our school’s culture.

In October 2022 almost 500 past and present students and parents celebrated the 50 years of coeducation milestone at a fantastic reunion event held at the Goods Shed in Toowoomba.

School Leaders

Outgoing 2022

The final year of school is a memorable and meaningful one. We could not be prouder of our 2022 Senior cohort, particularly those who adopted leadership roles and stood at the helm of all there was to attend to. To our 2022 Head Boy and Girl, Oliver and Lily, who consistently invested their time, service and effort, who demonstrated true leadership and who represented the school in every noble way, we are especially grateful. Since graduating, Ollie has undertaken a bachelor’s degree of Music and Science at the University of Queensland. Lily is pursuing her passion at Bond University, having commenced an Exercise and Sports Science bachelor’s degree. We wish both Ollie and Lily the very best as they embark on their tertiary study journey and make their way out into the world.

Oliver King - Head Boy

2022, what a cool year to graduate. 2222 would have been better but that’s in 200 years’ time (I’ll be long gone by then). TAS has been my home for the past 12 years (this has been the opening sentence in these school leader reports for the past 3 years so I feel it’s a necessity to include it to continue the legacy). Although this is cliché, it’s true.

I look back on the very short kid with the Harry Potter glasses who started TAS in class 1D, 2011 (the school was called the Toowoomba Preparatory School then…ancient times). The support I have received from TACAPS (sorry wrong name again…) has been nothing short of spectacular, and has contributed majorly to who I am today. I would like to thank all the teachers, staff, volunteers and especially my fellow students who have helped me to grow from an 8-year-old into a young adult. I have had the pleasure to see TAS grow significantly, from the introduction of the secondary school, to the dramatic increase of its student population and the inclusion of many fancy facilities. I am

looking forward to returning to TAS one day and seeing how much the school and community has further developed and grown.

My wish for students reading this, is to realise how lucky you are to be a part of such a wonderful and supportive community. I have been extremely grateful for my time at TAS, and I will carry this experience with me for the rest of my (hopefully long) life.

Lily Kruger - Head Girl

While our school year got off to an unexpected start due to COVID, what a year it’s been! Although I’m really excited to step out into the ‘real world’ (as our teachers like to say), I will forever reminisce on all the amazing memories that have been created over my time at Toowoomba Anglican School. I can’t say I remember my first day at TAS (it was 2014 after all!), however, it is the memories in between that have stuck. There are honestly too many to list. My experience at TAS has been extremely rewarding, and I have been given so many opportunities, both on the sporting field and in the classroom. I think back to the shy girl that couldn’t even stand up and talk in front of her Year 3 class, to now look in the mirror and see the young woman that has stood up and addressed hundreds of students at a time. Being Head Girl for 2022 has definitely been a rewarding experience and has taught me many valuable skills necessary for life after school. I have been truly grateful to be a part of this community and I know I’ll still be supported by the wonderful staff and students at TAS, well beyond leaving the Gatehouse for the last time. To the students reading this, I wish you luck with the rest of your schooling here at TAS, and I encourage you to take up as many opportunities that are presented to you. And to the staff – especially those who have supported me since my first day – I am forever appreciative of the impact you’ve made on my schooling experience and the way you’ve shaped me into the person I am today.

As one door closes, another opens, and so we welcome Samuel Lawrence and Charlotte Lacey into their roles of Head Boy and Head Girl for 2023. This year is set to be another fabulous year of growth for TAS, as we celebrate a decade of offering Secondary education. With Term 1 already behind us, we are entering into the busiest season of our school year, a season which Sam and Charlotte are ready and waiting to step up into. With open hearts and willing minds, our Head Boy and Girl are looking ahead as they prepare to lead us all toward a successful and memorable 2023.

Samuel Lawrence - Head Boy

What is the most exciting thing about being a school captain?

What excites me most about holding the position of Head Boy is that it awards me the opportunity to involve myself more deeply with the school, enabling me to connect with my fellow students of all year levels, and get to know them better.

What are you required to do as school captain?

So far, we’ve been involved with several welcoming assemblies for new students and their families, as well as greeting the students of a morning as they arrive, and saying goodbye to them of an afternoon as they depart from the Gatehouse.

What one thing do you want to achieve for your school this year?

Personally, I’d like to continue to build up the TAS school spirit through being an approachable and friendly leader to my peers. On the extracurricular front, I’d like to continue to contribute toward the school sporting and performing arts groups, and to encourage as many students as possible to participate and have fun.

What are your dreams for after graduation?

At the moment, I’ve not got a concrete idea of what I’d like to study at University, but I really enjoy Science, Sport, Maths and Music, so perhaps something along those lines. I’ll see how I feel later in the year.

Charlotte Lacey - Head Girl

What is the most exciting thing about being a school captain? The chance to be involved in, and contribute to, a broader range of the elements of school life is what I’m really looking forward to most. I’m also eager to develop and refine my organisational skills, and my ability to lead a team. The opportunity to be mentored and coached by experienced staff is definitely a highlight too.

What are you required to do as school captain?

An essential aspect of the position is to be a positive role model and mentor for younger students and to represent the school and its’ ethos in the public domain. It’s also about providing support to the school leadership team and staff in any way I can, particularly with the practical aspects of the various functions and events in our school calendar.

What one thing do you want to achieve for your school this year?

I am dedicated to upholding the values and ethos of TAS. It is such an honour to lead the school so I would be especially proud to be able to contribute to enhancing our reputation for excellence, equality, kindness, and spirit amongst the broader community. I would be thrilled if I could cultivate meaningful, positive connections with my fellow students, and be a strength to all. I would like to look back at the end of the year, knowing that I took the time to listen to and support my peers, and that in doing so, encouraged in them a sense of belonging and acceptance; something so very important to navigating high school.

What are your dreams for after graduation?

I have a passion for Music (particularly piano), but also for Biology and Psychology, so I’m keen to undertake a Double Degree. I’m currently looking into a Bachelor of Arts and Science through the University of Queensland with the intent of also completing a post-graduate degree in Music Therapy.

Ollie King & Lily Kruger

Samuel Lawrence & Charlotte Lacey

TAS Foundation Golf Day

It was a perfect day at the Middle Ridge Toowoomba Golf Club for the 2022 TAS Foundation Golf Day. Having successfully run this event for over 15 years, we are especially grateful for the ongoing support of the school community and their contributions which make such events possible.

We enjoyed the stellar company of all 120 participants at the Ambrose team event, with a BBQ Brisket lunch served on the 9th hole followed

by a wonderful evening of social drinks on the deck. All in all, a memorable day for our school, its Foundation members and their guests.

We encourage our past students to enter a team for the 2023 Foundation Golf Day!

For more information about this and other school events, please contact Peta Hawes: phawes@ taschool.qld.edu.au

Save The Date!

2023 Golf Day - Friday 3rd November

P&F Updates

Each year, our Parents and Friends Committee dedicate their time, energy and effort into planning and hosting events which work to directly benefit and serve the school and its students. On any given day, our wonderful volunteers can be found quietly packing tuckshop lunches in the TASpressos Café, serving behind the canteen at a carnival, setting up and packing down for school events, or meeting to plan for an event themselves. Alongside the valuable contribution of their time, our P&F members organise fundraisers throughout the school year, the profits from which

they sew back into the school. Last year saw several facility upgrades and additions occur as a result of such contributions. The new rock-climbing wall which extends across the exterior of the Chapel affords our young ones the opportunity to stretch and strengthen their growing limbs, and two timber tepees at the front of the school are a hub for imaginative play. We are deeply grateful for the proactive efforts of our P&F Committee, and we look forward to the many exciting plans which they have set in motion for this year, including the upcoming TAS fete.

" The new rock-climbing wall which extends across the exterior of the Chapel affords our young ones the opportunity to stretch and strengthen their growing limbs."

Generations at TAS

At our school, we are proud to have a rich history of generational connection among our student body. We value the deep ties that families have and the shared experiences that create a sense of community and belonging. It is an honour for us to see the children of former students walking our grounds and learning in our classrooms, as it

speaks to the lasting impact that our school has had on generations of families. We are committed to continuing this legacy by providing a welcoming and supportive environment that nurtures the growth and development of all our students, past, present, and future.

Guys & Dolls Musical

2022 is the first time TAS has put on a Theatrical Production in the Empire Theatre. ‘Guys and Dolls’ was the perfect musical for TAS in our 50 Years of Coeducation celebrations. We had a talented array of students from Years 7-12 who put in an enormous amount of effort in the rehearsal period. Shows were held on Thursday 18 August and Friday 19 August, 2022 and almost 800 tickets were sold!

From the Director, Shannon Tamblyn

“The musical Guys and Dolls premiered on Broadway in 1950, and ran for 1200 performances, garnering widespread acclaim and almost unanimously positive reviews. Considered by many to be the perfect musical comedy, this story is a colourful, glitzy romp through Damon Runyon’s humorous and sentimental version of New York, celebrating the post-Prohibition world of Broadway. This musical is one of the most well-loved productions in the history of musical theatre, so when I was asked to direct Guys and Dolls for TAS, I knew there would be a lot of expectation, particularly as this is my very first time directing a musical. Having performed in the musical myself several years ago in the Empire Theatre, there was certainly a great deal of sentimentality!

As the first full-scale musical production in the Empire Theatre for TAS, I was always aware that this was going to be a huge undertaking. Now the largest performing arts theatre in regional Australia, the Empire Theatre commands huge respect nationally, with state-of-the-art facilities and professional acts constantly moving through, so anything that we produced at TAS was going to need dedication, teamwork and polish to be successful. I am happy to say that our students worked tirelessly to produce a show truly worthy of this stage, even with the ever-present Covid threatening to derail our plans. Our entire cast put such effort into creating the Runyonese world, with both leads and ensemble striving to make sure that the audience was constantly entertained, whether you’re laughing out loud or shedding a tear. To put on a full-scale musical was no mean feat for anyone, let alone a cast of school students, and I am so proud of their achievements.”

2023 Eisteddfod Success

The TAS Primary Chapel Choir and Senior Choir sang beautifully at the Empire Theatre. TAS won the Eckert Family Primary Choral Aggregate Trophy. We came 1st in Primary Spiritual (Concordia Primary School Trophy), 1st in Primary Hymn Singing (Joy Hunter Memorial Trophy) and 2nd in Primary A Grade Choir. Congratulations to our Primary singers from Years 3-6!

Our Secondary Chapel Choir, Men’s Choir and Aidan’s Voices had an impressive first night at the Toowoomba Eisteddfod.

• TAS - Winner of the Toowoomba Philharmonic Society Secondary Choral Aggregate Shield

• 1st in Secondary Boys Choir - The Penny Family Shield

• 1st in Secondary Hymn Singing - St. David’s Presbyterian Church Shield

• 1st in Secondary Spiritual - St. Ursula’s College Trophy

• 3rd in Secondary School Folk Singing Ensemble

Congratulations to all students and staff!

Above: Secondary Performing Arts captains Ella and Sam.

2023 Toowoomba Eisteddfod award recipients.

Below: 2023 Toowoomba Eisteddfod award recipients.

Above: Primary Performing Arts captains Pascal and Austin.

Toowoomba Anglican School shines at the Sydney Opera House

Sixty-one Toowoomba Anglican School

secondary students attended the 8-day Australian International Music Festival in Sydney from 1-8 July 2023. Students gave brilliant performances at the Sydney Opera House and other iconic Sydney performance venues. They also attended workshops, concerts and combined school rehearsals with students from across Australia and overseas and explored famous Sydney attractions. The four TAS ensembles achieved amazing results in the festival:

• TAS Secondary Choir - Gold

• TAS Secondary Stage Band - Gold

• TAS Secondary Concert Band - Silver

• TAS Secondary String Ensemble - Silver

MADD Festival

It was the most artistic, dramatic and creative week by any measure. The inaugural 2-day MMADD (Music, Media, Art, Drama, Dance) festival was held last September, rounding out what was a busy Term 3. Featuring over 90 sessions of workshops, students from each year level participated in a diverse range of activities curated by our dedicated Visual Art teacher, Nadine Reynolds. From clay-firing and musical performances to photography and expressive dance, each student experienced the joy of artistic immersion in all its glory. A memorable two days of creative outlet saw many come away from the experience with a newfound passion, hobby or talent.

Music Student Profile Eric Elston, Year 12

What musical programs are you involved in and outside of TAS?

I’m currently taking both Music and Music Extension as subjects. Outside of this, I take weekly piano lessons, I’m a member of the TAS Performance Choir, and I compose music for the Queensland Symphony Orchestra.

How did you get involved with music, and what keeps you motivated?

Music began as a hobby for me. The opportunity to study it at school, combined with the fact that I was already playing piano, led me to keep going and develop my skills. My love of it (and writing compositions) is what keeps me motivated!

What do you enjoy most about the Music program at TAS?

What I value most about the Music program at TAS is having the freedom to choose my discipline. The variety of options on offer means I can explore and develop my unique musical interest/s. As well as the programs within school, there are numerous opportunities to be involved in extra-curricular activities, which open your mind to career pathways.

Tell us about your work with the QLD Symphony Orchestra Connect Program?

The Queensland Symphony Orchestra Connect Program held in Brisbane each year, giving a select few students the opportunity to compose a piece for Queensland Symphony Orchestra. I’ve been selected to participate, so I’ll need to prepare a piece of music based on a specific theme, which is then played live by a small orchestra.

Are there any music events upcoming that you’re attending?

As a member of the Performance Choir, I take part in Eisteddfods with the school. However, what I’m most looking forward to is attending the Australian International Music Festival in Sydney this year, which features numerous performances throughout Sydney.

Sport Student Profile Jessica Hurst, Year 11

What sports have you been involved in and through TAS?

Of the many sports on offer at TAS, I’m involved primarily in Rugby 7’s and Athletics. In previous years I’ve played netball, touch football and participated in swimming and cross country. Currently, outside of school, I compete in campdrafting, in which I’ve had some recent success.

Do you work in a coaching capacity at all?

I do. Last year I coached a TAS Junior Netball team, and I’ve also been refereeing Rugby and Rugby 7 games since 2020.

Do you feel like TAS gives you the opportunity to pursue the sports you love?

TAS offers the best sporting opportunities for students, both within the school and outside of it. I compete in campdrafting as an extracurricular sport and feel very supported by the school in my achievements.

How does committing to sport fit in with life as a Boarder?

Being involved in many of sports means that my schedule fills up quickly! When it comes to assignments it can be a juggling act, so I have to dedicate most of my free time to completing my schoolwork.

What sport event are you looking forward to the most this year?

The event I’m most looking forward to in 2023 would have to be the Athletics Carnival happening at the end of this term. I love the atmosphere that the event brings and I’m looking forward to leading Gill House to victory!

TAS Tennis Performance Squad Training.

Mountain Biking in Jubilee Park is a much favourited Thrive program activity.

Range Zone Cross Country.

Our TAS Rugby Boys take on Scots PGC College.

The newly introduced TAS Water Polo fixtures.

QLD Representative Golfer, Toby.

Inter-House Cross Country.

Inter-House Swimming Carnival.

TAS Athletics Carnival.

TAS Sunshine Coast Rugby Tour Team.

TAS Tennis Girls Open Team.

TAS Senior Girls Netball.

Girls Touch Team – QLD Champions

2022 was a thrilling year for our U12 Girls touch team. After securing victory at the South West QLD Touch Championships in Dalby, the girls qualified for the QLD Primary All Schools Touch Tournament which was to be held in Brisbane the following month. With over 70 teams competing in the event, competition was fierce. Nevertheless, the girls played with determination and tact, ultimately taking out the title to be crowned the Queensland Touch Champions for the A Division U12 Girls. A sincere thanks to the coach, Emma Harrison, who led and guided the girls toward their victory, and a big well done to the players!

TAS Senior Boys Netball Team after their Grand Final victory.

The Benefits of Boarding in a Coeducational Environment

Coeducation is more than just putting boys and girls together in the same classroom. It’s about creating an environment where students can learn to interact with people of different genders and backgrounds and develop mutual respect for different perspectives and beliefs. Boarding in a coeducational environment offers a unique opportunity for students to immerse themselves in this kind of living and learning alongside students of different genders on a day-to-day basis. This can be a transformative experience that helps young people become more compassionate, empathetic, and considerate of others. At TAS, we strive to provide a supportive and inclusive environment that encourages our students to embrace diversity and become the best versions of themselves on their own individual pathways.

Primary School Update

from Jason Locke, Head of Primary

What an amazing place our Primary school is in 2023! The addition of new staff and new students has injected some wonderful new spirit into the school. With our new school values of Together we Thrive, Learn, Care and Believe, we were ready to bound into the school year with enthusiasm.

Our year started new playground equipment and play spaces for our youngest students which were provided with a donation from our hard-working PandF association. This has turned a relatively un-used space near the Chapel into an adventure playground complete with rock climbing wall.

Academically, Mrs Roper, our Deputy of Primary has commenced her IDEASThrive program which focusses on extending and enhancing the minds our most eager learners across the school with exciting problem solving opportunities and competitions and

teachers are using their knowledge and creativity to provide some amazing learning opportunities which were showcased at our end of Term 1 Culminating Day.

Socially, we have rebranded our Outside Hours School Care program to be called the TASHub and we have offered a more well-rounded clubs program, including the most popular Homework Club to our repertoire of experiences. On the sporting field we have most recently been crowned the Downs best in Basketball, Touch Football and Futsal and continue to bat above our average in Darling Downs representation in a number of other sports.

Overall, the Primary is a thriving, fun, focussed, caring and active environment where a love of learning is at the core of all we do.

Secondary School Update

from Trina Faint, Head of Secondary

It was great to begin 2023 with a full term of great activities and events without any COVID disruptions. Students enjoyed exciting learning activities, retreats, camps, excursions, Chapels, assemblies, NAPLAN and most importantly spending time with each other.

We welcomed over 90 secondary students and teachers at the beginning of the year. New roles

of Dean of Curriculum, Dean of Students, Year 7 Coordinator and Head of Academic Enrichment and Extension began expanding the dedicated secondary staff.

With Term Two well underway we look forward to what the year continues to bring forth.

Academic Success

TAS congratulates the graduating cohort of 2022 on their exceptional results, with ATAR scores.

• 11.1% of ATAR students received a score of greater than 95

• 55.5% of ATAR students received a score of greater than 90

• 66.6% of ATAR students received a score of greater than 85, our students should be very proud.

The data presented here is but a snapshot of the whole student’s achievement and dedication to their learning within a set curriculum.

Additionally:

• 20.8% of students received early entry offers to university courses

- 19% of students obtained a School Based Apprenticeship

• 38% of students attained extra qualifications in addition to their Senior Curriculum, with many achieving multiple qualifications! The Class of 2022, and the staff and families who have supported their education, can be extremely proud of all they have achieved. We thank our Year 12 students for enriching the TAS community in so many ways and we wish them continued growth, success and happiness as they create the next exciting chapter of their lives.

2022 ATAR SUCCESS

Percentage of students who achieved an A grade:

2022 ATAR SUCCESS

Percentage of students who received an A or B grade:

Open Days Teagan Deer

Open Days at TAS are a fantastic opportunity to get to know our school and see the students and teachers in action. You will get to meet members of our Executive Team, key staff and speak to the students themselves.

We invite you to contact our Head of Admissions to schedule a personalised tour. For more information, please phone (07) 4639 8105 or email enrolments@ taschool.qld.edu.au.

Rising Star Awardee

From embryology to education and being the child of two teachers, Teagan Deer was insistent that she would never become a teacher. She began her higher education journey in biomedical science, falling in love with women’s health and embryology after a clinical placement at the Queensland Fertility Group. This placement led her to apply for Australia’s only postgraduate reproductive sciences program at Monash University, where she was welcomed into a world of not only human reproductive science but also of exotic animal breeding. This course of study gave her a passion for real-world experiences that would excite those around her about science, embryology and its ability to change the world.

Teagan is currently in the unique position of both teaching and being the houseparent to young men and women in a boarding school. This environment has played an enormous role in influencing her pedagogy. Teaching a wide variety of students from diverse backgrounds has allowed her to invite learners into the world of science with fun, engaging and dynamic activity-based activities, including the ability to implement experiment-based activities all the way down to kindergarten.

Together We Are TAS

Her philosophy is that all students, no matter what path life takes, will leave her classroom with a level of scientific literacy that will allow them to be valuable and impactful contributors to the world. Teagan has also organised a women’s health conference for key stakeholders, including students, parents and medical professionals in regional Queensland, in conjunction with Pelvic Pain Australia and the Queensland Endometriosis Association.

Mr Ian Basset

Boarding Legend – 24 Years of Service

Anywhere you step within the boarding sphere of Toowoomba - and many places beyond for that matter - you can count on most people knowing his name. Or at the very least, the incredible impact he has had throughout his years at TAS. Smiles emerge, laughter erupts, and stories soon follow when you make mention of the legendary Mr Basset.

Born, raised and educated in South Africa, Mr Basset worked his early years as an accounting and economics teacher. Educational uncertainty brought about by the post-apartheid era swayed Mr Basset to relocate to Australia during the late 90’s. Having close family ties in Australia helped this decision, and he joined his Toowoomba-based family in the sleepy regional city.

One day, driving past TAS (known then as ‘Toowoomba Prep’), he pulled up at the pedestrian crossing to let the students pass. He was astonished to be met with the tilting of hats, friendly smiles, and waves of thanks - all of which reminded him of his own South African school days, but the likes of which he had not yet seen in Australia. Nostalgia and curiosity led him to enquire about relief work, and a short time later he landed himself a threeday stint in a Year 4 classroom. The moment he walked through the Gatehouse he felt welcomed by the singular, almost tangible soul of the campus. It enchanted him. “I don’t know what and if I taught successfully for those three days, but I just felt that I belonged in a warm and embracing campus and thoroughly enjoyed every moment, so much so that I put in a letter of interest in a teaching post that had come out.”

Informed that he was overqualified for the primary school teaching post (having been the founding Principal of a high school back in South Africa), within a fortnight, Mr Basset was summoned back to TAS, this time for relief work of a different kind. The House Parent of Stoneleigh (known then as Brewster House) had handed in his notice, and someone was needed to stand in for a few weeks until another was appointed.

Weeks turned into months, months turned into years, and the rest, as they say, is history. Although as unfamiliar with boarding as his Boarders were with South Africa -“Are there lions walking down the streets, Sir?”, Mr Basset took to the role like a duck to water, demonstrating the true leader he was.

“Wondering what I was doing, I just knew that I had been called to do something that was so special, so real, so privileged. It took eighteen months before I even began to think that I was getting on top of this lark, that I was achieving something, but I loved every moment of it.”

Throughout his 19 years as House Parent of Stoneleigh, and the following 5 as House Parent of Bligh, Mr Basset worked tirelessly to raise, equip, and guide each and every Boarder within his care. He ran a tight ship, but a loving and supportive one. He instilled a sense of belonging and accountability in the young lives, and in doing so wove a tight fabric of brotherhood amongst them.

This unparalleled regard for their wellbeing led Mr Basset to new horizons in 2009, when he assumed the role as Director of Boarding, all the while continuing his duties as House Parent of Bligh. Many changes occurred throughout his time at the school, most notably the inclusion of Year 7 as a Secondary year level. As the school entered into the new and unknown territory of Secondary education and co-education, Mr Basset stood at the helm of it all, continuing in his steadfast support of the Boarders, their families, the staff and the school itself.

A prominent and active member of the TAS Community for over 20 years, Mr Basset’s retirement has by no means meant goodbye. Most days you will catch a glimpse of him in and around the schoolbe it to shuttle a rugby team off to Saturday sport, or quietly leading a primary class into the library for a reading session. Whether on the field or in the classroom, his dedication to inspiring excellence in his students has struck a chord with people far and wide, who appreciate his genuine, sincere and tailored approach to raising young lives.

“It has been my immense privilege, my heartfelt honour and enormous passion to have served twenty-four years in Boarding at this School. We have navigated much together, challenging forces of change and even some recent stormy seas of the pandemic, yet through it all, it has been the spirit and soul of our Boarder children who have made our culture of ‘Family Boarding’ the most worthwhile, exceptionally rewarding and privileged of experiences. Our lives are undeniably richer for spending time with our Boarders.”

Young Alumni

Oliver King – 2022 Graduate

Area of Study: Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Science, UQ

Oliver King (Head Boy and Head Chorister in 2022) has been awarded the prestigious Paula and Tony Kinnane Scholarship from The University of Queensland. It is awarded to the student who shows greatest merit in the Bachelor of Music audition. The Scholarship is for the duration of Oliver’s 5-year Bachelor of Music (with Honours - Classical Tenor) and Bachelor of Science, double degrees. Congratulations to Oliver.

Liliana Lester – 2022 Graduate

Area of Study: Bachelor of Dental Health Science, Griffith University

We send our congratulations to past student Liliana Lester (2022) who has recently been awarded a Gallipoli Scholarship. The Gallipoli Scholarship Fund was established in 1996 as a result of donations from a World War I Veterans Association and provides financial, mentoring and networking assistance to the most deserving and meritorious applicants, commencing their first year of tertiary study and who is a direct descendant of a Service man or woman who has served in the Australian or New Zealand Defence Force in any conflict or peacekeeping role since the First World War. Liliana is pictured here attending the awards ceremony at Merrylands RSL in Sydney, what a fantastic opportunity and achievement Lili, congratulations.

Jonty Lees – 2022 Graduate

Area of Study: Bachelor of Engineering (Honours), UTS Sydney

Congratulations to past TAS Tennis Academy player Jonty Lees who won the UTS Sydney UTR men’s doubles & was a semi finalist in the singles event.

Ellen Stone

Dissh Fashion Designer

Tell us about how you started on your path in the fashion industry.

It was a journey! I first studied teaching at uni but it just wasn’t for me. After convincing my parents I could make it in the fashion industry, I changed degrees and later graduated with a degree in branded fashion. I started working in the DISSH warehouse to get my foot in the door. From there, I persistently contacted the business owner to land a role in HQ – and eventually it worked! I started as an assistant, then moved on to becoming a buyer assistant, then a buyer, now I am the creative lead & designer.

Describe you average work day. As a creative lead & designer, my role involves determining what we as a company will look like, what trends we will showcase, what palettes and fabrics we will use and a lot more. This all happens at the start of each season. Fashion is ever-changing, of course! After our vision for the season is cemented, I start the design process There’s really no such thing as an average day in fashion. Within a work week, I could be doing anything from emailing suppliers about different styles in production, designing new styles for the next collection or conducting fittings with the production and buying teams.

Career highlights so far?

I think anyone working in fashion dreams about being featured in Vogue – and well, it happened for me! Our Aisle collection was featured in Vogue (insert year + month). So exciting! I designed the collection and worked closely with marketing for the photo shoot. I’ve also been fortunate enough to travel with work (in the pre-Covid world). Work has taken me to LA, Bali and locally I’d travel to Sydney on a weekly basis. Not a bad perk!

How is Dissh fairing as a brand?

In the last 12 months, we have grown considerably. We launched our website in the northern hemisphere, which was huge. It’s such a challenging time to forecast with supply chain challenges. We are constantly chasing stock deliveries as items sell out – which isn’t a bad problem to have, really. Our aisle mini dress was a huge success – we sold out in the first 12H of launching – and we’d released 600 units pre order which sold out in a few days.

Any advice for younger students wanting to get into fashion?

We love to hear what our young TAS alumni are achieving – please contact TAS via email with your news! Contact Peta Hawes: phawes@taschool.qld.edu.au

Fashion is a tough industry – it’s been a journey to get to where I am. There were a lot of years of the bottom pushing for more, but it’s all been worth it. Don’t settle for anything less than what you want – hustle hard.

Charlotte Ernst Station Hand, Cloncurry

As a little girl, Charlotte dreamed about working on a station in the NT or in far north QLD. Never for a moment did she doubt herself in achieving this dream – and she was right not to – it all became very real, very quickly.

Towards the end of Year 11, Charlotte started exploring her options. She spoke to friends on stations around Queensland to get an insight into the different places. The options for her seemed to be endless but in the end, she decided to start at Gleeson Station, working for T & B Keats and Co – thanks to a strong recommendation through family friends.

“I called Em (my boss) and asked about a job for 2021, within a week I received an email during a Biology Class that said they would love to have me as part of their crew,”, said Charlotte.

When Charlotte first applied for the job, she asked to be part of the crew but was offered an opportunity to work part time with her boss’ children as well as on the station.

TAS Graduate 1986 David Raff

Farming in Tasmania

David and Andrew Raff are father and son TAS graduates, who now proudly call King Island home. On their thousand-hectare property in the lush heart of Tasmania, they run a thriving Angus seedstock operation – 50 years in the making, no less!

Off the back of successive droughts, the Raffs (Andrew and Anna together with their four children Harry, Charlie, Georgina and Olivia) were in search of a new business model and a better lifestyle for their family. It was a massive undertaking, but the Raff family relocated their Angus breeding herd from Drillham (rural Queensland) to the much greener pastures on King Island - to join his parents David and Jill.

David founded the stud in 1965 when he was just 20 years old. He was drawn to the Angus breed for the obvious meat quality. While he was is in school, he would often accompany his parents to the Sydney Royal Show, where the prize-winning carcasses would be displayed.

“It was obvious to me then that the Angus were superior, with fine textured meat covered in an even cover of fat with white flecks of marbling through the meat,” said David. “The Angus would always win the carcass championship.”

It was likely these moments in David’s early years that inspired him to build the operation he runs today with his son, delivering some of the highest regarded cattle in the industry, not something that happens overnight.

“In the early years, the show ring was the only way to

showcase and compare your cattle. The competition was not only other Angus, but all breeds.”

Over time, the Raff’s began to build a name for themselves as they consistently won Angus championship events, as well as other inter-breed competitions. Raff Angus ascended the ranks and took it position up there with the best of the industry best.

Needless to say, their reputation for producing exceptional quality meat has been achieved only through careful, intentional, and sustained efforts.

“When we first visited King Island, we believed organic production was an obvious path,” said David.

“Thankfully, we are not reinventing the wheel and are fortunate to be able to learn from many already wellestablished and very successful farmers within organic production.

“Chemicals are not too dissimilar to antibiotics – resistance is building and there are certainly negative side effects.”

David humbly acknowledges that globally, there is an ever-increasing awareness around soil health, plant health, animal health, and human health, and that carbon sequestration is now included in this awareness.

“We will never claim that our beef will be the best in the world as there are some amazing products out there,” said David.

“However, what we want our beef to have is the complete story and be one that is as nourishing as possible produced as naturally as nature can make it.”

Both David and Andrew are proud of their business and their story - King Island Certified Organic Angus Beef, bred by a family that has been dedicated to the breed since 1965 and now raises it on a farm that sequesters more carbon than it omits.

“I have the best of both worlds being able to work with two of the most beautiful children, Theo (3) and Ella (1), as well as also being able to get out across the station and be involved with the stock work and other station duties,” said Charlotte.

Located 130km north of Cloncurry, Gleeson Station is just one of the stations owned by Keats & Co. They also manage two outstations, Rocky Glen and Whitehills; another station called Belford Station located 100km south of Julia Creek; and Pialah Station located 70km north of Richmond. Across the stations, the have Brahman Composite Cattle, sheep and camels.

So far, the experience for Charlotte has been extremely rewarding and challenging in the best possible way.

“Coming out of High School I was under the impression that I knew more than what I did, and it has been a true eye-opener - challenging and often incredibly tough, sometimes nearly too much to handle.”

“But it has only made me stronger and I’m so proud of how far I have come since I first started.

“I can genuinely say that I have been blessed to work for the most amazing family and am so grateful for everything that they have done for me since I arrived,” said Charlotte.

In the time Charlotte’s been working there, she’s collected a few stories to tell. Just recently they finished the first round of branding out at Whitehills, which provided quite the lifetime experience.

“Due to the roads and the hills across our ‘range’ we can’t truck any of the cattle back from the Whitehills yards to the Gleeson House yards, so we had to walk 800+ head of fresh weaners 60km from one set of yards to the other set,” said Charlotte

“It took us three days and has definitely been the most amazing experience so far - I was able to have a deeper appreciation for the place I work on and how beautiful it truly is.”

TAS Graduate 2004 Jeremy Peacock

Assoc. Director, Para-Athlete

Although an Associate Director by day, Jeremy Peacock does not follow the 9 to 5. Balancing a full-time job with being a para-athlete means he’s up before dawn and home well after the rest of us put our feet up of a night. If he isn’t in the boardroom or at home, he’s clocking kilometres on the bike, on the track, or in the pool. All of which, he does with cerebral palsy.

Relocating from New Zealand to Toowoomba as a child, the bulk of Jeremy’s primary school years were spent TAS, during which time he was heavily involved in music, as well as sport - namely Cross Country. As Fairfax Captain and Prefect in his final year, Jeremy went on to excel throughout his time at high school

and in university, topping his class in several subjects and landing a position as an accountant with global accounting company KPMG. Over the years, as his career has progressed and he climbed the corporate ladder, his love for running grew. As he continued to compete in endurance events, and in light of his consistent efforts both on and off the track, in 2020 Jeremy was officially recognised as a World Triathlon Para triathlete.

Though COVID threw a spanner in the works and disrupted travel and competition schedules on many levels, 2022 saw Jeremy reach new heights, when he represented Australia in the PTS4 (Para Triathlon Series 4) Montreal World Championships, claiming first place in the gruelling event. Now preparing to represent his nation again this year in the 2023 Abu Dhabi World Championships, Jeremy continues to train alongside working full-time, which helps to fund his travels and competition.

Victory on the world stage and corporate success aside, Jeremy’s determination, perseverance, and commitment to challenging himself is perhaps his most inspiring facet. You need not scroll far through his social media or the TAS yearbook to understand and appreciate that behind this success is – and always has been - a mentality of grit, hard work, and sacrifice.