Open Hearts and Minds

from Omnibus - November 2021

Old Boy News

Toowoomba Grammar School was delighted to host the 15th annual Sony Foundation Children’s Holiday Camp on the first weekend of the September school holidays.

Fifty-one Year 11 students from TGS, along with 24 girls from The Glennie School and Fairholme College were ‘carer companions’ to 37 children with special needs (7-14 year olds). There were also ten Year 12 boys who were companions last year, who kindly returned to assist.

The aim of the Sony Camp is to provide families and carers some much needed respite while their children enjoy three days of fun activities, hosted by their Year 11 companions. They participate in swimming, games/sports, movies, art and craft, visits from emergency services and a concert, culminating with a Show Day on the Toowoomba Grammar School Old Boys’ Memorial Oval on Monday.

This has become a major event on the TGS calendar; it’s a highlight for the TGS community and each year we are oversubscribed with the number of boys wishing to take part. It is a wonderful example of student engagement as these teenagers take on the significant responsibility of looking after a child with a disability for the duration of the camp. Every year the mentors say it’s been a time of growth, learning and newfound appreciation for them. Our experience has shown that by placing the boys as personal companions we can broaden their understanding of the realities and complexities of life. They meet new people and make new friends, and it is a time of great growth for generous young adults. It is a learning experience that they are unlikely to get in any other situation. The parents of the children attending the camp place great trust in our boys by allowing them to look after their children and are grateful for the opportunity.

1. Participants in the 2021 Sony Camp

Reflections from some Year 11 Companions

“It’s just opened up so many different perspectives on life. I’ve seen how fortunate I am. Lots of these children can’t do things that I take for granted. It’s opened me up to what that’s like.” - Tom Walker

“I’ve loved seeing the enjoyment on their faces, doing things that they normally wouldn’t do.”

- Zack Lane

“Until this experience, you don’t understand how lucky you are in life, and you get to see what these kids have to live with. To be able to bring some joy over these couple of days, it’s just great.”

- Kai McLoughlin

“It’s allowed me to see the world from a wider scope; my perspective was so minimal before. Now I see how other people live and interact. It’s not only allowed for me to grow, but our guests to grow too, as they don’t get to have this much fun regularly.”