2007 Grammarian

From the Principal

1 From the Principal’s desk One of the most rewarding aspects of my role is being involved in a range of School events, particularly those that bring together various sections of the School Community and contribute to our very strong ‘sense of community’.

The School’s biennial Production is such an event.

Sweeney Todd is my fifth Production, following: Into the Woods (1999), The Threepenny Opera (2001), A Little Night Music (2003) and Kiss Me Kate (2005). Sweeney Todd was an extraordinary event, showcasing an enormous range of staff and student talent and drawing together parents, staff, students, Past Grammarians, School supporters and past

Page 1 From the Principal Captains 2007 Page 3

CONTENTS

School News Page 5 Junior School Page 7

families. The work ethic and creative talents of Artistic Director, Ms Fiona Perry, and her team was inspiring for all in the School Community.

The School now hosts a range of very successful events as part of its social calendar. Each involves an enormous amount of volunteer work and each contributes to the social cohesiveness of our School community. These events now include the P & F Golf Day, the Black & Gold Ball, the Black & Gold Art Show and the Ladies Auxiliary Melbourne Cup Luncheon.

Our most recent acquisition, thanks to the Black & Gold Supporters, has been a beautiful

Yamaha C7 Grand Piano, currently housed in the TGS Music Centre. Sourced from Canberra, the piano has been a fine acquisition for the School and demonstrates an ongoing commitment for Music and the Arts at Grammar.

Whether it is Sweeney Todd, a Golf Day, a Ball, Art Show or Melbourne Cup Luncheon, the School is privileged to enjoy the parent support that it does and I, once again, extend my heartfelt gratitude to the many who make a special contribution to our ‘sense of community’.

Mr Richard Fairley Principal

Senior School Captains Scott Warnock Scott has been a student at Townsville Grammar since entering Year 6 in 2001. On his appointment as Boys School Captain he was filled with pride and truly believes that the leadership team elected this year can productively contribute fresh ideas while supporting the values, culture and traditions inherent in the School community.

An emblematic ‘all rounder’ is a term that typifies Scott’s contribution to the School over the past six years. Academically he has received awards ranging from a High Distinction in the Australian Schools Writing Competition to a Maxima Cum Laude.

Scott has received Cultural Awards for his contribution to Big Band, Symphony Orchestra and has participated in Arts Fusion and School Productions. Scott’s personal expertise shines in the sporting arena where he has received a Tri-Medal each year he has attended Townsville Grammar. Sporting accomplishments extend further for Scott with his inclusion in not only TGS Rugby, Basketball, Water Polo and Lifesaving, but also representing Townsville, North Queensland and Queensland in these sports at various age levels and grades throughout his High School years.

Middle School Hayley Foruria

Page 8 Senior School Page 9 School Production Page 11 Past Grammarians Page 14 TGS Community

Hayley has been a student at Townsville Grammar since entering Year 8 in 2003. Overwhelmed and honoured by the announcement of Girls School Captain, she immediately responded to the appointment by declaring a commitment to support the students, staff and School by role modelling good character and moral leadership.

Hayley has maintained a healthy balance between her academic, co-curricular and social development. She has received a Magna Cum Laude and an Academic Award each year since commencing her studies at TGS. Hayley’s passion for Mathematics and Science has also been well rewarded with Distinctions in the Australian Mathematics Competitions and an acceptance to the National Youth Science Forum in Canberra early this year. Hayley’s contribution to cultural aspects of the School has seen her participate in the Production, the TGS Dance Group and Mezzo Choir. She has also been an active and supportive TGS Interact committee member. Hayley has busied her life further by participating in the School’s fitness programme, Hockey, Softball, Water Polo, Soccer, Lifesaving, Swimming and Cross Country teams over the past four years. Her skill and love of Hockey has seen Hayley represent Townsville and North Queensland and she was named Most Valuable Player for TGS Hockey in 2006.

Hayley’s generous nature, genuine citizenship and energy for life will greatly enhance her expressed commitment to leadership within the School throughout 2007.

Image on Front Cover courtesy of Newspix/Troy Rodgers/News Ltd

Middle School Captains Sarangan Ketheesan

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Sarangan is a very dedicated student and has always given his personal best. In each eligible year at the Junior School (2003-2005) Sarangan achieved a Cum Laude Award and received an Academic Award. In 2005 he was also named as Proxime Accessit of the Junior School. Last year, he achieved a Maxima Cum Laude and received Academic Awards for English, Music and Performing Arts, also being awarded the Dux of Year 8.

Zoe Kaesehagen Zoe arrived at TGS last year as a Boarder from Kalgoorlie. Zoe embraced TGS from the beginning and became involved in all aspects of life at the School.

In Sport, Zoe was the 13 years Girls Swimming Age Champion and Runner-up Age Champion in 13 years Girls Athletics and a valuable member of the Interschool Swimming, Athletics and Cross Country teams. Zoe was awarded a Tri-Medal at the Sports Awards evening for her commitment to Interschool Sport. Zoe was also a valuable player in the premiership winning Under 13 years Girls Netball team.

2006 was a successful year academically for Zoe, achieving a Magna Cum Laude as well as an Academic Award and the HPE Award. In addition, Zoe received a Cultural Award in recognition of her commitment to the Dancing group. To cap off a successful year, Zoe was awarded the ‘Year 8 Best All Round Girl’.

Junior School Captains Connor McKay Connor commenced Preschool at Townsville Grammar Junior School in 2002. He is an excellent student who received both a Cum Laude and an Academic Award last year and an Encouragement Award in 2005.

Connor’s favourite subjects are English and Mathematics. He has participated in Art Club and Scottish Country Dancing. As our elected Junior School Captain, Connor is looking forward to making the most of his opportunity to assist students and teachers during the course of the year.

Ainsley Walsh Ainsley joined the Townsville Grammar Junior School in 2004 as a Year 3 student and has proven herself to be diligent and hardworking. In 2006, she received a Distinction in the UNSW English Competition, a Cum Laude and an Encouragement Award. Ainsley was Age Champion for Cross Country and went on to compete in both the Interschool Athletics and Cross Country teams.

Ainsley’s favourite subject is Mathematics and she hopes to one day pursue a career in medicine, perhaps as a Plastic Surgeon. As our elected Junior School Captain, Ainsley wants to be a responsible leader and a positive role model for her peers and the younger students of the School.

Head Boarders Shaun Kolo Shaun attended Alyangula Area School on Groote Eylandt for the whole of his primary schooling.

From heading the Student Representative Council on Groote, Shaun has taken on leadership roles in the Boarding House throughout the years as House Representative.

Shaun is passionate about Drama and is a tireless worker in the area of performing arts.

His ambition is to study Dramatic Arts after graduating from Grammar. His chosen sport is Rugby.

Raelene Hardy Raelene came to Townsville Grammar School from Cairns School of Distance Education in 2003.

Throughout her stay at the School, Raelene has received a number of awards for Academic and Cultural Achievement. She aims to finish Year 12 with excellent academic results.

Raelene is heavily involved in the School’s Music programme, as a member of the Orchestra and Choir. She is also a participant in the Junior Science Ambassadors programme at James Cook University. Her favourite subjects are Biology and Chemistry.

Whilst at Grammar, Raelene’s family have moved from the Torres Straits to Townsville to Brisbane and to Sarina, where they currently reside.

Captains 2007

Sarangan also demonstrates strengths in the Cultural and Sporting aspects of the School. In 2006, he received a Cultural Award for his achievements in debating and recently performed in Sweeney Todd. In 2005, Sarangan was named in the U12 North Queensland Hockey Team and last year he was a member of the Open Hockey team and the U15 Cricket team. Sarangan’s amazing achievements in 2006 were recognised at the end of the year by being named as the ‘Year 8 Best All Round Boy’.

3 INTRODUCING MR SAMUEL BLANCH,

School News

DIRECTOR OF MUSIC...

Mr Samuel Blanch joins the School from Saint Andrews Cathedral School, Sydney, where he was Head of House and involved in all facets of the Music Department, with a particular involvement in choirs, instrumental ensembles and curriculum music. Mr Blanch has a large variety of both music and teaching experience from all over Australia and abroad. Mr Blanch chose to take the position at TGS based on the School’s well deserved excellent reputation of both Music and Academic performance.

Mr Blanch grew up in Armidale, New South Wales and completed a Bachelor of Music at Canberra School of Music, majoring in Piano and studied in London for four years.

Moving back to his hometown, Mr Blanch was the Musician in Residence in Armidale at New England Girls’ School and decided

Our new Grand Piano The Music Department were fortunate to have the Black and Gold Committee purchase a Yamaha C7 Grand Piano through money raised in various Black & Gold fundraising events such as the Black & Gold Ball.

The fabulous piano is situated in the Music Centre, stimulating instrumental music and performance. Students have already enjoyed great use from the piano’s arrival, with Mr Samuel Blanch, Director of Music, being a talented pianist as well as an experienced Music teacher.

Mr Blanch was delighted by the arrival of the grand piano last month, and was amused by its arrival on the removalist truck - the piano was wrapped in many doonas to protect the magnificent instrument.

Interact

As an incentive to the students to encourage donations, the form class within the School that

Mr Blanch has enjoyed moving to Townsville and is impressed by the city’s vibrant cultural life, although noting that the weather is quite different from the usual colder climates of the southern states and the UK. Mr Blanch is always thrilled to get up and go to work in the mornings, stating “Teaching music is always an exciting thing to do.”

Ms Hopkins in class with her Year 9 students

Students enjoying the new Grand Piano

Townsville Grammar’s Interact Club organised the collection hundreds of nonperishable food items to donate to the Salvation Army for their 2007 Food Appeal, as part of their local community service programme for the year.

that teaching music was a passion that needed to be fulfilled. Mr Blanch studied at the University of Sydney to achieve his Master of Teaching in which he received First Class Honours.

collected the most food items was treated to a pizza party. This certainly helped to create a worthwhile rivalry between classes, and increase the number of items collected.

On the 29th of May, at the lunchtime meeting of the TGS Interact Club, Mrs Clarry Green, Manager for Community Services from the Salvation Army’s Townsville and Thuringowa office, was present to accept this year’s donations and to talk to the Club about what happens to the food items they have donated.

LEFT Mrs Clarry Green, Ayeshmanthe Rathnayake and Archee Singh

International Connections Ms Jennifer Hopkins is partaking in a Teacher Exchange with Ms Megan Nelson, who is currently in Canada.

Ms Hopkins is in Townsville for one year, originally from the Louise Dean Centre in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

Ms Hopkins came to Townsville in January, 2007 and was “blown away by the humidity. I

wasn’t sure if my legs swelled or my pants shrunk!”, but has slowly become acclimatised to the weather, now even finding herself wearing a jumper at night in Townsville. Ms Hopkins has also noticed her pastimes have adapted to the Townsville weather, taking a scuba diving course instead of her usual cross country

skiing in the cooler months.

Ms Hopkins has been enjoying her time at TGS, finding both the staff and students very friendly and genuinely pleasant. Ms Hopkins is happy to report that Australian students are really no different to her Canadian students, stating, “Kids will be kids no matter where you go in the world.”

As part of our commitment to keeping in contact with our School families, far and wide, in March, 2007 Mr Richard Fairley, Mrs Nina Fairley and Mrs Kristell Scott travelled to Hong Kong to talk to current families and interview prospective parents at the AASHKCN Australian Boarding Schools Expo.

enjoyed meeting Mr and Mrs Fairley and the company of each other – for some it was a renewing of old friendships, and, hopefully, the start of others. Although an informal function, in many ways this visit serves as parent-teacher interviews and careers counselling all rolled in to one.

Currently, TGS has 15 students from Hong Kong enrolled either as Boarders or in a Homestay situation in Townsville.

Although the evening was scheduled to conclude at 7.30pm, it actually finished about an hour later, after the backdrop of the spectacular Lights Show on the Harbour and the lively chatter had concluded. TGS staff were quite humbled by the level of trust that these families have in Townsville Grammar and their obviously high level of satisfaction with their choice of school for their children.

On Friday the 16th of March, Mr Fairley hosted a Parents’ Function in the upstairs lounge of the Sheraton Hotel. Two interpreters were also invited to attend to make sure that communication was as clear as possible. It was well attended by current parents who genuinely

Official Opening of the Edna Shaw Ceramics Studio On Founders Day this year, Townsville Grammar officially opened the ‘Edna Shaw Ceramics Studio’. Special guest, Miss Edna Shaw, attended the ceremony, which was followed by a pleasant morning tea, allowing Miss Shaw to meet several of the recipients of the Award that she generously sponsors.

Miss Shaw was a student at Townsville Grammar from 1938 to 1940. It was in fact while at Grammar that Miss Shaw first gained her passion for art, when

Boss Rowland explained the differences in the paintings of Gainsborough and Sir Joshua Reynolds.

Since her days at Grammar, Miss Shaw has completed a Fine Arts course at the University of Melbourne and worked as a Research Assistant , Teacher and Examiner in the field of the Fine Arts.

School News

Miss Shaw is passionate about art and sponsors five Art subject prizes awarded to Year 8 to Year 12 students at the Annual Speech Night Awards.

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It is a fitting tribute to Miss Shaw’s dedication to both the Fine Arts and Townsville Grammar School that the new state of the art Ceramics Studio be named in her honour.

LEFT Mr Richard Fairley and Miss Edna Shaw at the opening of the Edna Shaw Ceramics Studio

National Sports Representatives Three Townsville Grammar School students have proved that passion, dedication and no doubt, talent can lead to representing Australia for your sport.

Hayley Grant, Katie Cox and Brad Simmons had the honour of representing Australia at the Youth Olympic Festival in their chosen sports.

Hayley, who is currently in Year 11, is a talented sportswoman, representing Queensland and Australia on various occasions for Cycling. Hayley started cycling at age 10, and has gone on to have an amazing list of achievements, including coming in the top ten for the 2007 National Track Championships and winning the Under 15 Women’s Road Race at the National Road Championships in 2005.

Hayley Grant, Brad Simmons and Katie Cox

Katie, who is currently completing Year 12, has established herself at TGS as a sporting power. Katie has represented Queensland and Australia in Athletics. Katie’s top achievements are winning the Long Jump and placing third in the Triple Jump at the Australian All Schools Track and Field Championships in December 2006.

Brad, who is currently in Year 10, is an amazing swimmer, holding many records. He has represented both Queensland and Australia, most recently winning five gold medals at the 2007 State Age Championships, as well as four gold medals at the 2007 Australian Age Nationals. Brad was also selected to be part of the Trans Tasman series.

All three students are kept extremely busy with study, training and competing. With such dedication to their sports, their success is sure to continue.

Introducing Mr Simon Armstrong Deputy Principal (Operations)...

After over 20 years of teaching on the Gold Coast, with twelve of those years being at All Saints Anglican School in the role of Head of Faculty and Director of Sport and Activities, Mr Simon Armstrong needed a new challenge in his teaching career. Mr Armstrong felt that the position of Deputy Principal (Operations) at TGS was an opportunity not to be missed.

contact with the students and staff, addressing issues and trying to solve problems together.

As a result, Mr Armstrong made the move to Townsville with his wife, Kylie, and children Oliver, Benjamin and Meg. Their first impression of Townsville was a positive one, with everyone so friendly and welcoming.

Drawing inspiration from his wife and children, Mr Armstrong is also inspired by TGS students, stating that “they are fantastic.”

Each day presents Mr Armstrong with unique situations and new challenges, which is what he says makes his job so enjoyable and satisfying. The favourite part of Mr Armstrong’s new position is when he is in

Mr Armstrong is looking forward to the upcoming challenges that lie ahead, as well as the successful implementation of initiated changes that will ultimately benefit the TGS Community.

Mr Armstrong has already made a positive impact on the students, staff and the TGS School Community, and it is a pleasure to welcome him to TGS.

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celebrating 10 years of PRIMARY Schooling

Junior School

AT THE ANNANDALE CAMPUS

Past Junior School students, Cameron O’Flynn, James Gauld and Bronte Lyne

Liam Kelly, Amelia Wade and Mrs Elizabeth Gauld cut the birthday cake

Ms Belinda Cusack and Ms Kim Rooney performing the School Song

Founders Day 2007 Celebrating 10 Years of Junior School Founders Day 2007 marked the 10 year anniversary of the opening of the Junior School in 1997. On the first day of Term Two, the entire Junior School gathered to celebrate the Junior School’s 10th Birthday Party.

Special guests for the day included foundation staff, Mrs Lynda Colwell and

Mrs Jenny Svane, as well as Past Grammarians, and now current teaching staff, Ms Kim Rooney and Ms Belinda Cusack. Ms Rooney and Ms Cusack performed the School Song in Latin. Also attending the day were past Junior School students, Bronte Lyne (10/07), James Gauld (11/07) and Cameron O’Flynn (12/07) who spoke on behalf of the student body.

Everyone sang ‘Happy Birthday’ and a big cake was cut by the youngest student, Liam Kelly, and the oldest student in the Junior School, Amelia Wade.

The celebrations ended with all students receiving a drink and a muffin, with a great morning had by all.

Community Service Group The Community Service Group consists of nine dedicated students, elected by their peers, who organise fundraising events for various charities at the Junior School. This year the group is taking a three-pronged approach and is looking at a Global Project, Local Projects and National Projects.

The major Global Project is the sponsoring of an Ethiopian child through World Families Australia and helping with funds for a project in Liwan.

The aim of the project is to provide clean water and a school in this remote village in south-west Ethiopia, as the village currently has no clean water, no health facilities and the community are highly motivated for education to be

available to the adults and children of their village.

A gold coin trail in Term One raised enough money to sponsor a child for a whole year and donate funds to the Liwan project. The Community Service Group intends for this to be an ongoing project over many years and will continue to support their sponsor child and the Liwan project. The Community Service Group were delighted to receive a photo of their sponsored child, Temesgen Arage and some further information about him.

He is four years old and lives in Jimma, a town in south-west Ethiopia.

activities to support other charities. A Funky Hair Day was held on Friday, the 25th of May to assist the Leukaemia Foundation. For the Interhouse Cross-Country the group sold House wristbands to help support Research into Childhood Cancer.

Each year level is also taking on a project and will be assisted by the Community Service Group to hold their fundraising activity. So far the Year Three students have sold ANZAC Badges for Legacy and other classes have activities planned for later in the year such as helping the RSPCA with a pet food appeal and many other worthwhile activities.

The Community Service Group have also organised other

From the construction site in 1996 through to completion and beyond

Junior School Community Service Group’s Sponsor Child, Temesgen Arage and his family

Grandparents and Special Friends Day Grandparents and Special Friends Day was held on the 23rd of May with over 350 guests attending.

One highlight of the morning was the cutting of the 10th Anniversary Birthday cake by Nancy Armati who went to School at Grammar in the 1940’s and then later taught at Grammar. Her Great Niece, Emily Brazier, also helped with the cake cutting.

There was no doubt that the students, grandparents, special friends and staff thoroughly enjoyed the day and it is one of those days that enhances tremendous community spirit. The grandparents and special friends bring a wonderful warmth and feel to the School. Students and staff look forward to putting on another wonderful day in 2008.

LEFT Grandparents, Special Friends and students enjoying the activities of Grandparents and Special Friends day

Mr Noel Nethery joined the Townsville Grammar Junior School Community in January this year as the Head of the Junior School. He comes to TGS from the Gold Coast, where he was Head of Junior School at Saint Stephen’s College for 11 years. Mr Nethery has been in the teaching profession for 24 years and loves it immensely.

Mr Nethery is joined in Townsville by his wife, Michelle, and three children, Tesfa, Yideg (both adopted from Ethiopia) and Ruben.

The entire family has settled in to Townsville well, moving into Fairfield Waters and enjoy the Townsville lifestyle very much. One of the many reasons Mr Nethery accepted the position at TGS was that he says that “Townsville is a great place to bring up the family.”

Mr Nethery has already been busy at the Junior School in 2007, being instrumental in starting the new Pre-Prep Centre in 2008. He is looking

forward to the future challenges at the Junior School and already feels the strong support of the School Community.

Mr Nethery feels that his most memorable moment so far at TGS has been the warmth with which the Junior School Community has welcomed himself and his family, and hopes that this relationship continues and grows stronger as the years progress.

Mr Noel Nethery, Head of Junior School, and his family

2008 and Beyond...Announcing Pre-Prep for 2008 As part of the continued strategic development of Townsville Grammar School, in late 2007 construction of a purpose-built Pre-Prep facility will commence, with a view to students actually starting classes early in 2008.

The Pre-Prep is a natural response to the Queensland government Preparatory Year initiative, implemented in 2007 in all Queensland schools. The TGS Pre-Prep will cater for those students who turn four years of age prior to the 30th of June, in the year they enter Pre-Prep – in other words, Preparatory Year minus one.

When Principal Richard Fairley announced the news of plans to open the Pre-Prep centre at the Prep Information Night in

March, 2007, the news was greeted with overwhelming support and acclamation by current and prospective parents, looking to fill the learning “gap” created by Prep.

To cater for the needs of the three and four year olds, a purpose-built Pre-Prep Centre with its own play area and facilities will soon start to take shape near the Overflow Carpark on the Annandale campus. Parents will be able to access two, three or five day programmes, complete with long day care, should it be required.

A differentiating feature of the TGS Pre-Prep will be the set programme within each day, from 9am until 3pm. The set programme part of the day will aim specifically at preparing the eager young minds for Prep

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the following year, colourfully weaving PreLiteracy and Pre-Numeracy skills into their play-based learning.

TGS Pre-Prep will form a vital bridge between child care and the formal learning environment of Prep, designed specifically for these fledgling Grammarians.

BELOW Current Prep Students

Junior School

Guests enjoyed the day’s offerings of classroom visits, morning tea and two concerts. It was quite a spectacle seeing grandparents and children sharing morning tea in the Quadrangle under the shade of all the colourful House tents.

Introducing Mr Noel Nethery, Head of Junior School..

7 The Middle School

Middle School

twelve months on...

It has been just over a year since the Middle School was officially opened. The gardens have grown, the Middle School Plaza has been well used for many of the School’s events, and we have seen our inaugural Middle School Leaders go to the next stage of their school life, moving to the Senior School. The Middle School is now well oiled in its second year of operation, proving a success to the happy Year 7 to 9 students who partake in all the Middle School has to offer.

LEFT Students abseiling on Year 7 Camp RIGHT Students enjoying one of the challenges at Year 7 Camp

Students were able to experience interesting activities such as Landsliding, an Obstacle Course, Low Ropes, Archery and Abseiling.

The Middle School students were happy to learn that they were actually allowed to get wet and muddy as part of some of the activities!

After several days of camping and fun outdoor activities, the students were happy to get back home to Townsville and go back in their air-conditioned classrooms on Monday morning.

Middle School Citizenship Committee Easter Drive 2007 For Easter this year, the Middle School Citizenship Committee took on the fundraising project of selling Easter Eggs.

The Committee sold three different types of Easter Eggs with a personalised card.

On the 19th of April, the Middle School hosted a parental forum where Middle School students had the opportunity to display their learning journals and assessment tasks related to their Term One Drug Education Unit. The theme of the evening celebrated the fact that TGS Middle School students “Say No to Drugs!”

The evening commenced with the Principal, Mr Richard Fairley, and the Head of Middle School, Mr Mark Zietsch addressing the importance of having such a comprehensive and developmental programme embedded within the Middle School curriculum. The aim of all three year level units was to promote student resilience and to teach students alternate ways of dealing with confronting and challenging situations that they may face at their particular phase of life.

Year 7 Camp

102 enthusiastic Year 7 Campers and 10 excited staff members travelled to Mungalli Falls on the Atherton Tablelands on the 15th of May to experience the fun of Year 7 Camp.

Drug Education Forum

Students were able to purchase the chocolate eggs for their friends, with the students delighting in sending interesting and fun messages in the cards.

In the last week of Term One, the Committee delivered the chocolate gifts to the students.

The Citizenship Committee was thrilled to learn that they had raised nearly $400 and decided to donate the money to The Townsville Hospital Foundation with the funds to be used for the Children's Ward.

RIGHT The Middle School Citizenship Committee present the cheque of money raised in the Easter Egg Drive to The Townsville Hospital Foundation Photograph courtesy of The Townsville Hospital Foundation

Representatives from Pickards BDS, the National Australia Bank and the Queensland Ambulance Service presented the School with a variety of Drug Education resources that will be a valuable tool to strengthen the future learning opportunities for students.

Students gave a series of presentations in which they outlined the types of learning activities that they had engaged in over the term. Special guest, Senior Detective Adam Golding gave a brief presentation in which he outlined ‘the real scene for Middle School aged children in Townsville’ and gave some advice to parents as to the ‘danger signs’ to watch out for in relation to children and early drug uptake.

The conclusion to the forum was a tour of the Middle School classrooms where parents could view student learning journals, explore the various Drug Education Programmes that the students had worked with over the term on the School computers and, finally, view a selection of multi-media assessment tasks from Years 8 and 9 that were displayed on the big screen in selected classrooms.

The feedback from students and parents was extremely positive and the School is already working on the presentation for 2008.

Mr Ray Park Head of HPE

National Youth Science Forum

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RIGHT Annika Nichols, Annabel Sheehan and Hayley Foruria

Our New Head of Senior School, Mrs Susie Ahern

The National Youth Science Forum is designed for students who are considering a career in science, engineering and technology related disciplines.

Annika Nichols, Annabel Sheehan and Hayley Foruria were fortunate enough to be selected to be part of the national programme held at the Australian National University in January this year. Only 288 students from Australia are selected to attend the Forum based on their academic, communication and social merit. The students were able to experience life as a university student, meet scientists and researchers

Mrs Ahern commenced her High School teaching career over 25 years ago as the Health and Physical Education Coordinator at St Patrick’s College in Townsville until 1992, when she married and started her family.

Susie Ahern is married to Greg Ahern, a Past Grammarian and has three children, Wylie, Joel and Belle, who are all currently enjoying their Junior and Middle schooling at Townsville Grammar School – a blend of the old and new!

Mrs Ahern is passionately committed to the position of the Head of Senior School and Townsville Grammar School, stating “I am dedicated to providing educational leadership in the Pastoral Care and behaviour management, as well as the personal growth and development of all students in Years 10, 11 and 12.”

Mrs Ahern describes the most rewarding part of her new position as her involvement in the Pastoral Care of both students and staff, adding, “There is an openness and acceptance for all members of the School Community that makes Townsville Grammar School a rewarding and fulfilling place to work.”

The Rotary organisation has a strong connection with the Forum, being involved in the selection process, as well as looking after the students once they arrive in Canberra.

The girls thoroughly enjoyed the amazing experience and glowingly recommended the Forum to any student considering a career in science.

Rugby Tour The TGS First XV Rugby team will be travelling to the UK in September for their bi-annual international Rugby Tour.

Mrs Susie Ahern started teaching at TGS in 1997. After teaching at Townsville Grammar School for the past 10 years, Mrs Ahern was appointed to take up the challenge as the Head of Senior School.

and mingle with likeminded science buffs.

The first game will be against Yarm School, North Yorkshire, with the second being against North Berwick High School, Scotland. This will be Grammar’s third game against North Berwick in three years.

The TGS team played on North Berwick’s home ground in 2005, and they visited Townsville last year for the game.

The team then goes on to play the Ullswater Community College in NorthWest England and then King Edward VI

School in Stratford-Upon-Avon. After losing to King Edward VI School on their tour here in 2006, the team is keen to square the ledger!

In their final game in the UK, the TGS team will be playing in the evening under lights at Blackheath Rugby Club, the oldest rugby club in the world, to play Sevenoaks School.

The tour will not be entirely all hard work with the team taking time out to visit the tourist and cultural sites of Bath and London.

TAFE In an effort to expand the curriculum offerings to Senior School students, the option of participating in TAFE programmes on a Thursday afternoon was introduced.

This curriculum networking with TAFE has meant that students can sample courses not offered at the School, for example, automotive skills and hair and beauty techniques, or engage in practical skills such as Asian cooking, distinctive desserts and retail skills, to name a few.

This has proved a very popular option with 90 plus students across Years 10 to 12 participating in the afternoon TAFE programme in 2007.

The range of courses that were undertaken this semester include:

Automotive, Beauty, Basic Asian Cookery, Distinctive Desserts, Vegetarian Cooking, Art, Computer Aided Drafting Systems, Retail, Information Technology, Senior First Aid and Hospitality.

Students gain from studying off site and TAFE operates very differently from high school; the lecturers are experienced trades and business people and the expectations placed on students are that they operate to industry standards. In many cases, the skills and confidence acquired is of assistance in helping students secure part-time employment. The whole experience proves enormously beneficial to TGS students.

The School’s relationship with TAFE operates within the curriculum structure offered to Senior students. Where participation in a TAFE certificate is of interest to a Senior student, they are released from attending School one day per week to undertake relevant certificate studies. This option caters for a range of student interests, allowing the School to respond to the individual learning needs of the student.

Students who undertake this option will become committed and organised students, as their Senior Schooling takes on focus and relevance as they move towards post school goals.

Senior School

Three TGS Year 12 students recently took time out of their School holidays to travel to Canberra to experience a two week programme all about science.

Photographs by Townsville Grammar School, Grail Films and Ellen Musk

School Production

9 From the Production Director, Ms Fiona Perry Some of our students wanted to get their artistic hands on Sweeney Todd back in 2003, but we weren’t ready back then to take on this most challenging musical.

Now, for the first time in my 10 years at TGS, we had the

abundance of male singers needed. This is mostly a legacy of the foundation work put in

by Ms Cathie Neil and culminating in the wonderful singing you saw on stage. Mr Samuel Blanch, the new Director of Music, stepped in to fill the gap and has been extremely supportive.

Stephen Sondheim, the composer of Sweeney Todd is regarded in the music theatre industry and its training schools as a God. This is because Sondheim marries intelligent lyrics to the perfect notes emotionally. His characters are not the one-dimensional types you usually find in musicals.

They are as complex and contradictory as characters in a realistic play. This is why his musicals make excellent material for our actors.

Sondheim also writes good roles for lots of characters.

Sweeney Todd has nine principal roles and, for the first time, we brought you a chorus who sang individually and in small groups.

Sweeney Todd has a rich plot with developed dialogue to commend it, the comic twists of pure melodrama and a good moral ending. Sweeney, like

Macbeth, is an anti-hero, and Mrs Lovett hovers between horrible and hilarious.

In September last year we set out on the journey to bring our audience Sweeney Todd. Firstly we underwent lengthy auditions, where all the talented students in our Music and Drama departments auditioned for roles. At those auditions, only one thing was immediately clear to the panel of six who considered the final choices - we had in newcomer Sadheesh Rathnayake, a superb Anthony Hope.

From November, right up to Christmas and until March, the Principals and I worked on the characters while Kezia Perry played the score and taught the songs. The exciting climax of this time was a trip to Sydney to see the Australian Opera’s Sweeney Todd at the Opera House. For myself, Assistant Director Alex Hammerton and the Principals and their parents, it was a terrific inspiration because the students could see what we were setting out to achieve. We met two of their young Principals after the show and asked them lots of valuable questions.

However, we did have had to overcome many setbacks! The pie shop was saved by two heroic fathers (John Hammerton and Barry Bennett) and my Assistant Director. They gave up their Easter holiday and many subsequent weekends to build the huge revolve and invent the barber chair and chute that formed the centre piece of the set. Another hurdle was when our original pies turned black!

The TGS Production of Sweeney Todd is a result of the generosity and sacrifice of a huge team of more than 180 people who have been driven by the magic and fun that make theatre memorable.

Congratulations and thank you to all the staff, students and family members who helped make the show such a fantastic success.

Ms Fiona Perry Production Director

Reflections from Student Assistant Director, Alexandria Hammerton

Alex Hammerton was selected for the position due her continued dedication to performance and music throughout her years at TGS.

schedule and occasionally running the rehearsals.

With the close of the curtain on the closing night of the Production, Alex was ecstatic with her positive contribution to ensuring that Sweeney Todd was a polished and wonderful experience for not only the audience, but for all students involved in the Production.

RIGHT Alexandria Hammerton

The Making of a TGS Production A TGS Production does not just ‘happen’.

There are many months of work behind the two or three hours of entertainment that is put on stage. So why do we choose to commit ourselves to Production?

The Production gives staff and students alike an opportunity to see a completely different facet of Townsville Grammar life and the multitude of talents we possess. This talent runs throughout the School, from our Director, Ms Fiona Perry’s inspired vision of how to tell a tale, to how two of our Dads, Mr Hammerton and Mr Bennett, were able to solve a massive set building problem with ingenuity and diligence. But, it was the students, as always, who made the months of work and the sleep

deprivation all worth it.

Similarly, Production engenders such a positive sense of community spirit . The willingness of students who were not part of the Production cast or crew to volunteer their time and effort to the Victorian Fair, particularly our younger students from the Junior School, is a fine example of the uniqueness of the Grammar Community.

Being behind the scenes of Production and sharing in the excitement and anticipation is a professionally rich experience. In Production years, the Production team becomes a family, enjoying each others’ successes and commiserating over each others’ disappointments. There are the occasional disappointments which are just as, if not more,

important as the successes. It is in such moments students develop real character strengths in forgetting a line they learn resilience, in missing a rehearsal and being called out for it - they learn responsibility, in performing at less than their bestthey learn the importance of stamina.

Above all else, the Production is FUN! Being a part of Production is one of the most rewarding Grammar experiences anyone, student or teacher, can have. It allows us to get to know each other better in striving for a brilliant shared goal - a stage performance of which we can all be proud.

Ms Yvonne West Producer

School Production

Ms Fiona Perry had an unenviable and endless job as the Director of the Production. In 2007, Ms Perry decided to have a Student Assistant Director to help lighten the load.

Alex brought a great deal of organisational and music experience to the table, but she admits that she has learned a lot from her experience working on the Production. Alex had to manage over ten hours of Production related time each week, as well as the usual workload required of such a diligent Year 12 student. As Assistant Director, Alex was required to complete a myriad of tasks, including making sure events happened according to

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Past Grammarians

11 Past Grammarian News GRAHAM TUTTY [1938] and FOSTER BARTON [1943] were recent visitors to the School. Graham lives in Melbourne and was the only past student who enlisted in the Merchant Navy in World War Two. Foster enlisted in the AIF during World War Two and was also involved in the Vietnam War.

Another recent visitor from Melbourne was EDNA SHAW [1940], Patron of the Past Grammarians Association. Edna is a great supporter of the Association and the School and had the honour to have the new Ceramics Studio named after her. Edna is very keen on the Arts and sponsors five Speech Night prizes in the Arts. Edna is also a fount of knowledge on the School’s history and has been a great help to the Archivist.

The Archivist would also like to thank COLIN KELLY [1944], PAT TOOHEY OAM [1941], Professor ALAN SEAWRIGHT [1946] and ROB LINNETT [1944] for their help in tracking down the winner of the 1943 Mary Agnes Donald Memorial Prize. The winner was SHIRLEY SHAW [nee WALL 1943] and she now resides in the Brisbane area. It was interesting talking to Shirley and she told me that she would be probably one of the few Grammar students who never walked on the North Ward campus. She did all her schooling during the war period at Rosslea and has made a point of not going to the main campus.

Thanks also to ROB SMITH [1959] and MICHAEL SUTHERS [1961] for their contributions to the School Archives. Rob had some excellent photographs of life at Grammar during his years, while Michael donated some badges from that period.

Congratulations to VIRGINIA THORLEY [1960] OAM who recently completed her Doctor of Philosophy degree. Virginia, a staunch supporter of the Past Grammarians Association, works part-time as a Lactation Consultant and part-time as an ESL Teacher at TAFE.

BRUCE FLOYD [1971] has lived in Tauranga, New Zealand for many years and is returning to Townsville in August for the Back to Grammar Weekend. He is keen to catch up with the Boarders who went to school with him. If any past student remembers Bruce and would like to make contact they should either email or ring the School and ask for Kim Lambert.

Recent visitors to the School included SCOTT GRIFFIN [1981] who is an Aeronautical Engineer and manages an airline in Cairns.

He keeps close contact with MATTHEW ELLIOTT [1981], the current Coach of the Penrith Panthers Rugby League team. TRAVIS GRANT [1986] also visited from Adelaide where he works as a Manager in the Adelaide Bank. Travis was an Australian Schoolboy Water Polo representative and also played first grade rugby for a couple of years in Auckland, New Zealand.

DAVE CANDOW [1949] is enjoying life in Tasmania. Dave, who served in Korea, Vietnam and in the Malaysian Confrontation, was most useful in helping the School archives with information regarding these two conflicts and some Past Grammarians involved in these conflicts.

JULIE MARTY [nee JONES 1981] is in her second year as Coach of the North Queensland Steelcats, a netball team playing in the State Competition. Julie also helps with junior teams in Townsville.

DON CARCARY [1952] visited the School earlier in the year and kindly donated the 1952 Swimming Cup that he won as Best All Round Swimmer to the future School Museum.

IAN YANG [1983] is a Thoracic Surgeon working at Prince Charles Hospital as well as lecturing at the University of Queensland. Ian has recently presented a paper at the American Thoracic Society’s Conference in San Francisco before going on to Vancouver to work with thoracic surgeons in that city.

Two 1954-57 past students, ED SPRIGGINS and DIANA MACGREGOR [nee BELL] recently married at St Mark’s, Townsville, just fifty years after doing Senior together. Ed proposed while they were putting up the tent for the twenty-seventh time on their camping holiday. The Past Grammarians Association wishes them all the very best.

RICHARD SAYERS [1985] is enjoying his career as a Librarian. He was recently selected as one of the few Australians to go to the Harvard Leadership Institute for Academic Librarians. The conference will be held in August and will include visits to universities in Boston, Chicago and Atlanta. Richard, a keen historian, is disappointed at not having enough time to visit Gettysburg.

Vale

his collection of Speech Day programmes and other programmes

The Association notes with sadness the passing of GEORGE NICOL [1928-1932]. George was a keen photographer and collector of memorabilia. He took many photographs of the School while still a student and his family have donated some of the photographs to the archives. George’s family will also be donating to the School

published while he was a student at Grammar.

Some very sad news from Papua New Guinea, PAULA WARD [1998] was recently killed in an accident in Mount Hagan. She leaves behind a husband and one child.

Grammar Old Boys’ Rugby Union Club The Old Boys’ Club is now in its eighth year of existence and hopes to do better than in the 2006 season when the First XV and Under 18 teams were both beaten by a point in the semi-finals.

At this stage of the season the Club is running in third place in the Club Competition with the Under 20 team well in front in their section. The two senior teams are also well placed to make the finals.

SCOTT O’NEILL [1999] represented the Townsville team in the State Competition while six Past Grammarians were members of the undefeated Townsville Under 20 team. They are AIDAN WILSON [2005], CAMERON ROWLANDS [2005], ASHLEY WILSON, DAN WRIGHT, JAMES WEBBER and JUSTIN HUMPHREYS [ALL 2006].

An invitation to see your old stomping ground...Grammar at Home Weekend 2007 Friday 10 August 2007 • Black and Gold Ball

Saturday 11 August 2007 School Tours • Sporting Events • Past Grammarians Reunion Dinner • Please contact the School on (07) 4722 4900 for more information

After graduating from the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) NATHIN BUTLER [2002] has embarked on what he hopes will be a successful career on the big screen. He has already completed one film and one telemovie and is currently working on Baz Luhrmann’s new film Australia. He is enjoying the experience working with Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman.

TRAVIS HALL [1990], a former Australian Schoolboys’ Rugby Union representative and a member of the Brumbies for some years, has recently completed a tenure of two years on the Board of the Australian Rugby Union. Travis was the player’s delegate on the Board.

DANIEL ADAMS [2001] is currently a member of the 10FSB [Force Support Battalion] and has had a spell in Iraq with FLLA [Force Level Logistic Asset].

Former Australian Women’s Rugby Union player DEENA AIKEN [1992] and her partner are working in Rwandan Schools coaching rugby. They are sponsored by Justin Leonard from England, the second most capped international rugby player and Lote Teqiri the Australian dual international.

EDWARD PLANT [1993] has recently completed a stay in Iraq and has been promoted to Major. He is currently stationed in Darwin.

LIAM MULLER [1993] is teaching in Sydney and is Secretary of the New South Wales Independent Junior Schools’ Rugby Board. Two other students from 1993, DANNY McKELLAR and ARCHIE BELL are involved with the Souths’ Rugby Club in Brisbane. Danny is the Captain and Archie is the Team Manager.

There has been some news from our former students from Papua New Guinea. KIVI KORUA [1996] spent a month in Townsville earlier this year on secondment to Australian Customs and CHARLES YAMANSON [1995] wrote to say that he is involved in rugby union refereeing and was now regarded as one of the top referees in that country.

KUMALAU GOTAHA [1996] has been a good source of information regarding past students from Papua New Guinea. He writes to say that DESMOND ZALE [1996] is living in Madang and has the longest beard he has ever seen. PETER OLALI [1995] is a Doctor at the Angau Memorial Hospital in Lae while CALVIN SINGOMAT [1996], MICHAEL ILO [1996], GODFREY WONG [1996] and GARY WONG [1995] are all living in Lae. KASERE AGONISO [1997] is an Engineer with the PNG Electricity Provider in Kokopo.

JACOB FISHER [2006] was recently awarded a silver medal by Trinity Guildhall [Musical Examiners] for attainting the highest honour’s marks in the area for all instruments tested for Grades VI to VIII in 2006.

Two recent Grammar graduates have also performed well in the world of sport. J.P.SMITH [2006] made it through to the quarterfinals of the Australian Junior Tennis Championships and has recently been seeded seventh in the world Junior Section.

Following the French Open and Wimbledon Championships, J.P. will be going to the United States on a tennis scholarship.

CAMERON ROWLANDS [2005] has been selected in Queensland Under Age Rugby Union and Cricket teams in the last year. He is currently playing rugby with the Grammar Old Boys’ team.

In conclusion, it is wonderful to note the many Past Grammarians who have returned to teach at the School. They are GLENNYS PERRY [nee BROWN 1955], HEATHER TAIT [nee McINTYRE 1972], CHERYL KYBUS [nee EASTERBROOK 1973], PATTI GLASGOW [1993], KIM ROONEY [1995], BELINDA CUSACK [1995], KARYN KYBUS [1999] and ANGELA HUDSPITH [2000].

KAREN POOLE [nee THACKER 1986] works as a Teacher Aide in the Junior School while KIM LAMBERT [1998] is the Assistant Director of Enrolments and Publications.

Mr Bill Muller Archivist / Honorary Secretary of the Past Grammarians Association

Brisbane Reunion The Brisbane Reunion of the Past Grammarians Association will be held at the Irish Club, Tara House, 175 Elizabeth Street on Saturday, the 7th of July from 12 noon.

Lunch will be in the Bistro and start at approximately 1.15pm.

Group photographs will be taken at 1.00pm and prints will be back by 3.30pm.

The Association President, Jack Callcott, is coming down from Townsville for the occasion.

Boni intraverunt; meliores exirunt (Good men have entered, Better men have gone out) The School Archivist, Mr Bill Muller, has recently completed a booklet honouring the 59 past students who were killed in world conflicts since WWI. A page is given to each past student and in most cases includes a photograph of the individual and a photograph of either their grave stone or memorial panel. There are also details of their time at the Grammar School.

The booklet also includes the names of past students who enlisted and fought in conflicts from the Boer War until Vietnam. As the work is an on-going process, for example, the recent Middle East conflicts have not been included. Information in this section

includes the year the past student enrolled, rank attained and the operations they were involved in. Much of the material has been taken from either the Australian War Museum web-site or the National Archives web-site.

If any past student is interested in obtaining a copy of the booklet they should email either Bill Muller at casamuller@westnet.com.au or Kim Lambert at kim@tgs.qld.edu.au and a copy will be forwarded to them. If you don’t have email, please either telephone or send postal mail to the School requesting the booklet.

12 Past Grammarians

MARCUS TINSLEY [1987] was recently appointed to the position of Captain with Dragon Airline. Dragon Air is a subsidiary of Cathay Pacific and Marcus is based in Hong Kong. Also living in Hong Kong is BEN LEES [1989] where he is teaching yoga. Ben was the former Director of Water Polo in Queensland and an Assistant Coach to the Australian Water Polo team.

Past Grammarians

13 The development of the tgs girls uniform

Girls Uniform circa

Girls Uniform circa

1927

1929

Girls Uniform circa early

School Leaders wearing the modern day uniform

1990’s

2007

Girls Uniform circa

Girls Uniform circa

1950

1948

Past Grammarians...Do you have news you would like to share?

Please let us know!

Mr Bill Muller, Honorary Secretary - Past Grammarians Association.

45 Paxton Street, North Ward QLD 4810.

Email: tgs@tgs.qld.edu.au

Tropical Trivia Night Fundraising for the Netball Tour to Fiji On the 27th of April, the Townsville Grammar Netball team hosted a ‘Tropical Trivia Night’ to raise funds for their tour to Fiji later in the year.

The guests were well looked after by the many young netballers

volunteering their Friday night to help serve food and drinks, keep score and host the evening.

The evening went off without a glitch.

Netballers, Rachel Fitzgibbon and Bridgitte Burge kept the score and displayed the score chart on the big screen for all to see. By the final round there was a clear winner with the team of ‘The Coup’ winning the Trivia Night for 2007.

The organisers would like to thank all the generous sponsors and all the enthusiastic guests who helped make it such a memorable night.

TOP The team of ‘Erotic Eruptions’ enjoying the evening RIGHT Jenny Coker and Mr Armstrong have fun at the Trivia Night

P&F Grammar Golf Day A.A. Milne once said “Golf is so popular simply because it is the best game in the world at which to be bad.”

On Sunday, the 20th of May, over 130 golfers took to the Townsville Golf Club’s layout, to compete in the 6th Annual P&F Golf Day and some certainly proved A.A. Milne to be correct. Others, however, played very well to turn in excellent Ambrose scores. The coveted Olive Green Jacket was shouldered this year by our very own Michael Porter and his merry band of ‘Mundingburra Burglars’ who carded an impressive 51 net (20 under par) to win the first prize, this year donated by Harvey Norman. They led in the 35 teams who had arrived at 6.30am to collect their bag of Bidvest goodies and head out for the 7.00am shotgun start. This year, the teams were competing for an ‘all time best’ array of prizes donated by our very generous sponsors, with every player walking away with something of value. The closest to the pin prize on the 19th hole, a $1500 home entertainment data projector sponsored by NQ Audio Visual, was won by a great shot from the club of Ricky Packham. The longest drive, on the 3rd hole, earned Damien Keyes a valuable MP3 player donated by Harvey Norman; he was delighted.

In addition to the magnificent prizes donated, the P&F are also very grateful to the 25 companies, families and businesses who sponsored the tees and greens on the day, their generosity and that of the players who ‘donated’ to the P&F, via the raffle and putting competitions, enabled in excess of $6,500 to be raised. This will be used across the Grammar campuses to enhance the life of all our students.

“Have you ever noticed what golf spells backwards?” ~Al Boliska

Mr Chris Wilson Chair – Golf Day Committee 2007

TOP Principal, Mr Richard Fairley’s team of elite golfers BOTTOM The winning golfers, the ‘Mundingburra Burglars’

Townsville Grammar School is what it is today because of the many people who have believed in it, who have given loyally of their time and energy and have financially supported the School and its community.

One way you can help Townsville Grammar School continue its fine tradition of academic, sporting and cultural excellence is to consider a gift to the School through a bequest in your will.

Play a part in the future of the Townsville Grammar School. If you would like further information about bequests, please contact the Principal, Mr Richard Fairley on (07) 4722 4926. All information is treated in the strictest confidence.

A Gift to Grammar

TGS Community

The tropical theme was adhered to by all involved, with guests dressing in leis, tropical shirts and frangipanis.

Soon after arriving the teams set about decorating their tables with all sorts of colourful tropical decorations and creating a team name. There were a wide variety of names, including ‘The Cokernuts’, ‘Erotic Eruptions’ and ‘The Coup’.

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