2011 Grammarian

the grammarian The magazine of Townsville Grammar School VOLUME 15 • 2011

From the

Principal

M R R I C H A R D FA I R L E Y

2011 has been an exciting year for the School with a mixture of challenges, including Cyclone Yasi, the introduction of a new P-12 uniform, School Production and several new buildings.

The new generation uniform has been well received by the community and during second term, the introduction of warmer options has been particularly appreciated. It will be wonderful next year to have the whole school in one uniform.

Of course, no reference could be made to 2011 without congratulating Director, Fiona Perry, and all staff, students and parents actively involved in the biennial School Production, The Caucasian Chalk Circle. In the tradition of superb and challenging School Productions, this event staged at the Civic Theatre was widely acclaimed both within our School community and in the broader Townsville community.

The new $3.5m Tait Library and Resource Centre at the Annandale Campus is a truly magnificent facility and we look forward, with anticipation, to the opening later this year of the new $6.0m Performing Arts Complex at North Ward.

LEADERSHIP

6

Duke of Edinburgh

1

From the Principal

6

Natural Disasters

2

From the School Leaders

9

Writing Competition

3

From the Head Boarders

9

Drug and Alcohol Awareness

9

Sports Results

NEWS

1

3

Preparing for the Senior Formal

10

Building Works

3

School Tours

10

Infant Sports Day

4

Salvation Army Food Appeal

11

Supporting NICU

4

International Baccalaureate Retreat

11

Golf Day

4

First Aid

SCHOOL PRODUCTION

5

Grandparents and Special Friends Day

7

5

In the Swim - Regan Leong

PAST GRAMMARIANS

5

National Curriculum

12

6

Junior School Leadership

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School Production

News of Past Grammarians

Contents

From the

School Leaders

Senior School C aptains Steven Tapiolas & Danika Sayce

Middle School C aptains Thomas King & Shruti Roche

Junior School C aptains Luke Moran & Danette Potgieter 2011 has been an exciting year so far. From the start of the year with Cyclone Yasi through to the School Production and Open Night - and everything in between - seeing the new Performing Arts Building coming to life, marching in the ANZAC parade and opening the Junior School Library. On top of that, the Junior, Middle and Senior School Captains have participated in the usual ceremonial duties such as Assemblies, being ambassadors for the School and role models for their fellow students. Being a captain is not for the faint hearted!

At the Junior School, Luke and Danette have been working hard as Junior School Captains this year. They had the privilege of opening the new Junior School Library, the Tait Library and Resource Centre. They had the fun task of entertaining their special guests, Alan Tait’s descendants, at a special afternoon tea held after the ceremony.

Danette has been at TGS since Preschool in 2005 and Luke arrived from South Africa, starting at TGS last year, throwing himself into every opportunity available. Both Luke and Danette were thrilled and felt privileged when they were announced as the Junior School Captains for 2011. Both students understand that their roles as Junior School Captains require responsibility, respect and passion. “Looking after my fellow peers, respecting teachers and trying my personal best is a big goal for me as a role model,” Danette says. As Junior School Captain Luke would like to encourage all students to give 100% in everything they do and to make the most of all opportunities offered to them. Both Luke and Danette are looking forward to the end of the year and the rest of the leadership challenges.

Middle School Captain, Shruti, remembers the Leaders Induction Ceremony being exciting on many levels. “It was a nervous event due to the threat of the approaching Cyclone Yasi,” she says. Luckily for Townsville, Cyclone Yasi did not directly hit the city which was originally thought possible.

The start of the year was a hectic and busy time but both Shruti and her fellow Middle School Captain, Tom, think that the challenges didn’t seem so daunting as they had such a wonderful Middle School cohort.

The biggest challenge that has faced Tom this year was not

the threat of a possible cyclone or the torrential rain that followed, but speaking in front of a large group of students and staff at Middle School Assemblies. Both Tom and Shruti agree that hosting the Middle School Assemblies has been a great privilege and both have gained skills in organisation, responsibility and public speaking.

Steven and Danika have had the challenge of being School Captains as well as being in their final year of school. Both are dedicated students academically, as well as having major involvements in the sporting and cultural aspects of the School.

As a cast member in the School Production, Steven was very proud of the final product of The Caucasian Chalk Circle when it came to life at the Civic Theatre this year. “Opening night was great - simply due to the extreme hours of effort that everyone put into it and that fantastic feeling on opening night when it all paid off.”

Danika found that being instantly recognised and losing her ability to blend into a crowd one of the more difficult challenges as a School Captain. She quickly overcame that small hurdle and now realises that being a role model and leading by example is one of the most important parts of her role. “I am very proud to lead my School and set an example of the Grammar spirit,” she said.

As the weeks draw closer to Year 12s finishing school and stepping through the gates of TGS for the last time, Danika and Steven have reflected on their advice to younger students: “Be proud of what you do. Don’t let others put you down if their idea of fun is not similar to yours,” Steven said. “Make the most it. Choose your favourite subjects and play your favourite sport! Do it as much as possible because you might not have the time or opportunity for these things when you leave school.”

Danika says, “Always try your best. Don’t leave things until the last minute, especially in Senior School. You will come unstuck!” and adds, “Enjoy all the small things such as the company of friends and your favourite subject.” Before you know it, you will be walking out of the Gym for the last time.”

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Community to clean up the School which included the remaining 29 boarding students. The rest of the term was wet…very wet.

From the

Head Boarders T oby Ly n c h & A l e x R obe rt s The beginning of the 2011 boarding year was disruptive and memorable.

Old and new boarding students and staff had only just been welcomed when Cyclone Yasi’s presence was imminent.

Many boarders returned to their

homes during this time which had the unfortunate consequence of making settling into boarding more difficult, especially for new boarders. Following the destruction of Cyclone Yasi there was a warm coming together of the School

The annual celebration of Boarding Week was a great success again this year.

Events included a battle of the dorms dodgeball match, inviting a day student to experience a boarding lunch, Year 7 and Year 8 boarders inviting a day student friend for a boarding sleepover on the Friday night, boarders versus day students touch football and tug-o-war match. The highlight for this year was the unveiling of the Boarder Honour Board donated by The Past Grammarians Association.

This board was unveiled

by Past Grammarian and former School Captain and Head Boarder, Mr Peter

Tapiolas.

As Head Boarders we have set ourselves goals which we hope to achieve for the boarding community.

Together we believe that getting involved in boarding activities, co-curricular and sporting activities is an important aspect in building friendships and your character as an individual. We also have a strong intention to unite the relationship of the new and younger boarders with the older boarders, especially the Seniors. We aim to be able to form a strong bond and create a family environment for everyone.

On behalf of all the boarders, we wish to express our appreciation to our families for providing us with the opportunity to be a Townsville Grammar boarder.

The boarding dorms are buzzing with excitement in anticipation. The dresses are bought, the boys’ suits are hired and the shoes shined - everyone is gearing up for the 2011 Year 12 Formal.

Preparing for the

Senior Formal In t h e D or m s

Many of the girls will have decided what they were wearing months - even years - ago, carefully selecting their hair style, nail colour, matching shoes and accessories. The boys have either hired, bought or, in some cases, had their suits tailor made for the occasion. It is the highlight of a Year 12’s experience, where they have the opportunity to dress up to the nines and dance until midnight with their peers and teachers.

Boarders will have the opportunity to get ready in the dormitories, although most of the students have opted to stay with friends or family for the day.

With the theme this year being ‘Cabaret Burlesque’, it is sure to be a spectacular evening.

This year students from TGS will have the opportunity to travel locally and overseas on a number of School organised tours.

This year the tours include:

School

Tours

E x p l or i n g t h e W or l d

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Ski Tour to New Zealand Rugby Tour to South America / New Zealand Netball Tour to New Zealand Antipodeans Trip to China Junior School Sports Tour to Cairns Italian Language Tour to Italy Year 7 Tour to Canberra School tours help students become independent, responsible, self disciplined and well rounded young men and women.

Thousands of non-perishable food items have been crowding the corridors of Townsville Grammar School for the last few weeks, as students have been contributing to the School’s annual Salvation Army Food Appeal to help feed Townsville’s needy folks.

Salvation Army

Food Appeal

Supporting our Community

The Grammar Interact club co-ordinates the Food Drive and encourages Form classes to compete against each other to see which one can contribute the most food items. The winning Form class of 7.4 received a pizza party.

In early June, these thousands of food items were delivered to the Salvation

Army Community Centre in Madden Street, Aitkenvale.

“Community service comes in many forms, but we find that the Food Drive each year holds real meaning for our children – the fact that there are many people who cannot afford to even feed themselves is a very humbling reality for most teenagers. In this very tangible way, our students are directly helping the less fortunate in their own community. The fact that this Food Appeal is so successful also speaks volumes for the generosity of our families,” said Principal, Mr Richard Fairley.

International Baccalaureate

Retreat

Creat i v i t y, Serv ic e , A ct ion Mission Beach provided the perfect venue for our inaugural International Baccalaureate retreat. The focus was on two of the ‘core’ components of the IB curriculum, namely CAS (Creativity, Action, Service) and Theory of Knowledge (TOK).

ToK uses discovery and sharing of views on ‘knowledge issues’ to link together all the areas of knowledge as well as addressing, epistemologically, the ways of knowing.

CAS offers an experiential learning component to the IB Programme that occurs outside the walls of the classroom and ultimately develops a spirit of initiative, innovation and self-reliance amongst IB students.

During their stay in Mission Beach, students were involved in white water rafting, an adventure camp (complete with mud) as well as helping to reforest some areas that were devastated by Cyclone Larry and Cyclone Yasi. The Licuala Forest is home to much of the east coast’s cassowary population. Working with Mr Peter Trott of the Community for Coastal and Cassowary Conservation (C4) the group were introduced to the range and roles of Aboriginal tools and indigenous plants from the forests by one of the traditional owners Mr Leonard Andy.

First

Aid

L e a r n i n g sk i l l s t o h el p s av e a l i fe In each year level every student in the School will experience some age specific basic First Aid. The training provides students with relevant and accurate information about First Aid while enhancing their capacity to deal with First Aid related incidents in a variety of contexts. The training includes dialling 000, seeking adult support, danger and response strategies, emergency care and resuscitation (DRSABCD), water awareness, lifesaving and soft tissue injuries.

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Grandparents and Special Friends Day was held in mid April this year at Townsville Grammar Junior School’s Annandale Campus.

Grandparents and Special

Friends Day

Ba c k t o S c h o ol f or t h e D ay

As a fitting end to the first term of the School year, Junior School students at Grammar had a celebration day designed around their special friends and grandparents who had been invited ‘back to school’ for the morning. Grandparents and special friends arrived in droves to Townsville, many from other cities, a number from interstate and even some from overseas, to be a part of this day with their grandchildren.

Guests enjoyed a classroom visit to look around their grandchild’s classroom, followed by morning tea. It was a particularly large morning tea with over 400 special guests in attendance!

To end the wonderful day everyone was treated to a concert of musical items performed by students from Pre-Prep to Year 6.

National

Curriculum An Exciting Time

For Education

In an historic move the Federal Government has endorsed the concept of an Australian national Curriculum. The various state education authorities, including schools, are being heavily consulted in the planning and implementation processes across Australian schools this year.

There is no doubt that this is an exciting time for Australian schools.

In the Swim Regan +

Swimming

A W i n n i n g C o m bi n at i on !

Regan Leong, Year 11, swam at the recent Australian Age Swimming Championships in Adelaide and his results were very impressive. Regan placed 2nd in the 50m freestyle, 2nd in the 100m freestyle, 2nd in the 200m freestyle, 2nd in 100m butterfly and 1st in 100m backstroke. Regan also set the third fastest time in history for Australian U15 boys over 50m freestyle putting him in front of great names including Andrew Baildon.

Regan is currently in the Swimming Australia ‘Next Generation’ Youth Squad.

With his competitive spirit and dedication to training, he is one to look out for at a future Olympic Games.

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TGS has been anticipating the impending changes to curriculum and in readiness has initiated an Australian Curriculum Taskforce under the chair of the Deputy Principal (Curriculum), Mrs Mary Hall. This taskforce meets regularly and is envisaged to operate for several years to provide a necessary forum for the implementation of the curriculum over the various stages.

Subject areas are being handled in phases, with English, Mathematics, Science and History being first cab off the rank. 2011 has been identified as a planning year, 2012 is a trial implementation and review year, with 2013 as the year for a more comprehensive implementation with subject programmes reflecting a close alignment to the Australian curriculum and standards. This approach will be reflected in the remaining subjects as their programmes are rolled out.

TGS has welcomed the federal initiative to introduce an Australian Curriculum, in the hope that it facilitates the ease of transition between states currently faced by enrolling students in the school. Secondly, it provides a necessary outline of content and skills that students need to acquire throughout their schooling and the accompanying NAPLAN test is a means of schools measuring their success in educating students to the appropriate standards.

This year TGS launched its inaugural Leadership Programme for Junior School students. The School’s initial focus was on Years 5 and 6 students.

The programme ties in very closely to the School’s Pastoral Care Programmes that value good character above all else.

Students learn the virtues of leadership such as honesty, integrity, resilience, optimism, as well as developing the essential skills of leadership including public speaking, goal setting, teamwork, risk taking and conflict management.

Junior School

Leadership

You are Never too Young to be a Leader

The Duke of Edinburgh Award is a programme designed to challenge young people between the ages of 14 and 25 to broaden their horizons and to discover more about themselves and their abilities.

This year TGS has over 90 students who have enrolled in the programme and are achieving their awards by participating in some form of physical recreation, learning a new skill, performing community service and completing an expedition.

The Junior School has also this year introduced an internal version of the Duke of Edinburgh Awards, appropriately named ‘Melior Exi’, which is on offer to selected students. Activities include community service, outdoor education and learning a new skill.

is planned for August that will see students trek through the rainforests of Mount Spec National Park.

For Silver Candidates there is a planned Sailing Expedition on board the Queensland Training Sailing vessel ‘The South Passage’ for four nights in July. Candidates will become part of the crew learning how to sail and navigate the ship around the Palm islands and the Great Barrier Reef.

This year candidates participated in an Expedition Training Day in March where they learned all about camp craft and expedition planning.

There is a five day expedition planned for those attempting their Gold Award in the September holidays. The students will trek the Thorsbourne Trail on Hinchinbrook Island.

A Bronze practice expedition was conducted in May at Running River Gorge and Puzzle Creek near Hidden Valley and a Test Expedition

Hannah Nolan (pictured right), Year 12, has just completed her Gold Award and is awaiting confirmation by the Board.

Duke of

Edinburgh

Broadening their Horizons

2011 has been a devastating year throughout the world in terms of natural disasters. Starting with the Queensland floods, through to the Christchurch earthquake, Cyclone Yasi and Japan’s earthquake, the world has taken a battering. TGS supported all disasters through fundraising efforts including free dress days and House shirt days. Over $5,000 was donated to the Red Cross/Premier’s Flood Appeal for these worthy causes.

Eva Breuer was attending school in Christchurch when the earthquake hit. With her text books and work still in the badly damaged building, Eva’s parents made the decision to move back to their old hometown of Townsville. Eva’s parents are both Past Grammarians and despite the devastating circumstances, Eva is glad that she can now call herself a Townsville Grammarian too.

“Completing my senior year in another country was not something I expected to be doing. Still, I am really glad I am at TGS in Townsville with my family.”

Natural

Disasters

Courage in the Face of Disaster

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The

Caucasian Chalk Circle

School

Production In late May, Townsville Grammar School students performed Bertolt Brecht’s classic tale of The Caucasian Chalk Circle at the Civic Theatre for this year’s School Production. Directed by the Head of Performing Arts, Ms Fiona Perry, putting on a Townsville Grammar School Production takes a mammoth effort to take a group of interested students right through to a finished, polished performance on opening night.

Hours upon hours of rehearsals, perfecting each line, each move and each scene meant the audience were rewarded with a brilliant performance by a cast of hard working and talented students.

The cast were exposed to various acting techniques such as the Laban and Stanislavski methodologies.

Attending a professional puppetry workshop with Terry Ryan was also one of the highlights for Production students this year.

Laura Tilley explains the rewards from participating in this year’s Production, “By Year 11 and 12, we’re fully trained Drama students, so we’re itching to test our skills to the limit. Most school productions are easy to do; they don’t take advantage of the full four or five years of Drama training the Senior students possess.

The Caucasian Chalk Circle, however, isn’t an easy play. We got to tackle real material; we got to test our range, versatility and depth as actors and as people.”

The Production would not have been such a huge success if it wasn’t for the dedicated parents who not only drove to and from rehearsals but also supported the Production through sewing, painting and sponsoring (among many other jobs), the hard working teachers and staff, and last, but by no means least, the students involved. With most of the students tackling their Senior years as well as their other commitments of sport and music, it is a testament to their maturity that these young adults were able to manage their time so well.

Congratulations to all involved. The School looks forward to the next Production in 2013!

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Advice from the

Principals

Some Advice To Students For The Next Production Some of our Principals gave some advice to younger students for the next School Production in 2013.

“Go for it! Don’t hold back on anything.

Even if there’s only a tiny part of you that wants a role, audition for it anyway, then you won’t have any regrets later.”

Laura Tilley “Prove to the teachers that you are up for a challenge in your audition.

If you want a particular role, have confidence in yourself and give it everything you have.”

Isabelle Dow “Do it! Try your hardest at everything in Production! Live it, love it, enjoy it.”

Joseph Raggatt “Don’t be afraid to try and go for challenging roles, you might surprise yourself and others with your abilities.”

Morgan Brennan “Don’t hold back because the more you put into it, the better the experience will be.”

Harshil Pillai “It will invariably improve your acting skills.”

Tommy Speed “Don’t care about other people think and act your heart out.”

Ella Broome “Really throw yourself into every character and every challenge, even it is outside your comfort zone: it makes a world of difference to your experience and your acting ability.”

Eliza Ebringer

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TGS has been running the Writing Competition since 2000. Students are given the opportunity to showcase their writing talents by writing a response to the provided stimulus.

The special guest, Mr Max Tomlinson addressed the students and discussed the importance of good writing in his former life as a journalist and his current role as Media & Policy Advisor to Senator Macdonald.

The winners of the PF Rowland Medal for the Writing Competition were : Year 7 Rory Allen & Belinda Dennis (pictured right with Mr Tomlinson)

Creative

Year 8 Braden McDonald & Krishna Patel

Writing

Year 9 Thomas Barlow & Philippa Collins Year 10 Jack Growden & Alison Collins

W r i t i n g C o m p e t i t i on

Year 11 Michael Frischman & Ramisa Fayez Year 12 Nathan Barrett & Orla Barry

Drug and Alcohol

Awareness

L i fe S k i l l s f or T e e n s The School’s recent Drug and Alcohol Awareness Week commenced with a thought provoking Full School Assembly address from the Principal, Mr Fairley, that supported a sequence of very powerful Australian Government made awareness video clips, titled Know your limits and I didn’t know. Throughout the week, faculties focussed on drug and alcohol awareness through classroom discussions and initiatives that included criminology and drugs and the law in Business and Humanities, surveys and statistics in Mathematics, reproduction and genetics in Science, teenage drug and alcohol related issues and laws in Indonesia, Japan, Italy, Spain and France in LOTE, responsible service of alcohol in Hospitality, drugs and sport in HPE, the ramifications of drug and alcohol abuse of famous composers and performers in Music, work place health and safety in D&T and much more.

During Form classes and at Year level Assemblies, students participated in peer group discussion surrounding ‘Celebrate Safely – Look after your mates’, an Australia wide initiative that dispelled myths surrounding drug and alcohol use, as well as party safe scenarios. Your shout – An honest discussion about alcohol by young people for young people, a DVD designed to foster critical thinking about alcohol consumption, and explore issues of choice and respect among young people, was also aired during the awareness week.

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Sports

Results

In si d e T G S Sp ort Swimming

McKimmin Mile

Middle School Winning House Miller Senior School Winning House Miller 12 years Georgia Bloxham Sam Stocker 13 years Annelise Pretzsch-Kalsgaard Ben Thompson 14 years Chelsea Gerrard Joshua Isbister 15 years Sally Watson Sam King 16 years Celene Franklin Rebecca Golightly Regan Leong Open Ebony Bray Caillan Arthur

Middle School Emma Henderson Sebastian Lopez Higgins Senior School Annabelle Allen Nathan Barrett

Cross Country Winning House Hodges 12 Years Cameron Crouch Georgia Bloxham 13 Years Nicholas Reilly Emma Henderson 14 Years Jake Rebgetz Anna Staib 15 Years Clark Caleo Sally Watson 16 Years Gabriella Springall James Maguire Open Nathan Barrett Kate Woodhouse

Building

Works

Performing Arts Complex & Tait Library & Resource Centre 2011 has been another exciting year of building works at TGS. Construction is going ahead steadily on the new Performing Arts Complex (photo above) and despite the unfortunate bad weather, it is expected that students will be able to enjoy this state of the art facility by the end of this year.

On Founders Day TGS opened the new Junior School Library, named after Mr Alan Tait, who was a past student who graduated from TGS in 1920. Mr Tait’s descendants were proud to take part in the ceremony (photo right).

Tait studied dentistry in Sydney and returned to Townsville in 1930. In 1939, as the world headed into an era of great uncertainty with World War II, Tait became a Board Trustee and was Chairman from 1941 to 1945. In his role as Chairman, he steered the School through the very difficult war years and was instrumental in relocating the School to the Rosslea site in 1942, whilst the US troops commandeered the North Ward campus as their military headquarters.

Also during this incredibly difficult period Tait enlisted in the Citizen’s Military Force during the war and served in Lae, PNG from May 1944 to March 1945.

When you are young, nothing is as delightfully fun as dressing up as your favourite character from a fairy tale. Students from Prep to Year 2 participated in this year’s Infant Sports Day and were given the opportunity to dress up as Cinderellas, Red Riding Hoods, Alice (from Alice in Wonderland), Jacks (from Jack and the Beanstalk) and more.

Story

Time

In fa n t S p ort s D ay

Students (and staff!) showed off their wonderful costumes in the traditional ‘March Past’ for the many parents and friends who came along to participate and watch.

The students then participated in themed games of athletics, followed by a short sprint to end the morning.

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Black

& Gold

S up p ort i n g N I C U Funds raised from last year’s Black and Gold Ball have been donated to The Townsville Hospital’s neonatal team to buy protective flying suits for the doctors and nurses who retrieve critically ill and premature babies.

State Medical Director for Retrieval Services Queensland Dr Mark Elcock, who is based at The Townsville Hospital, said the hospital was delighted to accept the School’s donation.

“This is a very generous gesture and it’s wonderful the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) retrieval team members now have their own flying suits,” he said.

“They are often tasked to perform retrievals of critically ill and pre-term babies from rural hospitals and the suits are an important part of the protective gear needed while flying in helicopters.”

Pa r e n t s N e t w or k

Save the Date 11

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“We perform around 100 retrievals a year to our hospital across an area one-and-half times the size of France so the suits are a welcome and thoughtful donation from the Townsville Grammar School community,” he said.

Grammar parent and Convenor of the Ball Chelsea Papageorge said the Black and Gold Supporters Group felt it was important to help support the vital work of the NICU. “It’s a small way of saying thank you for the invaluable work that they do in the community,” she said.

Thank you to the entire School Community for supporting Black and Gold functions.

The newly amalgamated group of the Parents Network (made up of the Parents & Friends and Ladies Auxiliary) hosted their first major event in May, the 2011 Golf Day. The day drew 19 teams who were treated to glorious weather and a day of friendship and fun. The coveted first place green jacket has been hotly contested for many years. The Head of TGS Junior School, Noel Nethery is no stranger to winning the jacket and strategically selected an impressive team to win for another year. His team featuring Graham Ramsbotham, Ray Park and Terry Kingston finished the round of 18 holes with an impressive 10 under par 61 gross, 513/8 nett. Hot on their heels was Marion Sharpe’s team with James Paige, Doug Murray and Bill Wellington. Bill’s impressive holein-one on number 19 par three certainly was the standout of their round which resulted in 62 gross, 511/2 nett.

Golf

Day

Neonatologist Dr Guan Koh also added his thanks.

From all reports everyone had an enjoyable day. The TGS Parents Network would like to thank the wonderful major and prizes sponsors for their continued support and success of this calendar event.

9 and 10 of August, 2013 In 2013, Townsville Grammar School will turn 125. To mark this momentous occasion, the School will celebrate

in style with a glamorous ball as well as Grammar@Home (reunion).

Save the date! It is sure to be a fabulous weekend.

Past

Grammarians Ne w s of Pa s t S t u d e n t s

A recent article in The Australian celebrating the founding of the RAAF in 1921 makes mention of the crucial role Sir Lawrence Wackett (1911) played in the establishment of the Air Force. The Australian described Wackett as an engineer, pilot and inveterate inventor. He was later to become head of the newly formed Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation which, during WWII, played a vital role in helping Australia face the only genuine military threat it has ever faced.

completing a qualification as Rural Generalist specialising as a GP Anaesthetist.

Congratulations to Scott O’Neill (1999) on being voted the best player in the Townsville and District Rugby Union competition in 2010. Scott plays for the Old Boys team.

Nathin Butler (2002) who had a minor role in Bazz Luhrmann’s film Australia is now in Los Angeles and has had two leading roles in films soon to be released in this country.

Congratulations to Ernie Hoolihan (1952) on being named Townsville’s Premier Award winner. Ernie who was a talented sportsman while at school is now best known for his tireless work advocating for the rights of indigenous people.

Those keen watchers of the television show The Farmer Wants a Wife will know that one of the stars of the programme was Mark MacLaughlin (2000). He certainly made the heads turn on a few young ladies.

The School would like to thank Graham Real (1954) for the donation to the archives of the plaque from the cricket bat he won for the Frank Sides Memorial Bat in 1954. Graham who completed an engineering degree worked for Queensland Rail for 10 years and in the sugar industry for 35 years. Graham continued his love for cricket after leaving Grammar by playing for Queensland Rail and for Roma, Cloncurry and Cairns in Country Cricket Tournaments.

Double congratulations to Kezia Perry (2003) who has completed her MA at the University of Sydney and has been awarded a major scholarship to research her Doctorate at the University of Adelaide. She also recently announced her engagement to Jackson Wreford (2003).We wish them both all the very best.

Alison Haly (1983) is to be thanked for her most generous donation of $2,500 to the school. Alison who is a partner in a Brisbane Law Firm donated the money for the purchase of new trees to replace those lost during Cyclone Yasi. The Past Grammarians Association has matched her donation.

Our readers may be interested to know that some of the trees fronting the School were first planted in 1896 and have survived the many cyclones since that time.

Steven Pack (1991) has become a board member for the Spinal Injuries Association. Steven who is the chef at Monsoons in Townsville suffered spinal injuries as a result of an accident in South Australia in 2002.

Josh Hannay (1997) recently had his points score record at the Cowboys surpassed by Thurston. However, Josh still holds season record with 230 points and 10 goals in one game. Michael Luck (1997) is still performing at the highest level with the New Zealand Warriors.

Our Head Boy from 1996, Daniel Thearle (1996), has taken up a new position as the Category Manager, Laboratories Strategic Procurement, Monash University. Daniel has also been a Scientific Officer with the Australian Army Reserves since 2007.

Alex Kippin (1999) was one of the first student intakes to graduate from the James Cook University School of Medicine. Alex worked for two years in Cairns and two years in Townsville before completing a Masters degree in Public Health and Tropical Medicine. Since January 2010, Alex has been the Senior Medical Officer covering anaesthetics at the Thursday Island Hospital as well as

Ben Mackey (2003) has returned from Afghanistan where he was flying helicopters for the Army. Kristofer Blomberg (1993) is shortly to go to Afghanistan. Chris was recently promoted to the rank of Captain.

John-Patrick Smith (2006) was a recent visitor to Townsville.

JP who has recently completed an economics degree in the United States of America is currently ranked the number one college tennis player in that country in both singles and doubles. He is also to be congratulated on winning the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame as the 2010 Male Amateur Athlete of the Year for that State. He is hoping to enter the ATP World Tour Asian leg with the express purpose of improving his world ranking. We wish him all the best in his ventures.

In September 2010 Lieutenant James Flawith (2004) was awarded his Army Pilots Wings at a graduation ceremony at the Army Helicopter School at Oakey. A graduate of ADFA James won the Helicopter Qualification Course Ground School Prize awarded by Boeing Defence Australia as well as being named Dux Award for excellence in both ground and flying components of the course.

Kayla Ward (2010) is studying at JCU as a business student but also been playing with the Townsville Fire in the Women’s National Basketball League. We wish Kayla all the best on her quest to represent the Opals in future years.

MISSING STUDENT: If any past student knows the whereabouts of Clarissa Robertson (1970s), a student at the school in the early 1970s, could they please contact Kim Steele. The school is holding her original Junior Certificate which was recently returned to the school by Australia Post as lost mail.

Honours The School would like to congratulate two Past Grammarians on being awarded Order of Australia Medals in the recent Australia Day Awards. They are Spencer Routh (1953) and Ron Store (1957).

Spencer Routh was awarded his OAM for services to the library and information sciences sector particularly through the University of Queensland.

Spencer is one of only four Queensland students to win the Lilley Medal (first place in the Queensland Scholarship Examination), the Byrnes Memorial Medal (first place in the Queensland Junior Public Examination) and the John Black Scholarship (first place in the Queensland Senior Public Examination).

Ron Store was awarded his OAM for

service to library and information sciences and to education. Ron is highly regarded by librarians in the Townsville region especially for his work at James Cook University, Thuringowa library and the mentoring of young librarians.

Since the introduction of Australia Day Awards in 1975, 32 Past Grammarians and staff have been honoured.

THE GRAMMARIAN2011

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Congratulations

Marriages and New Babies for Past Grammarians

Best wishes go out to Michael Woodward (2000) and Angela Hudspith (2001) (pictured top) on their recent marriage.

Angela is teaching at the Junior School.

Congratulations to Jean-Paul Sutton (2000) and Hayley Boyle (2000) for their recent marriage (pictured above left).

The pair met while boarders at TGS. They married in October 2010 at Saltrums Winery in the Barossa Valley. Jean-Paul works in the coffee industry and is the Queensland Barista of the year and 3rd National Barista. Hayley is a Financial Manager. Jean-Paul’s twin sister Hermione was one of four bridesmaids.

John Barkley (1998) and Nikki Barkley were married at Palm Cove in May. Many Past Grammarians were in attendance at the wedding.

BIRTHS: Congratulations to the following past students on recent additions to their family: A son William to Beatrice Gibberd (nee Plant 1995) and her husband Chris.

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THEG R A M M A R I A N2 0 1 1

A daughter Emma Kate to Julia Chandler (nee Martin 1995) and Ben Chandler.

A boy Myles Gordon to Matthew Durward (1997) and his wife Amora.

A daughter Georgia Grace Elizabeth to Louise Myles (nee Johnson 1998) and Michael Myles (1998) (pictured above).

A boy Hayden to Scott O’Neill (1999) and his wife Belinda Scott O’Neill’s sister, Tracey Brown (nee O’Neill 2001) gave birth to a daughter, Mikayla, a week after Scott’s baby was born. Mrs O’Neill is a very proud grandmother.

Phillip Acton (2000) and Sarah Charmers (2000) got married a few years ago and had a little boy this year. His name is Thomas.

Scott O’Neill (1999) and his wife Belinda had a baby boy named Hayden this year.

A baby daughter, Stacey Louise, to Kate Gill (nee Sidey 1995) and her husband Charles.

Past Grammarian

Retires

After 31 years of dedicated service to the School Glennys Perry (nee Brown 1954) decided to retire at the end of 2010. A student at the Grammar from 1951-1954 Glennys returned in 1979 to teach Drama and English. In the ensuing years Glennys became a legend for her Drama lessons and School Productions, not only in the School, but throughout the state of Queensland. Who can ever forget the wonderful productions of plays and musicals such as The Merry Wives of Windsor, HMS Pinafore and The Mikado.

On leaving Grammar as a student Glennys obtained a variety of teaching and drama qualifications before teaching at Pimlico High School for some

2011

Reunion Did you graduate in 2001, 1991, 1981, 1971, 1961 or beyond?

You’re invited to Grammar@ Home 2011 Saturday 13 August 2011 School Tour Past Grammarian Reunion Dinner at the Brewery Restaurant, Townsville. $59 per person Tickets on sale now www.tgs.qld.edu.au Please contact Kim Steele on 4722 4917 for more information

years. It is a testament to her ability that she taught Mathematics at Pimlico, a subject she was not strong at while at School. In her years at Grammar Glennys held the position as Head of Performing Arts and, at times, Head of English. In 1994 she took on the task of being the first Head of Girls Boarding when boarding was introduced for girls in that year. Many of the standards she set in those early years set the tone and popularity of girls’ boarding in the School.

When Glennys retired at the end of 2010 hundreds of tributes flowed in from students who acknowledged the wonderful influence Glennys had on them. May she have a long and enjoyable retirement.

Farewell

mrs Glennys Perry

Past Grammarian Online Community Have you logged on to the new Past Grammarian Online Community yet?

As a Past Grammarian, you now have access to our private Online Community which allows you to: • stay in touch with friends from TGS • hear about upcoming reunions and events Past • keep up-to-date with important information via our Grammarians newsletters, news alerts, etc.

• post and share your photos with our community • participate in various sports tipping competitions with great prizes Login • add your details to our Business Directory To view the site, go to the TGS website Haven’t signed up yet? Register (http://www.tgs.qld.edu.au/) and then click on the button for Past Grammarians.

We really look forward to hearing from you and sharing Your Email Address your latest news with our community. Should you have any problems logging in or have any queries at all about Password this Online Community, please feel free to contact Kim Steele at kim@tgs.qld.edu.au or call (07) 4722 4917.

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Vale

Our Deepest Sympathies The death earlier this year of Harold Greenslade (19351937) ended a long association with the School. Harold, the first winner of the Scartwater Trust Scholarship was a very capable student who also excelled at swimming and rugby league. On leaving school he studied accountancy before joining the RAAF during WWII. He rose to the rank of Flight Lieutenant flying bombers in West Africa and Europe. After being demobbed he returned to Townsville and became a partner in the accountancy firm, Milligan and Greenslade.

In 1954 Harold was invited to be Secretary of the Board of Trustees, a position he held until April 1994. During that time Harold saw many changes take place in the School and it can be argued that his close control of finances during that time allowed the School to develop into the successful institution it now is.

Outside of his school interests Harold was a Townsville alderman and Greenslade Street in West End has been named after him. He was also one of the founding members of the Townsville Building Society. Harold’s children and grandchildren have all attended the Grammar School.

Margot Smith (1993) passed away in March after a long illness. A keen drama and music student while at school Margot released her first CD Sleeping with the Lion in 1993.

This CD earned her an ARIA nomination for New Best Talent and was nominated number 11 on the Best Albums of the Year 1994 by the Baltimore Sun (USA). Margot completed two other albums before her untimely passing. Margot toured in Australia occasionally with Peter Koppes and Tim Powles of The Church.

Louise Hedlefs (2000) passed away in Brisbane recently after a short illness.

Joseph Acton (2006) passed away due to a car accident in June. Our thoughts are with his family at this difficult time.

THE GRAMMARIAN2011

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North Ward Campus Phone (07) 4722 4900 Annandale Campus Phone (07) 4725 3588 Website www.tgs.qld.edu.au Email tgs@tgs.qld.edu.au