The Southport School Band of Brothers Issue 12 by The Southport School

we few,we happy few,

we bandof brothers. OF BROTHER S ISSUE 12 : December 2015

William Shakespeare

Editors Tony Watt, Head of Community Relations / McKinley Housemaster Karen Martin, Marketing Coordinator Design P’s in a Pod Creative Agency Content Editor Gary Edgar Photography Ross Cardiff, Karel Bos, Bruce Rutherford, Andrew Stalling, Ian Browne, Kerry Dixon, Bryan Hain Printing Fast Proof Press Editorial queries, feedback and change of address Phone: 07 5531 9839 Email: marketing@tss.qld.edu.au Copyright: All rights reserved. Copyright of articles and photographs of Band of Brothers remain with the individual contributors and may not be reproduced without permission. Other material may be reproduced, but only with the permission of TSS.

Child Sexual Abuse and Royal Commission into Institutional Responses. The Royal Commission encourages people who have experienced sexual abuse as a child in an institution or witnessed child sexual abuse in an institution to provide details and information to the Royal Commission by: Telephoning 1800 099 340 Emailing registerinterest@childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au Writing to GPO Box 5283, Sydney NSW 2001. If you need more information, including about support services, visit the Royal Commission’s website at www.childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au Our Archbishop of the Diocese of Brisbane, The Most Reverend Dr Phillip Aspinall, welcomed the decision by the Government and said that the Royal Commission offered an historic opportunity to protect Australian children. Reporting child sexual abuse and seeking help Child abuse is a crime. If you have been a victim of abuse, or are currently concerned about a child being abused, you can report your concerns to the local police, or to the Headmaster (for TSS related incidents), or the Anglican Diocese Director of Professional Standards who is responsible for responding to any complaints of abuse within schools, parishes and agencies of the Diocese. Director of Professional Standards – St Martin’s House, 373 Ann Street, Brisbane 4000 GPO Box 421, Brisbane 4001 Ph: 07 3835 2266 Fax: 07 3831 9873 Email: dops@anglicanbrisbane.org.au

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In this issue

The Rev and ACP Fall to Earth to Raise Money

Some Turkish Delights, Philanthropy Underpins the Gallipoli Reverence, French Frolics Bricks & Mortar Future and a Spot of Rugby Thrown In

On 16th June, the big day had come for us to go through with our daring plan. In a moment of brilliant inspiration I had conceived a plan that should raise heaps of money with very little effort. No $1 sausage sizzle for us, $6000 was a lot to raise and that was our target.

The sweet smell of apple tea wafted through the streets, mixed with the occasional wisp of hookah smoke as it danced its way past our walking group. We had arrived in Istanbul on the first day of our Gallipoli Tour.

14 In shining more light on Philanthropy at TSS, the first thing we need to do is acknowledge the generous gifts that have been given to The Southport School ever since it was first conceived by our Founder, Horace Henry Dixon.

Headmasterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Speech

Rugby Tour Squad does an Arthur Phillip in Reverse

End of year Events 2015

Distinguished guests, members of the School Council, parents, staff, and boys of The Southport School, it is my great pleasure to address you this Speech Day, the final academic day of the one hundred and fifteenth year of The Southport School...

Captain (later Rear-Admiral) Arthur Phillip set sail from England for Australia in May 1787; the journey taking eight months with the loss of 40 of the 722-man crew, before anchor was dropped in Botany Bay in January 1788.

We farewell our graduating class of 2015.

we few, we happy few, we band of brothers.

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The 2015 Academic First XVI & the Ultimate Competition Another step along the way in our journey of developing and improving the academic culture, academic diligence and results at TSS.

wo years ago, for the first time at TSS, we selected and presented at Assembly an Academic Firsts Team (it was actually the First XVIII in 2013, we generally look for a natural cut-off point around the top 16 to 18 on the list of predicted rankings). Just as we do for GPS Firsts Sporting, Debating and Chess Teams, the boys are presented and congratulated at Assembly and receive their ‘kit’. In the case of the Academic Firsts the kit consists of a badge and, appropriately for the Queensland Core Skills Tests (QCST) task at hand, an engraved pen. Interestingly, I haven’t heard of any other boys’ school recognising academic excellence in this same way that sporting excellence is recognised and celebrated. In terms of academic recognition it is another step along the way in our journey of developing and improving the academic culture, academic diligence and results at TSS. It is a time to realise that while hundreds of boys were, at the time, representing TSS in Basketball and Rugby against other GPS schools (and that we appropriately recognised and admired the boys who excel at those activities), we also need to understand that each year in September over 150 boys in Year 12 represent TSS in the Queensland Core Skills Tests. This is a huge competition, with the biggest team we field each year, in a competition against all the GPS schools, and, even bigger than that, they will be representing us in a State-wide competition against all other Queensland schools. It really is the ultimate Year 12 competition – for results, employment and university places.

At the time of presenting and congratulating the Academic Firsts, we hold back on two aspects of the usual First Teams assemblies – the poem and the war cry. On the Monday just before the two days of arduous Queensland Core Skills Tests we recognise and wish “all the best” to all the boys in our very large Year 12 QCST team at a special Assembly. On this occasion the First XVI are standing on the stage and all the Year 12s are ceremoniously marched to the front of the Assembly by the Drumline. This is the occasion when the traditional poem is read by the School Captain and the School gives a resounding war cry to all the Year 12s to wish this academic success. This year the School also sang Band of Brothers to the Year 12s to symbolise our support for them. The Vice-Captain of the First XVI is physicist extraordinaire Yinou Han, and the Captain of the First XVI for 2015 is Oliver Snow, a young man with high EQ as well as high IQ. I noted at the assembly that both these boys are Boarders, but given the increase in the Diligence Grades of Boarders in recent years this is not totally surprising. Indeed the Diligence Grade focus is a great thing from my point of view, as every boy is capable of attaining a Diligence grade of ‘1’, as it is about ‘having a go’ and consistency of preparation and academic effort. The ‘1’ to ‘5’ Diligence grade criteria were reviewed and rewritten by the Year Group Leadership Teams last year and approved by the Heads of Department. Boys now have a better understanding of what it takes to achieve a Diligence Grade of ‘1’,

and teachers are now able to be consistent in the allocation of the grades. In an all-boys environment it is not surprising that talk has already turned to having a Diligence Grade competition! Indeed the Boarders have already started an informal competition between the Houses. A boy with a ‘C’ and Diligence of ‘1’ is doing the absolute best he can to develop his academic potential, and that is what we should be celebrating. fam’i.ly … a social unit of people who will love and support each other through the good times and the bad.

We have been saddened by the passing of Industrial Technology teacher Mr Rob Hawthorn earlier in Term Three, and just recently over the holidays the passing of Walker Housemaster and long-serving teacher Mr Steve Roberts. Both succumbed to battles with cancer. A number of boys and staff were close to these men and, as we should always do, this is a time to just keep an eye on each other, offer to have a chat, or if your friend becomes upset for a longer time, make sure you let one of us know. As males we are often not too good at that, so make an extra effort to show strength in that area and seek help if you need to, or reach out to a friend if he needs help. For some of us this may feel a bit awkward, but the more we practise, the better we get at supporting and helping each other. Greg Wain Headmaster

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Story by Jonathan Whereat

Chaplain

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n 16 June, the big day had come for us to go through with our daring plan. In a moment of brilliant inspiration I had conceived a plan that should raise heaps of money with very little effort. No $1 sausage sizzle for us, $6000 was a lot to raise and that was our target. That is a lot of sausages and heaps of BBQ cleaning. No! There must be an easier way to raise this money. What will take hardly any time and get lots of money for a good cause? A tandem skydive would be cool and we could land here at TSS on a Saturday with all the boys ready for the big game. NOW that’s a plan! Great, that should work. Who will I ask to jump with me, Greg Wain? No, I’ll ask my good friend Mr Parsons. He has done some crazy things in his life like downhill bike riding. He will JUMP at the opportunity to skydive. So off to Mr Parsons’ office. “Hey, Alan, I have a great idea to raise money for that home for homeless women.” He was all ears. “Go on, what’s your plan?” he asked nervously. “Well, should only take a few minutes and we should get more than $6000.” He was now more nervous. “We could skydive on to the oval on a Saturday before the big game, how does that sound?” I asked excitedly. His look said it all. “I like you, Fr Jonathan, but that is a totally crazy idea!” was written large on his now very white face. But I knew that Mr Parsons is not one to pike out, so I continued my scheme. I ordered the white overalls so we could do this properly, then the fake leather WWI pilots’ helmets and a set of cool badges for the white overalls.

I needed the School to get behind this, so a big promotion on Assembly should do the trick. At the end of Assembly one day, without Mr Parsons knowing, I arranged for Mr Hawkins to present Mr Parsons with his kit for the jump. I dressed up with my black backpack and fake leather helmet and white overalls and safety goggles. The Assembly was stunned, but none more so than Mr Parsons. Charlie Wells, the School Captain, gave a rousing poem and the whole school stood to give the two of us a Tokio! We were on our way. So the money started to pour in. Everyone was keen to see this feat of madness. Our OHS officer tried in vain to find any assurance that we had insurance to cover us. This was all a big leap of faith. On the day (by the way, it was not possible to do it at the main oval) Kirra Beach was the landing spot on a dull Sunday in June. The skies cleared just for our jump thanks to the BIG MAN. We found the shop where we changed into our jumpsuits and had our three-minute training session for all the safety we would need that day. Point one: Hold your head back so you don’t knock out the tandem parachutist. Point two: Enjoy the trip down. Point three: Hold your legs up as we land. Fine, we can do all that. It was now off to the airport. I realised that the last in the plane was also the first out. Oh! Mr Parsons is going to love that! He was the last in. We climbed to 12,000ft. Alan was told to sit at the door of the plane then wait for it and out he goes! Then two others before me, then my turn to “sit at the door,

put your feet out” and no sooner we were hurtling through the air. It was noisy. For 20 seconds I had no idea which way was up. My whole body had freaked out, this was a very weird space to be in. I had no control, and had to just trust the guy on the back. The next 20 seconds we were facing the earth below falling at 9m/sec, which was so fast my face was pushed back 20 years!! After 40 seconds we levelled out and the parachute opened. We slowed down to a sensible speed and my brain could finally start to compute what had just happened. We could see the others who had also jumped and the crowd on the beach. Over the next two minutes we took in the sights and had a tentative go at controlling the parachute. My guy demonstrated that you can really pull these cords one way or the other to change directions. Now we were coming into to land. Safety point 3: Hold your legs up. The last 500ft went very quickly and here we were safely landed on the beautiful sand of Kirra Beach. It was great to receive the welcome from the Boarders and other boys and well-wishers who had come to see this great event. Mr Parsons was walking around so I knew he had also landed well. We had done this thing that had seemed so terrifying. It was quick and basically painless! We raised over $9000: That was well worth it. Thanks Mr Parsons for joining this elite troop – who dares wins!! That will probably be the end of our daring escapades. Thanks to all who sponsored us.

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Some High Times at the Hoops in 2015

TSS Tennis Serves Notice as a Force to be Reckoned With

We made a promising start to the 2015 GPS basketball season by putting a TSS record-breaking 23 teams on the courts, and we followed that up with some skilled and committed play plus very solid results. Looking at all our teams over the entire season, we had a success rate above 50%, with our 7B, 8B and Open First teams being our most successful.

The 2015 season signalled a warning to the Queensland GPS competition that TSS Tennis is a serious contender for the title in years to come. Assuming my position as the new Director of Tennis, and more than ably assisted by Head Coach Kaden Hensel, the aim was to reinvigorate the program. A measure of our success was the record number of participants across all grades this year and an unmistakable buzz out on the courts. The team welcomed tournament players into school representative duties and we witnessed vast improvements in results, events, facilities, training schedules, fundraising efforts, uniforms, coaching and support.

Our Open First team under the captaincy of Daniel Chorley finished equal 2nd in the GPS behind Ipswich Grammar, our best performance since 2012. The team had some very significant wins versus BBC away and also Churchie away, along with a comfortable win against Nudgee here at the School during Old Boys’ Weekend. Our Years 5-6 teams from Prep were very competitive during the season, having some excellent wins and playing some exceptionally good basketball. Several of our players gained representative honours at Queensland/NSW level. Elliot Starr was a member of the NSW Country U18 team, winning Gold at the National U18 Championships, along with Tom Sheida and Hudson Kaddatz winning Gold and Bronze respectively at the National U16 Championships representing Queensland. Isaiah Richardson and Cody Meuleman were selected in the Emerging U17 and U15 Queensland teams that toured the USA during mid-year holidays. To finish the year, our Open boys are keen to put something back into the development of our Basketball program and will conduct coaching sessions during Fourth Term at Prep, introducing skills to our Years 1-3 and assisting with inter-school games with our Years 4-6. Thanks to Daniel Trollope, our Basketball Manager, for all of his outstanding contribution during the year, Marisa Schroder over at Prep, the Coaches, our Friends of Basketball Committee and the many other people who have assisted in various ways.

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The future of TSS Tennis looks bright with our 2015 Team of the Year being the Year 7 As of Jack McCarthy, Alexey Shtengelov, Jack Humrich and Thomas Schwerkolt. They came within a whisker of taking out the competition. The individual MVP award went to William Timoney, who saw action in the First IV but anchored the 9 As. Record numbers and interest within the Prep School and a fast-improving squad will keep the competition fierce for the top spots next year. The Prep courts literally overflowed each afternoon and the enthusiasm was contagious. Senior School courts were resurfaced in April in traditional TSS colours with the block TSS beyond all baselines. It is a welcome sight as you arrive on campus. The program is looking to keep our support structures and facility improving to match our players’ improvements on the court. The TSS tennis coaches and Friends of Tennis support group are working hard to ensure the best environment for TSS players and we’re excited about the future. David Hodge Director of Tennis

Dave Claxton Director of Basketball

Our First IV competed hard all season, recording wins over traditional foes, including Nudgee, Toowoomba Grammar, Ipswich Grammar and Gregory Terrace. Arguably the most improved player of the competition was our own Max McCarthy, who was supported by Rocco Taplin and stalwarts Jesse Russell and Captain Tim Peterson.

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Competing at The World Robot Contest was an amazing experience. We had to solve lots of problems and collaborate with other teams from China, Canada, Mexico and the USA. We would like to thank Mr Lockett and Mr Hirst for their mentoring and guidance. Calum Lockett

Although we can teach Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths principles in the classroom, the 'on the spot' challenges and experience that these Robotic Contests offer students cannot be replicated in a formal setting. All the students at the World Robot Contest will be designing and building the technology we use in the future. Mark Lockett

either the prospect of sub-zero temperatures and snow, nor the stiff competition from the best in the world, could deter the intrepid trio of TSS "roboteers" from their mission to prevail at the World Robot Contest in Beijing, China. And prevail they did, in no uncertain terms. Conducted over three days, the contest brought together the best and brightest in the field of robotics, with our boys demonstrating they were up to the task. as the process weeded out competitor after competitor, the TSS team showed they had the right stuff by making it through to the final round and claiming third place overall. At the Awards Ceremony, the boys added a further lustre to the achievement and the reputation of TSS by receiving the prestigious Innovation Award for the most ingenious robot design and display of gracious professionalism toward others. While an appropriate measure of pride took itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s natural place, the boys showed they had their robotic feet firmly on the ground with the prospect of enjoying the cultural experiences on offer and snowball fights on the Great Wall. Mark Lockett Head of LEGO Robotics

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Some Turkish Delights, Gallipoli Reverence, French Frolics and a Spot of Rugby thrown in Story by Conan Bland - Director of Cadets

layers that revealed 2000 years of occupation of the south-west corner of the Dardanelles. Several cities were built in succession and our guide pointed out areas that seemed to form part of Homer’s descriptions.

Turkish delight of every colour and consistency, halva and other impossibly attractive sweets graced shopfronts, enticing the senses. Beautifully detailed mosaics adorning ancient buildings, Roman pillars and Egyptian obelisks seemed strangely to blend with a modern and vibrant city. We explored the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sofia, Hippodrome, Topkapi Place and Roman Cistern, with many of the boys simply overwhelmed by the rich and complex history.

The day we approached Gallipoli the weather was overcast with rain threatening. The tour guide left the group free time to explore ANZAC Cove as we pleased, respecting the desire of each individual to wander and search for their own meaning in quiet contemplation. Many of the group dipped their feet in the water among the large, smooth stones and stared back up towards the craggy ridges, trying to imagine the impossibly difficult task our forefathers faced in storming that beachhead. We explored the complex series of battlefields throughout the day as the weather slowly broke and the skies saddened. No-one seemed to mind too much, with the weather acting as a catalyst for stirring feelings and evoking imagery.

Arriving in Canakkale, the tour explored the ancient city of Troy, navigating through the many

One of the main objectives of the tour was to visit the resting places of some of the 52 Old Boys who

he sweet smell of apple tea wafted through the streets, mixed with the occasional wisp of hookah smoke as it danced its way past our walking group. We had arrived in Istanbul on the first day of our Gallipoli Tour. Expertly led by our charismatic guide Gokhan, 27 students, 17 parents and three TSS staff weaved their way through the busy footpaths, pausing occasionally as Gokhan highlighted points of interest.

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died in WWI. At Gallipoli, we paid our respects to the graves of Hugh Quinn, Mervyn Collings, Rupert Goodchild and Hides. The tour party encircled the grave as each Old Boy was honoured by a student with a short speech describing their time at TSS, their home and their short but meaningful life. Following our pilgrimage to Gallipoli, we flew to Paris where we had a couple of days to explore before starting our Western Front Tour. Quintessentially French photos were taken in front of and atop the Eiffel Tower, pastries eagerly consumed and coffees sipped. The Louvre provided the most important stop for many on the Tour. There was, of course, a rush to find a spot amid the crowds in which to gaze upon the monumentally popular Mona Lisa and other masterpieces spread throughout the enormous complex. Our Western Front Tour began as we picked up our passionate and eccentric tour guide, Chris Barker. The man is a living history advocate and therefore has a penchant for wearing a traditional WWI “Tommy”

uniform. He has an exceptional knowledge on the local area and a narrative that commanded the attention of students and adults alike. Chris even brought original relics from WWI, which appealed to the learning styles of boys by letting them see and touch items used by soldiers in the trenches. We spent some time exploring the French Coast along Arromanches-les-Bains before boarding the ferry for the City of Portsmouth in the UK. The following day we entered the Portsmouth Naval Dockyards and visited a number of fascinating exhibits. Lord Nelson’s HMS Victory – made famous by the decisive Battle of Trafalgar – was particularly well preserved, as was the last surviving Gallipoli warship, M33. The timbers of the Tudor naval ship of King Henry VIII, the Mary Rose, have been painstakingly restored and surrounded by an exceptional series of artefacts recovered from the wreck. We left in the early afternoon for London, with the group very excited to receive much needed free time

to explore the huge city. We separated into smaller groups for ease of transport, utilising “the tube” and “hop-on-hop off ” bus services, all of which lived up to their reputation for on-time efficiency. Some of the places we visited included: the British Museum, London Bridge, Tower of London, Imperial War Museum, London Eye, Buckingham Palace and, of course, Big Ben. TSS Tour and Rugby hats could be seen all over London, smugly snapping selfies in front of prominent landmarks to share with envious friends and parents back home. The last full day had the Gallipoli Tour group and the Rugby World Cup Tour met up at Twickenham to see the Australia vs. England RWC Pool Game. The atmosphere around the ground was electric, with the well-behaved and gracious English fans softly singing “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” that gently drifted around the crowd. Fortunately, Australia was too strong for the English on the day, producing an historic victory and truly memorable occasion.

From the outset the tour was designed to commemorate the service of the 52 Old Boys who were never able to return to the beautiful grounds of TSS that they had once walked. Many families, with little information, were never able to visit to pay their last respects to sons and brothers lost. Our group respectfully paid homage to these young men in the place where they fell and thanked them for their service. The boys who attended, and who are also part of the TSS Cadet Program, now have a greater appreciation for their service as being bigger than the individual. They understand that putting on the uniform each Friday is part of a tradition that has a greater purpose. They are charged with the duty to pass on this level of respect and reverence in order to honour the name of those Old Boys who never came home.

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How to Grow Mindset by a

Trip to the Anatomy Lab Story by

Kate Waring

B.Pharm(UQ) P.G.Dip.Ed(UQ)

s teachers, our aim is to promote a “growth mindset” in order to see the students under our care flourish. To achieve this goal, we encourage our students to acquire a desire to learn; by embracing challenges rather than avoiding them, displaying persistence in the face of obstacles rather than giving up easily, and perceiving effort as the path to mastery instead of effort being boring and useless. One authority on “growth mind-set” is Carol Dweck, a Professor of Psychology at Stanford University with a primary research interest in motivation, personality and development and author of Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. Dweck comments: “Each boy’s academic progress through school transitions faced by all adolescents depends on their ability to negotiate these changes.” As part of the process of increasing the resilience of our students in dealing with these changes, we organised an excursion to Bond University for Year 12 Biology students to experience their Anatomy and Physiology laboratories firsthand. The aim was to challenge and improve the students’ “growth mindset”, as well as move them out of their “comfort zone”. The excursion delivered the anticipated results as an exceptional experience for the students in a university setting, with lecturers and tutors providing invaluable assistance and knowledge. Typical of the reactions from the boys is that of Xavier Thompson, Maughan 12. “On Friday 24 July the two Year 12 Biology classes had a somewhat confronting experience seeing the cadavers at Bond University Medical Centre. All the boys arrived ready and excited to see what we were actually in for and to see which boys would faint first. Personally, I found that it was a really great experience to be able to see what we have been studying in class, firsthand, while also having an insight into Uni life from some of the first years, who had given up their time. Although there were some pale faces, all boys found the hands-on anatomy activities extremely beneficial, as we knew some small fraction of the theories behind how the body works. It was an eye-opener to see the step up in facilities and differences in learning due to first-class technology, and was inspiring to some as a Bio-Medical Science degree is where they want to end up. Some of the boys might not be rushing back there, but nevertheless it was a rewarding experience for all.” Finally, to sum up such a wonderful experience are two of my favourite quotes from American writer, educator, artist and designer Debbie Millman. “If you imagine less, less will be what you undoubtedly deserve,” And “Do what you love, and don’t stop until you get what you love. Work as hard as you can, imagine immensities…”

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One Year On

and 2014 Academic Award Winners Haven’t Looked Back

he Australian Student Prize is awarded annually to 500 young Australians in recognition of their excellence in academic achievements based on Year 12 results from the previous year. Winners are nominated by their State or Territory education authorities, with 111 awarded to Queensland students in 2015. The Prize comprises a certificate and a payment of $1000. Four members of the TSS Class of 2014 – Charles Martin, Ishvar Nedunchezhian, Jordan Brook and Hamish Mulcahy – won this coveted award and since then they haven’t looked back, advancing their education to the next level. Each has his own story of where he’s at now and where he’s heading.

CHARLES MARTIN

I’m currently attending the University of Sydney and am lucky enough to be living at the oldest residential college in Australia: St Paul’s. The Bachelor of Laws/Economics degree I am currently studying is challenging – which is great – however, I am open to any new opportunities (whether it be an exchange or another degree) that may arise in the coming years.

ISHVAR NEDUNCHEZHIAN

I am currently studying a Bachelor of Medical Science degree at Griffith University, Gold Coast. This is a two-year accelerated undergraduate course that will lead me to a postgraduate Medical Program and further specialisation in the future. As I’m studying on the Gold Coast, I’m still currently living at home due to ease and convenience. However, I am ambitious to venture out in conjunction with my degree, as this will help me gain more experience while still taking part in my studies.

HAMISH MULCAHY

JORDAN BROOK

I’m currently studying a Bachelor of Laws/Arts at the University of Queensland. I chose to live at St John’s College, a residential college on campus similar to boarding, as it offers incredible ease and convenience, as well as a great community. I’ve spent this year getting used to university, but in the near future I aim to find a legal internship to boost my career prospects and learn more about the law.

I am currently studying a Bachelor of Advanced Science at the University of Queensland with a major in physics. It’s my hope that my degree and subsequent study gives me an opportunity to conduct research in physics in the future. I’m currently staying at a house in Annerley which I’ve found very convenient as it is only a short bike ride from university.

The Australian Student Prize is not easy to achieve, signifying as it does a high level of academic achievement measured nationwide, but typically our student winners never rest on their laurels. The boys of Class of 2014 have shown that they have their sights set squarely on the even bigger prize of their careers, and there’s little doubt that they’re well on their way to further success.

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Bruce Rutherford MIC Cattle Club

or 10 years I have set up and helped organise the Saint Brendan’s College Rodeo, but never did I think I would be taking a team from the Gold Coast to it to compete at it, however, this year I learnt to never say “never”.

2015 has seen the beginning of what I believe to be The Southport School’s first-ever Rodeo Team to represent the School at an inter-school rodeo. In the spirit of grand schemes starting from humble beginnings and in the true spirit of TSS, it all began with nothing more than a couple of boys talking about rodeo in Agriculture. The idea quickly gained momentum, and when a few talented and keen competitors were rustled up we had a team, and TSS had found yet another arena in which it would compete to make its mark. The Saint Brendan’s College Rodeo is an inter-school competition and every ride is scored regardless of time ridden, with all events requiring a competitor and each team allowed two competitors maximum in an event. The scores are tallied at the end and schools are placed accordingly. Due to the events and the way the competition is run we had to source competitors for the various classes, and this required our boys to step somewhat out of their comfort zones to some degree, but TSS boys never take a backward step when faced with a challenge.

Harry Oates and Jack Connolly rode Senior Steers that looked more like junior bulls than steers, while Year 7 boys Hunter Houlahan and Sam Pearson stepped up to provide the team riding the Junior Steers that shaped up more like Senior Steers. All the boys competed in admirable style and with unbridled enthusiasm, doing TSS proud. They can all now tell you how the SBC arena feels on impact and how Yeppoon dune sand tastes. We may have brought up the tail in the standings, but this was our debut and in fact we finished up very close to our arch rival Nudgee when the points were finally tallied. The winner was the New Zealand Team, a representative team here to compete in the Trans-Tasman Series, with the Australian Team taking out that competition. Having ridden into the School’s sporting history books, the TSS Rodeo Team is now keen to keep the momentum going and really make its presence felt. Put together a couple of practice events each Term and the boys getting in some serious rodeo competition on the holidays and hopefully we’ll get back to the SBC Rodeo to compete for the trophy next year. Make no mistake, in what is a tough and demanding sport TSS definitely has got the talent to give it a good crack, and as they say... that ain’t no bull.

Jake Curr, a renowned bull rider from Mt Isa, and Isaac Telford, a noted bronc rider from Cloncurry, had to ride in the Junior Bulls, Broncs and another Bull in the shoot-out competition. This was no mean feat and amounted to quite a daunting task considering they are both specialists in their own events.

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Philanthropy Underpins the

Bricks & Mortar Future I

n shining more light on Philanthropy at TSS, the first thing we need to do is acknowledge the generous gifts that have been given to The Southport School ever since it was first conceived by our Founder, Horace Henry Dixon. For over 100 years, buildings throughout the Prep and Senior Campuses have been funded and supported by past generations of families and Old Boys. Many of us pass through these buildings every day without knowing this. Through their gifts over time, we have been able to turn bricks and mortar into structures that are very significant places that our sons regard with much fondness. These include St Alban’s Chapel, the Clocktower Building, the Centenary Centre and most recently the Bennett Building (Year 7 facilities). Parents and Old Boys have also taken responsibility to ensure the ongoing success of TSS through their donations of specialised equipment and resources such as the iconic clock in the Clocktower, air-conditioning throughout the Prep School and assistance with upgrades and refurbishment work on Biddle and Delpratt Boarding Houses. We are at a very important crossroad with the developing culture of philanthropy at TSS. This culture can grow as we continue

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Story by

Bruce Wright

Director of Philanthropy to improve our communication, enhance the relationships with community, Old Boys and supporters and identify each individual’s unique passion in what he or she supports. For Malcolm Broomhead (Thorold House 1964-1969), a link between his growing philanthropic interests and his genuine interest in TSS were the key ingredients in his recent decision to support the School’s Lecture Theatre. Mr Broomhead was drawn to the strategy being implemented by TSS for a better transition into university and beyond. Philanthropy at any level can and should be a powerful ally in advancing our rich 114-year TSS history. Because Malcolm concurs strongly with this, although not one to seek publicity, he agreed to talk about this particular donation to ensure that philanthropy does not remain silent.

“I decided to make a meaningful contribution as a means of expressing my gratitude for the wonderful start in life that TSS gave me. The values I learnt there, together with the friendships I made, have stayed with me throughout my life. TSS holds a very special place in my heart and always will.” – Malcolm Broomhead

“While my initial reaction was not to talk about my donations, I think that in future, private schools and not-for-profit organisations in Australia will increasingly require support from private individuals as government’s ability to provide funds declines. Australia does not have a culture of philanthropy in the way that, say, the USA has, and I think it is therefore important to encourage those of us who have been very fortunate in our careers to consider such actions. “I decided to make a meaningful contribution as a means of expressing my gratitude for the wonderful start in life that TSS gave me. The values I learnt there, together with the friendships I made, have stayed with me throughout my life. TSS holds a very special place in my heart and always will. “At the end of the day, values and education are two of the most important gifts we can offer to our children and TSS is a firstclass provider of both. I have decided to support the School with this donation in order to help in some small way in the raising of standards of the wonderful services TSS offers. The students of today are our future.” The Headmaster Mr Greg Wain commented further. “The School Council and I were delighted to hear of Malcolm’s most generous gift. I have long admired distinguished Old Boy Malcolm Broomhead’s character and achievements. Malcolm holds a

Bachelor of Engineering and an MBA, is currently Chairman, Orica Ltd, Chairman, Asciano Ltd and a Director of BHP Billiton, having been the highly successful CEO of Orica for many years, and was named the Chartered Accountants Business Leader of the Year in 2004. Malcolm is also involved in many other philanthropic projects including Director, Walter & Eliza Hall Institute, Chairman, Kilfinan Australia and Council Member, Opportunity International Australia. He is a fine example, to our boys and to our community, of good character and leadership” We value all gifts at TSS because they all add together to enable a substantial and enduring impact on generations of young boys who are shaped into capable and confident young men. Should you consider giving a donation, pledge or bequest, your gift can be handled as confidentially and discreetly as you stipulate. We remain committed to building a more professional and productive culture of philanthropy at TSS and I trust that, like Malcolm Broomhead, you will reflect on the impact your gift will have. In the end, what could be more worthwhile than investing in an institution that is non-selective and holistic in its approach to educating boys; shaping them into young men and positive contributors to our local communities and global society?

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Wellbeing Leaders

Spread the Word Nationally The ultimate goal of this is to equip each individual with the necessary emotional strength, resources and strategies as the means by which they can not only survive, but flourish, when confronted by life’s challenges.

he TSS Wellbeing Strategy seeks to promote “wellbeing” among staff and students as the vehicle by which to develop positive relationships and resilience. The ultimate goal of this is to equip each individual with the necessary emotional strength, resources and strategies as the means by which they can not only survive, but flourish, when confronted by life’s challenges. The Strategy has proven highly successful in its inaugural year and 2016 will mark its second year of implementation at the School, with our main focus continuing to be on student and staff wellbeing, while also including opportunities for parent engagement with the program. Interest has spread beyond the TSS community and as a result we have been invited to share with colleagues across Australia the details of how we have developed a whole-school wellbeing program and what its aims are. Our TSS Wellbeing Leaders – Sue Jones, Fergus Trevethan, Jody Redler, Corinne Russell and Robert Ritchie – have made significant contributions to the success of the Strategy and have presented at three national Positive Education conferences – Gold Coast, Sydney and Perth – illustrating how the program draws on the science of Positive Psychology. As further recognition of the School’s leadership in this respect, TSS was approached to speak at the first Myers-Briggs conference held in Australia, with presenters Susan Presto and Mark Herriman sharing the details of our Wellbeing journey with Myers-Briggs practitioners and key business figures from across the nation.

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Those receiving the assistance from others are better off and those who provide the assistance are also better off. Looking after each other is good for us on all levels.

St Paul, Body Parts & the Value of Community H Fr Jonathan Whereat School Chaplain

uman beings are essentially gregarious, herd creatures by nature. We need each other. When St Paul wrote to the Church in Corinth, he was very clear about the community nature of the Church. He used the parts of the human body to illustrate how we need each other.

“Indeed, the body does not consist of one member but of many. 15 If the foot were to say, ’Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body’, that would not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear were to say, ’Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body’, that would not make it any less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 19 If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many members, yet one body. 21 The eye cannot say to the hand, ’I have no need of you’, nor again the head to the feet, ’I have no need of you’.”

So while Western culture has emphasised the power and significance of the individual, we need to be reminded that we are also social beings and we benefit from this on many different levels. A community whose members help each other makes for a healthier, happier and safer community than one in which each individual is out for what they can get. Those receiving the assistance from others are better off and those who provide the assistance are also better off. Looking after each other is good for us on all levels. The proverb that reminds us “It takes a village to raise a child” is true. We need each other because we have complementary gifts and abilities. My weakness allows you to provide your strength and your weakness allows others to provide their strength. If the young men of TSS gain this insight while providing community service, then it will help them to see that we all have a purpose and a place in our society. They can learn that having a weakness is not a bad thing, but an opportunity for others to assist us, just as we have had opportunities to assist others.

St Paul in his First Letter to the Corinthian Church Chapter 12 verses 14-21.

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Story by

Karen Capper Preschool Coordinator

arly Childhood Educators in Preschool recognise the importance of reading and early literacy with the boys and have been looking of ways to develop a love of reading in this digital age. During 2015 we have introduced Story Sacks for the children to take home and share with their families. A Story Sack is a large cloth bag containing a good-quality child’s book or rhyme with supporting materials to stimulate reading activities. To bring the book/rhyme to life, puppets, props, nonfiction books and activities are included. In addition, there’s a Card of Ideas that suggests ways by which to develop listening, reading and writing skills using the contents of the Story Sack. The aim of a Story Sack is to give a parent/guardian the confidence to enjoy books and reading together with their child, thus creating a combined learning experience. Not every parent/guardian finds it easy to read stories but, with the supporting materials a Story Sack offers, all parents can successfully share books with their child at a variety of levels. Each item in the Sack has been carefully chosen to offer a multisensory approach to the sharing of the books and will make reading fun for both parents/guardians and children. Story Sacks will help to develop literacy skills and encourage a lifelong love of reading. Using the Story Sack will provide opportunities to: • Listen to stories • Develop comprehension • Extend general knowledge • Develop social skills • Improve confidence • Stimulate an interest in books and stories/rhymes At present we have one trolley containing 30 Story Sacks that each Preschool class can borrow over a Term. Over time we are hoping to develop our Story Sack library further to a trolley per class so the Story Sacks can be enjoyed for the whole year.

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A Rare Case of the Butterflies

Wins International Recognition for Dr Rob Lachlan

s you may or may nor know, our very own Dr Rob Lachlan is an internationally recognised lepidopterist, and for those who are unsure of what that “l word” denotes exactly, it’s an impressive title bestowed on a person who studies butterflies and moths. Rob has devoted many years to identifying, collecting, classifying and observing moths and butterflies throughout Papua New Guinea and most Pacific island nations and, as a consequence, a number of highly respected scientific journals in the field of lepidoptery have published his work. In 2009, Rob spent time on the island of Niue, which is located 2,400 kilometres north-east of New Zealand in the midst of the Pacific Ocean. Niue has a land area of 269 square kilometres and is both one of the world’s largest raised coral atolls and one of the smallest countries on earth. During his time on the island Rob discovered a species of butterfly – Niue Blue Nacaduba niueensis. Because there’s only a handful of plant and animal species that are unique to Niue, this butterfly has particular importance for the people of the island. As acknowledgement of its status, the Premier of Niue made the species the national butterfly for the island nation and commemorated the Niue Blue on a stamp. Rob knew of this, but has only just become aware that the butterfly species he discovered has now been featured on a $2 silver coin of which only 2000 have been minted. The packaging of this limited edition coin duly recognises Rob as the discoverer of this rare species. It’s a well-deserved accolade for our own intrepid butterfly hunter for his noteworthy contribution to the field of lepidoptery and the pride of a small nation.

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In the Final Analysis, Smart Moves Put TSS on the Chess ‘Podium’ “Chess is the art of analysis” – Mikhail Botvinnik Considered one of the greatest chess players of all time, the late Mikhail Moiseyevich Botvinnik was both a Soviet and Russian Grandmaster and threetime world champion. Looking at the TSS chess season results, it’s tempting to think that perhaps something of his philosophy and approach to the game may have mystically inspired our players in 2015. The GPS chess season came to an exciting conclusion in the final round on Friday 11th September, with the Premier Team able to take a narrow win against Toowoomba Grammar School to secure third place in the competition. This is a great result for the team and our best result since also coming third in 2009. Even more pleasing is that the season started off with two consecutive losses for the Premier Team, so it shows good character for the team to come back from this start and play so strongly to finish. The team also is a young one, with a Year 8 (David Liu on Board 1), two Year 11s (Ryan Shim on Board 2 and Cale Kalinowski on Board 3) and a Year 10 student (Robert McCullough on Board 4). With all of these players eligible to play again next year, we can hope for another high-placed finish in 2016.

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The final round – held this year at Brisbane State High School – saw all the schools come together at the same venue. It’s a great environment for the students to compete in, with some 200 chess games being played simultaneously in the hall. At the final reckoning, well-deserved congratulations must go to Anglican Church Grammar School for winning against Brisbane Grammar School in the final round to claim the premiership. The great strength that TSS has in chess is the depth of quality chess players that we have, together with the enthusiasm displayed throughout all year levels, and in this context, it was fantastic to see Years 5 and 6 join the official competition for the first time this year. Finally, leadership plays a vital role in motivating players, maintaining morale and keeping focus at a high pitch, and in this the 2015 team was very well lead by Chess Captain Cameron Kroon, ably supported by Vice-Captain Ryan Shim. Rob Clegg MIC Chess

Results For All Teams Premier

3rd

Senior

3rd

Junior

=5th

Open A

=5th

Open B

=4th

Open C

3rd

Open D

=3rd

Open E

4th

Open F

=3rd

Ramil Nair Year 12 Student

nspiration comes in many forms and can strike randomly. Some days we have an abundance of creative energy, which comes naturally, other days it’s not so easy. That’s where the surrounding environment of people, places and wonder enter, and in this respect the school that we all are fortunate to attend provides an undeniably warm atmosphere that caters for success. There are many areas at TSS in which inspiration can be found. Whether one is a sportsman, musician, artist, academic or just someone seeking the simple pleasures of the pristine river and the Village Green, there will be a place on campus to provide an inspirational setting. However, although the School is overflowing with material/ physical spurs that we can see, it’s the sense of belonging and brotherhood that emanates from the School that’s the core motivator of inspiration. Boys form such strong friendships that they’re willing to push through the pain to row the last 100 metres, or to push in the last scrum. I witnessed firsthand the brotherhood that forms throughout schooling. Moments before sitting the QCST, the Year 12 cohort merged together and promised that we’d do our best not just for ourselves, but for each other, for the brothers surrounding us. Similar waves of inspiration have occurred at GPS events, during war cries, and most certainly at graduation.

For me, among several sources of inspiration, I enjoy walking through the School during the early mornings when the Campus seems almost empty and feeling like a different place when not enlivened by the students. The tranquillity and serenity causes me to well up in gratitude and it fills me with a sense of pride in the School. The sense of acceptance and encouragement that permeates TSS provides another source of inspiration. Teachers and coaches are always prepared to go out of their way to support and guide students, and in fact there’s a genuine caring behind the actions of all staff. This allows sportsmen, musicians and academics to reach the pinnacle of their performance and abilities, while still enjoying the experience. In short, the School provides every student with what they need to succeed. Such is the atmosphere of TSS, that as well as blurring the line between School and home for boarders, the campus becomes something of a “second home” for dayboys. Most students are here well beyond the normal school day of 8.30am-3.20pm, as each one pursues differing academic timetables, as well as individual sporting and cultural activities before and after school. In the end, whatever the status of a student, whatever his interests and goals, TSS inspires him, physically, emotionally and intellectually, to reach his fullest potential. In this, while we may be individuals, we are also part of a Band of Brothers.

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Cribb Building Extension

2014 Financials

Come Up Financially Fine T

Ross Cardiff Chief Financial Officer

o produce a healthy set of financials and still maintain the necessary tempo of development without imposing excessive fee hikes may seem an improbable goal, yet the 2014 TSS Financial Report demonstrates it is absolutely achievable. Over the past four years The Southport School has delivered some of the lowest fee rises of any school in the country. Our four-year average for domestic tuition fees is 3.4% and boarding fees sit at 2.5%. This accords with our aim to make an education at TSS value for money while supplying a world-class education and facilities for our students.

2014 saw a record number of boys attending the School and our financial performance continuing to be strong. Our income for the

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year was $39,013,122, with expenditure sitting at $36,558,169. This left a surplus of $2,454,953. This surplus was used to pay loans and to undertake our reinvestment in the Capital Program, which included the commencement of construction of the Cribb Building extension on the Prep Campus, the refurbishment of the Biddle Boarding House and the rebuilding of the four ovals on the Senior Campus. Additional capital projects included upgrades to our maintenance & facilities, information technology and sporting equipment. Overall, the Capital Projects for the year totalled $2,585,125, which was funded by the surplus and borrowings. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a heartening affirmation that astute financial management is no barrier to the progress of a great school.

The breakdown of total 2015 income of $39m included the following categories:

Recurrent Grants $10.2m

Other Income $900k

Commercial Activities $1.9m

INCOME

$39m Tuition Fees $24.3m

Less Concessions and Discounts $3.4m Boarding Fees $4.9m

Expenditure for the year was $36.5m and the main categories were: Teaching Expenses $2.1m Interest $530k Commercial Activites $1.69m Maintenance $2m Admin Expenses $4m

EXPENSES

$36.5m

Depriciation $2.6m Boarding Expenses $1.5 Salaries and On Costs $3.4m

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Older Old Boys

Make a Day of It E

ach year following the Older Old Boys’ Day, I receive numerous emails and notes expressing thanks to the OSA and School for going to the trouble to organise this event. So just what does it mean to the Old Boys who attend Older Old Boys’ Day? Many say this event is the highlight of their year and look forward to it with great anticipation, so they can show off their ‘old school’ to family members and meet up with mates who they have not seen in years. A typical example is Mr Ron MacArthur (Del 1945-51), who attended his first ever Old Boys’ Day this year. He contacted me on the Monday immediately after the weekend and I have to admit he had me in tears after he passed on this sincere thanks and

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appreciation to me for allowing him to be able to be part of the Older Old Boys’ Chapel and Assembly. He said in the past he never felt he had the need to come back to the School, but this year he decided it was time to show his grandson where he went to school. From the moment he walked into the Chapel and saw the plaque bearing the name of his uncle (R.E. MacArthur) who died in World War I, to the Chapel service with the beautiful voices of the Prep Choir, to taking part in the unbelievably emotional assembly at which he received his Older Old Boys’ Commemorative Tie, he said he couldn’t put into words the feeling of pride he has of being an Old Southportonian. Mr MacArthur said so many kind things that I have asked him to put in writing so I can publish his views in the end of year OSA Review.

Many say this event is the highlight of their year and look forward to it with great anticipation, so they can show off their ’old school’ to family members and meet up with mates who they have not seen in years. What was particularly touching was that he said his son (who is not an Old Boy) now hopes to enrol his son at TSS, as after experiencing the ‘magnificence’ of the event there was simply no other place for the boy to go to school. He also said he was so pleased to know that there are people and places like TSS still in the world today that have ‘got it right’.

We had 55 Older Old Boys on stage this year and many shed a tear when they heard the beautiful songs sung by the Senior Choir. On behalf of these Older Old Boys, I pass on our thanks to the Senior Choir for their heartfelt rendition of our School song, “Band of Brothers”. Honestly, it was beautiful to witness – in the words of Mr MacArthur – the ‘magnificence of the occasion’.

I sincerely thank Mr MacArthur for taking the time to pass on his gratitude to the OSA and the School. It is feedback such as this that confirms we are, in fact, fulfilling the OSA objectives of fostering opportunities for reunions and offering a lifelong link between Old Boys and the School.

To the family members who make it possible for these Older Old Boys to attend this event, I pass on my sincere thanks to each and every one of you for taking time out to bring your father or grandfather to this occasion. This tradition is what truly sets our School apart, and if you are ever in doubt as to the ‘spirit’ that exists at TSS, please attend next year’s Older Old Boys’ Day and I can assure you, you will never be in doubt again.

To the parents of the current students who participate in these events – we hope your son comes home to you and talks about this special assembly. Ask him how he felt when he saw someone like Mr Alan Radcliffe DFC (Tho 1935-39), at 93 years of age, up on the stage stomping his feet to the Tokio. We know the boys were touched because they gave a standing ovation after the very early, much shorter version of the Tokio was sung with such passion.

Kris Hailey Executive Officer, Old Southportians’ Association

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Athletics Makes the Leap from Strength to Strength Andrew Stalling Director of Athletics

As the TSS Athletics program continues to evolve, there are a number of TSS students leading the way through their superb attitude and work ethic. Ben Gibson (Year 10 McKinley) has had a breakthrough season achieving Qld team selection for the second time in 12 months through his 2nd place in the 15 Years 800m at the October State Track and Field Championships. His time of 1.55.61 smashed the existing TSS 800m record and is a time which is also faster than the State 800m record set back in 1991. This result was no accident or fluke. Few people would know that Ben has been steadily and sensibly building up his training over the last two years up to the point where he runs every day. During the school term he works extremely hard to manage all of his commitments and during the holidays, while on the family farm, he follows to the letter the program set by his coach, Jackson Elliot, and then meticulously records all the session details. Ben backed this up with a 2nd at the GPS Championships in the 800m and 1st in the 400m (from lane 9)! Well done to both Ben and his coach and we look forward to seeing Gibbo continue to develop as one of the best young distance runners in the country. This year saw Kobi Rutherford (Year 10 Turnock) earn selection in the Queensland Cross Country team for his 8th National Championships in both Cross Country and Track and Field; not bad for a 15 year old! Kobi has been a consistent competitor on the State distance running scene since he was a Year 5 student in the Prep School and his running ability is due to the amount of training he puts in. He has trained with renowned Gold Coast running coach Brian Chapman for a number of years and Kobi is often seen supplementing his squad sessions with runs on the streets around the Southport area.

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From Pre-Season Camp to a World Tour, it’s Been Another Top Year for TSS Rugby The 2015 Rugby season kicked off in Term Two with the traditional ‘pre-season’ Rugby Camp. Over 250 boys and top coaches from TSS, QRU, ARU and NRC teams attended, and in addition, a number of our Senior age groups travelled to Northern NSW to further prepare for the upcoming season.

Results Produce Representatives

A World Tour to Cap Things Off

As a reward for their hard efforts, a large number of TSS boys gained selection on various Representative teams, so well done to all the following reps.

The 15As took part in a short tour that concluded with them playing a tough fixture vs. the U16 Gold Coast Cyclone team. The 16As and First XV played two very tough fixtures vs. visiting English schools, Sherbourne College and Bromsgrove School.

Junior Gold Representatives

Even though the official season finished with Term Three, TSS Rugby continued with a Rugby World Cup Tour. Taking 44 boys to play top English and Welsh schools Bryanston, Glantaff, Whitchurch, Bromsgrove and Whitgift. The boys were also fortunate enough to see three Wallaby games vs. Fiji, Uruguay and England at Twickenham. It was a truly amazing tour that will hold many fond memories and the boys were fantastic ambassadors of TSS Rugby.

For the second year, TSS, in conjunction with the QRU, hosted the Junior State Championships, which brought together representative teams from all over the State, including a large number of TSS boys representing the Gold Coast Cyclones. The Championships were a massive success, due in no small measure to the fantastic TSS oval renovations that provided us with a world-class facility. This close relationship with the QRU is also evidenced by the Junior Gold programs being based at TSS for the seventh consecutive year.

A String of Wins, a Run of Close Finishes and Some Entertaining Rugby The First XV had a fantastic start to the season winning the first five games. Highlights of these were the last-minute win against BBC and the massive victories against IGS, GT and the final home game of the year vs. BSHS, where some extremely entertaining rugby was on display. After extremely close losses to NC, ACGS and TGS, the TSS First XV finished a very respectable 3rd overall in the GPS competition.

U15s – Tom van der Schyff, Jim Chapman, Zane Nonggorr, Tyson Spisich, Lachlan Gillett, Harry Cox, Lachlan Bruce, Ronan Kapi and Tyler Wright U17s – Egan Siggs, Finn McElroy, Angus Blyth, Josh Tonkin, Hayden Sargeant, Jackson Neale, James McMillan, Tyler Gillott, Jack Butler, John Nucifora, Callum Elliot, Bohdi Pretty

Junior Representatives U12 South Coast – Taarik Alikhan and Tom Hancock U15 South Coast – Harry Cox, Hugh Robinson, Tom van der Schyff, Jim Chapman, Lotario Nona and Ronan Kapi

As Always, On-the-Sidelines Thanks are Due In particular I would like to thank those parents involved with the Rugby Support Group and our major sponsors, James Frizelle’s, Allamanda Private Hospital, Bank of Queensland and Audi Centre Gold Coast.

Adrian Blundell Director of Rugby

U16 QLD Rugby League – Max Dowd

Open Schoolboy Representatives GPS – Egan Siggs Queensland Schoolboys – Calum Ball Australian Schoolboys – Dylan Riley, Angus Allen, Tyler Campbell and Jordan Lenac

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Hahnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ideals Inspire the

YEAR 7 CAMP Band of Brothers

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Ian Browne Outdoor Education Administrator

urt Hahn was a key figure in the development of experiential education, its core proposition being that students could only really understand life by experiencing it in many exciting and challenging ways. By testing themselves, students would be able to develop their courage, generosity, imagination, principles and resolution – skills and abilities that would ultimately equip them to become the guardians and leaders of the future.

Hahn was the founder of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Program and Outward Bound International. His philosophies further motivated others to form the Round Square network of schools, of which TSS is a member. Round Square Schools share a belief in an approach to education based on the six pillars of IDEALS – Internationalism, Democracy, Environmentalism, Adventure, Leadership and Service. The 2015 Year 7 Outdoor Educational Camp focused on these IDEALS and the underlying philosophy of the TSS motto “Band of Brothers”. Organised, based on and run by the Outward Bound Program at Uki in northern NSW, 120 students and staff arrived for the four-day camp to be greeted by a new facility, new faces and new challenges that TSS camps had never before provided.

Canoeing, bushwalking and ropes are activities common to most Outdoor Educational Camps, but the new challenges of ‘lillypads’ high ropes, rockwall climbing, mountain biking and tree scaling, to name a few, brought a smile to all involved. The Camp’s conditions required students to sleep in tents for two nights at base camp, and after a 5km trek, one night at a remote camp site in the nearby National Park ranges. For the boys and staff there were many personal highlights to the experience, with the copious amounts of quality food supplied by our hosts rating a popular mention. The weary faces that returned to TSS told a story of four days jam-packed with activity, but they also glowed with the satisfaction of challenges overcome, fears conquered and skills learnt. Huge thanks go to Mr Close, Harris, Mr Wehl, Mr Shin, Mr Cope, Mrs Henry and Mrs Cookson-Butler for assisting as group leaders, and further thanks to Outward Bound for their wonderful staff and facilities.

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Headmaster’s Speech HEADMASTER’S SPEECH DAY ADDRESS 2015

Distinguished guests, members of the School Council, parents, staff and boys of The Southport School, it is my great pleasure to address you this Speech Day, the final academic day of the 115th year of The Southport School. INTRODUCTION – THE MOVIE In the July holidays I watched the film American Sniper, the true story of Chris Kyle during the Iraq War. He was the most prolific sniper in United States military history. American Sniper had plenty of ‘blokesy’ shooting and fighting and dark humour, but in the end I found it more depressing than uplifting. It is definitely an anti-war movie when you see the effects of the war on Chris Kyle and his family, and the SEAL colleagues he fought alongside. American Sniper was nominated for six Oscars and has become the highest-grossing war movie ever, overtaking Saving Private Ryan. After watching the movie and later reading the book Chris Kyle co-wrote, I thought the story contained a number of good Speech Day themes such as leadership as influence, hope, understanding others,

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and proactively improving mental health. All those themes are interrelated, but I think ‘hope’ is the main one we need to emphasise to our boys, and to each other, given the global events of 2015. Actually, I was reminded why all those themes are important recently when Fr Jonathan asked me to talk to the weekly Chapels about how I was called to this vocation. (The boys in Chapel got momentarily excited when they thought I was going to talk about a vacation…) My vocation, teaching, and later being a leader in a school, has much to do with a good-hearted but somewhat misfortunate fellow, Les, with whom I worked when I was a jackeroo. When I met Les he was recently out of gaol, for the second time, and I gave him a hand writing his regular letter back to his probation officer in Sydney. As I gained his trust and he told me his story I started to wonder how he had ended up that way, and then I started thinking about

what experiences he could have had that might have sent him on a more productive and happier path, and how could society be changed and schools be changed to help children and young adults develop to be the best they could be. I am still engaged in that problem-solving exercise, reflecting on the ups and downs of the lives of TSS boys, researching adolescent development, and pondering the lives of people outside TSS like Chris Kyle. Our aim is to prepare our boys for their greatest frontier – their journey in life – by kitting them out with a backpack containing the skills, habits, experiences and capabilities to help them succeed on that journey.

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CHRIS KYLE – SEAL Chris Kyle was a Navy SEAL, a commando trained in special operations. SEAL stands for Sea, Air and Land warfare. It is the equivalent of our SAS (Special Air Services). Not many servicemen make it into the three-year SEAL training course, and only 20% graduate. It is designed to develop extreme physical capabilities and psychological resilience. It culminates in a final test of conditioning where the prospective SEALs engage in military-style team exercises over five days straight, with only three to four hours sleep the whole time, involving over 300km of running, swimming and paddling boats. Kyle graduated into the SEALs and went on to train as a sniper. He proved to be an outstanding commando and an exceptional sniper. Kyle’s longest successful shot in Iraq was over a distance of 1,920 metres; nearly two kilometres. In his four tours of duty in Iraq, Kyle earnt two Silver Stars and five Bronze Stars with Valour. He survived six Improvised Explosive Devices attacks, three gunshot wounds, two helicopter crashes, and more surgeries than he could remember. As a sniper, he was supposed to take up position high up in a building, at a safe distance, where he could watch over the Marines on the ground who were clearing buildings of insurgents. Often he realised he had more training and experience than the Marines so he could protect them better if he was on the street, going house to house with the troops, making sure they didn’t make any mistakes. Several times when his team was ambushed he ran through a hail of bullets to pull wounded Marines to safety. Combat evaluations towards the end of his tours had recommended Chris Kyle for SEAL Team Six, the elite SEAL Team that later captured Osama bin Laden in Pakistan. Kyle grew up on a cattle ranch in Texas and at school was a member of the equivalent of our Cattle Club. Kyle wasn’t a natural student at school, but he had a remarkable ability to retain information like a mission briefing, and while using his sniper rifle he had the capability to do complicated math, accounting for wind speed, the spin of a bullet and the curvature and rotation of the Earth, all of which he had to calculate mentally under intense pressure. He was an amazing soldier.

KYLE’S DEPRESSION Eventually what Chris Kyle did and what he witnessed caught up with him. Friends missing in action, friends injured and friends killed all led to early signs of depression. Then, some months later two friends are shot, hours apart, one fatally. He wrote … “Nothing I’d experienced in Iraq had ever affected me like this … I got back to base and tears started flowing from my eyes… I was in a dark hole.” I have no doubt we all have our limit on how much tragedy and stress we can experience, and we probably won’t know that limit until we get there, so we need to monitor ourselves, and we need other people watching out for us. At that point Kyle found comfort in his Christian faith. He started reading the Bible again and he wrote

… “With all hell breaking loose around me it felt better to know I was part of something bigger.” Then his daughter became ill and his health got worse. His blood pressure shot up and he couldn’t sleep properly. His wife described him as… “numb to everything, it was hard for him to pinpoint how he felt about anything, he was just wiped out and overwhelmed”. Chris Kyle, a man much tougher than most of us, had gone over his limits. He returned home and started self-medicating on alcohol, which, like drugs, numbs the pain, but does not fix the problem. He ended up rolling his pickup truck after drinking and at that stage he realised he needed to do something. Our new Health and Wellbeing Counsellor, Dr Angela Zagoren, talks about how it is … “really hard to look after your mental health, it’s easier to do nothing, it’s easier to use alcohol or drugs to put off dealing with your problems, it actually takes humility and courage to do something, to come forward and ask for help… and we need to remember that no matter how tough or resilient we are, we can all do better if we have support”.

elements in your life using the mnemonic REMAP – Relationships, Engagement, Meaning, Achievement and Positive emotions. You can be your own life coach or counsellor by attending to those five elements of your life. We can’t have positive emotions all the time, but we need a preponderance of them to grow to our potential, and to build our resilience for when bad things happen. This ‘broaden and build theory’ of Positive Psychology says that if we are under stress all the time and experience too many negative emotions, our possible range of responses to situations narrows to more flight or fight responses. We are less tolerant, less able to see possible solutions and less inclined to help others. Positive emotions broaden our cognitive abilities. Positive emotions increase our ability to acquire knowledge, increase our tolerance, and we can create many more solutions to problems. Positive emotions broaden our ability to see the good in circumstances and other people, and increases our propensity to help others. So our Positive Psychology program gives me hope.

OUT OF DEPRESSION Chris Kyle had the courage to seek help. On advice from his psychologist, to help himself heal, Kyle started looking after other injured vets from Iraq. As we say at TSS, using your strengths in the service of others builds your wellbeing by giving you a sense of purpose and meaning. Kyle noticed people healed faster if they got outside into nature, so he got ranch owners to donate their places for a few days to let him take small groups of disabled servicemen hunting and shooting or just spending time and talking to others who had been through the same experiences. By asking for help and taking action, Chris Kyle worked his way into a better state of mind.

HOPE FOR A BETTER SCHOOL, A BETTER SOCIETY Within Kyle’s story I see five beacons that give us hope for protecting our boys, hope for them reaching their full potential, and hope for a better school and a better society.

As we say at TSS, using your strengths in the service of others builds your wellbeing by giving you a sense of purpose and meaning.

The TSS Habits of Heart, developed by Fr Jonathan, encourage us all to ‘inspire hope’ to help people see a positive future. HOPE – INTEROCEPTIVE AWARENESS HOPE – POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY The first beacon of hope: Positive Psychology. He probably didn’t know it, but Chris Kyle was using Positive Psychology principles to help cure his Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and his depression. When his job started to produce more negative emotions than positive emotions he made a change, he got out of the SEALs. When he started helping other war veterans he experienced more positive emotions, a sense of meaning and a sense of purpose. You can do your own mental health ‘thriving’ check by considering the five Positive Psychology

The second beacon of hope: The new science of interoceptive awareness, your awareness of your body and emotions. As a sniper, Chris Kyle trained with controlled-breathing techniques. Again, he didn’t know it, but that body awareness probably mitigated against worse post-traumatic stress and depression. The optimum time to shoot at a target is at the bottom of your breath, when you have just breathed out, and between heartbeats, because that is when your body has the least amount of movement. At the International Conference on Thinking in the middle of the year, we heard from Guy Claxton, who is sort of the UK ‘thinking guru equivalent’

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of American Art Costa of Habits of Mind fame. Claxton’s presentation was, for me, a source of hope as he described how research is showing clearer links between the body and the mind, and how we can use our body intelligence to control our mind and improve our mental health. Claxton moves us from the old paradigm of intelligence residing in the brain, the ‘command centre’, and the body being simply a vehicle to be controlled and piloted by the brain, to the new paradigm of the mind as less like the ‘command centre’ and more like a ‘chat room’, where the body’s systems share information and debate the best actions. Our brain is actually distributed through the whole body, and cannot be separated from it. For example, deep, steady breathing increases your spatial intelligence, and how well you can listen to your heartbeat predicts the success of your decision-making. Claxton says this growing understanding of the disbursal of the brain throughout the body means a good education needs to include less screen time and more physical movement and making things. Claxton enthuses about the growing ‘maker movement’, which combines cerebral and physical accomplishments. Several of our classes have been involved in International Boys Schools Coalition research in the ‘maker movement’ area. Interoceptive awareness looks like allowing us to access emotions and physical sensations unfiltered by a stressed, depressed or anger-affected pre-frontal cortex. We get a hint of what might be possible with the expression ‘take a deep breath’ in a moment of anger or fear. Slow and steady breathing calms us and reduces stressful beta rhythms in our brain. By learning to engage with troublesome emotions and memories through interoceptive awareness brain pathways, we may experience the first signs of healing. Here is a very basic interoceptive awareness exercise for you to try at home. It is an effective way to consciously bridge the mind-body connection and is effective in slowing down the pace of life, reinstating physiological and psychological balance, and helping us deal with anger, depression or fear: Breathe in through your nose for a slow count from 1 to 4. Notice your belly expanding. Hold the breath for a four count. Slowly exhale through pursed lips for a four count. Hold the empty lungs for a four count. Cycle through that pattern three or four times. Take a longer five count if it works better.

HOPE – LOOKING AFTER EACH OTHER The third beacon of hope: Looking after each other. This is something we constantly remind the boys about. It is an effective way of building positive emotions and spirit, and a great way of ensuring people get help before things go too far. Chris Kyle was in many ways a superman, but like all of us, he had his vulnerabilities. We need to have our boys grow up in an environment where it is OK to talk about your vulnerabilities. The boys need to understand none of us are superman. We all need help at some stage. As mentioned before, on the advice of his psychologist, Kyle began organising outings where men with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder could spend time together involved in hunting or target shooting – tapping their ‘warrior spirit’ as Kyle put it, a bit like group therapy.

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In one ranch visit, a marine named Brady excused himself and went outside. Something had triggered Brady’s PTSD. Kyle noticed and went out to ask if Brady was OK. That’s often all it takes to help; keep an eye on people, and if you notice a change, ask if they are OK. It was inspiring to hear of several instances this year of TSS boys watching out for a mate and getting him help when he needed it and telling us about their concerns.

By learning to engage with troublesome emotions and memories through interoceptive awareness brain pathways, we may experience the first signs of healing.

Marc Lee started to see the American presence from the point of view of the locals and the insurgents. He then started to empathise with people of different race, economic status and religion in his own country, the US. As a budding philosopher with immerging empathy, Marc Lee wrote to his family to be more kind and generous towards others different to them, to treat all human life as precious. He felt more compassion and random acts of kindness by Americans towards each other would improve America, and America’s reputation in the world. Marc Lee felt this sort of behaviour was the best way to ensure America’s freedom. I love the quote of a Year 8 boy when interviewed about what the Positive Psychology program in his English class did for him … “I understand myself better, and I understand others in the class better.” What a brilliant outcome! There are lots of innovative learning and teaching using Myers-Briggs going on at TSS at the moment. One example is Mr Sam Lobascher’s use of the boys’ Myers-Briggs profiles to build empathy and understanding in a topic on ‘Australia’s treatment of refugees’ by exploring the T/F, Thinking/Feeling preference on Myers-Briggs. The T/F pair describes how you prefer to make decisions. If you are a ‘T’, Thinker, you put more weight on objective principles and impersonal facts, analyse pros and cons, use technical methods and are more task oriented. If you are an ‘F’, Feeler, you put more weight on what people care about, you prefer to establish or maintain harmony, and you prefer tact over the cold truth, but are sometimes seen as a bit idealistic or indirect. We all use both styles, but we generally have a preference for one.

HOPE – EMPATHY The fourth beacon of hope: Empathy. One of our Habits of Mind of highly effective people is to work at understanding others. At the higher end of ‘understanding’ there is ‘empathy’, one of the most difficult psychological tasks. Empathy is the experience of understanding another person’s situation from their perspective, to place yourself in their shoes and feel what they are feeling. If a person feels empathy, they are more likely to help others. The development of empathy in our boys is a key goal of our programs in Habits of Mind, Habits of Heart, Myers-Briggs and Positive Psychology. I believe it is the key to a peaceful and bullying-free school, and the key to a peaceful world. So our increasing ability to develop empathy gives me great hope. Chris Kyle did not develop empathy towards the local people during his four tours, but one of his best mates did. SEAL Marc Lee, in his last letter home before he was killed in front of Kyle, wrote that the horrors he had witnessed and getting to know the Iraqi people had caused him to think about their plight. He realised that as an American he automatically felt superior to the locals, as if he was from a superior race, but as he got to know the locals he worked out there was no rational reason for him to feel superior.

Mr Lobascher first had the boys write about their views on refugees using their preferred style and talked about how that style, T or F, would influence their views. Then, his big ‘empathy innovation’ – he had the boys write a second persuasive piece using the other perspective. T’s became F’s and F’s became T’s. To quote the erudite Mr Lobascher… “This forced the boys to articulate the strengths of arguments that contradicted their own, thus encouraging them to empathise with differing perspectives… this not only developed empathy, but made them better thinkers and communicators.”

HOPE – GOOD LEADERSHIP The fifth beacon of hope: Good leadership. Christian leadership researcher John Maxwell has a really simple definition of leadership – ‘leadership is influence’. Maxwell points out that even the most introverted individual, with no structured plan, will influence over 10,000 people during his or her lifetime! Just imagine if our boys, after they leave school, actually made an effort to influence people for the betterment of the groups they belong to.

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Maxwell says the Apostle Paul’s second letter in the New Testament to his apprentice Timothy is very much a leadership training manual. Paul writes to Timothy … “ignite your leadership gifts … don’t be timid … step up and take the Church beyond where I have taken it …lead boldly regardless of the moral failings in the world”.

Mr Parsons’ Myers-Briggs profile is INFP. Often called ‘Healers’, INFPs frequently hear a call to go forth into the world and help others, a call they seem ready to answer. Mr Parsons has certainly answered the ‘call to help others’ at TSS … teaching and counselling hundreds of TSS boys, and many colleagues, and we thank him for 15 years’ dedication and service to The Southport School.

That message is encapsulated in 2 Timothy 1:7 where Paul writes … “for God did not give us a spirit of fear, but rather a spirit of power and of love and of selfdiscipline”.

Thank you to our dedicated, talented and passionate staff. It has been another busy year with many demands and expectations placed on staff. TSS continues to travel well through the ‘new normal’ of the post-GFC economy on the Coast. I evidence the ‘travelling well’ by an incredible 18% increase in enrolments since the GFC. Now, all this good news is in no small way the result of staff continuing to provide outstanding service, coaching, pastoral care and teaching to the boys, and willingly undertaking regular professional learning to improve and align themselves with our Vision and boys’ education programs.

This spirit and power within our boys gives me hope.

EACH BOY’S PATH – THE GREATEST FRONTIER In conclusion, despite the current moral failings in the world, which sometimes make us feel despondent, we have much cause for hope. If we can continue to create TSS as a place where each boy can develop to be the best he can be, and if we can guide them morally, develop their leadership abilities and provide the boys through our unique programs and teaching with a ‘backpack’ of skills, habits, dispositions and abilities to help them become young men ready for their greatest adventure – life – then we will be producing the best possible leaders to deal with the problems of the world and work towards the betterment of their families, workplaces and communities. Your ‘path’, boys, the ‘greatest frontier’. To finish off, and to practise another TSS Habit of Heart – Be Grateful – I have expressions of gratitude to staff and the School Council.

THANK YOU ALAN PARSONS, STAFF, COUNCIL This is Mr Parsons’ final Speech Day with us after 15 years of loyal and dedicated service to The Southport School. Mr Parsons has been fittingly farewelled at our final assembly and at the graduation ceremony, but I did want to give parents today an opportunity to thank Alan for all he has done. Alan is rated by the boys as one of our ‘Ideal Teachers’ and he has served the boys, staff and parents of TSS with great merit, conscientiousness and dignity. Alan has been, for me and the staff, a source of exceptional wisdom, steadiness, counsel and considered decision-making; he is a compassionate man deeply committed to social justice, and a true ‘gentleman’.

My thanks also to the members of the School Council; the committed group of volunteers who willingly give many hours of community service work as stewards of this great school to ensure good governance, financial management and strategic development. Thank you to the Chairman of Council, Mr Fraser Perrin, who, as I say each year, gets to advise on the most interesting and challenging incidents that inevitable occur in such a large school. After many years, Fraser and Catherine finished their time as TSS parents last week with the graduation of Tasman, but the School Council and the Diocese are delighted Fraser will stay on Council for some time yet. I thank our parents for the trust you have placed in us, we are honoured to be a partner with you in the nurturing of your sons into fine young men. Thank you to the boys for your energy, humour, inspiration and many contributions as part of the living history of The Southport School. Thank you all for your support of The Southport School during the past year, the 115th year of this great School. … I wish you all a happy, peaceful and holy Christmas. Thank you.

If we can continue to create TSS as a place where each boy can develop to be the best he can be, and if we can guide them morally, develop their leadership abilities and provide the boys through our unique programs and teaching with a ‘backpack’ of skills, habits, dispositions and abilities to help them become young men ready for their greatest adventure – life – then we will be producing the best possible leaders to deal with the problems of the world and work towards the betterment of their families, workplaces and communities.

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Student Committees Add Value to

School & Community Daniel Brown Director of Leadership Dean of Boarding

or the past four years our Year 12 student leaders have been operating a number of committees, specifically with the Year 10 students during leadership in Period 4 on a Friday. These committees have proven to be a great success, evolving from year to year as each senior cohort makes its contribution. Currently there are four committees, each operating in its own distinct sphere of interest, but sharing the common goal of promoting leadership ideals and adding value to TSS school life. Green Team – At the rear of the Bennett Building this group has established and maintains a market garden that supports a selection of plants and trees, with crops ranging from citrus to tomatoes. This group has also planted a new hedge to line the path at the Ferry Road entrance.

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Community Service – Traditionally this group has forged a strong relationship with Anglicare, each Term visiting its premises in Southport and hosting some of its elderly clients at the School for a concert or other entertainment. This year’s committee has made a particularly successful addition to the scope of the group’s activities by conducting visits to six elderly people (some of these being Older Old Boys) to assist them with gardening and other domestic tasks. Student 2 Student – This team of senior boys make a weekly visit to a Year 10 leadership class to conduct talks about the issues the Year 10s will face during their senior schooling. The issues discussed are wide ranging, including such topics as subject selections and leadership opportunities. These sessions are run entirely by the senior boys, with the teacher not present in the room in order to promote an authentic and personalised session.

Spirit Committee “Sharky Committee” – This long-standing committee plays a large part in driving the school spirit of TSS, especially at the various sporting and cultural events. In addition, the committee members also visit Year 10 classes on Fridays during leadership to discuss pertinent issues surrounding School spirit and to gauge feedback from the boys. It is this early focus on Year 10 by the various committees that sets the stage for an eventual “passing of the baton”. Evidence of the success of this strategy can be seen among the current Year 11s, with some boys involved in their own projects and in training for taking over these committees as the School leaders for 2016. In this context, special mention must go to Year 11 boys Toby Redler and Ben Paxton-Hall, who developed their own committee project this year. They have organised for Year 11 boys and Year 10 boys to go to the Prep School once a week on a Thursday and Friday respectively to read to the Year 1 boys. The Student Committees can be seen as epitomising the sense of “community” that TSS strives to inculcate in every boy. TSS “community” is more than a vague concept or a feel-good catchword in a mission statement. It exists in the first instance as a physical, emotional and spiritual reality that pervades the entire School and catches students, teachers, staff, parents and Old Boys in its broad sweep.

But beyond this, the reality of “community” is seen in the School’s emphasis on the need to serve the broader community through gestures and works that make a positive contribution to society. But beyond this, the reality of “community” is seen in the School’s emphasis on the need to serve the broader community through gestures and works that make a positive contribution to society. As a result of this, TSS students are noted for their engagement with the world outside the School gates. Whether tending a crop of tomatoes, inspiring a Year 10 class, leading a cheer squad or visiting an aged person, the TSS Student Committees play an important part in the fostering of that sense of community.

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Influencing Change for the st

21 Century Classroom Jill Margerison Assistant Dean of E-Learning

n the 21st century, students expect to be active agents in the construction of knowledge rather than passive recipients. This means that teachers need to facilitate a culture of collaboration to encourage autonomy, mastery and purpose in each subject area. It is a paradigm shift from learning and teaching of the 20th century, but one that encourages students to develop a growth mindset and find intrinsic motivation to develop best practice in learning.

Influencing change or a shift in paradigm for any organisation is a challenge. Yet that is exactly what most organisations must to do in order to thrive and grow, improve and adapt. For schools, in particular, the prevalence of digital technology and the complexity of a society that is highly interconnected, dynamic and demanding of innovation presents classroom teachers with new opportunities to deliver their craft. It also presents opportunity to implement and deliver change. Influencing change through pedagogy was one of the overriding themes at the recent Adolescent Success Conference for Middle Years held on the Gold Coast. As part of this national conference, The Southport School hosted a workshop to showcase a range of 21st century cutting edge learning and teaching strategies that engage, extend and develop teenage boys academically, socially and emotionally. Delegates were welcomed by Headmaster Mr Greg Wain, and key speakers included the Deputy Head of Preparatory, Mr Mark Wyer, Year 7 Coordinator, Mr Karel Bos, and Associate Dean of E-Learning, Dr Jill Margerison. One pedagogical approach that was specifically addressed by TSS presenters was the importance of facilitating kinaesthetic/‘hands-on’ 34

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activities in a collaborative learning environment. It is this kind of experience that enables students to demonstrate their understanding of abstract concepts in very tangible ways to prompt greater connection and provide ownership of the knowledge. In fact, this style of learning is one that has even been recently championed by President Obama, who explained we are changing the world “not by buying stuff, but by building stuff – by making stuff, by tinkering and inventing and building”. At TSS, opportunities to make and create allow students to view the world through problem-solving lenses. At the workshop session, TSS teachers Mr Wyer, Mr Bos and Dr Margerison explained that making is a mindset that enables the boys to realise that knowledge is not merely a commodity to be transmitted, encoded, retained, and reapplied, but rather a personal experience to be constructed. It is in this construction of knowledge where the real learning takes place. The TSS workshop was very well received by delegates. Conversations and much pedagogical debate centred around the various creative and design thinking approaches that staff at the School have devised to specifically capture the hearts and minds of our adolescent boys. Most significantly, however, a week after the conference, an email with a video link attached arrived from Rockhampton. Two Queensland delegates had already begun to implement the TSS constructivist teaching strategies of creating and making with their own classes and were delighted with the response from their students. This was valuable feedback. Contributing as influencers of change to other schools in managing the challenges of connecting, collaborating and creating critical thinkers for the 21st century is rewarding and reaffirming.

Turning Year 7s into Gentlemen T

he scope of the TSS Positive Education Program encompasses a broad spectrum of subjects such as: Habits of Mind (using your senses to gather data, be clear when you communicate and being creative), health and wellbeing lessons (nutrition, exercise, self-worth and mental health) and KIT Mentor sessions with Year 11s. As part of this program, in the final Term of 2015 the Year 7 Core teachers were engaged in delivering a pastoral program based on Relationships and Respect. Particular focus was on the perception of how young men should treat women, domestic violence, body image, sexual assault in music videos and computer games, subliminal messages, advertising and sexualisation. This program was inspired after a Professional Learning experience in the previous Term. Organised by Deputy Headmaster Mr Alan Parsons, it featured a visit by Australian writer/speaker/ blogger/media commentator Melinda Tankard Reist to deliver concurrent seminars involving students, staff and parents. The outspoken Tankard Reist is well-known for her work on the objectification of women, sexualisation of girls and working to address violence against women.

Managing Director of The Young and Well Cooperative Research Centre, child and adolescent psychologist, author and speaker Dr Michael Carr-Gregg comments: “Melinda Tankard Reist has a simple message that is powerfully delivered. With her prodigious intellect, sand-blasted sense of humour and immaculate research, she puts a much needed spotlight on the erosion of childhood, the ‘pornification’ of our environment and the ‘commodification’ of young people.” Having received the message loud and clear, the Year 7 boys reflected on the program and in English classes produced a response in the form of various video news reports in which they interviewed key staff and enquired about the motivations for delivering this particular unit and the benefits of such a program. Karel Bos Year 7 Coordinator Delpratt Housemaster

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Bryan Hain Director of Sport

aptain (later Rear-Admiral) Arthur Phillip set sail from England for Australia in May 1787; the journey taking eight months with the loss of 40 of the 722-man crew, before anchor was dropped in Botany Bay in January 1788. Such was the sterling character of the man, Phillips subsequently distinguished himself as the first Governor of NSW. On the 16 September 2015 a Tour Squad of 44 U16 and U14 Rugby players departed Brisbane and did what Phillip could only have dreamt of – flew to London in a tad over 24 hours with not a member of the crew lost. The first stop was the historical City of Bath, and as fate would have it, the boys’ first training session was next to the tiny church of St Nicholas, Bathampton – the final resting place of Arthur Phillip. Most Australians who tour England do not know this place exists, so it was a great start for the tour squad to learn a little more about our English heritage. The goal of the 2015 Rugby World Cup squad was to successfully mix the origins of the sport (remember it was William Webb Ellis who first picked up the football and ran with it at the Rugby School) with the numerous historical cities, schools and grounds around the country. It was quite fortuitous that the Wallabies were also resting up in Bath when we were in town. It didn’t take us too long to make a couple of calls to the Aussie management and have the boys invited to a closed training session at the beautiful Bath University campus. In short order, TSS Old Boys ‘Simmons and Slipper’ arrived for a photo and a chat, and even senior TSS Old Boy and Wallabies Defence Coach Nathan Grey came over for a quiet word to the boys. There are of course only so many castles, cathedrals, palaces and ancient buildings you can explore with teenagers on an overseas tour. However, one of the positives of this social mediacrazed life many of our youngsters live was that this ‘wi-fi connected’ tour party of 44 were constantly snapping shots and uploading historical hashtags.

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Rear-Admiral Arthur Phillip was certainly one of the world’s great explorers, a quiet man who was probably constantly out of his comfort zone. I expect that in 1788 as he sought to govern the fledgling colony, Phillip would never have imagined that those early settlers of NSW would one day grow into a country that could compete with the best in the world on so many fronts.

It is remarkable to consider that this year TSS played home and away against two of the most famous English Rugby Schools. Whitgift School from London and Bromsgrove School from just outside Birmingham travelled to Australia in June and were billeted in fine style by TSS families. So it was pretty special that in less than three months we were being hosted by those same schools in the UK. The hospitality was superb wherever we stopped on tour. The Bromsgrove School is over 500 years old and has an incredible educational history. It is approximately the same size as TSS and in many ways we are just like a younger brother of this school. We have so many similarities, with a big cadet program, House system, a chapel or two on campus and a strong extra-curricular presence. Tours are all about getting out of your comfort zone and experiencing something new. The time we spent with the billeting families in London highlighted for our boys the challenges some families face when trying to cross the city in moving from home to school. Some boys experienced early starts and long traffic jams, while others caught the Underground to school. Other TSS Old Boys have also made England their home and we were fortunate to catch up with Sam Hain, a professional cricketer at Warwickshire. A quick tour of the Edgbaston Test Ground, including the changing rooms where Ian Bell and Alistair Trott are based, went down well with the 14 cricketers on tour. On the way to London we also stopped at the historical town of Henley-onThames. This is the location of the famous annual Henley Royal Regatta, which is a huge part of the English summer rowing and social season. Daniel Ritchie – another TSS Old Boy swimmer and rower – kindly took us on a special tour inside the prestigious Leander Rowing club (founded in 1818). This quaint English manor house was full of old oil paintings, huge silver trophies and Olympic memorabilia. Leander is one of the oldest and most successful sports clubs in the world, so it was nice to know that TSS actually has a member of this famous club and that he just happens to be World Champion as well.

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The great stadiums around the world have that special ability to build pre-match tension and create an atmosphere that enhances the sporting contest between international teams. To watch a Rugby game in the famous Millennium Stadium in Cardiff or to sit high in Twickenhamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s terraces watching England play Australia was something special. None of these matches would come close to the battles that took place around the 11th century medieval fortress like Caernarfon Castle. The 17th century Civil War between the Parliamentarian forces (Roundheads) and Royalists was the last time this particular castle saw fighting; although many would argue that the rivalry between the Welsh and English continues to this day. Unfortunately for the host nation, the Welsh passion for a contest saw them beat their arch-rivals England and almost knock England out of their own Rugby World Cup.

Rear-Admiral Arthur Phillip was certainly one of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s great explorers, a quiet man who was probably constantly out of his comfort zone. I expect that in 1788 as he sought to govern the fledgling colony, Phillip would never have imagined that those early settlers of NSW would one day grow into a country that could compete with the best in the world on so many fronts. I am sure though he would have approved of the way these 44 Australians from TSS conducted themselves on this tour. Just like any great explorer, the Squad was always on the move, gaining accolades from the locals for its manners and behaviour. How good was that? A special spirit and camaraderie develops on a long overseas tour, and I know that everyone on this voyage back to England will take away many fond memories that will last a lifetime.

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takinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; the music to

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Mark Wyer Deputy Head of Prep Pastoral Care

singing. During the service, Fr Tom Hall – a TSS Prep Old Boy and proud Shepherd man who still has his TSS bible – recounted several stories of his time at TSS Prep, highlighting for the boys that they are truly part of a “Band of Brothers”.

The musical performances were, of course, the heart of the tour and the boys performed beautifully in three separate performances. Our first performance at the Kaloma Aged Care Facility struck an especially emotional chord. The residents came to listen and tap their toes to some old favourites that managed to bring a tear to the eyes of some.

When not performing, the boys enjoyed the non-musical aspect to the tour. A visit to Myola provided a firsthand look at a working feedlot, where 18,000 head of cattle are looked after by one of our very own TSS families. Travelling around the district delivered a clear picture and greater understanding of how the community grows and harvests cotton. Also on the tour was a visit to the Gunsynd Museum and the historic Customs House used by farmers crossing the Queensland/New South Wales border.

fter three performances, a church service, museum, cotton and cattle farm visits and 1000 or so kilometres later, the Goondiwindi Music Tour for 2015 could safely be declared an overwhelming success.

The afternoon music performance in the Botanic Gardens attracted a large crowd of family, friends, host families and members of the local community. Again the boys were a great hit, with a splendid repertoire performed magnificently. At the end we all enjoyed a sausage sizzle and great conversations with the locals, who were impressed by how many boys not only engage fully in the music program, but also in the many other activities and sports on offer at TSS. In a special moment for some of the Shepherd House boys, they met Mr Gavin Lahey, who was the Shepherd House Captain in 1944.

The 46 boys on the tour distinguished themselves as true ambassadors for the School and a credit to their parents. After many conversations with the host families, everyone was very impressed by the way the boys conducted themselves in the hosts’ homes and in the community in general. Finally, a huge round of applause goes to the families of Goondiwindi who took our boys into their homes, showed them true country hospitality and provided them with experiences that they could only dream of. I know our boys have made new friends and forged lifelong memories of their time in Goondiwindi.

For our final performance, the boys took part in the local church service at the Holy Trinity Anglican Church. It was a “full house” and the local community was again “blown away” with the boys’

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We congratulate and farewell our Sixth Form Class of 2015

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Founded in 1901, TSS is an Anglican day and boarding school for boys from Preschool to Year 12, with boarding available from Year 7 Winchester St Southport Queensland Australia 4215 Telephone: +617 5531 9911 Facsimile: +617 5531 9977 Email: reception@tss.qld.edu.au Visit: www.tss.qld.edu.au The Corporation of the Synod of the Diocese of Brisbane trading as The Southport School CRICOS Provider No. 00523F