Spotlight on Greg Wain

SPOTLIGHT ON

TSS HEADMASTER 2004 - 2020

Upon his commissioning and installation at The Southport School on 6 February 2004 Mr Greg Wain became the eighth Headmaster. Standing on the shoulders of giants is never easy. Throughout the School’s history it is clear that Headmasters have had to balance the desire to implement their own educational vision with existing strong traditions and respect for the past. Despite this, Headmasters are chosen for their vision to preserve the core of the School while continuing to keep TSS at the forefront of educational innovation.

The School Council chose a leader with great empathy for the boys he leads. Then Chairman of the School Council Professor Michael Irving said “The School Council believes Mr Wain is a visionary leader who will continue to enhance the quality education of boys at The Southport School … he will work well with the whole school community as we seek to provide the best possible Christian-based education for the boys who attend this school.”

It could be suggested that Greg was uniquely well equipped for this role as is his understanding of both the city and country elements that make up TSS. His own time spent as a jackeroo on sheep stations in north-western Australia, and his time spent in different areas of Australia, first Perth, then Sydney, before moving to the Sunshine State meant he was well placed to appreciate both backgrounds. Within his past is also a suggestion of the renaissance man, something TSS boys aspire to. The ability to work with his hands, engage in physical activity, but also a scholar, possessing degrees in Education, Psychology and Business Administration. This provided a great example for the boys, and the staff to look up to.

Current Headmaster Andrew Hawkins remembers:

“The first time I met Greg officially was in my new staff orientation day back in 2004. It struck me that he was actually one of the staff that was also sitting in the new staff orientation session as it was his first day also. We heard from the Human Resource Manager, the IT Department and the usual induction information. Greg then hopped up out of the group and began to deliver his Headmaster’s address. As a new member of the staff, as well as the Headmaster, his head must have been spinning. If I am honest, he looked like a dear in the headlights that day.

I watched Greg grow in to the role and saw the school transform from a good school, to an outstanding school for boys. I really bought in to Greg’s vision to be ‘world-class’ and that motivated me to study for my Masters so that I could be a national level educator. It was this buy-in to the vision that I think got Greg’s attention when I interviewed for Dean of Students back in 2009. I put my hat in the ring purely to get Greg’s attention in order for him to know that I wanted to develop as a leader.

I got an interview and could not believe my luck. There were some high quality candidates with a lot more experience than me at the time. I ended up sharing the role with none other than Ms Jo Inglis. Some high quality staff missed out. That was very unpopular at the time but I tell this story as that decision made my career. For that, I will always be grateful for Greg for taking a risk and showing the confidence in me to be a leader in this great school.”

In reflecting on Greg’s legacy at TSS there are some key areas that must be mentioned. Firstly, there are the physical changes that have occurred at TSS during his time. Overseeing massive building projects in a school is never easy, but this didn’t stop during Greg’s time. From upgrades to the boarding houses, to new staffrooms and improvements in sporting facilities. More recently he has overseen the opening of a new lecture theatre, refurbishment of the library and brought the new Annand Theatre almost to its conclusion. In short, the school would have looked physically very different without Greg’s vision.

Greg has also brought about important changes to school policy. One of the most notable elicited significant media attention to TSS when in 2012 he introduced a new means of dealing with drugs on campus. After reviewing many of the programs that were on offer both nationally and internationally, he observed that they simply didn’t work. ‘Many drug education programs and scare tactics actually pique the boys’ interest because many of them think they’re ten feet tall and bulletproof and are natural risktakers’. Initially opposed to the policy of drug testing students, concerned about the erosion of trust, he has found it has the opposite effect. The program gives boys a reason to say no, and also helps to identify those who are struggling. The restorative approach that wraps around the program demonstrates Greg’s understanding of the psychology of young men, and his desire to help them get back on the right path when they make unwise decisions.

Beyond this, Greg developed the hiring policy of the school actively supporting the career development of women at TSS by promoting female staff to leadership positions, historically and notionally more appropriate for males (and which are still rarely held by women in boys’ schools) including Housemaster, Assistant Boarding Housemaster, Dean of Students and Deputy Headmaster. Jo Inglis notes that ‘In Australia and indeed internationally, it is rare for Headmasters of boys’ schools to appoint women to executive roles. Greg sought to address gender bias by actively seeking out female leaders, mentoring, coaching and supporting their career development both on an individual level and as a group. Jo comments “Greg encouraged all staff to develop as collaborative team members and leaders; he was critical to my development and promotion to Deputy Headmaster of TSS.”

Despite these changes to the school physically and to policy, perhaps Greg’s biggest legacy is the way he has reframed the way the community understands how boys think and behave. Former OSA Coordinator and Sports Administrator Kris Hailey remembers … “Back in 2004 I read an article about the new Headmaster at TSS, and his views on ‘boys’ brains’. As a mother of two boys, I immediately felt a connection through my 12 years of association as both a parent and a staff member at TSS…”

“… During my time on staff, I found Greg Wain to be undeniably steadfast in both his dedication and his loyalty to the boys and to his staff. Above all, during my close association with him, particularly in my position working for the Old Boys' Association, I found him to be considered and steady. Always steady. Looking back, we had periods where we had robust conversations about various

Greg and Kate Wain - 2005

Southportian Report - Greg's first edition 2004 issues and at times we did not see eye to eye however he was always 'there', approachable and fair. He was, is, a good man and I thank him (as do my boys) for his patience and steadfastness and his innate ability to lead.”

Greg’s passion for helping the community understand how boys are different would later morph into information sessions where parents could come and learn about what made their sons different from their daughters. Or in some cases why their husbands behave so differently to the way their wives expect!

It also helped staff to understand tweaks in their teaching practice that could help them to be more effective in reaching the boys in their classrooms, whether it was increasing the amount of movement in their practice, talking more loudly and slowly, or building relationships first. All of these things helped staff to become more efficient in their practice. All of this information was drawn from research, and Greg’s desire to implement best practice can be found as early as his first Headmaster’s Report in the 2004 edition of The Southportonian where he talked about the importance of hands-on learning and the differences between male and female brains. Greg travelled regularly to international conferences, and the results of these can be found in the many programs now on offer at TSS, with staff receiving a crash course in the new ideas Greg had been exposed to via one of his famous blue backgrounded PowerPoint presentations.

The Weekend Australian - 20 July 2019

When considering Greg’s impact on the school more broadly, Fraser Perrin (board member at the time Greg was selected and later Chairman of the School Council) reflected … “Greg’s tenure at our great school has left a mark on many of us. From a Council perspective he was always accepting, available, honest and humble. His time at TSS was never about him. It was about building on those aspects of the school that make it special. Building on the tradition and helping each boy see why that was important to both them and those who were to follow. He was empathetic and very capable of dealing with all stakeholders with clarity. To me personally he became a good friend. Our discussions were always very clear. I was never in any doubt as to what his intentions were. He had a capacity to see and deal with issues very comfortably. That was a skill he possessed which enabled Greg to manage multiple issues at once with ease, including crisis issues which sadly fall upon us throughout a school year. He also took great pride in mentoring those around him. He enjoyed and cherished that role. He continues to fulfill that role for our school to this day. As a school we were blessed to have Greg with us for his many years. Our whole community is grateful for his presence, and we will see and sense his presence in many aspects of our school as we move forward. He has left his footprint on our school and all of us fortunate enough to have worked with him. We are better people for knowing him.”

It wasn’t just those who were important in the chain of command that Greg wanted to hear from, he was interested in the voices of lots of people, from students to teachers in the classrooms. Prep Teacher Sharon Joss observed … “Hmm… ‘The Headmaster’ wants to come and talk to me… a Reception teacher! Why? What have I done wrong?”

“… Greg did come into my classroom for a chat, it was my opinion and thoughts that he wanted to hear and not something that I had done wrong. From that day and throughout his time as Headmaster he made me feel that I did have an important role at the school and that my thoughts and opinion as a Prep School teacher did matter. He introduced the term ‘emotional intelligence’ to me, and this certainly caused a paradigm shift in my thinking. ‘Goals and vision’ were words that became a common language, and this gave me the opportunity to question what I wanted to focus on not only in my career, but in my personal life as well. I am grateful for the opportunity to go to Perth on a teacher exchange, and for the four years I spent as an Assistant Housemaster in Rogers Boarding House, where I learnt a lot about human relationships. I learnt a lot about myself and other people.”

“… Greg introduced and promoted our ‘Ideal Teacher’ program and as a result he has visited my classroom many times over the years and he always impressed me with his willingness to get involved with what the little guys were doing, getting hands dirty or dancing and singing with the boys. His concern and support for us as teachers during online teaching was comforting and the boys certainly knew who Mr Wain was with his visits to see how we were all doing. I have learnt from Greg that having open and honest conversations and identifying and admitting your weaknesses is okay, but stand by what you believe in. I appreciate Greg acknowledging not only me, but six others that were already teaching at the Prep School when he started in 2004. We have certainly been the lucky ones.”

“… My sons Dylan and Connor were very fortunate to have Greg as their Headmaster while at TSS, they remember relevant topics being openly discussed at school, life and faith were important and not just religion. As a result, we as a family had a common language and we could talk openly about things, especially the development of a boy’s brain and this helped me to be a better mum and understand why my sons were doing certain things and were such risk takers!”

In the Christian community the image of the shepherd and his flock is one of the most widely recognised metaphors for leadership and it is an image that appears at TSS too. In fact, 2012 Vice-Captain Thaddeus McFarlane reflected “Mr Wain always lead from the front during his time as Headmaster of the school. He clearly valued the learning and growth of the students above all else, giving himself to the school in a way most could not understand. He is a great leader and I’m sure he will continue to contribute to the community.”

As our shepherd, Greg has fully embodied the way that Nelson Madella interpreted a good shepherd leading his flock in this autobiography A Long Walk to Freedom:

“A leader... is like a shepherd. He stays behind the flock, letting the most nimble go out ahead, whereupon the others follow, not realising that all along they are being directed from behind.”

In Greg’s initial years at TSS, he set a path for the school to follow, and once set, he was able to move to the back of the flock, allowing his own leaders to move out in front while he kept a watchful protective eye. In this way Greg has been a proactive, protective shepherd for the community at TSS. While it will no longer be his hand on the crook (or perhaps in the image of a jackeroo, the reins) moving forward we know that he will continue to have a keen eye for the protection and wellbeing of the community.

Greg’s passion for helping the community understand how boys are different would later morph into information sessions where parents could come and learn about what made their sons different from their daughters.