GN summer 2021

Grammar News

BGS COMMUNITY SUMMER 2021

In This Issue Innovating for success The power of philanthropy Class of 2020 overcome challenges

Our Purpose Brisbane Grammar School educates boys within an innovative learning culture that nurtures their intellectual, physical, and emotional wellbeing to become global citizens who contribute to their communities.

Our Ambition Brisbane Grammar School aspires to be the best school for boys in Australia and an international leader in teaching and learning. The School is committed to offering premium educational and leadership opportunities for boys of all backgrounds, to strengthening its global connections, and to building a vibrant school community among students, parents, staff, Old Boys and the broader society.

Our Values Endeavour Learning Respect Leadership Community

Our Motto nil sine labore – nothing without work

The School is committed to a liberal education philosophy.

Our major goals for each boy are: To develop attitudes, skills, and a base of knowledge as a foundation for critical intelligence, imaginative and creative powers, effective communication and the capacity and enthusiasm for independent, lifelong learning.

To develop and extend personal character and talents.

To develop a strong sense of service, community, leadership and loyalty to others.

COVER IMAGE Members of the BGS Robotics club represented Australia at the 2020 FIRST Global Challenge – competing against 190 countries in the virtual international robotics competition. Read their story as part of this edition’s feature on innovation.

Registered by Australia Post Publication No. QBN 4259

CONTENTS

STUDENT SUCCESS P12

INNOVATION P14

OLD BOYS P28

PHILANTHROPY P30

GENERATIONS P40

REFLECTIONS P42

gn is produced by Advancement and Community Relations Brisbane Grammar School, Gregory Terrace Brisbane, QLD 4000 phone +61 7 3834 5379 email grammarnews@brisbanegrammar.com www.brisbanegrammar.com

EDITORIAL TEAM Chris Walker Marketing and Communications Manager Shannon Breen Marketing and Communications Officer

Elise Browning Marketing and Communications Officer Andy Copeland Marketing and Communications Officer

Paul Brandist Graphic Designer

CONTRIBUTORS

Inma Beaumont Executive Director Advancement and Community Relations

Carla Hardy

Designed externally by: Naomi White Graphic Designer

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Michael Forrest Vivien Harris Anthony Micallef Nick Holland Chris Price Karen Scott

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H E A D M A S T E R ’S M E S S A G E

A year like no other Anthony Micallef

U

nprecedented. In 2020 I’ve heard this word more than ever before, but with good reason. The impact of COVID-19 on the world has been unprecedented, certainly in the lifetimes of our staff and students.

contribution to the School and welcome Stephen Bizzell, Claire Blake and Dr Angela Ryan to the Board.

Our Archivist puts the current pandemic in perspective with a story on page 25 that explores the impact of the Spanish flu on BGS and Australia 100 years ago.

Despite the difficulties and challenges of the year, there have been many success stories at Brisbane Grammar School. Much of that success has been possible due to innovation – the theme for this Grammar News edition.

The generosity of the BGS community is shown through several stories in this edition. Old Boy Daryl Holmes ’81 was awarded an OBE for humanitarian aid in Papua New Guinea (pages 28 and 29); an inspirational story on pages 30 and 31 examines the impact of a bursary – recipient Stephen Baronio graduated this year after six years at BGS on a bursary funded by Simon Fenwick ’87; the new junior boarding house opened this year through the support of Matt McLennan ’86 (pages 32 and 33); and the Year Group Bursary initiative is creating healthy competition between Old Boy year groups, supporting the School’s vision for 10% of students to receive bursarial assistance (page 34).

Innovation has played a vital role in the School’s success since its foundation, but this has never been more apparent than in 2020. BGS staff and students transitioned to home-based learning adeptly, explained in more detail on pages 14 and 15. The photos on the opposite page show how our boys adapted to the change successfully and in good humour.

COVID restrictions impacted our Music and Drama programs, prompting innovations that resulted in brilliant performances and ensured the programs reached wider audiences – read more on pages 22 and 23. Old Boy James Chin Moody ’93 has moved from space engineer to entrepreneur during his career, with his success hinging on his ability to solve problems through finding innovative solutions. Read his story on pages 18 and 19.

I encourage you to read the Class of 2020 reflection story on pages 38 and 39. As the BGS Chairman noted in his Speech Day address, the senior students were the stars of a difficult year. As the first cohort to enter high school in Year 7, and the first cohort to move to the new ATAR system, the impact of COVID-19 turned 2020 into an incredibly challenging year.

On pages 16 and 17, I explain the new BGS Strategy, which outlines our ambition to be the best school for boys in Australia. Innovation will continue to play a significant role in realising this aspiration.

The Generations story (pages 40 and 41) tells the history of a BGS family about to mark five generations at the School. Our School Historian compiled a moving tribute to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the end of WWII in the Reflections story on pages 42 and 43.

A story on pages 20 and 21 looks at the legacy of three retiring members of the BGS Board of Trustees and welcomes three new Trustees. I congratulate Dr John Fenwick AM, Chris Morton and Sue Palmer for their

I encourage you to stay connected through the BGS social media pages.

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SOCIAL MEDIA

STAY CONNECTED

facebook.com/brisbanegrammarschool instagram.com/brisbanegrammar

Brisbane Grammar School 12 August

The Ekka was brought to BGS for Year 12 students today. The boys enjoyed dagwood dogs and fairy floss on the Boarders’ Lawn.

Long-serving School Marshal Rob Dunlop, who officially retired today, was farewelled at the event after 24 years of service to the School. Before coming to BGS, Mr Dunlop had a 20-year career in the Australian Army.

linkedin.com/brisbanegrammarschool twitter.com/brisbanegrammar

Brisbane Grammar School 29 October

BGS Old Boy Fraser McReight ’16 has been selected to debut in the Wallabies team taking on the All Blacks on Saturday night. The 21-year-old will start from the bench in the must-win Bledisloe Cup match. Congratulations and good luck.

Brisbane Grammar School 27 October

After an incredible 39 years at BGS, Art Teacher Bernadette Moy is retiring in a few weeks. Old Boys taught by Ms Moy are encouraged to send in a short video focusing on her influence on them and their classroom memories.

ART GREAT FAREWELLED Reach 19,206

WALLABIES SELECTION EKKA AND A FAREWELL

Reach 19,501

Reach 19,391

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803 likes 29 comments 21 shares

Tim Herington Congratulations Mr Dunlop! You were a fantastic (and may I say effective) school marshal during my time. Enjoy your retirement.

David Gee Congratulations Rob and enjoy retirement – a fantastic colleague all those years back and a wonderful man who always had the students’ interests at heart.

Michael Dalgleish Continues the same professionalism and skill he has displayed since a cornerstone of the BGS First XV. Good luck Fraser.

Helen Masselos Fantastic!

Congratulations.

Anne Hewitt So proud of him.

Ross Hirst Well deserved.

Anthony Micallef Congratulations.

It’s been an absolute privilege working with you. Your care and compassion for the boys over 25 years of service has been extraordinary.

917 likes 59 comments 24 shares

Henry Coughlin Ms Moy was a huge influence in paving my way into early adulthood and ultimately helping me decide to pursue a career in creative industries. One of the greats.

Nick Spriggs I can wholeheartedly say I would not be where I am today without Ms Moy! She introduced me to design and the concept of design thinking. I have made a very happy and successful career out of it over the last 20 years since she first planted the seed.

Vanessa Cribb Wishing you all the best – you have been so wonderful, kind and inspiring to my creative boys over the years.

You will be missed.

Judith Bell Congratulations on your wonderful career at BGS! I cannot imagine the place without your calm, inspiring presence in the Art Department.

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Brisbane Grammar School 26 October

After almost 30 years of service to BGS, Head of Mathematics Anthony Mewing will retire at the end of the year.

His contribution was recognised at assembly last week by Headmaster Anthony Micallef. “Mr Mewing has been a wonderful colleague, never a bad word about anyone, and as a teacher, all his decisions were in the best interests of his students – a man of true integrity.

He has led teams, he has led change.

Most importantly, he has invested innumerable hours in the development of young men, colleagues and the BGS community in general.”

Brisbane Grammar School 14 May

Powderfinger musos and BGS Old Boys Ian Haug and John ‘JC’ Collins (both ’87) are getting the band back together for a virtual reunion concert on Saturday 23 May. The 'One Night Lonely' gig will benefit Beyond Blue and Support Act, a charity for musicians and artists out of work due to COVID-19. Powderfinger’s five members will each play from their own studios, with Collins in his Fortitude Music Hall, and Haug from his Brisbane home.

Brisbane Grammar School 11 May

It was exciting to see BGS Years 11 and 12 students back on campus today.

The boys have never looked happier to be back at school.

STUDENTS BACK ON CAMPUS Reach 12,354

POWDERFINGER REUNION FAREWELL TO MATHS ICON

Reach 16,578

Reach 16,740

976 likes 22 comments

582 likes 18 comments 36 shares

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Ian Howlett An excellent colleague and a caring and thoughtful teacher.

David Gee Sensational teacher, even better man. Enjoy retirement!

Anne Hewitt Thank you for your contribution to the education of my sons.

Ron Cochrane Congratulations on an outstanding contribution to BGS. You are a truly remarkable schoolmaster.

Gayle Burgess True leaders of their kind – in music, talent, compassion, and voices for our community. Well done.

Kathryn McGregor Mahony Can’t wait.

Stuart Bird Great school. Great band (and people). Great cause. Good luck to everyone involved.

Cathy Stacey So cool.

Shauna Schulz Fantastic.

Peter Gallagher Enjoy your retirement and thanks for being a great mentor to me.

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880 likes 19 comments 10 shares

Roslyn Minnikin Thank you to our boys’ wonderful teachers who have been outstanding in transitioning so quickly to a ‘learning from home’ model. Your many hours of dedication are greatly appreciated.

Similarly, great thanks to all BGS staff and volunteers who have been dedicated to keeping everything running so smoothly.

Anthony Cheney Always encouraging for junior students to see senior leaders modelling the behaviours expected upon entering a new stage of learning.

Bhavna Thapar Welcome back Grammar boys!

NEWS SNAPSHOT

ROBOTICS RECOGNITION

BGS COWBOYS

CULTURAL RETREAT

Members of the BGS Robotics club were selected to represent Australia at the 2020 FIRST Global Challenge, competing against 190 countries in the virtual international robotics competition. Charlie Ridgeon, Yathav Ragupathy and Anhadh Virk (Year 10), Ruiqi Mao (Year 9), and Ryan Johnson and Aidan Milner (Year 8) had the honour of competing for Team Australia with students from two other Queensland schools.

Three BGS Old Boys played for the North Queensland Cowboys in the NRL this season. Tom Gilbert, Daejarn Asi and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow played together for the Cowboys in several games. The three former BGS boarders played in the same First XV team for the light dark blue in 2017.

Indigenous BGS boarders participated in a cultural retreat at Bitenbar, the new BGS Outdoor Education campsite at Moogerah, in October. The boys learned from Outdoor Education teacher Jon Hodges and Dr David Spillman, a lecturer in Indigenous Studies at ANU and proud Nyampa man.

BGS Old Boy and former boarder Dylan Minniecon '16 volunteered his time to mentor the boys and share his story.

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PUBLIC PURPOSE

COVID BREAKTHROUGH

A DECADE OF SUCCESS

During the Solar Buddy program in October, Year 6 boys learned about energy poverty – limited access to electricity and clean cooking facilities – and its significant impact on children, their families and communities living in impoverished regions of the world. Our students were inspired and challenged to consider how they can make a difference in their global community as they made solar-powered lights for children in Tanzania.

BGS Old Boy Sean Parsons ’97, chief executive and founder of Ellume, has developed three COVID-19 tests that can be completed in less than 15 minutes to be used at airports, stadiums and offices. Ellume received $US30M from the US Government to manufacture the tests and began shipments in October.

The last ever GPS Gymnastics Championships were held in Term 3 2020, and BGS gymnasts gave the competition a stellar send-off.

BGS boys continued the success demonstrated by our Gymnastics program, winning all three divisions to claim the Jim Young Cup for the 10th year in a row. We look forward to the ongoing success of the BGS Gymnastics Club as the sport moves forward independently of the GPS competition.

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SPORTS ROUNDUP

CROSS COUNTRY

TENNIS

There were significant disruptions to the 2020 Cross Country season. Despite the challenges, the BGS Cross Country squad trained tirelessly for eight months.

The junior and senior teams performed well at their respective GPS championships, with both finishing in fifth place. The squad was led by our Open runners, who put in a dominant performance to finish first in the final event. A special congratulations to Archie Boorer (12 Years) and Harry Chapman (Open), who won their respective races commandingly.

It was an unpredictable season for BGS Tennis, and adaptability was at the forefront of each round. As BGS has the most teams in the GPS competition, participation and getting an opportunity to play each round was our main focus this year. With fantastic attitudes and commitment, each boy did their part for the community in 2020. BGS Tennis finished as the most successful tennis program in the GPS competition with a win rate of 88%.

The First IV finished second in a thrilling battle for the premiership.

FOOTBALL

BASKETBALL

After the lockdown, BGS Football teams competed in Term 3, giving boys the opportunity to represent the light dark blue. Of the 154 GPS games, BGS won 95, drew 18, and lost 41. Of the 29 teams, 20 teams played an official GPS season (five games or more). Six teams finished the season as competition leaders: 7C, 7B, 7A, 10C, 10B and 11C; with five undefeated: 7C, 7B, 10C, 10B and 11C. Overall, BGS had 15 teams finish in the top four of their competitions. All GPS Football matches are a significant test, so this is a tremendous achievement.

Congratulations to all.

More than 350 boys across 28 teams were involved in the 2020 BGS Basketball season. The boys competed each week with class, good sportsmanship and enthusiasm.

Thank you to the Hardwood Club support group, parents, players, ISC staff and program leaders. Each contributed positively in a challenging season that saw player improvement across the program. The community’s willingness to help highlighted how supportive we are of each other.

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showcase of athletic performances, competition and a high level of respect and good sportsmanship across all schools.

BGS won all three divisions and the Jim Young Cup for the overall winner. BGS has now won the cup 10 years in a row.

Congratulations and thank you to everyone involved.

CHESS BGS Chess experienced another successful year in 2020.

BGS won the GPS Open D, E, F, G, H and I divisions, finished second in the Open C division and third in the Junior division. The Premier Team finished second in the GPS Chess Championship and qualified to compete at the State Championships where they placed 12th in a very strong field. Thank you to the boys, staff and coaches who contributed to another successful season

FENCING The QFA cancelled the Brisbane School Teams Competition this year, resulting in BGS holding internal fixtures during Term 3. The program saw 109 fencers participate in three rounds, the Grand Prix, and a special invitational against BGGS. The season presented seniors and the First IV team with an opportunity to lead, and new fencers were able to experience what the sport has to offer. We look forward to a more normal Fencing season in Term 2 2021.

RUGBY In 2020, BGS Rugby faced many unforeseen and unique challenges. The fact that any rugby was played is testament to the resilience and dedication of many people in our community. The BGS Rugby program fielded teams from Under 11 through to the Open division.

Congratulations to this year’s major award recipients Will Hay, Kruz Rimene and Xavier Craig.

TRACK AND FIELD The GPS Track and Field season was short this year, without lead-up meets due to the pandemic. Despite a lack of preparation, the junior and senior teams performed admirably at their respective GPS Track and Field Championships.

Boys gave their best efforts, with the seniors placing 7th overall and the juniors placing 6th. The determination by all team members to strive for ‘one more place’ saw numerous personal bests recorded across the 69 events.

GYMNASTICS The BGS Gymnastics team achieved excellent results in 2020, after another fantastic effort from all gymnasts and coaches. BGS was honoured to host the last GPS Gymnastics Championships and the day was a brilliant

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STUDENT SUCCESS

2021 Boarding Captain Aly Sultan has developed an ingenious and altruistic way to maintain a connection to his home in Papua New Guinea.

Following in the footsteps of his businessman father and ophthalmologist mother, Aly has started a social enterprise called Envision to help reduce cataract blindness in remote PNG villages.

Art for eyes

“Envision was my way of connecting back to Papua New Guinea as a boarder.

I’m working with local artisans and providing them with a platform to share their culture through their artworks,”he said.

Aly has connected four or five artists with eye care shops in Port Moresby,

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who have donated space to show paintings and handicrafts. Proceeds are channelled into sight restoration initiatives. “We work on a ‘boomerang’ concept, where the community is helping the community and it’s completely not for profit,” he said.

“I email the artists and I visit the villages when I get home, but it works on the premise that I don’t tell them what to do; it’s about empowering them by opening up their reach. They’re very responsive to that because they know the benefits of the eye work we do. It’s definitely a mutual relationship that we work on, and I think that’s the strength of the Laila Foundation as well.”

The Laila Foundation was established by Aly’s father 20 years ago and named in honour of the sister he lost to cancer. Originally in PNG for business, Mohammad began travelling to villages on the Ramu River via a barge with an operating room, doing free screening and eye surgeries. Aly’s mother, Dr Amyna Sultan, now runs these clinics.

Aly has volunteered in these outreach programs as an interpreter. “My major role in the outreach is that I know the language of Papua New Guinea.

We’re the most linguistically diverse country in the world, with 850 languages. Tok Pisin was one of my first languages, so that’s the way I can help the Laila Foundation.”

“I’ve been a translator for the locals and the overseas teams that come.

I really enjoy that bit and connecting with the patients.”

“It’s very rewarding, especially with cataract surgeries. One day a patient will walk in with two people assisting them, unable to see. Then the next day, after their operation, they can walk home by themselves. It’s truly satisfying, so that’s kept me going through this initiative.”

Aly says he’s enjoyed the clubs and activities since arriving at BGS in Year 8.

“I’ve wanted to do as much I can with my time here. My family has helped me understand the importance of service, and that’s definitely been inculcated in me at BGS as well.”

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“Public purpose activities – even the sausage sizzles – have given me skills I can apply in running outreach camps. I really appreciate those learning experiences.”

Aly’s immediate plans are to launch an Envision website to share Papuan culture more widely. He plans to apply to 10 universities in the United States, and would like a career in corporate law, and potentially politics.

“My mother attended Harvard, so I would like to follow in her footsteps – that’s always been a dream.”

Aly is emphatic when asked if he plans on making his life in Papua New Guinea.

“Absolutely. It’s my home.”

F E AT U R E

Innovating for success Innovation has played a fundamental role in the success of Brisbane Grammar School since its foundation more than 150 years ago.

A new Middle School subject – Applied Thinking – is being introduced in 2021 for all BGS students in Years 7 and 8. The innovative new foundational subject will lay the platform for ETC, creating independent and self-regulated learners for life.

The inaugural Board of Trustees established the School with innovation at the forefront of their minds. Chairman Sir Charles Lilley – a journalist, politician and judge – was unwavering in his vision and efforts for a comprehensive system of free education in Queensland. Championing liberal and innovative views, Lilley used his political influence to embrace many causes, particularly education.

The ability of the School to adapt and innovate has never been more apparent than in 2020. While many schools around the country struggled to adapt to home-based learning, BGS used the enforced COVID-19 lockdown to implement new ideas and improve teaching and learning for students. Transitioning the entire curriculum online in days, BGS teachers found new ways to engage with their students in virtual classrooms during the home-based learning period.

As Premier he abolished school fees, making Queensland the first colony to introduce free primary education in 1870. He was hailed by many as the father of Queensland’s system of free, compulsory and secular education.

Over the past few years, the School’s data team has captured a significant amount of information from students, parents and teachers to inform change. Home-based learning provided further important data. One of the positives to come from the period is a restructured timetable in 2021.

In the decades that followed, successive Boards and Headmasters at BGS balanced tradition with a constant drive for innovation. In response to rapid technological change, innovation has accelerated.

Current Headmaster Anthony Micallef has overseen the appointment of an Executive Director of Educational Innovation on the BGS Senior Leadership Team – giving innovation a permanent seat at the table. Ms Jacqui Zervos assumed the role two years ago after more than a decade as Head of Middle School. The position has been vital to developing and implementing the School’s new method of teaching and learning, called Effective Thinking Cultures (ETC). ETC has transformed learning at BGS, placing students at the centre of their own success.

The new timetable will ensure all lesson times are equal length and introduce a block of structured time each day for students to consolidate their learning and prepare for upcoming lessons. The consolidation period will allow students time to slow down their thinking, organise and review notes, reflect, make links, identify gaps, collaborate with peers, and seek clarification from their teacher if needed.

All BGS programs developed innovative ways to connect with students during home-based learning. The Cocurricular program kept boys engaged through the introduction of GrammarFit – online fitness classes for students. The Student Wellbeing program introduced GrammarWell, an online wellbeing portal, to help students cope with isolation.

At its core, ETC focuses teaching and classroom learning on developing the quality of students’ thinking: that is, their command of content; their use of content to create significant meaning; and developing productive learning habits – the ability to plan, monitor, review and strategically adjust the approach to learning. Through this process, students’ capacity to take responsibility for their learning is nurtured. They learn to identify the most effective ways to tackle problems and modify their thinking to suit the context.

The capacity to adapt and innovate has been required in several other areas of the School this year. BGS hosted its first Virtual Open Day in July, replacing the physical Open Day due to COVID restrictions. The live-streamed event on social media took BGS into homes all over the world, with over 2700 people watching the virtual event.

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1.

2.

The School’s first Virtual Boarding Night followed in November with a panel of current boarders and boarding parents joining the Director of Boarding and Director of Enrolments to explain the benefits of BGS Boarding to a domestic and international audience. The School also worked with the Old Boys’ Association to deliver two virtual networking events for Old Boys, focusing on Science and Technology in May and law in September.

3.

BGS continually reviews and develop its programs, practices and facilities. The STEAM Precinct – Science, Technology Engineering, Art and Mathematics – due for completion in 2023, will be the most ambitious and advanced project in the School’s history. The precinct will be a hub for ideas, innovation, and educational and social interaction.

STEAM represents a progressive shift in teaching and learning, promoting the sharing of ideas across science subjects, art and humanities. It will represent the School’s commitment to forward thinking and shape the way BGS boys are educated for decades to come.

4.

Brisbane Grammar School aspires to be the best school for boys in Australia. Innovation at all levels can make that vision a reality.

1. An innovator in education, Sir Charles Lilley was the inaugural BGS Chairman.

2. Jacqui Zervos is Executive Director of Educational Innovation at BGS. She is pictured with Headmaster Anthony Micallef and Deputy Headmaster – Teaching and Learning Steve Uscinski.

3. GrammarFit ensured boys stayed active during the home-based learning period.

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4. Virtual Open Day replaced the usual physical Open Day in 2020, showcasing a BGS education to prospective families around the world.

5. The BGS STEAM Precinct will be the most innovative building on campus. Hands-on learning will be possible within the precinct – from artistic and technological exploration to designing, prototyping, 3D printing, complex biological dissections and earth science.

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F E AT U R E

BGS Strategy Vision

To be the best school for boys in Australia

Purpose

Brisbane Grammar School educates boys within an innovative learning culture that nurtures their intellectual, physical and emotional wellbeing to become global citizens who contribute to their communities.

Strategic Imperatives

Education Provide a safe and supportive learning environment where students attain best academic, wellbeing and cocurricular outcomes.

Community Work together to enhance BGS programs, enact cultural values and celebrate school traditions and achievements.

Infrastructure Develop the highest quality people, facilities and digital infrastructure to deliver BGS programs.

Strategic Enablers

Sustainability Create structures and systems that ensure growth into the future.

Values

Learning

Respect

Endeavour

Community

Leadership

BGS Critical Projects Data Analytics

2020 and beyond

Delivering personalised learning and organisational efficiencies

Digital Evolution

2020 and beyond

Using technology in innovative ways to improve educational and organisational practice

STEAM

2020-2022

Innovating through science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics

Effective Thinking Cultures

2020-2023

Implementing teaching and learning that optimises the student learning experience

Campus Renewal

2020-2035

Strategically delivering new and improved facilities Boarding Performing Arts Junior School

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BGS Strategy and Critical Projects The School recently released the BGS Strategy, which outlines our ambition ‘to be the best school for boys in Australia’.

The digital roadmap outlines how the School will implement new technologies and renew existing platforms and infrastructure. We expect all areas of school operation to benefit from these improvements.

This prompts the question, ‘What makes a school the best, and how do we measure it?’ Our BGS Critical Projects document provides a roadmap to realising this aspiration.

I will share with you how we are investing in specific areas to deliver the best outcomes for our students.

Many years ago, BGS engaged the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) to conduct regular socialemotional wellbeing surveys to monitor the wellbeing of our boys. Our results consistently compare favourably with like schools across the country. BGS boys are well adjusted, engaged, optimistic and resilient.

Queensland education is going through very significant change and BGS has navigated this challenge with the goal of maintaining educational excellence. This requires us to lead through curriculum and pedagogical innovation, and not merely comply with the new system.

This external evaluation helps us make informed decisions about what issues to address with the boys. It also helps us refine our processes for monitoring individual and cohort wellbeing.

The research literature is clear: educational change succeeds when the processes are both strategic (strong leadership, innovation, detailed planning, design, and structural alignment) and cultural (building effective relationships of collaboration and consultation).

To implement both mandated and innovative changes, we have paid close attention to these imperatives.

Similarly, our boys’ involvement in sport, music, art, drama, and academic extension activities is another sign that our students are getting the most out of their education.

We are committed to continually assessing our Cocurricular programs to decide what works and what needs improving.

The same focus on improvement is the motivation for conducting community perception surveys through MMG Education, a leading company in school stakeholder research and performance benchmarking. These surveys provide information regarding the community’s perceptions, views and expectations, which the Senior Leadership Team and the Board of Trustees will use to guide our future policy decisions.

The end goal is to build a student’s capacity to monitor the quality of their thinking; this nurtures self-regulated learning. We want our boys taking greater responsibility for their learning in line with the skills and dispositions we focus on through Effective Thinking Cultures (ETC) – Critical Project #4.

If you refer to the Critical Projects, the first is Data Analytics; something we hear about a lot these days, mostly in relation to online commerce and social media. With digital technologies shaping our lives and data analytics being applied to all activities online, institutions create a picture of who we are as consumers.

We have exciting plans for a transformative precinct to bring together the teaching of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics. Our vision is to replace our ageing science and design classrooms with an innovative STEAM Precinct. The acronym STEAM refers not just to standalone disciplines, but to a way of thinking, and represents a progressive shift in teaching and learning.

Our interest in this area is specifically educational – BGS staff and students are harnessing similar technologies to monitor progress and performance and apply the findings to tailor learning. As the research literature argues for personalised learning as a means of improving student outcomes, we are investing in systems and processes required to monitor students’ academic, wellbeing and cocurricular development.

The precinct will be an extension of the BGS educational philosophy – to develop critical, reflective, and creative thinkers with the capacity and enthusiasm for independent, lifelong learning. This hub for ideas will further elevate the BGS learning experience and streamline our graduates’ transition to tertiary education.

These developments in teaching and learning will be supported by the second project – Digital Evolution.

Anthony Micallef Headmaster

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F E AT U R E

Enterprise with purpose

Echoing the truck driving analogy, Sendle is a software company that works in logistics. Utilising the spare capacity in delivery trucks provides cheaper rates for small business and benefits the environment.

Enterprise with purpose and an environmental focus have been themes throughout his career. “In 2002, I attended an Earth Summit in Johannesburg. The World Business Council for Sustainable Development made the point that it’s not that ‘business is bad’ or ‘profit is evil’, but there’s good business and bad business,” he said. “For me, a good business knows what its positive impact is going to be.

We try to be a shipping company that takes responsibility for all its emissions. Our business is shipping that’s good for the world.”

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rom space engineer to entrepreneur, every stage of Old Boy James Chin Moody's '93 career has been about identifying problems and finding innovative solutions.

Describing himself as a “space nerd”, the founder and CEO of Sendle – a small business parcel delivery service – draws a space analogy to describe the company he started in 2014.

“We have now sent more than 11 light-hours of parcel delivery. That’s the equivalent of driving a one-tonne truck to Pluto and back. And it’s 100% carbon neutral,” Chin Moody said. “The problem we’re solving is how do we make parcel delivery simple, reliable and affordable for small business, who need it now more than ever.

We’re probably enabling over a billion dollars worth of Australian e-commerce every year, which translates into wellbeing for so many small sellers out there.”

Since graduating from BGS as Dux in 1993, Chin Moody has accumulated a long list of prizes and accolades – from the University Medal at QUT, to Young Engineer of the Year for his work on satellite technology, and selection on UN and World Economic Forum committees. He completed a PhD in Innovation Theory at ANU and studied Global Leadership and Public Policy at Harvard.

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After seven years at the CSIRO, eventually as Executive Director of Development, Chin Moody spent time at home parenting his two boys while wife Geraldine served on the executive team at Virgin Australia. It was while at home surrounded by kid “stuff” that Chin Moody and a friend dreamed up the logistics company, TuShare, to remove the barrier to giving that stuff away. TuShare evolved into Sendle.

the School’s new STEAM Precinct, which will facilitate cross-fertilisation between science and art, will be important to teaching 21st-century skills.

“As the world has accelerated, as boundaries have become foggier, I think it’s important that we start to educate kids on more than just the science and technology side,” he said. “It’s great to add the arts and humanities and appreciate them.”

“Innovation is really the process of technological change.

When I started as an engineer, everything was about making a widget, but making a clever widget is not enough. It’s all about getting that widget to market,” Chin Moody said. “It’s about creating it, finding the right channels to talk to people about it and then getting people to use it and buy it.”

“When I was at BGS, there were some amazing teachers who really made me love the process of learning.

My favourite memories are working together with other people – whether it was being in choir and orchestra, or competing in debating or Tournament of Minds. It was actually about teamwork and solving problems with colleagues.”

This passion for combining engineering with entrepreneurship was evident during his stint as a judge on ABC TV’s The New Inventors from 2004 until 2011.

Finding elegant solutions to “chunky” problems is still his focus. “I’m ultimately an optimist. I think every problem can be solved. What does it require? It needs goodwill and people being flexible – thinking outside the way we’ve normally done things.”

Chin Moody is a third-generation BGS Old Boy – father Professor Miles Moody ’61 and grandfather Frank ’27 were an engineer and surveyor respectively. He thinks

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BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Pursuit of excellence

The men and women serving on the Brisbane Grammar School Board of Trustees are charged with steering BGS into the future. They are responsible for driving educational excellence while reflecting the School’s legacy as a Queensland institution.

2020 proved to be a milestone year for the Board, with three long-serving Trustees retiring and three new members.

The BGS community recognised the contribution of retiring Trustees Dr John Fenwick AM, Mr Chris Morton and Mrs Sue Palmer at a retirement dinner in the Great Hall in October. All three lent a wealth of expertise to the Board over many years.

Deputy Headmaster – Teaching and Learning Steve Uscinski spoke in tribute of John Fenwick ’61, farewelling him as a “Grammar Great”. Elected in 1999 and the Board’s Deputy Chairman from 2003 to 2019, Fenwick contributed “expansive intellect and incisive analysis” to his role on the Board, Mr Uscinski said.

An accomplished mathematician, rugby player and swimmer while at BGS, he studied engineering at UQ like his father, Old Boy Osborn Thomas Fenwick ’24.

Both were awarded a University Medal. In 1967, he was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship to the University of Oxford where he completed a Doctor of Philosophy in structural engineering in 1971. In 2006, he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Engineering from UQ and was instrumental in establishing a Main Roads Chair in Engineering.

Fenwick has provided engineering expertise on the construction of three major buildings at BGS – the Middle School, Indoor Sports Centre and The Lilley Centre.

He was also chairman of the Board’s House and Grounds Committee from 2003.

Old Boy Chris Morton, School Captain in 1973, joined the Board as an elected Trustee in 2003. As Chairman of the Board’s Advancement and Community Relations Committee, he shone the spotlight on the valuable role

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New Board members welcomed

of volunteers through the creation of the Betty Howell Awards in 2011. At the dinner, Deputy Headmaster – Staff Ed Roper spoke of Morton’s vision of creating a “community hub providing connection and opportunities for members to build relationships with others.”

Morton was also a member of the Sesquicentenary History Committee, which provided advice in the production of the School’s 150-year history book.

This year's new Trustees, Old Boy Stephen Bizzell ’84, Claire Blake and Dr Angela Ryan, have strong BGS connections with family members wearing the light dark blue uniform.

He earned his stripes in law and commerce at UQ and then at the University of Cambridge where he studied for a Master of Law degree from 1982-83. These qualifications, coupled with his impressive track record working in the legal, financial and property sectors were pertinent to his membership of the House and Grounds Committee.

Bizzell has one son currently at BGS and his father, brother and eldest son are BGS Old Boys. Blake also has a son at BGS. Ryan’s husband is the current president of the Old Boys’ Association; two of their sons are at the School and a third graduated last year.

Like Fenwick, Morton has been a significant philanthropic supporter of BGS. Both continue as ex-officio members of the STEAM Project Control Group, overseeing the School’s most ambitious building project to date, the STEAM Precinct.

All three Trustees join the Board of Trustees with impressive credentials. Bizzell and Blake have considerable experience in accounting and corporate finance, and Ryan has worked as a medical practitioner and volunteered on several committees.

Sue Palmer joined the Board in 2011, following her son Andrew graduating from BGS in 2005. As a member of the Finance Committee, she was committed to maintaining the School’s sustainable financial position and its ongoing development.

Bizzell, a chartered accountant, is executive chairman of a corporate advisory and funds management business, Bizzell Capital Partners. He has served as a director or chairman of 15 stock exchange-listed public companies and is a former director of Queensland Treasury Corporation.

Palmer also attended UQ where she studied commerce, going on to become a chartered accountant. Her career has spanned more than 30 years in diverse senior financial and commercial positions, sitting on many company boards across industry, construction, mining and infrastructure and education.

Blake is also a chartered accountant with over 25 years of experience in financial services. She is the Chief Financial Officer of QIC Limited and is director of numerous QIC subsidiary companies. At BGS, she has been Treasurer of the P&F Music Support Group since 2019.

BGS Chief Financial Officer Mark Corgat spoke in tribute of Palmer’s dedication to BGS over nine years, “attending over 200 Board and Finance Committee meetings – a marathon effort”. Her legacy includes the financially secure position in which she leaves the School.

Ryan has worked as a GP for almost 25 years, including six years as a medical officer with Queensland Health in rural medicine and hospital-based speciality training.

She has served on the AMA Queensland Branch Council and was an interviewer for entry to UQ Medical School for 12 years.

Brisbane Grammar School is known for its pursuit of excellence. The same can be said for the three departing Trustees, each of whom leaves an impressive record for others to follow.

Vivien Harris - Archivist

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THE ARTS

Music

The Music Department discovered new and innovative ways of operating in 2020. While most rehearsals continued, big ensembles initially broke into smaller groups to maintain a safe environment. Staff and students discovered these smaller groups encouraged not only independent learning and musical confidence; they also had a renewed appreciation of the benefits of a large ensemble when they returned to physical rehearsals.

In Term 3, the Music Block became a recording studio.

Every ensemble was recorded, which was an enormous undertaking. Being met with silence instead of enthusiastic applause from a big audience took some getting used to, but the boys and staff rose to the challenge and often put down their best performance on the first take. The BGS community had six virtual concerts to enjoy at home, with the boys able to watch their own performances – something not usually possible.

The virtual concert series highlight was Grammar in Concert, which was streamed during the annual Music

Celebration dinner for Year 12s and their families.

It was a unique experience for the boys to be able to watch themselves perform, alongside hundreds of other viewers from around the world.

The BGS Festival of Music occurred early in Term 4, with three live-streamed Showcase Concerts: Bands and Percussion, Strings, Orchestras and Symphonic Band on consecutive days. Hundreds viewed these significant end-of-year concerts, prepared and presented by the boys to a very impressive standard. Year 12s performed exceptionally well in what was for many their final BGS performance.

It was significant that the festival concluded with almost 700 performers and audience members gathering at Roma Street Parkland to enjoy live music at the annual Sing and Swing concert. The Jazz Bands and Choirs were excited to perform in front of an equally excited audience.

BGS musicians responded to create a memorable afternoon of music.

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Dramatic Productions The 2020 Dramatic Productions adapted to COVID-19 conditions with limited-seating shows, a theatrical podcast and digital narratives.

SENIOR DRAMATIC PRODUCTION Patrick Barlow’s The 39 Steps is a rip-snorting spy caper set in the dashingly dapper 1930s. Pulled into a web of intrigue and deceit, unlikely hero Richard Hannay must evade shadowy organisations, femme fatales and corrupt constables to solve the mystery of the 39 Steps and save the motherland. With a cast of 16 and a transformable set, the production combined the talents of senior students from BGS and the Queensland Academy of Creative Industries. These emerging artists rose to the challenge of working with an incredibly intricate and precise set and lighting design, showing an advanced level of comedic interplay on stage. We are very proud of the long rehearsal hours they put into this show, demonstrating commitment, maturity and artistic growth through the process.

MIDDLE SCHOOL DRAMATIC PRODUCTION For this production, titled The Untold Tales, the creative team avoided fairy tales such as Cinderella or Hansel and Gretel and celebrated three of the Brothers Grimm’s lesser-known fables. The Years 5 and 6 cast lent their talents to a humorous and playful series of vignettes inspired by The Ungrateful Son, a parable promoting fairness and generosity. The Year 7 ensemble utilised green-screen technology to replicate the image of an online play reading, creating a time capsule for 2020 Theatre. The Year 8 cast took on the more mature The Story of a Boy Who Went Forth to Learn What Fear Was. The show used innovative shadow puppetry to recreate a trio of friends telling scary stories around a campfire. The student actors displayed resilience and determination that is testament to the culture fostered in BGS Drama.

JUNIOR DRAMATIC PRODUCTION War of the Worlds: Cyborg Edition is a terrifying reimagining of one of the most famous radio dramas of all time. Acclaimed writer Dan Evans adapted Orson Welles’ iconic radio play to explore timeless questions raised by speculative fiction: What do they want? Why are they ruthlessly wiping us out? Are we just a speedbump in the way of someone else’s grand plan? The production featured a talented cast of over 50 students from Years 9 and 10 supported by a professional creative team and student crew. As part of an immersive program, the cast and crew explored the context of the play and were put through their paces physically and vocally. Students then recorded in the studio with a professional audio engineer. The smooth running of this day was a testament to the boys’ professionalism, focus and commitment.

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S P E E C H D AY

2020 Speech Day Year 12 students and their parents gathered at QPAC in November for 2020 Speech Day. Social distancing requirements meant students and parents from other year levels could not attend, but were instead able to live stream the event from their classroom, office or home.

The event recognised high-achieving academic and cocurricular students and farewelled the graduating Class of 2020. It also provided an opportunity to hear from Chairman of the Board of Trustees John Humphrey, Headmaster Anthony Micallef, outgoing School Captain Will Hay, and Guest Speaker Peta Ellis.

Chairman John Humphrey thanked students, staff and parents for working together to overcome the challenges

of 2020. He called Year 12 students the “stars of this difficult year”.

“You innovated, collaborated and set up communication channels and found ways to stay connected,” he said.

Mr Humphrey praised teaching staff for rising to the challenges of home-based learning. “One of the hallmarks was the concern shown by staff in assisting the boys who were having difficulties in adapting and engaging in the new and unfamiliar environment,” he said.

Headmaster Anthony Micallef commended staff and students for their adaptability this year. “There are incredibly innovative, progressive, and inspiring ways that BGS teachers have approached this pandemic, placing as always our students at the centre of our decision-making,” he said.

“The smooth adoption of online delivery was due to both the ubiquity of online learning and communication platforms, and

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the technological agility of today’s students.”

Guest speaker Peta Ellis, who has 20 years of experience in business, entrepreneurship, marketing and communications, challenged the Class of 2020 to use the lessons they learned this year to achieve success.

“There will be no other graduating year like the seniors of 2020,” she said. “You have been challenged beyond measure; you’ve had to adapt, come up with new ways of doing things, you disconnected with some aspects of your life and reconnected with others.“ “Most school leavers go through this level of change and transition at university or work. You've been gifted this life experience 12 months early, so you're all ahead of the pack.

You are now in a front-row seat of one of the most grand transition periods of our time. The future is now, your youth and creativity will be in demand. How innovative do you want to be?”

BGS HISTORY

Impact of the 1918 influenza pandemic

Outgoing School Captain Will Hay echoed Ms Ellis’ message and said his year group had done “an awful lot of learning this year”.

“We have learned a lot about the new ATAR system, how to continue working from home, how to turn your living room into a home gym, the importance of hand sanitiser, keeping at a constant two-metre distance from others, and how to operate Zoom meetings,” he said. “Most significantly, though, we learned how to stay connected through thick and thin.”

“I entered BGS in Year 6. Seven years later, I depart, and I would not have changed a thing. I have loved every minute. I couldn’t imagine calling any other school mine than this one.

It has given me more than I could ever give back; it has given me a place to belong, a place where I am valued, and a place that has opened up so much opportunity.

“The light dark blue of BGS will always be a part of me.”

With Brisbane Grammar School impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, it is worth remembering another such catastrophe that took place just over 100 years ago.

Between 1918 and 1920, the Spanish influenza pandemic killed an estimated 50 million people globally in the wake of The Great War. The virus spread across the world, infecting an estimated 500 million people.

Australian borders were closed with the imposition of a strict maritime quarantine to help slow the spread of the virus, which infected about 40 per cent of the population and led to 15,000 deaths.

When the Spanish flu hit Brisbane in 1919, thousands fell ill, and more than 300 died. A quarantine zone was established at Lytton to deal with cases from quarantined ships, and another one at the RNA Exhibition Grounds where a hospital camp was established to treat sick residents.

BGS opened in 1919 under challenging circumstances. Headmaster Frederick Bousfield and several members of staff were missing due to quarantine regulations. In the second quarter, the School was closed by order of the Commissioner of Public Health, except to boarders and candidates for the public examinations that year.

Classwork continued with boarders located in the lower storey of the new classrooms and day boys spread across the rest of the buildings.

School House continued to operate under strict quarantine conditions.

Mr Bousfield said that there was no case of influenza or any sickness among the boarders during the weeks they were in isolation.

Due to WWI and the pandemic, it wasn’t until July 1920 that BGS could celebrate its 50th anniversary, instead of in 1918.

Vivien Harris - School Archivist

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O L D B O Y S ' A S S O C I AT I O N

OBA President’s Message Michael Forrest

I

n the months since my last message we’ve all had to adjust to a different way of living our lives; of going about our day. For some of us this has meant new opportunities, but for many, it has meant digging deep into our reserves of resilience. For me, time with family and with mates has been more important than ever.

Our Old Boys’ calendar, optimistically planned in late 2019 and early 2020, has been smashed, but this has forced us to look at new ways to connect.

We went online for our first Virtual Professional Networking Event for Science and Technology earlier this year and we moved our Law networking event online at the last minute as another COVID-19 cluster threatened.

The NSL Strava Club is growing.

I strongly encourage all Old Boys to think about joining. Whether you’re training for an ultramarathon or a walk around the block, the club is a way to connect with each other. Go to strava.com, join up (it’s free), set the privacy controls you can live with and

ask to join the NSL club. You never know, you might find an old mate who runs, cycles, swims, rows or walks nearby you haven’t caught up with in a while.

Brisbane Grammar Connect is also growing and we now have more than 550 registered members. For those who haven’t heard about this yet, it is our professional mentoring and networking platform. Joining is easy via the link on the Old Boys page on the BGS website. Sometimes advice and support from someone who shares your values can make a massive impact in helping you achieve your potential, and giving that support can be very rewarding.

The Triffid, Old Boy John Collins' '87 iconic live music venue, hosted our 2020 Annual Reunion Dinner. Cam Feltham ’86 was key to developing a new concept for our Annual Reunion Dinner, “Talent on Tap”. With live bands and an open mic, the atmosphere at The Triffid made for a great night.

Lastly, there have been some recent changes to our committee. Stephen Bizzell ’84 was elected to the BGS Board of Trustees this year and stepped down from the committee.

I’m very grateful for his contributions to the committee and for his support and friendship.

Simon Tolhurst ’87 and Adam Franklin ’97 have recently joined the committee.

Tolly has been a big contributor to the BGS Old Boy community and has just finished serving on the BGS P&F Association as vice president for the past five years. Adam is one of those guys who I swear has more than 24 hours in his day. He brings expertise in digital marketing and strategy, he’s a great communicator, and has built a big reputation through his company Bluewire Media.

Thanks to Bizz, Tolly and Adam for your commitment to our community.

On behalf of the OBA Management Committee, I wish the BGS community a Merry Christmas, happy holidays, and a less challenging new year.

The OBA gratefully acknowledges our Annual Reunion Dinner sponsors

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Brisbane Grammar School

Old Boy Reunions Saturday 27 March 2021

Saturday 9 October 2021

Belated Reunions for Classes of 1970, 1980, 1990, 2010

Reunions for Classes of 1961, 1971, 1981, 1991, 2001, 2011

Venue and ticket price to be confirmed.

Venue and ticket price to be confirmed.

Format

Format

4.00pm - 6.30pm Tour of Spring Hill Campus and Cocktail Function 7.00pm - Seperate Class Reunions

4.00pm - 6.30pm Tour of Spring Hill Campus and Cocktail Function 7.00pm - Seperate Class Reunions

BGS Advancement and Community Relations will coordinate all aspects of the reunion; however, we are looking for Old Boy ‘champions’ from each of the milestone reunion groups to assist us in reaching out to fellow classmates to encourage them to attend.

If you would like to get involved in any way, please contact Alumni and Community Relations Manager, Carla Hardy on carla.hardy@brisbanegrammar.com.

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OLD BOYS

Innovation with a smile After beginning his professional career in the RAAF as a dental officer, BGS Old Boy Daryl Holmes OBE ’81 went on to change the face of dentistry in Australia through his willingness to think big and innovate.

After buying into his first dental practices almost 30 years ago, his vision to offer affordable dental care on a large scale led to the creation of 1300SMILES – an ASX-listed dental services company. The company has today grown to 34 dental practices across Australia, but it was at BGS that he gained the confidence to one day change dentistry in Australia.

A boarder at the School from 1997 to 1981, Holmes said the move away from home was difficult in the beginning, but he quickly grew to enjoy being part of the boarding community. “I loved the mateship in the boarding house and constantly being active and involved in everything from sport to camps at the Outdoor Education Centre at Moogerah,” he said.

Holmes said BGS played an important role in readying him for life beyond school. “I learned how to overcome challenges and benefited from the camaraderie and competitiveness at school and in boarding,” he said.

“Students aimed to achieve excellence

academically and in sport, but the connections and networking were equally important.”

on training, youth initiatives and providing medical services in Papua New Guinea.

In the early days of his dental practices, Holmes saw the opportunity to create a unique service model.

“I always believed dentistry in a one or two-person practice was inefficient and fraught with overwork and risk,” he said. “The idea of leveraging a business into something that was bigger than one or two people was always appealing.”

This charity uses specially equipped ships with on-board dental surgeries and operating theatres, as well as significant on-shore outreaches, to address some of the serious health challenges faced in Papua New Guinea.

1300SMILES provides dental surgeries, practice management, and all other services to self-employed dentists.

The model has proved successful, becoming the first ASX-listed dental services company in 2005.

Outside of his business, Holmes has a passion for philanthropy.

In October 2018, he received an OBE at Buckingham Palace for humanitarian aid services in Papua New Guinea with Youth With A Mission (YWAM) Ships.

Holmes is an advisor to the charity, which is active in 180 countries around the world. Each centre is autonomous and able to adapt to meet the specific needs of that community.

In Townsville, where Holmes lives, YWAM has been operating for more than 20 years and concentrates

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“I’ve always been a believer in giving back or paying it forward,” he said.

“Volunteering through Youth With a Mission is humbling and rewarding; it reminds us of how fortunate we are in Australia and the importance of family.”

Holmes has five children, and his eldest son has joined him on an outreach in remote Papua New Guinea.

“We are a major supporter of YWAM by providing supplies and equipment for use on the medical ships, and our staff and dentists volunteer to support this worthy cause,” he said. “When I reflect on the villages I’ve visited and the patients I’ve treated, it really is nothing short of a privilege and an honour.”

Holmes is also a supporter of BGS, contributing to the Bursary Fund.

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PHILANTHROPY

The gift of opportunity

Almost six years ago, BGS Old Boy Simon Fenwick ’87 donated $1.34 million to Brisbane Grammar School.

He felt strongly that the benefits he had received at the School should be extended to students less fortunate.

Mr Fenwick is a founding partner of International Value Advisers in New York. He returned home to Australia to live in Sydney in 2014. His transformative gift to BGS established the Fenwick Bursary to support well-rounded Indigenous or regional boys keen to learn but lacking the financial means to attend the School.

Indigenous student Stephen Baronio was the first to receive the bursary, starting Year 7 in 2015 as a boarder in Harlin House. Part of the Class of 2020 and Boarding Vice Captain, Stephen reflected on his time at BGS ahead of graduating in November.

“I’m very grateful and very thankful for the opportunity that Mr Fenwick has given me to come to a school like this,” he said. “I am really making the most of my time here, doing everything I can and being involved in as

much as possible to make the most of the experience of being at this school.”

“The impact for me of attending BGS on a bursary is massive; it’s life-changing. I don’t think you can realise the opportunities that a school like BGS offers until you’ve gone to school somewhere outside of Brisbane or somewhere rural.”

Stephen said being part of the BGS Boarding community had given him endless opportunities for academic and personal growth. “Boarding has given me lots of close mates and allowed me to be involved in so much living on campus,” he said. “Having a constant support network around me – boarding staff and students – is a big advantage.”

During a busy life as a student, Stephen involved himself in many sports, including cricket, volleyball, football and rugby. He also dedicated himself to the Public Purpose Committee and Closing the Gap Committee.

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A proud Kungarakan man, Stephen delivered several powerful speeches to the student body during his time at BGS, speaking at assemblies as part of Closing the Gap Day. He also participated in traditional dances with his fellow Indigenous students.

“Indigenous and regional kids are our most disadvantaged in terms of access to high-quality education. Australia is a vast continent, which is a blessing, yet we shouldn’t leave some kids behind.”

Fenwick said BGS had prepared him well for life after school and he continued to place a high value on teachers. “Good teachers inspire a lifelong love of learning,” he said. “I had some dedicated teachers, and I’ll always remember the ones that encouraged me to read and to be intellectually curious.”

“I was very nervous before my first few speeches, especially speaking to the older boys, but it was important for me to get involved and share my culture,” Stephen said.

“I think it’s important to hold that heritage high and value it as important in society.”

“At BGS, we had a wide range of teachers, in terms of how they approached their classes. Some left us to figure it out ourselves, while some were more structured. Some teachers were quite stern; some had a great sense of humour.

Just like the real world when you have a boss.”

Fenwick said giving students like Stephen the opportunity to attend BGS was the reason philanthropy is vital in Australia.

“Philanthropy in education is critical, in my opinion, because it will help break the cycle of disadvantage that exists in parts of Australia,” he said. “We should be proud of our many Indigenous and regional sports stars, yet I believe we also need more role models in all aspects of society – teachers, doctors and engineers.”

Stephen is aiming to study medicine at The University of Queensland in 2021.

Read more about the BGS Bursary Fund at brisbanegrammar.com/giving.

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PHILANTHROPY

Exciting times for BGS Boarding BGS Boarding continues to benefit from a US$500,000 donation over five years from Old Boy Matt McLennan ’86. The significant gift kickstarted the redevelopment plans for boarding accommodation and contributed to the new Griffith House.

The new junior house – a dedicated facility for 18 Middle School boarders in Years 5 to 8 – opened in May 2020.

The high-quality accommodation complements the School’s Academic, Wellbeing and Cocurricular programs in BGS Boarding.

Boys have a room that exists within a dorm, giving them both privacy and connectedness. The house is equipped with new bathrooms and showers. The common room facilities, with lounge and kitchenette, let the boys create a sense of community.

Advanced plans are underway to renovate the senior boarding house to provide accommodation for 81 boys in Years 9 to 12.

Harlin House will provide an individual room for each boy and new spaces for study and social activities.

Mr McLennan, a New York-based fund manager considered one of the most influential Australian investors in the world, said he had enjoyed his time boarding at BGS and was thankful for the education he received and the values of hard work and self-betterment instilled at the School.

“Boarding at BGS was formative for me,” he said. “Giving back to BGS enables me both to express my gratitude and contribute to the life experience of future boarders.”

He hoped his donation would not only contribute to improving the boarding experience for students but also encourage others to contribute to the campaign to upgrade the overall boarding facilities.

Mr McLennan has a passion for supporting education and has also given to The University of Queensland.

“Learning has played a big role in what’s given me joy over the years and I think to be a supporter of that is only natural,” he said. “It is truly rewarding and a joy to give back, and I would encourage others to consider taking a similar step.”

If you would like to contribute to BGS Boarding, please contact Executive Director – Advancement and Community Relations Inma Beaumont at inma.beaumont@brisbanegrammar.com.

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Griffith House photos are supplied by Burling Brown Architects.

Photo credit: Rix Ryan Photography Queensland.

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PHILANTHROPY

Gift of a BGS education I will always be grateful for the generosity of donors who provided me with this amazing opportunity. I made extraordinary and lifelong connections at BGS. Raziq Qasimi ’14 Without a BGS bursary I would have struggled to pursue a tertiary education. It changed the course of my life and has allowed me to meet many incredible people from all walks of life.

Toby Buckley ’17

For more information and to view the list of donors, visit giving.brisbanegrammar.com/ bursary-fund

Brisbane Grammar School has a legacy of giving, with each generation benefiting from the generosity of those before them. Throughout its history, the School’s diverse community has remained united in its shared belief in the importance of giving back.

Every year group has been encouraged to create an individual fund and grow that sub-account over time. While each year has different circumstances and drivers, the significant support this initiative is attracting will cumulatively make an impact in years to come.

The impact of bursaries goes beyond assisting individual recipients and extends into BGS classrooms by adding diversity and different perspectives. Graduates depart as men of character, living the BGS values of Learning, Leadership, Endeavour, Respect and Community.

The Class of 2017 established the initiative of a Year Group Bursary as their graduating gift to the School.

Since then, cohorts from back as far as 1943 have been making a difference by donating to their Year Group Bursary.

The School’s vision is to support at least 10% of the cohort, that is 170 boys, with either full or partial fee assistance. To achieve this goal, the School has focused on gaining the support of each Old Boy year group to grow the BGS Bursary Fund.

The initiative has created healthy competition among the different Old Boy year groups.

The tradition continues as the Class of 2020 will also fund a Year Group Bursary.

Year Group Bursary Donation Leaders by Decade 1940s

1942 over $250,000

1950s

1959 over $2,000

1960s

1962 over $158,000

1970s

1979/80 over $178,000

1980s

1982 over $188,000

2000s

2000 over $13,000

2010s

2016 over $77,000

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ART SHOW

2020 BGS Art Show The BGS Art Support Group gratefully acknowledges our sponsors

The 2020 BGS Art Show, Iridescence, marked a new era in the show’s 51-year history, with the event held virtually for the first time.

The term ‘iridescence’ describes how surfaces may appear to change colour with a change in viewing angle or the direction of light.

The Art Support Group selected this year’s theme to explore how people can view a situation differently with a change in perspective. This idea resonated strongly following the changes to everyday life during 2020.

An online exhibition of 2D works by 21 professional artists went live on Friday 24 July. Guests were welcomed to the virtual event with video addresses from Acting Head of Art, Ms Kim Kovacevic and 2020 guest speaker, Ms Andrea Perry-Petersen.

Ms Perry-Petersen, a lawyer with a passion for design thinking, spoke to the relationship between art and law from the perspective of legal design.

She drew parallels to the tangible structures of a legal framework with the abstract nature of artistic creations, and explored the question, “what is art for?”

This year’s feature artist was Lyn Barnes, who hails from Quilpie in the Channel Country of South West Queensland. When Barnes was invited to be the 2020 feature artist, Quilpie was gripped by a cruel drought, living up to its nickname, ‘Heartbreak Corner’. Rain fell in November 2019 and water flowed through the region once more, with Barnes’ works exemplifying the iridescence of a revitalised outback.

Art Support Group President Bronwyn Jerrard worked with a dedicated group of parents and BGS staff to overcome the challenges and make the 2020 show a success.

Thank you to the passionate volunteers, BGS staff and sponsors who contributed to the event.

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P &F

Celebrating philanthropy and our community

A heartfelt and warm thank you to all our donors for their outstanding generosity to Brisbane Grammar School during this uncertain year. Your support will help students in financial need and contribute to the construction of the STEAM Precinct.

In 2020, the School received pledges for $1.6 million from individuals who will fulfil their commitment to give over five years, between 2021 and 2025. In addition, the P&F Auxiliary committed $500,000 to the renovation of senior boarding facilities in Harlin House that will provide students with contemporary accommodation.

Brisbane Grammar School recognised several former and current parent volunteers through the Betty Howell Awards in October. The awards were presented at the School’s annual Celebrating Our Community function for volunteers and donors.

The Betty Howell Awards, established for volunteers in 2011, are named in honour of Mrs Joan Elizabeth (Betty) Howell who was a passionate volunteer with the Art Committee and Auxiliary during her 25-year association with the School as the wife of the Headmaster.

Some of the most significant donations from individuals include: •

All donations to the BGS Building and Bursary Funds are tax deductible.

The 2020 Betty Howell Awards recipients are:

Howard Stack, Bob Bryan AM, Trustee Stephen Bizzell, Peter Thompson, Headmaster Anthony Micallef, Tim Crommelin, Trustee Claire Blake, John Fenwick, Geoff Voller, Deputy Headmaster – Teaching and Learning Steve Uscinski and an anonymous donor; collectively they committed to give $1.3M to the STEAM Precinct over the next five years.

• Ian Brusasco, Dominic O’Sullivan, David Perel, David Ritchie, Peter Thompson, and Trustee Warren Traves collectively donated over $50,000 to the Bursary Fund.

• John Ferris (past parent) for service to Fencing • Brett ’82 and Jane Halliday (Old Boy/past parents) for service to Cricket and Rugby • Margaret Henderson (past parent) for service to the Art Committee • Di Morton (past parent) for service to Rowing • Will and Louise Siganto (past parents) for service to Swimming, Moogerah Support Group and Art Show • Bruce Wilson (past parent) for service to Fencing

• BGS parents and friends contributed over $140,000 to the Bursary Fund via voluntary contributions.

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2020 SPRING LUNCHEON The success of the P&F Auxiliary Spring Luncheon – albeit in a different form – is testament to the strength of the indomitable BGS community spirit.

From bustling restaurants in suburban Brisbane to a mother at Viola Station in remote Far North Queensland, more than 500 mothers and community members gathered to enjoy each other’s company and celebrate one of Brisbane Grammar School’s most enduring traditions.

Mothers of the Class of 2020 gathered at Hillstone and were serenaded by former Ten Tenor, Old Boy David Kidd ’88. They enjoyed the opportunity to come together as a cohort in what has been a challenging year.

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C L A S S O F 2020

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Time to reflect Nick Holland Head of Year

As the school year commenced, the Seniors of 2020 could not possibly have foreseen the challenges and opportunities that lay ahead. They began the year impressively with historic sporting achievements, high levels of support across activities, and a fierce determination to succeed in all of their academic, cocurricular and public purpose endeavours. Just as they were building momentum they, like the rest of the world, were forced to deal with the realities of COVID-19.

Unable to be on campus, they adjusted superbly to the requirements of home-based learning, innovatively utilising the online environment to maximise their learning opportunities. They collaborated, set up alternative communication channels and found novel ways to stay connected despite being physically separated.

This was particularly important given that they were the first cohort to be assessed under the new Queensland Certificate of Education, more commonly referred to as the ATAR system.

When school returned to relative normality and the boys were allowed to return to regular classes, they immediately established a positive example to the younger boys. At a time of great uncertainty, they were a calm, mature and supportive presence in the School.

Soon enough, cocurricular activities recommenced.

Some had slightly shorter seasons, while others were protracted after being interrupted. While the Year 12s

were not able to lead their peers in support at games and competitions, the fact that they were able to represent their school and wear the light dark blue was a bonus in a year when at times it appeared unlikely. The Music program remained a key component of many boys’ BGS experience, and the Senior Dramatic Production once again showcased the extraordinary creative and artistic talents of our Year 12 thespians.

Completing the first external examinations to be held in Queensland in many decades, they faced their final challenge. We can be sure that the education provided to them throughout their BGS journey prepared them well.

They have collaborated superbly, listened to feedback provided by their teachers and have equipped themselves with the necessary skills and knowledge to succeed.

It has been an absolute pleasure being associated with the Class of 2020. While I have known the boys for four years since joining them in Year 9, Assistant Head of Year Sarah McDonald has travelled with the cohort since Year 6. She has provided incredible support to the boys and me. A wonderful group of Form Tutors has ably supported us.

While the year unfolded differently than they had imagined, there is no doubt that this group of Year 12s will depart BGS as resilient, innovative and compassionate young men ready to contribute to the communities which they will soon join.

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G E N E R AT I O N S

Five generations at BGS My brother Nick Heath and our mother Betty Heath joined with us to contribute to the Bursary Fund to support an Indigenous boarder through BGS.” Lesley Huxley’s grandfather, Leslie Norman Pitter and best friend William Charles Day (pictured together right) both graduated from BGS in 1917 and enlisted in the army. Leslie’s brother, William Rhodes Pitter (1905), attended BGS on an extension scholarship.

Leslie eventually became a regional civil engineer responsible for maintaining the road between Rockhampton and Brisbane during WWII. William became a dam engineer in the Queensland Irrigation and Water Supply Commission. Leslie married his best friend William Day's sister, Annelia.

B

GS Old Boy Peter Huxley ’69 and wife Lesley have a connection with Brisbane Grammar School that will soon enter a fifth generation, encompassing both sides of their family.

Peter and Lesley have been philanthropic supporters of the School since their sons graduated, contributing to the Bursary Fund.

“Many years ago, at a BGS Speech Night, we heard Noel Pearson speak about giving Indigenous people an opportunity,” Lesley said. “He explained that Indigenous people can climb up the staircase, but at the top, someone has to open the door. Education was a great opportunity to help open the door.”

“When our boys finished school, we thought our family could afford to help another boy to benefit from the excellent academic teaching and pastoral care at BGS.

On the Huxley side of the family, Peter and Lesley’s two sons – architect Richard Huxley ’99 and industrial engineer Cosmo Huxley ’11 – are also BGS Old Boys, as is his brother Bruce Huxley ’72.

Lesley said family tradition played a role in selecting BGS for their sons, but it was their choice for several reasons.

“We also lived close by and it was the best school in Brisbane,” she said. “Both boys were enrolled at birth.

In other words, we were confident they were in the best hands.”

Reflecting on his BGS journey, Peter, a pharmacist, said the School played an important role in preparing him for life. “I started at BGS in Year 8 in 1965,” he said. “I was a late developer academically and repeated Year 12, which was of great benefit to me as it prepared me for many years of university study over several degrees.”

“BGS taught me self-discipline and perseverance, which has held me in good stead during my life. Friendships and shared experiences stand out, and it is amazing to be able to rekindle these with fellow students after 50 years.”

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REFLECTIONS

75th anniversary of the end of World War II

1.

In 1939, the editorial in the BGS School Magazine said: “November 11th will be a sad, ironic day this year. Once more the names of Old Boys who fell in the last war will be remembered and of the School, who knows but that another list of names that we know now, will be added to the tally.”

(Vol XLII Nov 1939).

A total of 2332 Old Boys would serve in World War II, and 252 names would be added to the tally of those who fell. Of that total, 168 served in the Air Force, 78 in the Army and 10 in the Navy. 101 died in Europe, 90 in the Asia-Pacific, 31 in the Middle East and Mediterranean and the remainder in Australia. In paying tribute, we recount just a few of their stories.

In Europe, Spitfire pilot Gordon Olive ’31 flew cover during the evacuation at Dunkirk, before making 193 sorties during the Battle of Britain and beyond. He won the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) in 1940.

2.

Most Old Boys flew in the RAAF or Britain’s RAF in bombing raids.

Thomas Dimmock (1921) and his brother Harold (1912) both served in 12 Squadron (RAF). Harold died in an air battle over Belgium on 3 June 1942. He was still listed as missing at the time Thomas died over Germany on 12 January 1943. Frederick Deshon ‘34 and James Kydd ‘32 were among six crew members all killed when their Wellington Bomber crashed on 21 January 1944. Ten years earlier, Deshon was a School Prefect and captain of the First XI. William Barbour ‘38 worked for the Bank of New South Wales. He was shot down off the Frisian Islands in 1944, aged 21. His cousin, Kent Watkins ‘39, was a few weeks away from turning 21 when he was shot down over Italy, also in 1944.

In North Africa, John Lavarack (1904) commanded units that were successful

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in repelling Field Marshal Rommel’s forces at the Siege of Tobruk. Eleven Old Boys are buried in cemeteries in Libya, Tunisia and Egypt.

Australian troops were recalled from the Middle East to fight in the Pacific.

John F Jackson (1923) served with 3 Squadron (RAAF), winning a DFC for action in North Africa and was later killed during an air battle in Papua New Guinea on 28 April 1942. Jackson International Airport in Port Moresby honours him.

Singapore fell in 1942 and the 2/10th Field Regiment surrendered its garrison on 15 February. James Browne (1925), Jack Ewing (1928), Kenneth Gray ‘34, John Hibbard ‘34, Richard Leslie (1926) and John Norbury (1928), all in the 2/10th, and Leonard Phillips (1922), in the 2/26th Battalion, became prisoners of the Japanese. All died during the construction of the Thai-Burma railway. James Heaslop ‘31,

3.

Clive Greenup (1927) and Hugh Ovens ‘37, in the 2/10th and Eldred Strout (1925) in the 2/26th all died in the Sanakan POW camp in North Borneo, on the death marches inland or in Ranau prison.

At sea, Ross Cole ‘31 was killed in 1940 when the steam merchant ship Tregenna was sunk by U-Boat 65 near the outcrop Rockall in the North Atlantic. Albert Byrne ‘34, Thomas Clark ‘33, Laurence Ogilvie ’30 and Robert Rees ‘32 were all killed when HMAS Sydney II was destroyed by the German cruiser Kormoran on 19 November 1941. Garth Aitchison ‘35, John Kerr ’37 and Charles Thelander ‘30 were all killed on the Australian Hospital Ship Centaur when it was sunk by a Japanese submarine south of Moreton Island.

John Avery ‘31 was killed in Papua in 1943 fighting with the 2/9th Battalion.

His father, John (1900), served in Egypt, France and England during WWI.

4.

His uncle, Reginald (1896), was killed in Bouzincourt in 1918 stemming the German advances toward Amiens.

His other uncle, Wilfred (1903), was killed at Hill 60 in Belgium in 1917.

The Year 11 prizes for Chemistry and Physics are named in his honour.

Darwin continued to be bombed in 1943. Alexander McNab was killed in a flying battle that year. His cousin David Tait was killed in a flying battle in New Guinea in 1944. Both left BGS in 1931.

1945 magazine editorial read: “Peace!

Its enchanting note rings the whole world round… A new task lies before us - that of remoulding from the chaos a civilisation for surpassing the old.”

(Vol XLVIII Nov 1945).

Chris Price - School Historian A database containing school and service records of all BGS Old Boys who died in war is accessible in the history section of the BGS website.

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1. Adolf Hoffman (standing) and David Bell, the BGS Athletic champions 1937. Bell served in the Engineering Corp. Hoffman and his Lancaster crew were shot down in 1944. All died.

2. Members of the 1931 Athletics team, John Krefter was killed over Germany in 1945, James Heaslop in Sandakan and Kenneth Currie in New Guinea in 1943.

3. The entire 1935 First Crew served in the war. Frederick Smith (standing right) was executed by the Japanese in 1944. Sydney White (seated right) was killed in an air crash in Colombo in 1942.

4. BGS boys could be found in RAF bases all over Britain. Cartoon reprinted in June 1941 School Magazine.

5. Bill Heywood flew with 466 Squadron and was shot down in France. This photo was taken in 1936.

5.

BGS STEAM PRECINCT The future is here.

The BGS STEAM Precinct will create an environment that excites, engages and inspires our students and teachers. A hub for ideas and innovation, the transformative precinct will help us educate Australia’s future leaders.

Headmaster Anthony Micallef