Path to Paris
Editorial Team
Nikita Blom
Editor, Director of Community Relations
Kloe Phelan
Writer, Communications Coordinator
Karoline Fjeldsbo
Graphic Designer
Image
Patrick Holt – Photography by Yianni Aspradakis
Image Front Cover
Logan Ullrich – Photography by Chona Kasinger
Cover Story
Old Boys Patrick Holt ’16 and Logan Ullrich ’17 made waves at the 2024 Paris Olympics rowing for their countries and are now preparing for Los Angeles 2028.
Acknowledgement of Country
We acknowledge the Jagera people and the Turrbal people as the Traditional Custodians of the lands on which our school is located and where we meet, work, play and learn. We pay our respects to Jagera and Turrbal Elders past, present and emerging, and acknowledge their deep connections to culture, country and waterways.
Grammar News CONTENTS
Page 20
Rising Stars
Meet the up-and-coming athletes in the Light Dark Blue
Page 40
A Lasting Legacy
Five-generation BGS family, the Bales have a deep connection to the Northgate Playing Fields
The Path to Paris
OId Boy rowers Patrick Holt ‘16 and Logan Ullrich ’17 are pursuing their Olympic dreams
14 Page 28
Climbing to the Top
BGS Outdoor Education leaders recognised at Australian awards
Page 12
Grammar at the Games
Once an Olympian, always an Olympian. A timeline of BGS Olympians dating back to 1904
Page 24
Driving Digital Change
BGS staff are at the forefront of change, making strides in digital transformation
Northgate Playing Fields
Nestled in the heart of Brisbane’s northern suburbs, the Northgate Playing Fields boasts nine ovals across 30 hectares designed to both enhance athletic development and to generate community engagement.
Often a second home to budding young athletes, these fields have served as training and match venues for BGS students playing cricket, rugby, and football since 1997.
With the 2032 Games set to showcase Brisbane to the international stage, this issue celebrates our home-grown talent, whose professional journeys began in Light Dark Blue, and spotlights current students who are ones to watch.
Many Paths to Greatness
Written by Anthony Micallef Headmaster
The first Grammar Olympian, Old Boy Francis ‘Frank’ Gailey (1902), swam valiantly at the Saint Louis Olympics in 1904. Frank brought home an astounding four medals, leading the way for the generations to come.
Claimed by the USA until 2009, we are proud to have added Frank to our history book, alongside twelve more, talented athletes.
The medley of talent displayed by each of our olympic athletes is an inspiration to say the least, with most pursuing admirable careers in addition to their sporting feats.
In this edition of Grammar News, we dive into the lives of our athletes, as well as some of our highly accomplished staff, students, and community members who keep the Grammar community ever ready for the start line.
We explore the values of Olympism like determination, mateship and excellence that are evident in each of their pursuits and harness the value of balance.
Throughout this edition you will hear some of the many approaches one can
take to achieve success on the world’s stage in many disciplines and observe that the trajectory to success is quite often not straight.
We talk to BGS parents who exemplify the spirit of volunteerism that make these achievements possible, share long-lasting legacies of dedication to community, and get excited alongside our rising stars who are tenaciously working towards the Brisbane Olympics in 2032 and beyond.
Please also enjoy reading about how we are preserving our history with the centenary of our War Memorial Library and the opening of the Heritage Precinct.
There is abundant joy and inspiration in the pages that follow, so I hope you enjoy the adventure that is Grammar News, Summer 2025.
If you have a story you’d like to share with our community, please reach out to our Community Relations department.
News Snapshot
King’s Honours
We honour former Headmaster (2006-2013) and Old Boy, Brian Short ‘65, who was named a Member of the Order of Australia in 2024. Brian is widely recognised for his influential teaching, coaching and guidance, and for his contributions to the education sector and service to secondary education.
Congratulations to Old Boy Richard ‘Dick’ Marks ‘60, who was recognised in the 2024 King’s Birthday Honours list for his exceptional service to Rugby as a player, coach, and administrator.
Old Boy John ‘JC’ Collins ‘87, of Powderfinger, was also named a Member of the Order of Australia for his contributions to the arts, performance, and community building. A vocal advocate for live music, JC co-owns Brisbane venues The Triffid and Fortitude Music Hall.
Maud’s Café
The P&F Auxiliary gathered at the annual Thank You function in November to celebrate another successful year, and to unveil the newly named Maud’s Café in the STEAM Precinct.
The official ribbon-cutting marked the renaming of the Café in honour of Maud Carson-Cooling. Maud, dedicated 12 remarkable years (1935-47) to nurturing boys and fostering community. Her commitment to student wellbeing and generous support of daily school life laid the foundation for our values of volunteerism today. We expressed our heartfelt thanks to all current volunteers, whose dedication across various BGS groups embodies the true spirit of the School.
Collaboration the Key to Future of Boys’ Education
Amidst end of year events, Headmaster Anthony Micallef had the pleasure of hosting esteemed educator and Executive Director of the International Boys’ Schools Coalition, Tom Batty.
In a conversation with Mr Micallef, Mr Batty believes the answer to ensuring boys’ education progresses in the years ahead is not just science and research, but also global networking.
In the ever-changing landscape of education, and particularly in a world where single-sex education continues to be in question, Tom and
Celebrating Our Community 2024
For decades, BGS has been fortunate to be able to call upon selfless individuals to support its programs. This tradition of volunteerism has allowed the School to maintain a strong egalitarian ethos and provide a model of public service for generations of BGS boys. This annual celebration acknowledges the outstanding contributions of individuals who have gone above and beyond to support students, staff, parents, and friends of BGS. Award recipients are named in honour of Mrs. Joan Elizabeth “Betty” Howell, a remarkable volunteer who dedicated over twenty-five years of service to the School.
Anthony agree that a boys’ education is one we know better than we ever have before.
“We know how they like to learn, and we are getting better at teaching them,” Tom said.
“The advantage of attending a boys’ school remains that the teaching is catered to boys’ known rates of development, which is something we know for certain. Boys and girls develop at different times and different rates… Boys develop slower and later on average… It takes time.”
Congratulations to the 2024 Betty Howell Award winners
David Weightman, Berthine Ommensen, Rebecca and Jonte Lowe, Mark Johnston Holly Kenny, Nicola Rahman, Jill Johnston and Leanne Stamatellos
Rugby Round Up
The season began with preparation for the Ballymore Cup, where the Open team placed third. Fifteen students attended referee workshops, and coaching courses were conducted to enhance skills. Notable players earned higher honours, including Digby Gray, Lachie Neilson, and Ralph Labor. By round six, BGS had won more games than the entire previous season. Teams from Under 11 to the First XV showed great improvement and commitment, with the First XV embodying the values of the Rugby program.
On Track
This year’s Track and Field GPS Championships were expertly backed by the guidance of two Olympic coaches, two Olympians, and our new Athletics Director. The junior team led until the final moments, narrowly missing the premiership by four points. Despite a reduced senior team due to injuries and illness, the boys showed great resilience, finishing seventh overall. Special mentions go to Patrick Reid for breaking the GPS record in the 10 Years 1500m, Leo Di Losa for breaking the 100m BGS record, Dylan Reid for the 800m record, and William Creighton for breaking the 200m BGS record.
Kicking Goals
Football saw over 700 students take to the pitch this season with its participation continuing to grow. The home game against Churchie drew impressive supporter numbers, all of whom witnessed the memorable victory. BGS played over 200 GPS games, recording 136 wins, 26 draws, and 62 losses, scoring 735 goals and conceding 425. The First XI finished fourth in the GPS competition, building on team tactics from a pre-season trip.
Fencing Champions
BGS Fencing boasted a team of close to 250 boys in the 2024 season, with a pre-season holiday camp inviting new and returning fencers to refine their skills. The inaugural Musketeers Invitational was a success, offering valuable competition experience. Our Fencing teams excelled, retaining the Queensland Fencing Association’s Brisbane School Teams Championship and winning the overall competition. With over 80 Middle School fencers alone, we had a successful run, earning several podium finishes.
Check Mate
Chess at BGS achieved great success this year, laying a strong foundation for future seasons. The Premier Chess Team, featuring exclusively Middle School representation, bounced back from a round one loss to Churchie, finishing second overall. Across 76 fixtures, BGS recorded only one loss, with standout performances including a perfect 36-0 record against Terrace. The Senior Team secured the Premiership, and several other teams, including Open B, C, D, F, G, and H, also won Premierships. BGS teams reached the State Finals in the Inter-School Chess Competition.
Debating Premiership
215 debaters from Years 5 to 12 honed their public speaking and argumentative skills through GPS and QDU competitions. Early auditions enabled valuable feedback to be given to each student, which built confidence for the season ahead. In GPS, 17 of our 20 teams placed on the podium, with Senior A taking the Premiership. In QDU, 11 of 14 teams reached elimination rounds, with Team 10.1 coming away with second in the Brisbane Year 10 competition.
A Season and One
In one of our best seasons yet, the 2024 BGS Basketball results were nothing short of stellar. With our Senior teams winning 77% of all games played, and our Seconds finishing third on the podium, it was an outstanding effort from all the boys and coaches involved. Mr Jones’ Fourth V was undefeated for the third year in a row, and our First V closed out the season with a seven-streak victory. With close to 750 boys registering to play this year, BGS is thrilled with the growth of the game and cannot wait to see what the future holds for BGS Basketball.
Grammar at the Games
Logan Ullrich OB ‘17 Paris 2024 Rowing, NZ
Patrick Holt OB ‘16 Paris 2024 Rowing, AUS
Shaun Coulton OB ‘96 Athens 2004 Rowing, AUS
Toby Jenkins OB ‘97
Athens 2004 Water Polo, AUS
David Weightman OB ‘88 Atlanta 1996 Rowing, AUS
Francis ‘Frank’ Gailey OB 1902 Saint Louis 1904 Swimming, AUS.
Jake Donaghey OB ‘12 London 2012 Canoe Sprints, AUS
Once an Olympian, always an Olympian.
Ned McKendry OB ‘09 London 2012 Swimming, AUS
Richard Powell OB ‘78 Two-time Olympian Seoul 1988 Barcelona 1992 Rowing, AUS
Anthony Martin OB ‘02 Beijing 2008 Water Polo, AUS
Samuel Conrad OB ‘00 Beijing 2008 Rowing, AUS Who will be next?
Louis Hailey OB 1944 Two-time Olympian Melbourne 1956 Rome 1960 Hockey, AUS
Neil Martin OB ‘72 Munich 1972 Swimming, AUS
The Path to Paris
Written by Kloe Phelan
Photography by Yianni Aspradakis and Chona Kasinger
Old Boys Patrick Holt ‘16 and Logan Ullrich ‘17 made waves rowing at the 2024 Paris Olympics, for Australia and New Zealand respectively. Their achievements are a testament to a balance of hard work, a love of good food, and downtime with friends. However, that’s not where it all began. The two were immersed in rugby and cricket growing up, so ball sports nearly vetoed.
At the crossroads of deciding on a secondary school, little Patrick and Logan had some pivotal decisions to make, and influencing those decisions were family, friends and injuries.
Patrick Holt made the switch to BGS in Year 6 and, moving out of an arts-heavy school, he embraced his new life at BGS by taking up cricket and rugby.
“Mum remembers me coming home happy all the time. I thought the baggy cap was the best thing ever.”
Just as he had settled into his new teams and began making a name for himself, the excitement was put on pause when Patrick succumbed to a pesky heel injury.
“The doctor said I couldn’t play cricket for a year.”
Devastated at the idea of change, but influenced by his eldest brother who was rowing at State High, Patrick considered rowing as a good way to stay active while he was injured.
Growing up in a household dominated fiercely by rugby
and cricket meant a hard conversation with dad loomed.
“[Dad] said absolutely not. Too early mornings and we live too far away from the sheds,” Patrick laughed.
Come and Try Rowing Day nearly didn’t happen for Patrick, struggling with the idea of changing sports.
“It was such an uncomfortable experience at first. I remember two people holding me, trying to teach me the safety position. I flipped five times.”
Able to smile about it now, Patrick remembers being gradually persuaded by this new team dynamic.
“You’re on the water, in the sun, so you’re happy. You realise you have to work together. That was really something.”
As he stuck out the first year of rowing, Patrick’s love for the water sport grew exponentially - even with the “Strange smell of marine petrol,” he said.
Rowing eventually transformed from a stopgap for injury between cricket seasons into a primary fixture in Patrick’s schedule.
In his senior year at school, Patrick’s eight—including Logan Ullrich—were eager to place at one particularly renowned competition - the Head of the River.
“Everyone will remember you for it. You almost want it too much and get too nervous,” he said.
Despite the immense
combined potential in that boat, the crew missed out on the pennant by two metres. But falling short did not stop them.
After success with the 2018 Queensland state rowing squad, Patrick moved to New South Wales to study business and engineering at the University of Technology, Sydney.
With nowhere to live, Patrick received a fortuitous accommodation offer from none other than multi-Olympic medallist and UTS Head Coach, Tim Mclaren. This would later become one of Patrick’s most pivotal relationships.
UTS eventually picked up on Patrick’s disposition and in 2021 they offered him a position at
“[Dad] said absolutely not. Too early mornings and we live too far from the sheds.”
the UTS Haberfield Rowing Club.
Under Tim Mclaren’s guidance, Patrick went on to place at both the Australian and World Rowing Championships multiple times.
As positive experiences continued to stack up, Patrick gladly accepted a position in the elite athlete program at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS), moving to the frosty capital.
“It was amazing, but super cold out on the Lake [Burley Griffin]. My first day was negative three degrees… It stings at first, but you sort of learn to let it spur you on.”
Patrick admits that while the long-awaited experience was exciting, it was also stark and isolating.
COVID meant he was the only person living at the AIS for rowing, and continuing study with UTS online meant it wasn’t long before he began missing the benefits of onsite study.
Determination earned him his first taste of the Olympics, selected as a non-travelling reserve for the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.
After Tokyo subsided, Patrick graduated from the business portion of his dual degree and returned to UTS to chip away at the engineering side, while honing into the World Championships. His team placed second in 2022 and first in 2023.
Patrick didn’t see slowing down on the cards, but the nonstop nature of jumping between UTS summer semesters and spending the better part of each year in Canberra eventuated in burn out.
“I love studying at UTS... But you can’t be nominated and a part of the Australian team if you’re not in Canberra because they have a centralised system. It was challenging.”
“It stings at first, but you sort of learn to let it spur you on.”
Thankfully, his UTS coach Tim McLaren was highly supportive and became his confidant. This relationship—one Patrick wishes he embraced much earlier— helped him to achieve a better sense of balance.
“[Tim] really encouraged me to take a step back and embrace the small wins.”
Leaning into McLaren’s mentorship was a wise move for Patrick whose approach became more sustainable, vastly improving his trajectory towards Paris 2024.
When the 2024 Australian team was finally announced, Patrick couldn’t have been
happier to finally don the green and gold.
“Getting your kit is like Christmas,” he grinned.
Casting his mind back to the one-kilometre mark at Vaires-sur-Marne, he said, “We were side by side with the competition. I looked out beyond the boat and thought ‘this is awesome.’”
While Patrick didn’t bring home a medal this time, he is already training for chapter two—Los Angeles 2028—and being slung back into normalcy has proved humbling.
“Everyone has been so good to us, so supportive - except
my tutors who treat you like any other person,” the Olympian laughed.
When asked what he’d be doing in his time off, he said, “Can you guess? Golf, golf, and more golf. Spending as much time with friends and family as possible and having a laugh.”
Logan Ullrich was also introduced to rowing at the BGS Come and Try Day.
While he grew up in the water and was positively influenced by his father’s rowing, Logan was no more excited to make the change from ball sports than Patrick.
“The work was really hard at first. I didn’t like it that much because I was already doing pretty well at my other sports. Plus, I wasn’t used to using my limbs that way,” he said. But the unique sense of camaraderie made him curious.
“There was something special in the friendships being formed out beyond the knee-deep water… That made me so excited for high school,” Logan smiled.
Feeling clueless and uncoordinated for his first couple of seasons, Logan was glad rugby and rowing ran in alternating seasons.
In Year 11 (2016), Logan shared in Patrick’s loss at Head of the River, making him question his capabilities.
“Is this me as an athlete? Am I always going to underperform?” Logan said.
“Then you remember you’re in a boat with seven other guys and it’s a team effort... It’s definitely a bit of a tradition, but you have to realise it’s not the end.”
In his senior year, Patrick had graduated, and Logan had formed a critical bond with rowing peer, Miller Rowe ‘17.
“I didn’t like it that much because I was already doing pretty well at my other sports. Plus, I wasn’t used to using my limbs that way.”
“We weren’t in the same boat until the final year… but when we were, we sat together. That was a lot of fun and we experienced a lot of success rowing together after school,” Logan reminisced.
Leading up to their Under-19s win as a pair at Nationals, Logan and Miller “…Were rowing out of a small 40-foot container right next to King’s College at UQ. It was just me, Miller and Scott
[Miller’s father] who coached us.”
That same little shed saw the duo go on to achieve victory in the Coxless Four at the 2018 Junior World Championships.
“Then I went to America and the rest is history.”
Except it wasn’t. Before jetsetting to the USA, Logan—a New Zealand citizen ineligible for HECS—had commenced
“You don’t get one without the other. You have to be able to contribute.”
at Queensland University of Technology, navigating the demands of study, training, and working enough hours to pay for his university fees.
“It was really exhausting and brought my priorities to a bit of an ultimatum,” Logan said.
That was until he received an irresistible offer.
Awarded a prestigious rowing scholarship at the University of Washington, he saw a way forward, continuing his study of food systems, nutrition and health whilst pursuing his Olympic dreams in a world-class environment.
Reflecting on the opportunity that ultimately led to his selection on the 2024 New Zealand Olympic rowing team, Logan says sport was always his forte, but the classroom was not.
“I’m very proud to have got my degree,” he said.
“There are a few teachers who might not have thought I would, and I understand why now. It took a big change of habits.”
On what pushed him to persevere with both study and sports, he said, “You don’t get one without the other. You have to be able to contribute.”
Logan confesses that he’s reached his study quota for
now, saying “While I have a big interest in food and how it all works, I think I’d rather keep learning through experience.”
“I had an amazing time with my rowing mates, though. That was extremely rewarding and motivating.”
Following the completion of his degree and missing his family and friends, Logan made the voyage back to New Zealand ready to represent his home country. No longer studying, he was able to lock in on Paris.
Fast forward to 2024 and Logan was named a member of the New Zealand Olympic team.
“[Receiving the news] was undoubtedly one of the most exciting things I’ve ever felt,” Logan said, “I was extremely proud.”
“I wasn’t in the Olympic village, so I don’t know what that was like, but it was great to be able to spend time with family and eat heaps of good food at our [accommodation]. You’ve got to eat heaps to be race-ready,” he laughed.
The athlete’s eyes lit up as he recalled pulling home silver for New Zealand, noting the visceral sensation of synchronicity in the Olympic boat.
“Unlike in rugby, the feeling of working well as a team is so exhilarating in rowing,” Logan said.
“You’re locked in together, physically strapped in together going through extreme physical exertion, but you don’t feel it.”
For Logan, accepting silver was an amalgamation of adrenaline, joy, frustration and acceptance. Streams of support from friends new and old brought him back down to Earth.
“Hearing the stories after the races about where people were when they were watching the races really put a smile on my face,” he said.
After a four-week break, Logan snapped straight back into the routine, mapping out a plan of attack for Los Angeles 2028 and Brisbane 2032.
He intends to use his university knowledge and practical experience leading up to
the Olympics to create more content about the daily life of an athlete.
“I like producing stuff that I would have liked to watch. To think of a young Grammar rower watching that and getting inspired… I’d like to do that.”
When asked how he plans to spend his future downtime, Logan said, “Definitely time with family and snorkelling. I love the water; I’ll always be out there.”
Patrick and Logan are excited for the future of BGS athletes with Brisbane 2032 only seven years away. They remind us that good things take time and that there are many routes to success.
“Definitely put all your eggs in one basket and focus,” Logan said.
“Aim for balance and find a confidant early on. Whatever you choose, choose to enjoy it,” Patrick encouraged.
Rising Stars Have Their Sights Set
Sione Veamatahau
Year 12 2025, Volleyball
Playing in a high risk, high reward position on the net, Sione loves the adrenaline of pursuing the winning points. His passion for the game took him to the Under-18 Volleyball Championships in Bahrain in July 2024, achieving Player of the Match and Top Scorer multiple times.
Sione credits the Head Coach of the QLD Men’s volleyball team, Kylie Marshall, with pushing him in training and seeing his international potential.
Lachlan Curtin
Old Boy ’23, Basketball
Since graduating in 2023, Lachlan has been living in Nebraska, USA, on a basketball scholarship with the Southeast Community College Bobcats. Lachlan aspires to be a professional basketballer but is also studying psychology, hoping to become a sports psychologist, and eventually returning to coaching.
“I want to see how far I can go.”
Switching up positions from a centre in Australia to a small forward in the USA, Lachlan says, “The physicality is a lot
higher... a lot of these players have a fire that makes you step up and go harder.”
Maintaining contact with his BGS coaches, he credits Basketball Director Daniel George for turning up to his games, providing him regular feedback, and supporting him to “take a big step up”.
“I love the game so much... I see how much the people who get paid to play the game love it and it motivates me. If they can do it, I can do it.”
Planning to eventually return to BGS as a teacher or coach, Sione says, “I really look up to people who give back because of their encouragement and selflessness. That’s something I really want to achieve.”
For now, his sights are set on the 2025 GPS competition, the 2032 Olympics and professional volleyball.
“I was once told good skills get you to the door, but good character gets you through it.”
Dyer Akauola and Lincoln Dalton Year 12 2025, Rugby League and Union
Dyer and Lincoln both currently play for Norths Devils Juniors. In 2024, they had excellent seasons with the Reds Under-16s side and were also signed with the Dolphins Academy.
Dyer has been recognised as
one of the best forwards in the Junior GPS Competition, and Lincoln has been identified as an explosive flanker - one to watch.
The two both value consistency, improvement, and building connections with
Patrick Reid
Year 6 2025, Running
One of our youngest rising stars, Patrick Reid is a bullet train on the tracks.
In 2024, he set a record in the junior 800m and won the 1500m at the Track and Field State Championships. He also finished fourth at the National Cross Country Championships in August.
teammates, always coming together over wins or losses.
“We’d like to play professionally one day and make a living out of it.”
Patrick has been described as a magnificent moving force, is motivated by the strategic nature of running and enjoys keeping his fitness up competitively.
Dreaming of competing at the Brisbane Olympics, Patrick says, “Don’t underestimate anyone.”
Good Things to Come
The BGS community is fortunate to have many highly informed voices influencing our budding athletes, as well as contributing to the mapping of the 2032 Brisbane Olympics on a broader scale. In this edition of Grammar News, we speak with four prominent voices about the Games coming to Brisbane in 2032.
As they reflect on personal experiences and weigh up the collateral effects of our city hosting the Games, the consensus is that this is an exciting but challenging prospect, brimming with immense potential. An opportunity that will have significant transformative impacts on Queensland’s athletes, tourism, economy, infrastructure and overall future.
Associate Director, Urban Design and Sustainable Infrastructure and Strategic Partnerships, University of Queensland Tom
“To think that we would have that kind of exposure in Brisbane... is such an incredible opportunity for us and our children.”
- Toby Jenkins
BGS Swim Club Director and Head Coach
Swim Aus World Short Course Coach for Budapest, 2025
Bobby Jovanovich
BGS Rugby Head Coach
Court
Old Boy ‘97
Olympic Water Polo, Athens 2004
Toby Jenkins
Q1
How will Brisbane benefit from hosting the 2032 Games?
Brett: “The Games are a gift. It is estimated they will generate $17.6 billion in economic and social benefits across the nation. They will raise global awareness and draw commercial attention from the biggest brands and businesses in the world, bringing their expertise, innovation and wallets to the host city. It will drive economic productivity locally, delivering thousands of jobs, improved infrastructure, and upskilling of workforces and industries. There is a local procurement policy in place to give preference to local companies to be involved. [These local companies] will promote Brisbane, Queensland and Australia as global destinations of choice and showcase our culture and attractions to a global audience.”
Toby: “As we saw in Paris, the sheer amount of attention a city gets from hosting the Games is incredible. It’s an extraordinary opportunity to expose Brisbane to a global audience. I have no doubt there will be huge and lasting economic and social benefits to hosting one of the most popular events in the world. It’s such a great way to bring people together.”
Q2
How will the games grow grassroots sports?
Tom: The Games will spark greater interest in sports among students and local communities, motivating more young athletes to engage in physical activities. Enhanced partnerships between
schools, sports clubs, and community organisations will lead to collaborative programs and initiatives that promote sports participation. Additionally, the increased funding and support generated by the Games will support and expand grassroots sports programs, ensuring long-term growth and development.”
Bobby: “The significance of hosting an Olympic Games at home cannot be overstated. It serves as a powerful testament to the potential of our grassroots sports as the birthplace of future Olympic champions. This underscores the critical nature of your support and investment in grassroots sports, as they serve as the foundation for our nation’s sporting success on the global stage.”
Q3
What drives your passion in this field?
Tom: “I was very lucky to be surrounded by good people who were generous with their advice and support.”
Brett: “It is so rewarding to think the hard work we all do now will have such a lasting impact on the society in which we live.”
Toby: “I remember the Oarsome Foursome coming to speak at BGS when I was in Year 9. That first planted the seed that an Olympics might be possible. I took on the advice of rower Mike McKay, which he’d painted on his own boat: “If not now, when? If not me, who?”. I reflected on that for my whole journey to Athens. To think that we would have that kind of
“There is a local procurement policy in place to give preference to local companies to be involved. ”
- Brett Clarke
exposure in Brisbane... is such an incredible opportunity for us and our children.”
Bobby: “The profound and life-altering lessons gained from being a swimmer and now a coach in such a wonderful sport are the quintessential life experiences that bestow upon you an internal knowing that success is attainable through dedicated investment of time, untiring effort, and steadfast patience.”
Old Boy ‘85
Director of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games
Brett Clarke
Driving Digital Change
Written by Nikita Blom
The redevelopment of the School Information System (SIS) is set to benefit parents, carers, and the entire school community, promising improved communication and streamlined processes.
The initiative, officially branded BGS Connect, will launch this year introducing a unified parent portal, a revamped enrolment process, a new absence procedure and more.
In partnership with leading advisory group Attura, the School is on track to deliver the first phases of the platform using Microsoft Dynamics 365.
“The delivery of the new SIS is a pivotal in the digital transformation of BGS, and will offer greater capabilities for not only our students, but the School as business,” said Mr Micallef of the innovative project.
Parents will be the first to gain enhancement in experiences and communications with the School from as early Term 1 commencement in 2025, with the introduction of the new parent portal. The portal will transform the way in which parents and carers interact with the School, offering a unified and user-friendly platform for
managing various aspects of their son’s education.
The parent portal is one of eight modules to be implemented as part of the upgrade and will offer parents a more streamlined, mobilefriendly and intuitive platform for staying connected with the School and will serve as a comprehensive hub for updating contact details, medical information, and managing consents, including media and photo permissions.
BGS Connect
BGS Learn
After a successful trial with Year 12 students in 2023, BGS Learn was offered to 2024 Seniors to boost their learning and exam results. The innovative program, developed by BGS staff, provides unique exam data and custom learning tools, fostering student autonomy.
BGS Learn delivers a questionby-question breakdown of Mock Exam results for each Year 12 student.
Director of Learning Analytics, Nick Holland, emphasises the importance of high-quality
“Teachers input data post-assessments, supporting a data-driven approach that improves learning and outcomes.”
resources and skilled teachers for success.
“Teachers input data postassessments, supporting a datadriven approach that improves learning and outcomes.”
The trial phase, covering 11 of 23 subjects, showed significant performance improvements over three years. Preliminary
Project CYAN
In an inspiring blend of innovation and collaboration, Science teacher Mr Scott Jones and Year 11 student James Lollback have developed a oneof-a-kind BGS program, named CYAN.
The project conceived by Mr Jones, was initiated to address the manual nature of reviewing and marking long assignments in science subjects. Inspired by conversations within the science department, Mr Jones set out to develop a solution that could support colleagues to enhance their digital marking capabilities and improve their productivity.
After facing limitations in his coding skills, Mr Jones collaborated with James, an enthusiastic and skilled robotics
programmer in Year 11, during a Robotics Cocurricular session to create the solution.
Combining their skills and determination, the duo developed CYAN, a program designed to streamline the word counting process and resave files for marking.
“What once took a staggering five hours can now be accomplished in just 20 minutes,” which Mr Jones attributes to CYAN’s efficient algorithms and user-friendly interface.
“The goal is to save teachers significant amounts of time, allowing them to focus more on the critical task of marking and providing valuable feedback to students,” said Mr Jones.
Looking ahead, there are
“What once took a staggering five hours can now be accomplished in just 20 minutes.”
assessments indicate promising benefits, although it’s too early to link ATAR outcomes directly to the program.
BGS Learn uses individual student data to offer granular, personalised support, helping students make informed learning decisions.
ambitious plans to further enhance CYAN, making it even smoother, more dynamic, and accessible to all staff at BGS.
Although James will not be available for the 2025 extension project, he says he is proud of “the really cool stuff we can do with this program”.
Scott says, “We are hoping to expand this to all departments and classes to offer benefits to staff, and hopefully students, to maximise our time when doing the assignments – which makes it just as useful.”
CYAN is named after a complex AI system featured in the popular video game Horizon Zero Dawn, reflecting the program’s advanced capabilities and innovative spirit.
Cultural Connections Colourful and
It is the second time our boarders have received a uniquely designed boarding shirt. One that simultaneously unites them as boarders and sets them apart from the day students as their own community.
These shirts are worn by boarders of all year levels and create a sense of belonging specific to our students who live on campus, spending extended amounts of time away from their families.
Year 10 boarder Darcy Lewis is a proud descendant of the Iningai people from Central West Queensland. As a student
Written by Kloe Phelan
who openly seizes opportunities to connect his peers together, Darcy took the confidence he gained from his involvement in the 2023 artwork to spearhead the 2024 project.
Gathering three other First Nations boarders; Ezra Akiba (Year 10), Cruz Baker (Year 11) and Mark Humphreys (Year 12), the three collaborated on
the artwork, also amassing involvement from many other boarding students.
It was important to them that representation was varied and brought together diverse backgrounds.
“We’re all from really different places,” Darcy said.
Ezra calls Saibai Island in the Torres Strait home, Cruz is from
“It keeps us connected to each other’s stories and our families and it’s really nice.”
Dharug country in New South Wales, and Mark Humphreys’ family are descendants of the Mandandanji people in Maranoa, out near Roma.
The four young designers brought their own creative instincts, tying in the Brisbane River and Spring Hill as meeting places, the convergence of their respective families, communities and totems, as well as depicting the greater boarding community.
“Darcy started with handprints of a large cohort of people in the house, using different shades of blue to connect the boarders. Then we put on the dot painting of different meeting places around Brisbane in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander colours. We put the totems on there, individually, in the foreground,” Mark said.
The totems (Ezra – snake, Darcy – goanna, Cruz – emu,
and Mark – red kangaroo) are spiritual emblems specific to each Indigenous family or people, realised in the form of the animals believed to have
inhabited the land long before humans.
Head of Griffith House, Tim Holzgrefe was particularly excited to see the artwork feature on the 2024 boarding shirt, saying “It is very special because the boys get to share their culture with the wider community in the boarding precinct.
“It’s a piece of Grammar forever and the boys got to speak about it at the whole school NAIDOC Week assembly... Speaking to each individual element.”
The mutual intention of the artists was to celebrate and emphasise diversity, making sure everyone feels comfortable.
“It keeps us connected to each other’s stories and our families and it’s really nice,” Mark said, “It makes you feel like you’re completely accepted.”
Left Students Ezra Akiba, Darcy Lewis, Cruz Baker, and Mark Humphreys led the project
Above The 2024 Boarding Artwork connects students of diverse backgrounds
Climbing to the Top
Written by Nikita Blom
The BGS Outdoor Education team has been honoured at the recent Outdoor Education Australia Awards held 5 December, taking home the Exemplary Outdoor Education Program Award.
The adventure-based program sees hundreds of BGS students embark on new challenges each year as they return to the purpose-built centre, Pepperina Hill.
“These environments encourage collaboration, boost self-confidence, and nurture the essential skills needed to lead with integrity and compassion.”
While the program places emphasis on experiential learning, its success is largely attributed to the dedicated team of educators who have built
and continually enhanced the initiative.
“This award is a testament to the dedication, passion and collaboration of our exceptional team,” said Director of Outdoor Education, Mr Derek Jervis, expressing pride is his team.
“For nearly five decades, the Moogerah Outdoor Education program has been a cornerstone of our School’s commitment to outdoor learning, fostering personal growth, resilience, and a deep connection with nature. This legacy is the result of the team who believe in the transformative power of outdoor education.
“Together, we have nurtured a culture where outdoor education is not just a program but an integral part of our school identity,” Mr Jervis said.
BGS Outdoor Education programs have been designed specifically to complement the physical and emotional maturity of the group, so it’s no surprise the BGS Outdoor Education team are proud to be recognised with a national award.
Headmaster Anthony Micallef also spoke highly of the award and the Outdoor Education Team, emphasising the significance of the experience at Moogerah in the students’ development and their journey at BGS.
“The immersive experience of outdoor education fosters
boys’ social, emotional, and leadership development by providing challenges that build resilience, empathy, and a sense of responsibility,” said Mr Micallef.
“These environments encourage collaboration, boost self-confidence, and nurture the essential skills needed to lead with integrity and compassion.”
“The immersive experience of outdoor education fosters boys’ social, emotional, and leadership development by providing challenges that build resilience, empathy, and a sense of responsibility.”
- Mr Anthony Micallef
Above BGS Outdoor Education Team
Seismic Discoveries
As a student, Old Boy and Valedictorian Nicholas Godfrey ‘14 relished in arts and humanities, so a career in physics came as a complete shock to his family.
“When I told [them] I was thinking of doing a degree in physics they all laughed. They’re all very supportive people, but they thought I was joking,” he smiled.
“I didn’t do science in Year 11 or 12, and I was just passing Maths B. Maths was my worst subject. No way did I think I was going to go down that path.”
Written by Kloe Phelan
After graduating from school in 2014, Nicholas subsequently enrolled in a dual degree of Law and Creative Industries at QUT. However, he realised the study of Creative Industries just wasn’t the right fit.
A stint in journalism early in his undergrad led to his recruitment as editor for student publication The Print House, and he had also worked on various amateur film and comedy projects outside of study.
These experience led Nicholas to the discovery that it was more practical for him to keep the fire
for the arts burning elsewhere, pursuing study better suited to him. So, while logic and argumentation kept him in Law, he replaced Creative Industries with Physics.
“I’d always been interested in [science], and I thought maybe now that I’m older I’ll be better at it. Turns out I was which is good,” Nicholas laughed.
Not quite anticipating the industrious nature of his impending life in science, he admits it would have been beneficial to factor in more time to quench his thirst for the arts,
Above Nicholas (right) and some of his Better Futures counterparts presenting their first prototype chip at Monash University
feeling bittersweet each time he attends a friend’s performance.
“Every time I see them, I definitely do miss it.”
In the last semester of his undergraduate degree, Nicholas had been working at a fintech start-up company doing legal coding and UQ had newly introduced their inaugural legal coding unit, so it was a readily accepted topic for his postgraduate research.
As he continued to develop his understanding as a Research Assistant and now in the depths of his PhD which focuses on legal coding, Nicholas makes sure to keep the physics side car running.
“Any time I go a couple of months without physics I start to miss it quite a bit,” he said.
“It’s really nice having two different focuses. There are times you get sick of one, but you can let go of it for a bit and still feel productive.”
In February 2024, Nicholas and three likeminded peers were brought together with similar ideas and threw their hats in the ring with a proposal to the Better Futures Innovation Challenge.
Deeming their own aspiration whimsical, they sought to “Exploit the effects of quantum tunnelling to measure incredibly
“It’s really nice having two different focuses. There are times you get sick of one, but you can let go of it for a bit and still feel productive.”
small vibrations, providing potential low-cost solutions to problems in earthquake detection and analysis, mining safety and exploration, medical monitoring and more.”
Much to their surprise the project was shortlisted, and following a two-month prototype development process, the team made the final, winning pitch. This opportunity, funded by the Australian Research Council’s Centres of Excellence, secured them the support, resources, and funding required to start developing prototypes.
The team of four had workshopped the idea following an inadvertent discovery.
“One of the guys’ focuses was on scanning tunnelling microscopy - basically making images of super small stuff. He’d been using a complex, very sensitive system that uses a tip to map currents,” Nicholas said.
“It picked up on a small tremor in Melbourne a couple of years ago, before it had even happened. It was a great surprise because it was not designed for that… We thought, could we use this to develop affordable earthquake detection?”
To make the idea more feasible and sustainable,
they built a prototype chip and aimed their final pitch at exploratory mining and medical improvements which was positively received.
With the product now in the further development phase, the group is set to meet in Melbourne on a mission to quantify their theories and translate their ideas to the relevant industries.
Dedicated to making the business idea work, but cognisant of the potential setbacks and limitations, the team are also passionate about pursuing further academia after their PhDs.
“If it works, it will be a long journey.”
Above A closeup (about 100x magnification) of the chip, just a few atoms thick
Empowering Educational Growth
We take great pride in having staff who are widely recognised for their hard work and dedication to the education of young men.
This year we congratulate those who went above and
beyond in 2024, pursuing professional development and earning awards that reflect their commitment to growth and learning.
These individuals not only enhance their own skills, but also
We are proud to honour the following achievements and are grateful for the positive impact the recipients make on our school:
• Anthony Micallef, Headmaster – Excellence in Educational Leadership, Australian Council for Educational Leadership State Awards.
• Jacqui Zervos, Executive Director Educational Innovation - recognised on The Educator’s prestigious Hotlist of 2024’s Top Educators.
• Amanda Hart, Director of Teaching Development – Pivotal People Leadership Award, Australian Council for Educational Leadership State Awards.
• Prof. Peter Taylor - posthumously honoured with an Educational Leadership Award, (accepted by Peter’s sister), Australian Council for Educational Leadership State Awards.
• Helen Johnston, Teacher and Advisor of Professional Growth - shortlisted in the 2024 Queensland College of Teachers TEACHX Awards.
• Amelia Pratt and Carla Salmon, Teachers - received Highly Accomplished and Lead Teacher accreditations, respectively.
• The Learning Organisation Team –Excellence Award for Best Professional Learning Program at the 2024 Australian Education Awards.
contribute to the overall success of the BGS community, leading by example. Their dedication inspires both colleagues and students alike, fostering a culture of lifelong learning.
Introducing BGS Ventures
Written by Tanya Neilsen Director of STEAM Education
BGS Ventures is a dynamic program introduced in 2024, that has been designed to empower students to explore entrepreneurship, innovation, and design thinking.
Led by Old Boys Julian Campbell ‘12 and Toby Vann ‘07, the BGS Ventures workshops, challenges, and mentorship opportunities have encouraged students to develop their problem-solving abilities, business aptitude and creativity. Over the past seven months, Julian and Toby worked closely with the School to launch the pilot entrepreneurship program for Year 9 students, aptly named “STEAM Tank.”
Throughout the pilot, students participated in eight immersive modules, focusing on solving real-world problems within the school community. With guidance from industry experts, students had the opportunity to pitch ideas, build prototypes,
and refine business concepts, further developing their creativity and critical thinking skills.
The inaugural program culminated in each team presenting their innovative solutions at a presentation night to key school stakeholders at the end of Term 4.
With an emphasis on realworld problem-solving, students felt proud to share their concepts and visions. Whether designing sustainable futureproof solutions or exploring emerging technologies, participants were encouraged
to think critically about today’s challenges.
With a bold long-term vision, founders Julian and Toby aim to evolve BGS Ventures into a robust program, inspired by the tertiary ventures program they experienced first-hand during their time as students at the University of Queensland, fostering student interest in entrepreneurship. The pilot infrastructure was set for students to seriously consider start-ups as a viable post-school pathway. Looking forward to the development phase, it’s full steam ahead.
“What the students accomplished under heavy time constraints was nothing short of amazing. In many ways, [the program] felt like one of our greater achievements in our entrepreneurship journey”.
- Julian Campbell
Below Toby Vann (left) and Julian Campbell (right)
Dining with Scholars
Written by Kloe Phelan
In Term 3, Year 9 student Alex Du was elated to discover his essay had been shortlisted for the John Locke Institute’s (JLI) illustrious Global Essay Prize in the ‘Junior’ category. The Global Essay Prize is considered to be the world’s most prestigious essay competition.
Each year, students choose from a topical suite of questions which are designed to transform good students into great writers and encourage them to delve into a world extending far
beyond the curriculum.
The prompts spanned complex debates in philosophy, politics, economics, history, law, psychology and theology. They are simple, but vast in opportunity, and require a depth of knowledge articulated through persuasive, independent thought, critical analysis and clear reasoning.
The essays are highly competitive and scrupulously examined by some of the world’s leading scholars from
the likes of Oxford and Princeton Universities.
“I think the thing that made my essay stand out from the rest was taking a more historical approach,” Alex said.
Of the tens of thousands of submissions from more than 150 countries around the world, Alex was shortlisted and one of only 250 students invited to attend the Annual Awards Dinner in the United Kingdom.
In his reflective and forwardthinking hypothesis, Alex
Above Student Alex Du shares his story of attending the prestigious Global Essay Prize
“Ultimately, the goal is to harness the potential of technology to improve quality of life, reduce inequality, and create a future where everyone can thrive.”
explored the possibility of advanced technology rendering humans unemployable.
Concluding that it will never quite eventuate, he suggested that it will instead enhance capabilities across many sectors.
“Each epoch marked by a significant technological innovation has brought about fears of widespread unemployment, yet history has demonstrated that such fears, while not unfounded, often fail to account for the adaptive capabilities of human societies.
“As we sit on the cusp of what has been coined the Fourth Industrial Revolution, this issue only grows ever more prevalent.” (Excerpt from Alex’s essay –untitled).
Taking an optimistic and globally-minded approach, Alex’s essay emphasised the benefits of a universal basic income. He advocated for more advanced technological learning opportunities in schools and saw the advantages of government-funded lifelong learning initiatives in creating a progressive and prepared society. Most importantly, he implored that human wellbeing must be prioritised by leaders as technology becomes increasingly ubiquitous.
“Ultimately, the goal is to harness the potential of technology to improve quality of life, reduce inequality, and create a future where everyone
can thrive.” (Excerpt from Alex’s essay – untitled).
Alex reflects fondly on the experience of dining with scholars and peers from around the world.
“We were in the Great Room at the JW Marriott, Grosvener House London - just outside of Kensington Palace... It felt, quite grand.”
Speeches by distinguished guests compelled the students to socialise and theorise across
tables and in break-out rooms all evening, making the event all the more memorable.
“There were many notable figures such as Liz Truss, Lord Hannan [House of Lords], a few renowned neuroscientists and political science figures, and a fair few Oxford and Cambridge professors,” he reminisced.
On realising his achievement, Alex said, “I didn’t really think I would have got such a good result, but I’m pleased with what I did... I don’t think everyone gets a chance to say they shook hands with the UK Prime Minister.”
Alex is eager to pursue new opportunities in the future with his newly invigorated thirst for knowledge.
Below
Alex at the JW Marriott in London
From Community Clubs to World Stage
Written by Nikita Blom the
There is a common misconception that GPS schools are exclusive in the accessibility of their world-class facilities and programs, however Jack Coates and Bobby Jovanovich are rewriting that narrative.
The Brisbane Grammar School (BGS) Swimming Club stands as a beacon of excellence in both participation and performance, with the club cultivating a legacy that spans decades, nurturing young athletes from all around Brisbane and propelling them onto the world’s stage.
Head coach and Director of Swimming, Bobby Jovanovich knows too well about the foundations required to reach the top, turning to coaching after an 18-year swimming career, and
swimming for Australia.
“[We are] actively working within the community to promote our world-class environment. Not only for our schoolboys, but also for the broader Queensland community,” Bobby said.
Over the previous decade, the club has produced numerous Australian National Champions who have represented Australia at Junior and Senior levels. In 2023 alone, 33 swimmers from BGS represented the club at the Queensland Championships, with many other achievers arising from other local schools too.
Similarly, the BGS Gymnastics Club, under
the direction of Head Coach and Club Director Jack Coates, stands as the country’s leading competitive boys’ gymnastics club since its inception in 2000.
Leveraging his experience as a former athlete, Jack has coached gymnasts across all levels, including state and national representatives. In addition to coaching, he dedicates time in
Above Director of Swimming and Head Coach, Bobby Jovanovich
the gym to mentoring coaches in the senior section and encourages early participation in the sport, starting from age four.
“For two decades we’ve welcomed gymnasts from beginners all the way through to junior and senior international athletes, harnessing their abilities and helping them train towards their goals,” Jack said.
Many of the top coaches in the country call BGS home, and Jack describes them as “passionate and committed,” building and
driving what is a fantastic sport for boys.
The BGS Gymnastics Club offers classes for boys in worldclass facilities, welcoming gymnasts from the wider community to train alongside BGS students. The gymnasium is equipped with Olympic standard apparatus and features a large foam pit with dismounts from all equipment, providing an ideal training environment for avid gymnasts.
“[We are] actively working within the community to promote our world-class environment. Not only for our schoolboys, but also for the broader Queensland community,”
- Bobby Jovanovich
Below Club Director and Head Coach of Gymnastics, Jack Coates in action
Middle School Dramatic Production Student Review
Invitation “ Sublime A Unlikely
Hello, my name is Xavier Loxton, and I played ‘Robin Hood’ in this year’s Middle School Dramatic Production.
The show is a murder mystery involving famous characters from literature which means there are plenty of fun jokes and references that the audience loved. It has been an amazing experience, being with amazing directors and actors that feel like my second family. The rehearsals were filled with energising warmups, blocking and acting.
As one of the youngest members of the cast, it has been so fun to learn from all of the other actors around me. My highlights have been making new friends, having fun learning lines and just being me.
Xavier Loxton Year 5
An insight into the mind of our budding actors as they prepared for their shows in late 2024.
“My name is Ben Waller, and I played Sherlock Holmes in An Unlikely Invitation. Everything about the show is electrifying and engaging. Spending each Tuesday and Thursday afternoon (and select Sundays) with the cast was always exciting with nary a dull moment. The rehearsals involved Year 10 and 11 mentors coming down to assist. It’s so helpful to interact with other boys outside of your year level; we were able to expand our horizons and gather very useful advice.
And who could forget the prodigious tech team, who have put together a spectacularly plotted show, with no cues missed. In the end, the rehearsals are the foundation, and the show is just the cherry on top.
“
Waller Year 8
Ben
A Lasting Legacy
Written by Kloe Phelan
“You get way more life experience—and life is so much richer—being of service. The only way I can make sense of life is to contribute every day to someone having a good experience.”
- Margaret Bale
These are the impassioned words of BGS mother and volunteer, Doctor Margaret ‘Margie’ Bale.
As one of Australia’s leading large animal surgeons, most of Margie’s hours are dedicated to mobile problem solving and discovery, so she is well acquainted with the pressures of having a full schedule concurrent to family life.
For Margie, giving back is a non-negotiable in life, showing her children that it is not only possible to multitask, but essential to contribute to the greater community.
“Everyone’s busy, but there’s no greater reward than when you make the time to be a part of something bigger and provide others with opportunities,” Margie smiled.
Margie’s husband, Old Boy Andrew Bale ‘88—Principal Solicitor at A.W. Bale & Sons— shares this outlook.
“What have we got to do to make this [school] experience more enriching, successful and
long-lasting?”
Together, the two tackle early mornings and late evenings at their children’s cocurricular commitments, devoting their remaining energy to rallying support as presidents for the Wimbledon Club and the Tipperoo Support Group, respectively.
While Margie and Andrew don’t always have the capacity to watch all their children’s matches or races, the pair reliably turn up determined to get behind the tongs and provide a lively energy.
“Some days you don’t think it’s possible to give any more, then when you get there, you remember the opportunities you’re providing,” Margie said.
“People remember how you made them feel. That’s everything to me”.
Andrew suggests it is critical to keep demonstrating the value
“People remember how you made them feel. That’s everything to me,”
of connection as the world continues to individualise.
“I’m raging against what I see as this deep dive of loneliness... Every other part of [a student’s] life is now so incredibly impersonal. If you can’t do it on a phone, most don’t want to do it,” he said.
“...Though if you’re part of a team, part of a group, it just makes you feel better about everything that’s going on.”
The same motivational sentiment has been perpetuated by all five generations of Bale family BGS Old Boys and their families, dating back to Arthur William ‘A.W’. Bale.
Arthur William ‘A.W.’ Bale, Andrew’s great-grandfather,
attended BGS until around 1884. Establishing a career as a distinguished criminal lawyer, he initiated A.W. Bale & Son Solicitors out of the old Cobb & Co. offices in 1889. The firm remains active today and is known as Brisbane’s longest continually family-run practice.
In 1911, Arthur’s allegiance to community saw him appointed Mayor of Windsor.
“[Arthur] was very driven to get to know people and provide them with opportunities. He was always doing things to help the community progress,” Andrew said.
Arthur’s son Eric was a champion swimmer at BGS and a wartime cadet. After graduating in 1922, Eric continued the family legacy at the law firm for over 40 years, determined to make a difference.
Eric’s passing made room for his son, Stuart, to leave a mark of his own.
The late and honourable Stuart Bale ‘58 was a highly reputed fixture at A.W. Bale & Sons, but in admiring the education he once
had, Stuart also reserved time to give back to BGS.
Stuart spent eight years as a Trustee on the BGS Board of Trustees; four of those as Chairman of the House and Grounds Committee, and three as the President of the Old Boys Association.
At a time when it was notoriously difficult to induce change, Stuart used his voice to transparently connect the School community, boldly campaigning for the Board of Trustees to increase their interest in sports.
“[Stuart] saw what sport could provide as part of a well-rounded education and that through sport you could encourage leadership and community,” Margie said.
With persistence from Stuart, the School eventually acquired what we now know today as the Northgate Sports Complex.
In 1996, “[Stuart] thought it was a great time to have an emergency triple bypass,” Andrew laughed.
“The School was calling him while he was still in the hospital bed to tell him the land had been purchased.”
As soon as Stuart was out of hospital, he had his son take him to the Northgate site.
“We drove in here and got bogged. It was a swamp. Covered in mud… We looked out at the marsh and imagined how it was going to look.”
The fields were subsequently opened in 1997 and have been the
Below Stuart Bale
Above Angus, Margie, Andrew and Penny
beloved home of cricket, rugby union and football ever since.
Upon reflection, Andrew says his family’s will to give back stems from the hard-working women in their lives.
“They are fundamentally the drivers behind all of this. They make things happen and are [our] single biggest influence.”
The current generation of Bale children are equally as keen to make a difference, encouraging an active engagement in sports and community-based projects amongst their peers.
Angus gathers second-hand tennis equipment to donate to Tennis Aid each year and Penny plays an active role in the BGGS Grammar Environmental Group, encouraging her friends to band together to make a difference.
When asked what they’d like to see going forward, Angus encouraged his peers to have a go at a variety of activities and seek balance away from the screens.
“If you’re so isolated and driven on your individual performance,
then you’re going to come out of school with a worse experience than someone who’s opened themselves up to a wider range of activities,” he says.
Penny wants to see more people her age stop, connect, and get active, doing more for joy rather than excellence exclusively.
“I would like to see more involvement in the sport aspect because you don’t have to be good at it. Just give it a try.”
“[Stuart] saw what sport could provide as part of a well-rounded education and that through sport you could encourage leadership and community.”
Together Stringing Worlds
Written by Kloe Phelan
International concert violinist and Old Boy, Ray Chen ‘06 was born for the stage.
His illustrious career to date is comprised of countless international tours and lauded collaborations, a multi-year partnership with Giorgio Armani, and the loan of the 1714 ‘dolphin’ Stradivarius violin once played by Jascha Heifetz - just to name a few.
At four years old, Ray picked up his first violin.
Realising he had taken to it with incredible speed, his parents enrolled him in lessons at Suzuki Music and it wasn’t long before he was recognised as a child prodigy.
By age 13, Ray had accrued a phenomenal number of significant national and international awards and was proving well beyond his years having already received the Licentiate Diploma of Music and the Sydney May Memorial Scholarship.
At 19 Chen had graduated with a degree from the
Curtis Institute of Music and began debuting with major international orchestras, and at 20 he was both the youngest participant and the winner of the Queen Elisabeth Competition in Brussels. This led to his first record deal with Sony.
Today, the virtuoso is maintaining his fast tempo, recording several critically acclaimed albums, collaborating with pop icons like Sting, and featuring in the Forbes’ 30 Under 30.
He has yielded performances at prodigious events like France’s Bastille Day (garnering over 800,000 people) and Stockholm’s Nobel Prize Concert and has shared the stage with the Berlin Radio Symphony
and the London Symphony Orchestra.
While clearly born to perform, Chen has also harnessed the digital world. Often ascribed as the first classical musician to fully embrace social media, Ray is determined to break the cliché of the classical musician and has built a sizeable online community in which he is known for entertaining, mentoring, and making music acquisition magical again.
“The one thing I’ve learned over the years it’s that no matter how hard you try you cannot conquer the world by yourself.”
Amassing over 2.5 million listeners on Spotify and with similar engagement across Instagram, Weibo and YouTube,
“The one thing I’ve learned over the years it’s that no matter how hard you try you cannot conquer the world by yourself.”
Chen does not take the opportunity to engage online lightly, rather lightheartedly.
Starting with comedy and now offering a broad array of candid insights into the life of a professional musician, he says “Community building has become one of the most important skills to have in today’s day and age… It takes a lot of caretaking and time, but the result is a fanatically loyal group of supporters who will support you to the ends of the Earth.”
Chen co-founded the popular music tuition app Tonic in 2016 with an aim to combat the loneliness and difficulty of practicing. Budding musicians have access to pre-recorded and live sessions with some of the world’s most revered classical musicians.
“Tonic has been a fascinating learning experience for me, about psychology and design… At a start-up, the challenge and opportunity for growth is to test things until you have something that you really believe is going to change the world, and then to convince people they’re going to need it - even if they think they won’t,” he said.
To sustain his touring schedule, start-up, and an engaging online presence, Chen has learned to rewire his brain into perceiving challenges as opportunities and acknowledges he couldn’t have done any of it without his formative experiences.
“My parents were all about providing me with the opportunities they didn’t have growing up… A great education and all the extracurricular activities, including music, were significant and successful milestones in their parenting journey.”
“A great education and all the extracurricular activities, including music, were significant and successful milestones in their parenting journey.”
To this day Chen still shares this journey with his peers.
“I have many fond memories of my time at BGS: pizza Tuesdays, trying to get my friends to help me with maths homework, and I’m still in touch with many Grammar boys... We’ve helped each other out as we’ve each honed and developed our skills.”
On appreciating how far he has come, he says “One of the greatest joys I’ve experienced recently is the evolution in the relationship between myself and
my parents where we’ve become friends. It’s not a common or easy thing to achieve, especially with immigrant families… But the rewards make it a journey well worth taking.”
In October 2024, Chen released his eleventh album, ‘Player One’, which is his fourth studio release with Decca Classics. He is now on the last leg of a USA tour and is looking forward to enjoying pickleball and long conversations with family and friends.
War Memorial Library Centenary
Written by Chris Price and Kloe Phelan
In the early hours of Remembrance Day 2024, student representatives “planted” 432 fabric poppies in the lawn surrounding the War Memorial Library to commemorate the 430 BGS students and two masters who gave their lives. In the services that followed, the School acknowledged where it all began, over 100 years ago.
On 11 November 1924, the War Memorial Library was opened in tribute to the 1,022 Grammar Old Boys who fought in the Great War, 176 of whom gave their lives.
Headmaster Bousfield had declared, “The task is
accomplished... to set up a lasting memorial to those who left our shores to fight our battles.”
The School resolved to build a memorial beyond a simple monument, creating a quiet place for reflection where future generations could engage in the wisdom of books.
Old Boy architect John Barr designed the Gothic-style library, while Charles Tute’s stained-glass additions visually symbolise the virtues of victory and peace.
The library houses the Golden Book—a lasting record of each Old Boy who served—along with many other precious wartime
Timeline of Remembrance at BGS:
The Great War service board was unveiled in The Great Hall with the dedication Lecti Juvenes Fortissima Corda - “the pick of our youth, our stoutest hearts”. At the time there were 640 names on the board.
1916 1921 1917
The War Memorial Library Fund Committee was established. By June 1921 subscriptions had raised £3,000.
artefacts, including a newly acquired Dead Man’s Penny.
A century later, the War Memorial Library remains a solemn yet special reminder of the courage and sacrifice of those who served our school and country.
On July 16, the War Trophies Council handed a field gun over to the School, as captured in Palestine from the Turkish in 1918 by Old Boy, Brigadier-General Wilson.
Heritage Precinct Opens
Written by Kloe Phelan
2024 saw the official opening of the much-anticipated BGS Heritage Precinct.
On the back of decades of documenting, converting, hunting and physically unearthing, the opening of the BGS Heritage Precinct was a tremendous source of nostalgia and relief.
Praise must be attributed to the dedication of BGS archivists Pamela Barnett, Vivien Harris and Chris Price. Pamela Barnett initiated the preservation project in 1989, Vivien Harris continued it, then current School Historian and Archivist Chris Price ran the home run.
Congratulations is also extended to the myriad other contributors who brought the Precinct to life through extensive planning, procurement, and a unified vision.
The unveiling welcomed many a familiar face, including the former archivists, Headmasters, students, trustees, teachers and members of the Parents and Friends and
Old Boys Associations.
An extensive collection of Brisbane Grammar School artefacts and records can be found in the Precinct.
From literature to sporting awards and military honours, as well as interactive displays, there is even the opportunity to emboss a museum brochure with the original BGS school press.
The Precinct comprises three parts: a Reading and Research Room, School Museum, and Archives Preparation Room, restored as close as possible to
their 1925 condition.
Chris Price remarks, “The Indigenous map and essay are some of the most important assets in the room, recognising that the history of the land goes back way beyond BGS and is absolutely imperative to acknowledge. It is a really special addition.”
The Heritage Precinct is a space designed for students to learn, and for parents, staff and Old Boys to connect. Please contact the School to make an appointment.
On
Justice Woolcock inaugurated the Woolcock Challenge Cup, awarded annually for an English essay or poem on a subject associated with the British Empire’s part in war.
the foundation
On 11 November, Remembrance Day, the War Memorial Library was opened.
ANZAC Day,
stone of the War Memorial Library was laid by the Governor of Queensland, Sir Matthew Nathan.
From the OBA President
Written by
Cameron Feltham ’86 BGSOBA President
It has been another busy year on the Old Boy Calendar. Thank you to all of the Old Boys who supported our events throughout the year including the new TRL event and Grapes and Grazier Lunch. It has been a tremendous privilege to meet so many Old Boys at our Brisbane events and most recently in Sydney and Melbourne at our casual catch-ups. These catchups have proved popular so we are looking forward to providing more opportunities for Old boys based outside of Brisbane to connect over the next year. I have a couple of highlights from the year I would like to share with the BGS Community. Firstly in August we hosted our annual Sportsman’s Lunch. Supported by nearly 400 members of the Old Boy Community we were entertained by Greg “Marto” Martin ’80 who interviewed Powderfingers’
John “JC” Collins AM ’87 and Supercar Driver Lee Holdsworth ‘00. Not only was this a great day of catching up, but through the generosity of our sponsors and supporters we raised enough funds to financially support the tuition fees of two existing students through their final years at BGS. If not for the support of the Old Boy Community,
these boys may not have been able to see through their Grammar education. Thank you to everyone who supported this event and if any Old Boys would like to contribute to our Old Boy Bursary program please contact me or our Community Relations team.
My other highlight was talking to the graduating Class of 2024, our most recent Old Boys, at their final assembly before departing through the school gates. The last day tradition of the final assembly in the Great Hall is one of the many rites of passage for a BGS
student. I remember this final day, the mix of excitement of moving past school years and what lies ahead. As I remind the boys, they leave a cohort of 262 and join an Old Boy Community of over 15000 scattered across the globe in every field of endeavor. They may not appreciate the benefits of being part of the Old Boy community as recent graduates, but the Old Boys Association exists for their benefit and like any relationship, if they put in the efforts to attend our events they will reap the rewards. Our professional networking nights allow University-aged Old Boys to meet and mix with senior leaders in their field, many willing to mentor and help younger old boys find their pathway. What a remarkable opportunity and a terrific initiative by the Old Boys Committee.
This is my final year as President of the Old Boys Association, having served for nine years on the committee,
the final three as President. I joined the Committee during the time of the Royal Commission and felt that as an Old Boys Association, we have a role to support the brave Old Boys who have come forward to share their stories and seek justice. Many years on, we continue to acknowledge and support our fellow Old Boys and encourage them to avail themselves of the assistance provided. I know this chapter in our school history weighs heavy in the hearts and minds of the current school leadership
and I thank them for their continued role in addressing and acknowledging the pain felt by many of our Old Boy Community.
In closing, I would like to thank my fellow committee members for all of their hard work in supporting the OBA and our strategic endeavors to create a diverse, inclusive and active Old Boy Community. It is fantastic that through our strategic vision that we have been able to strengthen our community and through this, our funds to provide support bursaries and younger Old Boys at our many events. I would also like to congratulate Scott McLeod KC ‘84 and Stephen Moore AM ’00 on joining Old Boys Stephen Bizzell ‘85 and Warren Traves ‘82 on the Board of Trustees. The OBA looks forward to continuing to work together with the Board, the Senior Leadership and the P&F on delivering a brilliant future for Brisbane Grammar School.
Upcoming BGS Events
BGS Milestone Reunions 2025
Save the date! More details to come.
Class of 1965 Saturday 21 June
Class of 1975 Saturday 6 September
Class of 1985 Saturday 9 August
Class of 1995 Saturday 17 May
Class of 2005 Saturday 7 June
Class of 2015 Saturday 9 August
Sunday 9 February | 5.00pm – 8.00pm
BGS Lunar New Year Dinner
Venue: Parkland Restaurant, Sunnybank
Thursday 27 February | 6.00pm – 8.00pm
BGSOBA President’s Drinks
Venue: The Lilley Centre, BGS
Wednesday 12 March | 7.00am - 9.00am
BGS Community Business Breakfast
Venue: The Grove Rooftop
Friday 23 May | 6.30pm - 10.00pm
BGS Art Show Gala
Venue: Centenary Hall, BGS
Scan with your phone to book ticket or update your details so you don’t miss an event.
OPEN DAY
Saturday 24 May 2025
