Grammar News
BGS COMMUNITY WINTER 2021
In This Issue - Developing effective thinkers - STEAM Precinct and boarding renovation projects begin - Old Boys give back
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, strengthening its global connections and 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 Brisbane Grammar School boys in all year levels benefit from the School’s innovative approach to teaching and learning known as Effective Thinking Cultures (ETC). Teachers tailor lessons to develop effective thinkers who can use transferable learning skills to respond to unfamiliar challenges, whether in the classroom, during an exam or in their careers. Read more in this edition of Grammar News. Year 6 students Daniel Holt and Angus Hoyling are pictured. Registered by Australia Post Publication No. QBN 4259 CRICOS 00489C
CONTENTS
ACADEMIC OUTCOMES P12
ETC FEATURE P14
STEAM PRECINCT P20
PHILANTHROPY P24
OLD BOYS P30
REFLECTIONS P35
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
Inma Beaumont Executive Director Advancement and Community Relations
Andy Copeland Marketing and Communications Officer
Designed externally by: Naomi White Graphic Designer
Paul Brandist Graphic Designer
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CONTRIBUTORS Rebecca Campbell Michael Forrest Carla Hardy Vivien Harris Anthony Micallef Chris Price Peta Spence Harry Anstey-Walsh Jacqui Zervos
UPCOMING
BGS EVENTS
2021
OPEN DAY Brisbane Grammar School
Wednesday 14 July
7.00pm – 7.30pm
SAVE THE DATE
Gold Coast Community Event Thursday 29 July
Sunshine Coast Community Event Thursday 5 August
BGS Golf Day
Friday 20 August
BGSOBA Band Battle ‘21 Saturday 21 August
Darwin Community Event Tuesday 31 August
BGS Virtual Open Day is back in 2021 to connect with day and boarding families. The format will be a short Live Q&A and panel discussion led by Headmaster Anthony Micallef. Register at brisbanegrammar.com/virtualopenday.
Cairns Community Event Wednesday 1 September
Townsville Community Event Thursday 2 September
Mackay Community Event Friday 3 September
BGSOBA Business Breakfast Wednesday 15 September
Milestone Reunions (1971, 1981, 1991, 2001, 2011) Saturday 9 October
1961 60 year Reunion Sunday 10 October
1970 and 1980 Milestone Reunions Friday 8 October
P&F Auxiliary Spring Luncheon Friday 22 October
BGSOBA Business Breakfast Thursday 11 November
Visit our events page at brisbanegrammar.com/events Further information: contact BGS Alumni and Community Relations Manager at carla.hardy@brisbanegrammar.com
H E A D M A S T E R ’S M E S S A G E
Exciting projects begin Anthony Micallef fter the most challenging year of teaching and learning in my career in 2020, it has been positive to return to a state closer to normality in 2021. A lockdown bringing Term 1 to an early close, and social distancing regulations impacting events and cocurricular activities, suggest we're not out of the woods yet.
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transformative project on pages 20 and 21. Works are also underway for the renovation of our senior boarding facility (page 22). Together with the already-completed junior boarding house, BGS will provide almost 100 individual rooms for boarders from Years 5 to 12 across two modern boarding houses.
This edition of Grammar News includes a six-page feature (pages 14-19) on our innovative approach to teaching and learning known as Effective Thinking Cultures (ETC). Researched, designed and implemented by BGS leaders and teachers, ETC is one of the School’s five Critical Projects – emphasising its importance. In addition to mastering subject matter, BGS boys develop thinking skills they can use to strategically apply their knowledge and meet unanticipated challenges at school and in life.
The philanthropic endeavours of several of our Old Boys are profiled from page 24, including the inspiring story of Raziq Qasimi ’14 (page 26). A former refugee who arrived in Australia after fleeing Afghanistan, he attended BGS on a bursary, and was admitted late last year as a lawyer to the Supreme Court of Queensland. He aspires to become a human rights lawyer. Only a year after graduating from BGS, two BGS Old Boys have won a global innovation competition by developing a software solution to reduce greenhouse emissions in the global shipping industry (pages 30 and 31).
The result of the dedicated work of our students and staff is evident in the Class of 2020's academic outcomes. Last year’s graduates achieved outstanding results, including a median ATAR of 94.60. Read more on pages 12 and 13.
Three historical stories (from page 35) look at the 50th anniversary of the last BGS Old Boy killed in war; celebrate 100 years of the RAAF including two famous Old Boy airmen; and profile an iconic Brisbane family and their connection over many generations to Brisbane Grammar School.
The timeline has been set and works are underway for the STEAM Precinct – the most substantial project in the School’s 153-year history. Learn more about this
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SOCIAL MEDIA
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Brisbane Grammar School 16 December 2020
Brisbane Grammar School 18 December 2020
Congratulations to BGS Old Boy Raziq Qasimi ’14 who was admitted as a lawyer in the Supreme Court of Queensland yesterday. Raziq fled ethnic persecution in Afghanistan, came to Australia as a refugee and attended BGS in Years 11 and 12 thanks to a bursary. Now he is paying it forward by becoming a human rights lawyer. Raziq spoke about human rights at the UN Consultation in Geneva in 2019.
BGS Old Boy Dr Sean Parsons’ worldfirst at-home COVID-19 test is approved for use in America. His Brisbane-based company Ellume plans to deliver 20 million tests to the US within the first half of 2021. The ‘breakthrough’ non-prescriptive test connects to a smartphone app to analyse samples and generate a result in 20 minutes.
GIVING BACK
COVID BREAKTHROUGH
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Jennie Anderson What a wonderful story! Thank you for sharing BGS and congratulations Raziq. There is a huge need for human rights lawyers. Your clients will greatly benefit from your life experiences as you have walked in their shoes. Aaron D'Souza What an inspiring story. Diversity is such a strength. Well done Raziq, a fantastic achievement. Philippa Stewart So proud of you Raziq. Change and challenge the future! Huge congratulations.
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Brisbane Grammar School 21 December 2020
Congratulations to the four BGS Class of 2020 students who earned the top ATAR rank of 99.95 – Lewis Luck, Tom Dickson, William McEniery and Remi Fox. It is an incredible outcome with only 30 students receiving this score across Queensland.
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Jason Knight I heard the interview on the radio. Ground breaking stuff. Fantastic innovation. Well done.
Helen Levonis Congratulations boys on your fantastic achievement and to all the Year 12 Cohort! All the best for your future.
Janelle Moody Wonderful news and so good to see Australian innovation with global success.
Heidi Booth Congratulations to these students, their teachers and school leaders. It takes a village. Well done!
Jenny Cassar Well done you are an inspiration!
Karen Seifert Thank you BGS for being such an outstanding school! Congratulations Class of 2020!
Giovanni Lanzilli Congratulations, really impressive!
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Katische Haberfield Congratulations gentlemen, a particularly outstanding result in a year like no other.
Brisbane Grammar School 7 January 2021
Brisbane Grammar School 26 November 2020
Congratulations to Old Boy brothers Cameron and Jordan Votan ('00 and '05), named in this year's Top 20 Under 40 young entrepreneurs list by Queensland Business Monthly. The duo have grown a successful restaurant and bar empire based on their two passions - authentic food and an eclectic interest in wine with ventures including Fortitude Valley locations Happy Boy, Snack Man and Kid Curry.
Congratulations to BGS Old Boy Wallace Jin ’13 for receiving the 2020 Overall Victorian Young Achiever of the Year award for empowering the disadvantaged. Outside of being a full-time medical student, Wallace is CEO of CHASE (Community Health Advancement and Student Engagement). The charity provides health education and mentoring to disadvantaged youth.
Brisbane Grammar School 20 November 2020
Kieron Saunders graduated from BGS this week. Independent Schools Queensland has profiled Kieron, a BGS boarder, as part of a group of Class of 2020 students across the state. The class overcame plenty of adversity this year.
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YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS Reach 25,889 599 likes 9 comments 26 shares
Anne Hewitt Wonderful news and well deserved. Damon Warat The best in Brisbane! Therese Osmand Love Happy Boy.
EMPOWERING THE DISADVANTAGED Reach 18,750
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Anthony Micallef Another fabulous BGS graduate using his talent and connections to benefit others. Congratulations Wallace. Hilary Bush Congratulations Wallace! A huge achievement! Richard Chan A Queenslander getting such an award in Victoria; that’s an outstanding achievement in itself.
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Sonja McKeddie Wise beyond his years! Congratulations and best wishes for your next chapter. Alison Walters Congratulations Kieron. I remember when you arrived at BGS with a huge smile and great determination to be the best you can be. Your family and community will be very proud. All the best for the future. Maree Perry Awesome end to a really challenging year Kieron! See you next year at university.
NEWS SNAPSHOT
ROYAL REMEMBERED
ACADEMIC ACHIEVERS
STUDENT PAINTING
The BGS community acknowledges the life and service of His Royal Highness Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh following his passing. He leaves an indelible legacy, including as part of BGS history having visited the School twice: in 1968 to mark the BGS centenary, planting the hoop pine in front of Harlin House; and in 1977, meeting The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award participants in Centenary Hall. His son Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, visited the School as part of BGS 150-year celebrations, planting the fourth 'royal' tree.
Congratulations to 2020 Queensland Certificate of Education Achievement Award winners Lewis Luck and Rishi Goel for their exceptionally high academic achievements. The pair were part of a select group of top academic performers in Queensland. Lewis is studying a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) at UQ and aspires to be involved in innovation, research and development in STEM. Rishi is studying a Bachelor of Advanced Science at UQ and hopes to complete a PhD in Physics and continue academic research.
A special painting created by six Indigenous boarders is now on display in the common room at Griffith House. During the uncertainty of COVID last year, the boys came together to work on a project they felt would connect them to their homes and communities. Entitled Totems, the painting incorporates each of their totems in the School’s light dark blue. A totem is a natural object, plant or animal that provides a spiritual connection to the land to help guide a person on their journey.
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ART GIFT HONOURS TEACHER
UQ SPORTING SCHOLARSHIPS
BGS Old Boy Scott McLeod ’85 has donated several artworks by fellow Old Boy Francis Lymburner ’33 to mark Art teacher Bernadette Moy’s 40 years of teaching at BGS. “I started collecting Lymburner after visiting the Francis Lymburner Gallery in the Art Centre one Open Day. I thought Bernadette’s retirement was the perfect opportunity to gift the works to the School in recognition of her incredible service and contribution over many decades,” Scott said.
Congratulations to five BGS Old Boys awarded sporting scholarships from The University of Queensland in 2021. William Hay '20 (rugby), Daniel Horsley '20 (rowing), Thomas Needham '17 (sailing) and Noah Rosemann '19 (rowing) received UQ Sports Achievement Scholarships, and Jonathan Patchen '20 (fencing) the UQ Sport Scholarship Ambassador Program.
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DEMOLITION PARTY BGS held a ‘Demolition Party’ in April to acknowledge those who have donated to the STEAM Project so far and celebrate the upcoming demolition of several buildings to make way for the state-of-the-art STEAM Precinct. Headmaster Anthony Micallef started the celebrations with the destruction of a replica Biology Building piñata, and Trustees John Humphrey and Warren Traves cut a STEAM Precinct cake.
SPORTS ROUNDUP
Racing Championship for the 11th time in the competition’s 32-year history. They also won the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron Teams Racing Gold Fleet. The BGS B team won the Silver Fleet. BGS Sailors claimed a close second place in the last-ever official GPS Sailing Championships.
SWIMMING The BGS Swimming team had several excellent performances at the 2021 GPS Swimming Championships. The senior team placed second, and the junior team placed fifth. Many personal best times and wins were recorded. Mason Gao (Year 5) was a standout performer, setting a new GPS record, and Lachlan Donaldson (Year 5) recorded five wins across the day. Harry Steindl (Year 11) proved himself as one of the fastest 15-year-olds in Queensland. Congratulations to all BGS swimmers.
VOLLEYBALL The BGS Volleyball program lived the 2021 theme, Everything Counts. BGS won 76% of matches, with 16 out of 21 teams finishing the season as competition leaders or a close second. The First VI fought courageously, finishing second on the ladder. 2021 marks the 18th consecutive year of a podium finish for the BGS First VI team. Thank you to all who made this season possible.
SAILING Almost 60 boys represented BGS Sailing in 2021. Beginners focused on training and skill development. The BGS A team won the Queensland Schools Teams
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podium finishes. New debaters in Years 5 and 7 were impressive and enthusiastic. All boys showed determination as they developed and improved their skills. A special mention to Jaguar Ngo (Year 12) who made the Queensland team for the second time.
ROWING Almost 200 boys represented BGS Rowing in 2021, embodying the program’s theme: Believe in Blue. Exceptional performances from the Year 9 rowers provided a glimpse into the future of BGS Rowing, with four crews finishing in the top three and two wins. Congratulations to the boys, and thank you to our passionate coaches and wonderful community of dedicated supporters.
CRICKET Almost 400 boys represented BGS Cricket in 2021. Three teams finished the season undefeated, and a further seven teams finished as competition leaders. Overall, 16 teams finished on the podium. In their first season at BGS, Adam Johansen was awarded Junior Cricketer of the Year and Ethan Du Payne the Senior Cricketer of the Year. Hugh Weibgen, Angus Tolhurst and Soham Sane were selected to be part of the Queensland Under 16 Rookie Challenge competition during the Easter holidays.
DEBATING BGS debaters competed exceptionally well in the GPS competition this year. The Senior A and Senior B teams were undefeated, the 10.1 and 10.3 teams were competition leaders, and seven more teams had
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ACADEMIC OUTCOMES
SCHOLARSHIP OFFERS In 2020, 100% of Brisbane Grammar School students were eligible for an Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR). Students received multiple offers from local and interstate institutions. COVID-19 affected student applications to overseas institutions – one student from the year group was offered a place at the prestigious Yale University. The Class of 2020 earned scholarship offers valued at almost $1.1 million, including numerous Vice Chancellor’s and Excellence Scholarships from The University of Queensland, The University of Melbourne, Monash University, QUT, Griffith University, Bond University and the University of Southern Queensland.
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2020 Academic Results
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he Class of 2020 achieved outstanding results, including a median ATAR of 94.60. This median is made all the more impressive given the large cohort of 265 boys. Four students achieved the top rank of 99.95 – an outstanding outcome with only 30 students receiving this score across Queensland. A further six students received an ATAR of 99.90. Other highlights include: • ATAR
99 or above was achieved by 16.23% of seniors
• ATAR
95 and above was achieved by 47.17%
• ATAR
90 and above was achieved by 70.57%
BGS Headmaster Anthony Micallef said he was immensely proud of how the seniors responded to the many challenges of the year. “The 2020 academic results represent the fulfilment of our senior students’ unwavering focus and effort,” he said. “Nothing in 2020 was typical or expected, but the results speak to the sustained focus of the BGS community on practising excellence in everything we do. The degree of commitment from the seniors of 2020 has been extraordinary, as these results attest.” Mr Micallef said high-quality teaching, operating within a culture defined by deep thinking and targeted feedback, created excellent academic outcomes. “We knew that we could provide our boys with the best preparation possible for the new QCE-ATAR system through the kinds of instructional practices and scholarly routines that we know set young men up for success,” he said. “The unforeseen events of this year required teachers and students to shift on short notice to online home-based learning.” “While our teachers were confident that we could continue to deliver curriculum, what surprised and impressed us was just how quickly our boys adapted to the new modes of learning, exhibiting great maturity and self-regulation. These qualities have seen them achieve extraordinary outcomes.” From left: William Hay, Alex MacGibbon and Lewis Luck received scholarships to attend The University of Queensland.
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F E AT U R E
The power of effective thinking
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n preparing Brisbane Grammar School students for a changing world, the School seeks to develop their capacities for innovation, entrepreneurship, lifelong learning and responsible global citizenship by focusing on their critical and creative thinking, communication, and collaboration skills. To achieve these goals, BGS has developed an innovative approach to teaching and learning known as Effective Thinking Cultures (ETC). Researched, designed and implemented by BGS leaders and teachers, ETC is one of the School’s five Critical Projects. In her role as Executive Director Educational Innovation, Jacqui Zervos leads the Learning Organisation Team – a specialist group responsible for working with staff on the improvement of the School’s educational practices. “ETC is an evidence-informed approach to the School’s educational purpose and curriculum system, focused on developing the quality of student thinking,” Ms Zervos said.
an “ethos ingrained into our daily lives at BGS. It is the culture that has allowed me to grow as a person during my time at school.” “ETC empowers boys to take charge of their own learning. It lets boys thrive in and out of the classroom because their genuine curiosity drives them to analyse, evaluate, and make informed decisions in everything they do. More than this, it also reflects the importance BGS places on individual students and their unique journeys through the School.” Through ongoing evidence-gathering, targeted professional learning and collaboration, BGS teachers develop strategies to make intentional and informed choices about their teaching practices to optimise each boy’s learning. Ms Zervos said developing young men who have internalised the ability to reflect on and become adaptive in their thinking and behaviour takes time and a dedicated and consistent school-wide culture.
“It supports the systematic development of our boys as effective thinkers and self-regulated learners – thinkers who can respond confidently to anticipated and unanticipated challenges during and beyond their years of formal education.”
“We are aiming to build the specific thinking capabilities that help students respond to the immediate demands of their learning or assessment, and to nurture the enduring capabilities that shape character and will serve students for life,” she said.
2021 School Vice Captain Harry Anstey-Walsh spoke about ETC at an assembly in Term 1 and described it as
The result is independent BGS graduates who are prepared for uncertainty and confident to lead.
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Andrew Webb – Learning Data Manager. Leader of educational data management and its representation for staff and students.
BGS LEARNING ORGANISATION TEAM Dr Hannah Campos-Remon – Director of Organisational Learning. Research, monitoring and evaluation of programs and practices.
Professor Peter Taylor – Special Advisor Educational Improvement. Strategic academic advice and mentoring.
Chris Price – Director of Learning Programs. Leadership of ETC curriculum development.
Helen Johnston – Director of Teacher Development. Strategic leadership of professional learning.
Jacqui Zervos – Executive Director Educational Innovation. Leadership of the educational innovation and improvement agenda.
Nick Holland – Head of Learning Analytics. Leadership of data systems to support learning and improvement.
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F E AT U R E
PEDAGOGICAL COACHES In 2021, the School has given particular attention to the work of academic leaders as the operational implementers of ETC in their departments. Three pedagogical coaches provide direct and essential support for this work. Pedagogical coaches routinely meet with leadership teams from academic departments to assist them in planning for strategic improvement. Image: Gus Robertson, Jenny Tap and Julia Vedelago
LEAD LEARNERS BGS has appointed and trained 11 teachers to lead the professional learning of individuals and groups of teachers in ETC. These teachers, known as Lead Learners are both excellent practitioners in the classroom and pioneers in building a culture of collaborative practice across the School. Every week, they meet to engage in professional learning and implement learning plans for the group of teachers they work with.
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Framework for Thinking After three years of internal and external research, BGS developed a Framework for Thinking representing ETC – shown in the diagram below. At the centre is a focus on the classroom culture and routines that support ETC. The dark blue figures show the four types of thinking that teachers give attention to in their planning, and which BGS boys practise. The arrows indicate the relationships between the types of thinking and how they support the development of BGS students as learners.
Developing Cognitive Skills
Developing Identities for Learning
(Comprehension and retrieval)
Thinking with Content (Knowledge utilisation analytical processes)
CLASSROOM CULTURE AND ROUTINES
Thinking for Ownership of Learning (Self-system thinking)
Thinking about Thinking (Metacognitive system thinking)
Developing Qualities of Thinking
Thinking about Content
Developing Dispositions for Self-Regulation
Image: Back row from left: Carl Marshall, Dominique Andrews, Stella Gardner, Nick Kruger, Anne O’Rourke. Front row from left: Ben Newth, Dylan Koopman, Kerry Inder, Megan Marshall, Crystal Thompson. Absent: Lizzy van Rooyen.
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F E AT U R E
upcoming lessons. This structured time is called Consolidation and Preparation time, or CP time.
Making time for students to build their learning habits
The period allows 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. CP time offers opportunities for students to develop and practise self-directed learning habits that enact independence, interdependence and ownership of learning – bringing their learning together in a personally meaningful and coherent way.
In 2021, Brisbane Grammar School introduced its first significant revision to the timetable structure in 20 years to optimise how students engage in learning. The 2021 timetable operates on a cycle of 10 school days over two weeks. Lesson times have been equalised, ensuring classes across subjects receive the same amount of direct ‘contact time’ with teachers.
The restructured timetable has also enabled teachers to meet to share their practice, collaboratively plan, and review student progress. Prioritising teacher learning builds the School’s capacity to create cultures that consistently promote effective thinking in every classroom for every boy.
Stretching out the timetable allowed for the introduction of a block of structured time each day for students to consolidate and revise their learning and prepare for
Image: Executive Director Educational Innovation Jacqui Zervos teaching her Year 11 Geography class.
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Applied Thinking Innovative subject introduced
In Semester 1 this year, Year 7s engaged with the new Middle School subject – Applied Thinking (AT) – an initiative underpinned by the principles of ETC.
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Applied Thinking helps develop students’:
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understanding of what constitutes learning and use of language for talking about it
Year 7 students are beginning an exciting deepening of their capacity to think in more abstract and self-regulated ways. They have surprised and delighted their Applied Thinking teachers with their capacity for honest and insightful reflection.
connected their experiences at Moogerah to learning dispositions in both video and written form •
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curiosity and inquiry
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self-regulatory capacities
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strategies to improve the effectiveness of their learning.
considered the role emotions play in learning
graphed their ability to focus over a period of time
To finish the term, the boys chose a personal learning project on a topic that interested them. As they set goals and reflected on their engagement, difficulties, and successes on this learning journey, they moved closer to realising the subject’s key objectives.
Importantly, students make connections between the ideas they explore in Applied Thinking and how they relate to their learning in other curriculum areas. Much of the learning in Applied Thinking is experiential. In Term 1, Year 7 boys:
Rebecca Campbell – Head of Middle School
collaborated to create a shelter while trapped in an Antarctic blizzard • created an Avatar to represent their perception of themselves as a learner •
Image: Head of Middle School Curriculum Ian Grice teaching his Year 7 Applied Thinking class.
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STEAM
BGS STEAM Precinct to open in 2023 Brisbane Grammar School has started work on its most significant infrastructure project in the School’s 153-year history. After seven years of planning, design and research, the School has partnered with BESIX Watpac to build the BGS STEAM Precinct.
can be taught in a way that combines scientific inquiry with technological implementation, engaging the problem-solving of engineering, the creativity of art, and mathematical modelling to support student comprehension and understanding of the real world.
The STEAM Precinct will open early in 2023.
Impact of STEAM
Why STEAM?
The STEAM Precinct will provide the School with the opportunity to lead education in Australia, differentiating the BGS education experience from other schools in the country.
The acronym STEAM – Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics – refers not just to these standalone disciplines but to a way of thinking. STEAM education instructs students in critical thinking and shifts the STEM concept into the contemporary world of innovation and entrepreneurship. Instead of teaching subjects in isolation, STEAM disciplines
Exposure to a collaborative and creative environment where diverse disciplines work together to solve problems will equip BGS students with vital technical and social skills and provide them with a competitive advantage at university and in the workplace.
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When the development is complete, the BGS community will be the beneficiaries of this extraordinary educational venture.
Donors who have committed funds to the STEAM Precinct have done so by signing five-year pledges – non-legally binding agreements that express the donor’s intentions. Donors can contribute different amounts for each of the five years depending on their tax situation, and they only need to notify BGS of the amount they will be contributing in June each year.
The STEAM Fundraising Campaign Over the School’s history, the BGS community has demonstrated strong philanthropic support. During The Lilley Centre’s fundraising campaign, the community donated $5.8M towards the construction of the building.
Donors who contribute over $25k are also offered the opportunity to choose a space in the precinct to honour their family name or the name of a loved one.
Since it was established, the Bursary Fund has grown to approximately $16M thanks to generous donations.
For more information on making a gift or a copy of the Naming Opportunities Brochure, please contact Inma Beaumont at inma.beaumont@brisbanegrammar.com or 0407 996 794.
So far, the BGS community has committed $4.5M of a target of $10M towards the STEAM Precinct. The School is extremely grateful for this generosity and hope to achieve this target.
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BOARDING
Investing in BGS Boarding – Harlin House renovation begins The major redevelopment of Brisbane Grammar School’s senior boarding house began in April this year as part of the transformation of boarding facilities at the School. The new design will provide exceptional living spaces for boarders in Years 9 to 12, with 79 private student rooms and new spaces for study and social activities. Harlin House is scheduled to be ready for students to move in at the start of Term 4 2021. The redevelopment represents stage two of the School’s ongoing commitment to BGS Boarding, with stage one being the creation of Griffith House for junior boarders, which opened in May 2020. Quality accommodation complements the School’s leading Boarding program. Griffith House provides a dedicated facility for 18 Middle School boarders. Boys have an individual room that exists within a dorm, giving them both privacy and connectedness. BGS thanks the Parents and Friends' Auxiliary and Old Boy Matthew McLennan ’86 for their generous donations to the School’s boarding redevelopment projects.
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F O U N D AT I O N D AY
2021 BGS Foundation Day
Each Foundation Day, we commemorate and celebrate Brisbane Grammar School’s achievements, past and present. It is our opportunity to consider the students, staff and parents who have contributed to 153 years of BGS history. Some of the School’s most influential past teachers and leaders are remembered with the presentation of Old Boy scholarships. Brisbane Grammar School’s unrelenting mission to deliver a broad liberal education is a major part of its success. A history of academic prowess, sporting and cultural feats and a steadfast desire to produce good men has defined this school’s pursuit of excellence since 1868. We are very much the beneficiaries of our history and the forebears of the future. At Foundation Day Assembly, we heard from BGS Old Boy Peter Psaltis ‘96 as our guest speaker. He works as a sports commentator and is currently part of the team of lead NRL callers for Channel 9's Wide World of Sports.
Peter gave an inspiring speech on the importance of aiming high. He encouraged BGS boys to dream big. Peter also explained that while it is valuable to draw inspiration from others, it’s best not to copy them but instead be the best version of yourself. I have enjoyed watching Peter’s journey from being a member of my English class and Tennis team to a public identity in the sporting world. We also presented major scholarships and bursaries to students who recently graduated with distinction and to young men beginning their BGS journeys. The awards honour the service to the School of three men who did much to endorse and sponsor the qualities of character and learning that the School has always regarded most highly. I refer to Reginald Heber Roe, Arthur Stanley Roe and AJ Mason. Between them, the three contributed a total of 120 years of service to BGS.
Congratulations to: • William • Lewis
Hay – RH Roe Scholarship
Luck – AS Roe Scholarship
• Alex
MacGibbon – AJ Mason Scholarship We also honoured Joseph Gabriel Nowlan, who taught at BGS for 37 years and worked for the Old Boys’ Association for 40 years. The winner of the JG Nowlan Bursary for 2021 is Callum Deacon. Callum is also a recipient of a Trustees’ Scholarship. We presented the Trustees’ Scholarships for 2021. The Scholarship Certificates were presented by Chairman of the Board of Trustees Mr John Humphrey. Congratulations to: Jake Parker, Rishi Mehta, Ziqing (Cashy) Luo, Max Gao, Eugene Erng, Callum Deacon, Harrison Corser, and Keeran Chang (pictured above left to right). These young men have a key responsibility in setting an example of good scholarship. Headmaster Anthony Micallef
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PHILANTHROPY
Saving private rhinos
After a successful career in the mining industry, BGS Old Boy Allan Davies ’69 and his wife Lyn established a charitable foundation in 2007 to support projects they found interesting. Now worth several million dollars, the Dalara Foundation donated $400,000 to various worthy causes last year alone. Given Allan grew up in Mount Isa, and he and Lyn spent years living and working in regional Australia, it’s unsurprising many of Dalara’s funded projects benefit country people and communities. Dalara’s beneficiaries include scholarships for veterinary, agriculture, and engineering students; training for rural midwives through the Royal Flying Doctor Service; and research into stroke prevention and Hendra virus. Dalara was also a generous supporter of The Lilley Centre’s construction at BGS. Education remains an ongoing focus. “We’re really keen on a not-for-profit group called the Clontarf Foundation, which focuses on education for Aboriginal boys,” Allan says. “We feel really passionate about education because it’s the fundamental building block for any society to
continue to improve itself. There are so many things that could be fixed if people were better educated.” To this end, Allan would like to see the 1969 Year Level Bursary grow. “I think bursaries are a fantastic way to assist the philanthropic effort at BGS. I’m keen to do something with the other guys in my year who are like-minded.” Having enjoyed his time as a boarder at BGS, Allan has been a generous donor to the School. Perhaps more surprising is his interest in saving the African white rhino. Allan says working and travelling through South Africa in the 1970s gave him an enduring appreciation for African wildlife and social issues. “Apartheid was in place, and we travelled around the country and saw a lot of things that affected us. It has some bearing on the philanthropy we do today.” When Allan was asked to get involved in the conservation of the wild rhino population about 10 years ago, he was intrigued, and the Australian Rhino Project was born. As co-founder and Chair, Allan is involved in the logistics
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of importing 35 rhinos to Australian zoos to provide a genetically diverse ‘insurance population’ for a species the world could lose forever.
Wildlife Sanctuary in South Africa, Orana Wildlife Park, Taronga Conservation Society and the Royal Zoological Society of South Australia to ensure the animals’ wellbeing. Allan says the process has been complicated by COVID. “None of this is easy. Each animal can weigh up to two tonnes, so it’s no wonder a group of rhinos is called a crash!”
The World Wildlife Fund estimates only 20,000 African white rhinos remain in the wild, with 80% in South Africa. South Africa’s famed Kruger National Park has seen a decline in rhino numbers of 63% in the last decade due to increasingly sophisticated poaching.
The Rhino Project hopes to move the first crash of 10 to a purpose-built enclosure in New Zealand later this year, where they’ll quarantine for 12 months before being moved to South Australia’s Monarto Zoo. Monarto is currently working on a 1500-acre Wild Africa facility that will transform the zoo into the largest safari park outside of Africa.
Rhino horn, known as ‘grey gold’, is highly sought after in China and Vietnam, where a strong belief of the magical properties of rhino horn persists. Although it is keratin, the same as human fingernails, it has become a status symbol gifted to strengthen business relationships. Criminal gangs hire poachers to satisfy this lucrative market.
In the meantime, Allan and Lyn, together with their two sons and daughters-in-law, work as a committee to find future projects for Dalara to support.
“We’ve reached a tipping point where more rhinos are killed than are born, and extinction is a possibility,” Allan says. “The idea is to grow the population here in Australia where they’re safe from poaching, and eventually return them to the wild if conditions in Africa permit.”
“We’ve been very fortunate. It’s not by accident, it’s because of hard work and taking the opportunities as they’ve arisen, but I think it’s really important to give back, and we’re trying to inculcate that approach to life in our children and their families.”
The Rhino Project has partnered with Thaba Manzi
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PHILANTHROPY
A passion for supporting the disadvantaged
F
ormer refugee and Old Boy Raziq Qasimi ’14 continues his inspiring journey since graduating from Brisbane Grammar School, recently admitted as a lawyer to the Supreme Court of Queensland.
BGS, Raziq volunteered at the BGS Homework Club, helping refugee children like his younger self. BGS students continue to volunteer at the Homework Club, supporting refugee students with their learning.
Raziq attended BGS in Years 11 and 12 thanks to a needs-based bursary before attending QUT and graduating with a Bachelor of Justice/Bachelor of Laws in 2019.
For the last five years, he has been on the board of the Queensland Program of Assistance to Survivors of Torture and Trauma (QPASTT), and he says it’s a huge honour and privilege to contribute to the broader multicultural society of Brisbane.
“Being admitted as a lawyer to the Supreme Court of Queensland was a very memorable and joyful day as my hard work and dedication paid off,” he said. “It was an absolute dream of mine to be admitted to the legal profession, and this being a reality now brings me joy and tears at the same time.” “I consider myself a human rights activist and want to become a human rights lawyer. For me, human rights are all about small acts of kindness towards the most marginalised members of our society.” His experience fleeing Afghanistan inspired him to help others. While at
“In 2019, I attended the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees annual consultation with non-government organisations representing QPASTT,” he said. “During this visit, I shared the concerns and issues of refugees in Queensland to the UNHCR consultation.” Raziq also runs the public affairs portfolio at National Refugee-led Advisory and Advocacy Group (NRAAG). The group aims to inform policies, service delivery, campaigns, research, and initiatives affecting the lives of refugees.
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“My passion and desire will always be to assist the most disadvantaged members of our domestic and global society in any capacity that I can,” he said. The Qasimi family is a member of the Hazara, an ethnic group native to central Afghanistan. It was his older brother who paved the way to a future in Australia, travelling here by boat in 1999. Raziq says he’s very proud to be the first Afghani-Australian refugee to have attended Brisbane Grammar School. “BGS is an institution well known for nurturing boys of high academic and professional excellence,” he said. “I met some wonderful and inspiring teachers at BGS. The education that you receive at BGS is certainly second to none.” “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.”
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ART SHOW
BGS Art Show 2021 Whether you are a dedicated art lover or have never attended an exhibition, the BGS Art Show has something for everyone. The show features a wide variety of established artists with diverse and captivating artwork. We look forward to welcoming you to the 52nd Annual Art Show Gala Night in Centenary Hall for an evening of art, jewellery, wine, food and music. The Art Show continues throughout BGS Open Day. Our community’s shared story of living in this period of uncertainty creates a bond between us and allows us to reflect on what is important. With this in mind, the name and theme of this year’s show is Embrace – The Art of Togetherness. We may not be able to embrace physically, but we do embrace the opportunity to reunite and celebrate together. With a heightened need for social distancing this past year, in many ways our homes have become a sanctuary for our closest loved ones. Embrace - The Art of Togetherness features an artist who strongly captures this sentiment. Alexandra Matthews, our 2021 feature artist, is a well-known Queensland artist. Her work is an expression of
her deep connections to her local Brisbane area. “I've always had an interest in creating images with a narrative. My urban landscape paintings are an extension of that,” Alexandra says. The promotional material for the Art Show features Alexandra’s work, Budgie Love, from her current collection. Alexandra has very generously donated the vibrant and detailed painting – which has inspired our theme – so not only will you have the opportunity to admire and purchase her other paintings and ceramics, but you also have the opportunity to win a piece that has great significance to this year’s show. Alexandra's artwork appears in the BGS Art Collection and Australian and international private collections. She has won many prestigious art prizes and has been Artist-inResidence many times at BGS.
Brisbane Grammar School Talent The BGS Emerging Artist Award is open to BGS Old Boys (up to five years post-graduation) and students currently in Year 12. It is an excellent opportunity for aspiring artists who
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have journeyed through the BGS Art program to raise their profile at one of the largest exhibitions of established artists in Queensland. The BGS Art Department is led by passionate and talented teachers who, outside of their teaching responsibilities, are accomplished artists in their own right. We look forward to seeing the work of BGS Art teachers exhibiting at this year's show.
The Art Support Group The Art Support Group has operated for over 50 years, raising funds for the development and maintenance of the School's art collection, which is displayed throughout the campus. Proceeds also support the Artistin-Residence program and Art Department, funding key resources and projects. This support also extends to other departments. The ASG welcomes new members throughout the year. If you are interested in finding out more, please contact art.committee@ brisbanegrammar.com. We hope you enjoy Embrace – The Art of Togetherness.
O L D B O Y S ’ A S S O C I AT I O N
OBA President’s Message Michael Forrest
I
t’s been a busy time for the Old Boys’ Association committee since my last message. Earlier this year, we had a planning day to discuss and set our priorities for the next few years. One of the key messages was understanding that what we want from the OBA as Old Boys changes throughout our lives.
in our community, not just Old Boys. If you missed out on tickets for the first one, tickets for the next two scheduled for 9 September and 11 November will go on sale shortly. In August, we’ll host our second Band Battle at The Triffid. Cam Feltham ’86 was the brains behind the 2019 Jam, and he wants to make the next one bigger and better. Anyone who was at the last event won’t want to miss out. Ian Haug ’87 is once again very generously putting up a session at his renowned Airlock Studios for the winner, but all bands will get to perform at John Collins’ ’87 iconic venue.
For much of our lives we might not even give any thought at all to the concept of being a BGS Old Boy. I try to avoid using words like ‘journey’, but for the OBA to be useful to someone five years out of school, and also to someone 35 years out of school, we have to appreciate how people engage at different stages of their lives. And on the committee, we all believe that staying connected to your mates, and increasing the connectedness across year groups, can pay all sorts of dividends.
Our Facebook group continues to grow, and we now have more than 1800 guys in the group. It’s an easy way to stay connected, and it can be pretty entertaining. Brisbane Grammar Connect has almost 750 members. Everyone who has joined is there to connect and help, so if you need advice, assistance, or just want to reach out, get on and do it.
So, we’ve convened a Young Guns subgroup, to focus mostly on guys in the first five to 10 years out of school. Adam Franklin ‘97 is chairing this group, with Oscar Higgins ’15, Nicholas Carroll ’12 and Henry Meehan ’10. For our recent graduates, we’ve not forgotten you and we invite you to attend the first ever Nil Sine Live event, at The Triffid, for Old Boys who finished between 2015 and 2020. And, of course, I encourage all young Old Boys to attend any and all OBA events.
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The Grammarians Rowing Club continues to be the model for what an Old Boys club should be. Stuart Rees ’79 and Jim MacPherson ’85 are looking at using what we’ve learned from the Grammarians to develop a second Old Boys’ sporting club. Lastly, a big shout out to John Emery ‘83, OBA Secretary, and Richard Wheeler ‘99, OBA Treasurer, for all the work they do to keep us moving forward, and to Carla Hardy, Alumni and Community Relations Manager, the personification of the great support we get from BGS, for always smiling and for everything you do for us.
We’re starting our first ever series of Business Breakfasts later in May – the first breakfast sold out well in advance. The concept is an initiative of Simon Tolhurst ’87, and the second time we’ve hosted an event that is open to anyone
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OLD BOYS
Combating climate change on the world stage Just out of school, two BGS Old Boys from the Class of 2019 are already tackling climate change through innovation. In their first year at The University of Queensland, Tom Bizzell and Jack Anderson won the international Ericsson Innovation Award 2020 for a software solution to reduce greenhouse emissions in the global shipping industry. This global competition challenges university students to find a solution to climate change using technology. Tom and Jack’s startup WakeShare received the top prize of 25,000 Euros ($40,000), beating approximately 500 submissions including another finalist from Stanford University. Tom, a commerce/law student, heard about the competition and approached Jack, whose engineering course work in fluid dynamics got him thinking about shipping. The pair started to research ways to reduce fuel consumption and the feasibility of what’s known as “platooning”. “It started as a joke about how ducks fly in formation, and thinking about how boats should travel like ducks,” Tom explains. “Platooning is used in cycling, or like Mario Kart, where you hop behind each other to get into the slipstream. Applying that principle to trucks and boats, you’re providing a drag reduction, which increases fuel efficiency.” Since winning the Ericsson Innovation Award, Jack and Tom have recruited a software engineering student to join WakeShare and have shifted their focus from shipping to the trucking industry. “The fuel efficiency gains for trucks compared to ships is greater, and trucks are constrained to specific highways
and channeled into specific bottlenecks,” Jack says. “Safety is also a big issue, and large truck manufacturer Scania is working on semi-autonomous technology to make platooning in trucking more viable.” “Our solution provides a network to facilitate coordination between competing companies,” Tom says. “We provide the means to share information required for platooning, without competitors having to share sensitive cost modelling and scheduling data. There could also be a savings-sharing transaction between parties.” Tom and Jack are currently working on their business case and technology design so they can approach the trucking industry for capital and advice. They have also made the finals of another international competition, the Real Impact on Society and Environment (RISE) Awards. An initiative of Universitas 21, a coalition of universities, it gives WakeShare access to mentors in industry and academia. But WakeShare is not just an academic exercise devised to win university competitions. Tom and Jack have big plans to make their startup a reality. “By swapping to trucks, we’ve offloaded the hurdle of safety – by passing it on to companies like Scania,” Tom says. “Now we’re focused on building up the network, we need to reach a critical mass of companies.” Jack adds: “We’ll start with Australia, because having the one main highway is a big advantage and it’s one of the largest countries with just one set of laws and such a heavy reliance on trucking. After that we envision a country-by-country rollout.” Image: Tom Bizzell (left) and Jack Anderson.
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OLD BOYS
Empowering the next generation
A pioneer in his field, with a Medal of the Order of Australia awarded in 2006, oral and maxillofacial surgeon Old Boy Dr John Arvier ’70 remains modest when talking about his work and achievements.
“Seeing people living in terrible poverty brings home how lucky we are in Australia,” he says. “You can’t not go then. It gets into your system and you always feel like you could do a bit more.”
In his 35-year career as a specialist, John has combined public hospital work and a busy private practice with training the next generation of oral surgeons in Australia and overseas. Since 2003 he’s also been on the sidelines at State of Origin, Super 15 and Wallabies rugby matches, to treat facial lacerations, broken jaws and cheekbones.
‘A bit more’ has included trips to Congo and Somaliland with Australian Doctors for Africa, and helping to establish university training in Bangladesh, PNG and Cambodia. John and his colleagues from the Australian and New Zealand Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons have developed the curriculum and student examinations.
“I had ambitions as a child of playing rugby for Australia, so hanging around the players is the next best thing,” he says. “My son Matthew and I were the first father and son pair to wear the same dark blue jersey (No.8) for the First XV.”
“There’s that old adage – if you want to feed a man for a day, give him a fish. If you want to feed him for a lifetime, show him how to fish. It’s a very superficial analogy, but we thought training people who could show others was logical.”
Countless patients in Australia and overseas will be glad John chose surgery over rugby. Since his first trip to Bangladesh in 1991, he has made 38 largely self-funded overseas trips as a volunteer surgeon.
At home in Queensland, John also taught and supervised the next generation of specialists. Surgical colleague and current BGS parent Dr Geoff Findlay met John as an undergraduate and found his overseas trips fascinating. “John would come speak to us, and at the end of the lecture, throw up a few slides of his volunteer work,” Geoff says. “You could see it took a huge amount of energy. The cases are complex, and the conditions he’s had to work under are nothing like what we take for granted here in Australia.”
John’s work overseas falls into two categories. “Conditions like cleft palate are treated in children here, but in many developing countries they go untreated and grow. Road trauma is also a huge problem – roads are chaotic and no one wears seatbelts.
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Geoff says while most surgeons share their skills, John stands out for his commitment to fostering a sustainable, home grown workforce in developing countries. “He’s been tenacious in setting up the training programs. He doesn’t stop asking until it happens. He’s just a top bloke.” In 2019, Geoff operated on a teenage girl from PNG who John had first treated as a child. She was flown to Brisbane for treatment by Rotary Overseas Medical Aid. With Rotary, John and his wife Louise, a physiotherapist, have volunteered in Tanzania at the School of St Jude. The school was set up by Australian expat, Gemma Sisia, to educate the most disadvantaged children in that country. John is grateful for his own education, and proud of his family’s association with both BGS and BGGS. Daughter Rebecca is a paediatrician at Qld Children’s Hospital. “I am now aware I was very privileged to go to BGS. I was on a half scholarship, and I was always being told I wasn’t doing as well as I should have been,” John laughs. “I didn’t win any academic prizes, that’s for sure!” “I’m the only one in the family whose name isn’t on any of the School Honour Boards: my father, my brother
(Peter ’71), my two sons (Tim ’00 and Matthew ’07) are, but I’m not. “However, Tim and I share a sporting achievement: we were the first father and son to have won the same GPS Track and Field event in the metric era (4x100m relay).” John’s father, Astley (known as Maurie) ’36 was Captain of the BGS Rifle Club, served in World War II, and endured three and a half years in a Japanese POW camp after the fall of Singapore. While Maurie was imprisoned, John’s grandfather paid for a life membership to the Old Boy Association, in a moving sign of hope that Maurie would return. John’s mother Alison (BGGS Head Girl in 1944) later called this “a good investment”. John himself joined the RAAF after graduating from UQ Dental School. After serving in Townsville, he left in 1978 to further his surgical and medical studies in London and Adelaide, before returning to Brisbane. Asked why he has dedicated so much of his time and energy to helping others, John says the rewards run both ways. “I’ve gained experiences and sights and friendships that no amount of money can buy. There’s professional satisfaction. That’s the bottom line.”
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STUDENT VOICE
BGS recognises International Women's Day Written by 2021 BGS Vice Captain Harry Anstey-Walsh on behalf of the students at Brisbane Grammar School.
World War II as a young girl and came over to Australia where she eventually started her own business. It was this business that my mother grew and has run ever since.
To our female staff members at BGS.
However, in wake of the stories told by brave young women that have emerged in the last few weeks about boys from private, single-sex schools not respecting women, it feels lazy of me to just write you words of thanks. I would also like to make a promise to all of you. I believe the Choose to Challenge theme is perhaps even more significant in its applications for men.
I will never be able to fully understand the unique challenges that come along with being a woman at a school attended by boys, and for the most part, run by men. However, on behalf of every student at this school, I would like to thank you all for the hard work, courage and kindness that you demonstrate every day at this school.
Too often, men turn a blind eye to the subtle but ever-present sexism that pervades their thoughts and relationships. Choosing to challenge is about men holding each other accountable. Because the only way we can achieve gender equality is by working together to challenge assumptions and change minds.
International Women’s Day (Monday 8 March) is a significant time that reminds us and encourages us to show our appreciation for the women in our lives and everything they do for us. It gives us an opportunity to recognise the ways that women change our world. But perhaps most importantly, we get to hear stories that show us there is no one right way to be a woman who changes the world.
I promise to continue to hold myself and others accountable for sexism. I promise to honour the hard work of my mother and my two grandmothers. I promise to continue fighting for gender equality.
International Women's Day is especially important to me. I have come from a long line of women who have chosen to challenge. One of my grandmothers started and ran a manufacturing business in a time when she couldn’t even open a bank account. All of the finances were under my grandfather’s name. My other grandmother fled Poland in
Once again, I would like to say thank you for everything you do for us on this International Women’s Day. Your choice to teach shows us what it means to be a strong, empowered woman.
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REFLECTIONS
50th anniversary of last BGS Old Boy to die in war On 7 June 1971, Old Boy Ian Mathers '65 was one of three Australians killed in action in Long Khanh, Vietnam. Ian was a Flight Sergeant in the Air Training Corps at school. He was then a national serviceman. After graduating as a second Lieutenant from the National Service officers’ course in 1970, he was posted to Vietnam with the 12 Field Regiment.
I knew Ian well as scorer for the First XI and linesman for the First XV. Having a schoolboy as scorer for the First XI is a wonderful Brisbane Grammar School tradition. A cricket scorer is a unique position – at various times team-member and amateur psychologist but ultimately the final arbiter of both the individual and team performance.
On the 50th anniversary of his death, former BGS Headmaster Brian Short (pictured front row, second from left; BGS First XI 1965) pays tribute to Ian Mathers (pictured middle row, centre):
Ian performed the challenging role with warmth and precision, such a difficult but special blend to achieve. The First XI celebrated its undefeated premiership at a special 50-year reunion in 2015, and all the players fondly reminisced about our sadly absent friend and scorer.
I proudly remember Ian Mathers as a fellow member of Form VI at Brisbane Grammar in 1965. The diversity and quality of both his abilities and contribution inspire admiration. Generations before the phrase ‘a Grammar man’ entered into our common parlance, Ian’s qualities of intelligence, integrity, humility, service and loyalty could well have provided an ideal template.
In retrospect, Ian’s role as First XV linesman was an immensely challenging and complex one. There were far fewer opportunities in 1965 for students to represent their school. The consequence was disproportionate attention and importance being attached to what were then the major sports. GPS Rugby was a very tribal and passionate affair in these times.
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As a 17-year-old schoolboy, Ian was occasionally subjected to considerable close-range advice from BGS supporters and not always constructive criticism from our opponents. Through all this turbulence, Ian remained calm, effective and even-handed. His maturity and integrity were well beyond his years. Our generation grew up in the shadow of the Vietnam War and the introduction of national service. The loss of Ian in Vietnam in the military service of his nation was a tragedy not only for his family and friends but for a world denied the benefits of what would assuredly have been a rich life of achievement and service. Ian Mathers was our first national serviceman and our last Old Boy to die on active service. A commemorative plaque to him is in the Great Hall. The inscription contains the final line of Wilfred Owen’s poem Asleep: ‘he sleeps less tremulous, less cold than we who must awake, and waking, say alas’.
REFLECTIONS
Pathfinder
the world in 1934), and later three categories of the ground engineer’s licence, a wireless operator’s licence, a commercial pilot’s licence and a flying instructor’s certificate.
2021 celebrates the centenary of the RAAF where Old Boy Donald Clifford Bennett ’27 earned his pilot’s wings in 1931 at the age of 21 and later become one of the most highly qualified airmen in the world.
Before the war Bennett was a flying instructor and flying boat pilot with the RAF before flying with Imperial Airways from 1936-1940. He achieved two world records in 1938 by completing the first commercial, non-stop trans-Atlantic crossing and achieving the longest seaplane flight in a Mercury from Scotland to South Africa. The following year he took part in proving the concept of air-to-air refuelling, designed to make non-stop trans-Atlantic commercial flights possible.
In a 1981 interview with the National Library of Australia from his home in Buckinghamshire, Bennett credited the excellent teaching he received at BGS in Maths and Physics and RAAF training at Point Cook as contributing factors in his subsequent career. The hazards of wartime flying were reflected in Old Boy casualties – 252 were killed in WWII, 168 of them were in the air force.
Bennett was a brilliant technical airman. He wrote The Complete Air Navigator in 1936, the first comprehensive textbook ever written on air navigation in which he said, “Eternal Vigilance is the Price of Safety”.
Aside from his pilot’s qualifications, Bennett held a first-class civil navigator’s licence (one of only eight in
One could almost imagine him navigating a plane through the eye of a needle.
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Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur ‘Bomber’ Harris was so impressed with Bennett’s navigation skills that he appointed him to head up the new Pathfinder Force in July 1942. Bennett’s official title was Air Officer Commanding, Pathfinder Force (8 Group), Bomber Command, which was tasked with finding and marking targets for air force crews flying over Germany. Bomber Command steadily changed from a ‘hit and miss force’ to one that could drop bombs with pin-point accuracy over a target.
had decreed that his personal collection be repatriated from the UK to his home state of Queensland, which his wife Elsa (Ly) did with the help of the Pathfinder Force Association and the RAAF in 1991. “As Don and Ly had been patrons of the QAM it was decided to display the collection there. “It’s part of a larger display dedicated to the work of the Pathfinder Force which Don created and led from 1942 to 1945, spearheading the work of Bomber Command,” he said.
When Bennett was promoted to Air Vice-Marshal in January 1944 at 33, he was (and remains) the youngest person to ever be appointed to that rank in the RAF.
Vivien Harris - School Archivist Main photo: Bennett at the head of the table with staff in the operations planning room at 8 Group HQ, Huntingdon, circa 1943
Caloundra’s Queensland Air Museum (QAM) has a collection of material reflecting Bennett’s many achievements during his illustrious career.
Insert: Air Vice-Marshal Donald Clifford Tyndall Bennett CB CBE DSO FRAeS, Imperial War Museum
Ian Campbell, QAM member said that before Bennett died on 15 September 1986 (Battle of Britain Day) he
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G E N E R AT I O N S
A Story to remember
P
erhaps few people crossing Brisbane’s Story Bridge today know the story of the man the bridge is named after – one of Brisbane Grammar School’s most influential Old Boys, Queensland public servant John Douglas (JD) Story. When he left BGS at 15 for a clerk’s job in the education department, JD Story himself was unlikely to have foreseen the impact he would have on Queensland’s growth and development. The year was 1885, and Brisbane Grammar School Headmaster Reginald Heber Roe recommended JD for the clerk’s role. Story’s employer noted: “nice intelligent look – rather small and lean and does not look robust. Brain…stronger than body.” Clearly industrious, JD eventually became Under Secretary of the Department, overseeing the opening of Queensland’s first state high schools in 1912, raising the school leaving age from 12 to 14, and introducing medical and dental examinations in State schools. As the son of Scottish migrants, one of seven children who was out earning at 15, JD Story was proud to have made education more widely available, writing in 1915: “Secondary education in Queensland is free to those who prove their fitness…it is just as possible
for the son of the wharf-labourer, the sugar-worker or the shearer to enjoy a full course of secondary education as for the son of the shipowner, the sugar-planter or the station-owner.” Recognised for his ability to get things done, JD Story was asked to conduct a Royal Commission into public service wages and allowances. Subsequently serving as public service commissioner from 1920-39, Story founded the Council of Agriculture and was a member of the Bureau of Industry, responsible for the building of UQ at St Lucia, Somerset Dam, and the bridge named in his honour in 1940. JD sent his sons John Dunmore Campbell Story ‘27 and Keith Campbell Story ’28 to BGS. This second John Story became a solicitor and senior partner of Chambers McNab and Company. Advancing Queensland education remained a lifelong interest for JD. With his former Headmaster Roe, he championed the establishment of The University of Queensland in 1910 and served on its Senate for 50 years. After retiring from the public service in 1939, he became UQ’s first fulltime Vice Chancellor, an unpaid role he held for 21 years. Seventy years later in 2009, JD’s grandson, the third John Story to attend BGS, would become Chancellor of
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the university his grandfather had worked to establish. John Story AO ’63 followed his father John Dunmore Campbell Story to BGS, studied Law at UQ and was National Chairman of Corrs Chambers Westgarth. He had an extensive directorial career including the chairmanship of Suncorp Group Limited and the Australian Institute of Company Directors. He was made an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2015 for distinguished service to business and commerce in the public and private sectors. In a development that would have no doubt pleased his grandfather, John was named UQ Alumni of the year in 2017, following his tenure as Chancellor, and for chairing the TC Beirne School of Law fundraising committee to fund the renovation of the Forgan Smith Building. A fourth generation of the Story family came to BGS when John and his wife Georgina sent their sons John ’91, Tom ’93 and Bill ’95. All three have followed their father in studying Law at UQ, with John now working in finance, Tom as a solicitor and Bill in the public service in Canberra. Top left: The Story Bridge was lit up for BGS 150-year celebrations in 2018. Inset: JD Story. Bottom right: John Story speaks at The University of Queensland.
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BGS Giving Day 2021 We are calling on the BGS community to support our inaugural Giving Day on Thursday 26 August. The action-packed 24-hour event will bring together our community of students, teachers, parents and Old Boys.
We aim to raise funds for needs-based bursaries.
Visit brisbanegrammar.com/giving to learn more.
