Brisbane Grammar School aspires to be the best school for boys in Australia.
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 Values
• Learning • Leadership • Endeavour • Respect • Community
Our Motto
nil sine labore — nothing without work
Editorial Team
Nikita Blom
Editor, Director of Community Relations
Miranda Cook
Writer, Marketing and Communications Coordinator
Kloe Phelan
Writer, Communications Coordinator
Karoline Fjeldsbo
Graphic Designer
Front Cover
In 2011, Old Boy Takeshi Takada and BGS parent Colin Renshaw established Alt.vfx, which has become one of the most respected visual effects studios in the world. Photography by Old Boy Max Hinton ’13 and Phoenix Wilson of Content Lion.
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 12
The STEAM Precinct Opens
The official opening of STEAM marks a new era of education at BGS
Page 18
Robotic Masterminds
Students make BGS history, claiming a national robotics award for the first time
Forging Creative Futures
Countless Old Boys have achieved success on the world stage in the creative and tech industries. We share just a few of their stories at a time when creativity is considered a skill of future demand
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Page 26
A Growing Space
The expansion of the Middle School gets underway as student numbers grow
Page 28
Tackling the Opioid Crisis
Old Boy Aiden Jabur’s medical research has been published in the British Journal of Surgery
Page 42
Preparing for an AI-future
BGS teacher Bridget Pearce is cautiously optimistic about the positive impact of AI in schools
The STEAM Experience
When students took their first lessons in the STEAM Precinct at the start of 2024, the delivery of education at BGS changed forever. This image was taken at the building’s official opening, which marked a new beginning in how the School prepares students for a diversifying world.
Take a virtual tour of STEAM by scanning the QR code.
The Art and Science of Life
Written by Anthony Micallef Headmaster
Since the official opening of the STEAM Precinct at the start of this year, the trappings of change have been evident across Brisbane Grammar School.
But with change comes both opportunities and challenges — and learning to take advantage of the highs and lows leads to growth and development, not only in a child’s education but in life itself.
Without wanting to sound boastful, the awe-inspiring building has propelled BGS to the forefront of the fast-moving educational landscape.
The hard work, however, has only just begun. While STEAM is stunning to look at, what counts is the educational experience within its walls.
In this edition of Grammar News, we explain our deliberate choice to put the ‘Art’ in STEAM, instead of offering the traditional STEM model. This feeds into the importance of taking a multidisciplinary approach to learning. Competing with AI is a challenge, and the combination of art and technology,
along with maths and science, is going to be required.
In celebration of arts and in proving BGS has something to offer students of all strengths and interests, we profile Old Boys making international headlines in the creative industries.
Our cover features Old Boy Takeshi Takada ’93 and BGS parent Colin Renshaw, whose visual effects company is working alongside the best in the business in Hollywood.
This edition also features articles on the expansion of the Middle School, the history of the Lilley Medal and a tribute to the outgoing P&F Auxiliary President Berthine Ommensen, who has made a significant impact at BGS in many ways.
As always, there is much to be celebrated in our community but only so many pages. Please get in touch with our Community Relations team if you have a story to share.
News Snapshot
Flying High
Old Boy Stephen Chappell DSC, CSC, OAM ’92 has been appointed as Chief of the Royal Australian Air Force.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced new senior ADF appointments in April, thanking them for serving the force with the “values and tenets the public expects from military leaders”.
Stephen is currently Head of Military Strategic Commitments and will start in the new role in July. His son is in Year 12 at BGS this year.
World Cup Glory
Old Boys Callum Vidler ‘23 and Hugh Weibgen ’22 are proving to be part of the next golden generation of cricketers, having helped Australia’s U19 side claim World Cup victory.
Hugh captained the side to glory in South Africa in February, after they secured a 79-run win over India.
Australia hadn’t won the tournament since 2010.
Caring for Older Australians
Old Boy Dr John Ward ‘61 has been named 2024 NSW Senior Australian of the Year for providing high-quality medical care to disadvantaged and ageing patients.
Dr Ward was Director of Aboriginal Health and the Prison Medical Service in NSW, prior to moving into geriatric medicine in the 1980s. He cofounded advocacy group Hunter Ageing Alliance which aims to make Newcastle into an age-friendly city.
“I think older Australians need what younger Australians need — someone to love, something to do and something to look forward to.”
Speaking Up
Year 11 student Lucas Lu has been selected as the Youth Member for South Brisbane as part of this year’s Youth Parliament. He is one of 90 selected out of more than 500 applicants. Youth members advise politicians and decision makers on youth affairs.
He also won first place in the intermediate division of the Queensland Secondary Schools
Public Speaking Competition last year, and attended a celebratory function held by Queensland Governor Dr Jeannette Young in April.
Wellbeing Podcast Series
The second series of the BGS Podcast Light Dark Blue is now available. The Wellbeing Series highlights the School’s efforts in the student wellbeing space as BGS strives to offer a holistic education that goes beyond academics.
Host and Old Boy Harry Clarke ’07 interviews teachers, from across departments, who talk about the importance of teaching boys to take care of their mental health and of each other.
Open Day 2024
This year’s Open Day was fun and interactive thanks to a full program of STEAM demonstrations, as well as academic and cocurricular activations. We witnessed enormous engagement from more than 5000 visitors who attended. Whether people tried their hand at rugby drills, listened to musical performances or tested out robots, there was something for everyone. We thank all who gave up their time to make the event a success.
Swimming
The 101st GPS Swimming Championship culminated in a breathtaking showcase of skill and unity. The Junior GPS carnival kickstarted the day with Grammar boys passing expectations, securing multiple victories. As the Senior GPS Championships unfolded, BGS seized the spotlight with an early lead and remarkable individual triumphs, securing a total of 17 wins. The final standings reflected the historic nature of the victory, with BGS first on 341 points; Nudgee College second on 297 points and Gregory Terrace in third place on 218 points.
Gymnastics
Sailing
BGS Sailing saw the Firsts, Seconds and Thirds place well in multiple competitions across both Fleet and Teams Racing. Most notably, the Fleet Racing Championship saw George Lee and Orlando Dunn-Mura place third in the state, with nine BGS sailors rounding out the top 20. The South Queensland Schools Team Racing Championship followed, where BGS 1, heralded by skippers Andrew Zhuang, George Lee and Nick Howarth, placed third overall. All competitors found improvement over the season.
Cross Country
This year’s season saw high attendance levels, and impressive individual and team results. The final lead-up meet at Brisbane State High saw BGS place first overall, winning the 14s, 15s and Open divisions. At the GPS Championships, we started the day well, coming second overall in the junior competition for 10-to-12-year-olds. Our 13-years runners kicked off the senior competition in style, winning their division easily.
Congratulations to all athletes involved in the 2024 GPS Gymnastics Foundation Cup. BGS secured its 14th straight victory following a clean sweep across all three divisions. Five of our gymnasts represented Queensland at the Australian Championships in May, with Caden Williams, Christian Waterhouse, Sebastian Ashby Cliffe, Justin Wu and Nicholas Hoole all part of the winning Queensland team.
Debating
BGS had a successful GPS season during Term 1. Out of 20 teams, 14 achieved first and second place, with Senior A winning eight out of nine rounds to claim joint premiership with Brisbane State High School.
At time of print, in the Queensland Debating Union, 18 teams from Years 7 to 12 are competing for the Queensland premiership in their year levels. Senior A team members Benjamin Li and Lucas Lu were part of the top 12 speakers in the selection process for the Queensland State Team, and Lucas also represented the state at the National Schools Debating Championship.
Volleyball
BGS Volleyball emerged victorious in almost 70% of all matches played this season. The program recorded 15 podium finishes and five teams were crowned competition leaders. The Australian Volleyball Schools Cup was also a major contributor to the program’s success, with the School entering a record seven teams.
Rowing
The 2024 Rowing season saw 180 students train vigorously to compete in the GPS Championship, in March. At the lead-up regattas, the team achieved 45 wins, 34 second placings and 25 third placings. GPS Head of the River included six wins, five second placings and three third placings,
elevating BGS to third in the Old Boys Cup — the best result since 2009. BGS came second in the O’Connor Cup (for First VIII) — the best result since 2004 outside of victories in 2007 and 2020. A select group of students attended the Australian Rowing Championships, achieving five A final berths.
Cricket
BGS Cricket has enjoyed a successful season. We toured Adelaide in December and won the 2nd XI Tri-Grammar Shield for the first time since 2016. In the GPS season, BGS recorded a winning percentage of more than 55% and more than two thirds of our teams finished in the top 3 of their divisions. Special acknowledgement goes to 8C and 10C players who were undefeated. Other highlights include seven 5-wicket hauls, three hattricks, as well as one century and five batting partnerships exceeding 100 runs. Congratulations to Aamay Wadhwani (Year 8) and Fred Hooper (Year 6) on winning the Senior and Junior Cricketer of the Year awards respectively.
Entering the Age of STEAM
Written by Miranda Cook
Did you know?
The unique floor patterns in the suspended pods represent the disciplines of Art, Design, Mathematics, Physics, Biology, Chemistry, and Earth and Environmental Science. Each department had creative input into the flooring design process.
For example, the Biology floor depicts DNA coding. The coding uses the BGS colour palette to represent the School’s DNA.
The STEAM Precinct is the most ambitious project in Brisbane Grammar School’s 155-year history.
The building has transformed the western end of the Spring Hill campus into a thriving hub of learning and social connection, replacing the iconic yet outdated 1960s science rooms.
As many people know, the six-storey architecturally designed precinct offers so much more than just
new science facilities, by combining Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics.
Perhaps what people don’t know, however, is the meticulous level of research, planning and construction, and downright dogged determination over 10 years, needed to turn STEAM from a pipe dream into a reality.
The decade of preparation and consternation culminated in a weekend of celebrations in February, when the building was officially opened by Queensland Governor Dr Jeannette Young on the School’s Foundation Day.
A STEAM Donor Gala and Open House — which was attended by more than 3000 people — were also held.
When applying for the role of Headmaster in 2012, Anthony Micallef pitched the idea of building a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) precinct as part of a raft of solutions to some of the infrastructure challenges BGS faced at the time.
Across 2015 and 2016, Mr Micallef and Deputy Headmaster of Teaching and Learning Steve Uscinski embarked on several research trips to the US and
Above The official opening of the STEAM Precinct in February.
UK, looking at learning facilities and teaching methods on offer at top-performing schools and universities.
What became apparent was the enormous value being placed on taking a multidisciplinary approach to education — which included the creative process — because that is what is required in the real world.
This led to their deliberate decision to put the ‘Art’ in STEAM, instead of offering the traditional STEM model found at other Australian schools.
“Brisbane Grammar School is leading this new era of a broad liberal education, and we are excited for the future,” Mr Micallef said.
“Increasingly, the arts and sciences together influence ethical, political and environmental decision-making at all levels of public and private planning.”
Mr Uscinski was inspired by high-rise schools in Manhattan which maximise small spaces, and the pioneering learning philosophy at Stanford University, commonly referred to as the “d” or “design” school.
“As the beacon for STEAM, Stanford sees the importance of the creative and collaborative approaches, and how the arts can make more appealing and more sense of technical and scientific aspects.
“It is hard to think of a career these days that would not
A special thanks goes to the Project Control Group, which was involved in bringing STEAM to fruition from the beginning.
• Anthony Micallef Headmaster
• Craig Derrick Facilities Manager
• David Keir Chief Development Officer at the Port of Brisbane
• Howard Stack Former Trustee
• John Fenwick Former Trustee
• Mark Corgat CFO and Secretary to the Board of Trustees
• Medy Hassan Managing Director Haus Holdings
• Robert Timms Project Manager Steel Wrobel
• Stephen Bizzell Board of Trustees
• Steve Uscinski Deputy Headmaster Teaching and Learning
• Warren Traves Board of Trustees
benefit from a strong foundation in arts and technology.”
He pointed to the iPhone as a good example.
“Yes, there is coding, programming and science in the phone, but what makes it appealing is the beautiful interface — it is an object people love having.
“Solving real world problems is never one dimensional and always stretches across different disciplines — nowhere will pay
you to solve math equations in isolation.”
Ironically, the new art studios in STEAM have been created out of the old science labs for sustainable and sentimental reasons.
“Students have freedom over their choice of medium, from conventional paint and sculpture through to digital art and installations using 3D programming.
Prize-Winning Precinct
The STEAM Precinct recently received the Educational Architecture Award and Interior Design Commendation at the Queensland Architecture Awards. It was designed by architect Hamilton Wilson ‘78, a third-generation Old Boy who also created The Lilley Centre. As part of his process, Hamilton interviewed 150 students about the types of environments they learn best in, ensuring every space in STEAM is optimised for a quality educational experience.
More about the Wilson family and their iconic designs on page 32
“It is hard to think of a career these days that would not benefit from a strong foundation in arts and technology.”
“STEAM also focuses on engineering, which is not only about building solutions but also entrepreneurship, of which there is a strong interest at the School.”
For Headmaster Micallef, watching excited chatter between the boys as they problem solve side-by-side in the hanging pods, classrooms
and labs has made every hurdle worth it.
“I want to thank each person who helped bring a project of this size and ambition to fruition.
“Your contribution — no matter how big or small — will have a lasting impact in the lives of many generations of BGS students and staff, and their ability to make a meaningful difference in our communities.”
Robotic Masterminds
BGS students Luke Jacobsen and Henry Kerrigan have a passion for robotics that goes beyond an after-school hobby, and their sophisticated designs are being recognised on the national stage.
As part of the STEAM Cocurricular program, the Robotics club meets every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons.
“But we are always talking to each other about what we can improve and work on,” Luke proudly added.
Written by Miranda Cook
Driven by advancements in technology and a growing fascination with automation, the popularity of robotics is increasing in schools across the globe.
Grammar Robotics is following suit. In 2018, the club consisted of just a team of six, working out the back of a classroom.
Now, there are 75 students in Years 7 to 12 and 40 in Years 5 and 6, with new technology in the STEAM Precinct helping to boost interest.
Last year, Luke (Year 11) and Henry (Year 10) competed in a team made up of 10 other BGS students and outperformed around 150 teams across
“It’s just so much fun – you don’t see how fun robotics is until you’re working as a team.”
Australia at the First Tech Challenge to win the Innovate Award, at both the regional and national stages of the competition.
The competition encourages students in Years 7 to 12 to think like engineers, asking them to design, build and program robots, which then compete against each other in a game.
The national leg was held at Sydney’s Macquarie University, during the Christmas holidays. Being recognised at this level is a major coup for BGS as it is the first time the School has won a national award in robotics.
The criteria stipulated that, at the very minimum, competing robots had to collect hexagon-shaped pucks and move them across a field.
“Ours is quite an advanced robot, and it can place the pucks on an angled surface.
“It can climb up on a bar, so it can lift itself up, and it can also launch a paper plane,” Luke said.
Their team won the Innovate Award because of their impressive inventiveness by making their robot out of lightweight carbon fibre and designing a unique swerve drive, which included wheels able to spin in any direction, making it more manoeuvrable.
“Think of an office chair or suitcase wheels — the wheels
can rotate anyway you want and go in any direction at 100 per cent speed,” Henry said.
“Ours can go sideways at twice the speed when compared with the other robots.”
Unfortunately, they missed out on selection for the international leg of the competition, but they’re determined to make it happen this year.
Luke is described as the mechanical brains, while Henry manages the books and the budget.
“Robotics is a very costly program, and if you don’t put attention into it, then you’re just going to run out of money while you’re building the robot,” Henry said.
“There is a misconception that you just build a robot, but there is way more involved.
“We design our own shirts and logos, and run social media accounts. We collaborate about how we want to communicate
with each other and how to represent the School in a positive way.”
But more than anything, they do it for the love of robotics.
“It is just so much fun — you don’t really see just how fun robotics is until you’re working as a team,” Henry said.
Innovate Award Team Members:
• Finn Silverston
• Theodore Andreatidis
• Jacky Tan
• Thomas Scott
• Luke Jacobsen
• Brandon Roberts
• Sebastian Wilson
• Nicholas Zhao
• Thomas Gordon
• Luke Zhang
• Will Jiang
• Henry Kerrigan
• Zachy Yap
• Henry Fan
Above The team’s robot won the Innovate Award at the First Tech Challenge last year.
Takeshi Takada and Colin
Forging Creative Futures
Written by Miranda Cook
In a world being revolutionised by artificial intelligence, the combination of art and technology has never been more relevant — one cannot exist without the other.
For decades, countless Old Boys have achieved success on the world stage in the creative and technology industries. This edition of Grammar News shares just a few of their stories.
Driven by their ability to think global, many BGS alumni are defying the misconception that creative people must leave Brisbane to chase a successful career.
Brisbane-based business partners, Old Boy and BGS parent Takeshi Takada ‘93 and BGS parent Colin Renshaw, are proof geographical borders pose no boundaries to passion and hard work.
Almost 15 years ago, Takeshi and Colin left their secure and well-paid jobs to start a production company out of a Brisbane coffee shop, despite having no equipment or staff.
While armed with plenty of ambition and industry experience, they never dreamed Alt.vfx would become an international high-end visual effects company for film, television and commercials.
Based in the heart of Fortitude Valley with offices in Sydney, LA and Tokyo, their team has worked on major Hollywood projects including The Power of the Dog, which received dozens of nominations at the Academy Awards and Golden Globe Awards. Other titles include Foe, Pieces of Her and True Spirit Their list of awards at international film and design festivals is exhausting just to look at and far exceeds the pages of this story.
“We have built an industry here, where people can work on
international campaigns — you don’t have to move to Sydney or Melbourne to see this calibre of work,” Colin said.
The pair met at the same production company while working on an internal project out of the Sydney office, early in their careers. Years later, somewhat serendipitously, Colin moved to Brisbane and reconnected with Takeshi, chasing a more laidback lifestyle for their young families.
Takeshi affectionately refers to Colin as the “rockstar”, known for his creative and technical skills, which were honed during the early days of cutting and splicing video tapes.
“I’ve always been very focused on up-and-coming technology,” Colin said.
“Takeshi is a rockstar in his own way — he’s just much quieter about it,” he added with a laugh.
Takeshi is known for his attention to detail and business acumen, which he learned while working for advertising and marketing agencies for many years.
After migrating from Japan to Brisbane aged 12, Takeshi attended Milpera Special English School, an English school for refugees and migrants. He started at BGS in Year 8, at a time when Asian students weren’t widely represented.
“I couldn’t speak English, so I quickly learned about cultural diversity and how to adapt in new environments,” Takeshi said.
“One motivation still today is really wanting to pay Brisbane back, because it provided me with a first-class education and a different way of life.
“My life motto is still nil sine labore — you won’t be successful if you don’t work, work and work,” Takeshi said.
“We have built an industry here, where people can work on international campaigns – you don’t have to move to Sydney or Melbourne to see this calibre of work.”
Above Old Boy Takeshi Takada and BGS parent Colin Renshaw founded Alt.vfx in 2011.
New York-based Old Boy Emlyn Allen ’03 is also breaking ground on international advertising campaigns, bringing 3D billboards to life for audiences in places such as Times Square.
The award-winning creative director, who recently completed a campaign with Rafael Nadal for tech giant Infosys, comes from humble beginnings, having worked his way from the bottom to the top.
“In the US, I spent the first six months job searching while living off the smell of an oily rag.
“I was living in Los Angeles and down to my last $600, when I finally convinced upcoming agency 360i to give me a job — I have never looked back.”
Emlyn’s career has spanned more than 15 years, having worked with many famous names, such as Serena Williams,
Matthew McConaughey, Annie Leibovitz and Nine Inch Nails.
The third-generation Old Boy traced his love for art back to the endless hours of drawing in school textbooks, during his years at BGS.
“I had very encouraging art teachers and would even spend my lunch breaks and
after-school hours painting in what was, at the time, a state-of-the-art facility in the old gym.”
Emlyn highlighted the importance of robust arts programs in Australian schools in providing a foundation to explore the inherent complexity of the world.
Above Emlyn Allen’s award-winning 3D billboard in Times Square, featuring Rafael Nadal for Infosys, in 2024.
Below Emlyn speaking at Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity about the impact of artificial intelligence, in 2023.
Right A still from Emlyn’s commercial “Perfect Rhythm” for the Lincoln Navigator launch, starring actor Matthew McConaughey, in 2018.
Below Emlyn on set in rural Washington State with Academy Award-winning director Wally Pfister.
Left Emlyn (left), with his creative partner at Electric Lady Land Studios in New York, overseeing a shoot with musician Jon Batiste.
This sentiment is shared by Old Boy Scott Griffin ’97, who is a tech entrepreneur but also runs an Off-Broadway franchise in the US, called Drunk Shakespeare.
“The future is multidisciplinary, and the combination of arts and tech will help us to compete with A.I,” Scott said.
After graduating from BGS, Scott cofounded a dot-com tax return company with his father and brother, of which he remains a director. He also paved a pathway for the first
triple-degree (Commerce, Science and Law) at the University of Queensland, which he ended up completing via correspondence at Macquarie University.
It wasn’t until his 30s, however, that he decided to move to New York to become a theatre producer and co-founded Drunk Shakespeare, which has now been running for a decade. The comedy is an adaptation of Macbeth, where performers follow a script of sorts but room is left for improvisation.
Above Scott Griffin during his time at BGS.
“It’s an unusual company, where I have around 40 drunk employees every week.”
When asked for a career highlight, he said: “There have been many but when a famous billionaire’s daughter tried to get underage access to Drunk Shakespeare, I thought we’ve really created something here.”
Scott’s resume is interesting to say the least, but he said his unique skillset goes hand in hand in a rapidly changing world.
“I built a proprietary ticketing and HR system which we use to
run our crazy company, so I’m actively coding daily.”
His career advice to BGS students is to give new things a go and avoid being pigeonholed.
“I recommend picking a dream — even at random. Trying anything is more important than waiting around to find the perfect ‘one dream’ to pursue.”
“I recommend picking a dream — even at random. Trying anything is more important than waiting around to find the perfect ‘one dream’ to pursue.”
Above Scott’s company owns and operates five theatres and cocktail bars across the US.
A Growing Space
Written by Luise Toma
The expansion of the BGS Middle School may seem like a significant undertaking given student numbers have continued climbing over the past few years.
Head of Middle School
Rebecca Campbell, however, describes the growth as a “coordinated and carefully considered process”.
Starting at BGS in 2013, Ms Campbell was the first Head of Years 5 and 6. This was in the lead up to Year 5 students being welcomed to the School for the first time in 2014.
She acted in the Head of Middle School role in 2017, and again from 2018 to 2020, before being appointed permanently in
the position in 2021.
Over her time, she has watched student numbers grow by approximately 150, expanding the Middle School cohort to around 850 today.
There is more to the expansion than just student numbers and physical changes to the campus, Ms Campbell said, promoting a strong learning culture that fosters respect, belonging and connection is the priority.
“We are very conscious Middle School students have different
developmental needs from the seniors,” Ms Campbell told Grammar News
“Therefore, it is imperative our places and programs are intentionally designed to support our boys’ needs, and that our people understand and appreciate this critical phase of adolescent development.”
To support growth across the School, there has been a change to the traditional wellbeing structure. An additional Assistant Head of Year has been
“We value our school’s past, but we aren’t stuck in it.”
introduced from Year 7. Over time, Years 7 to 12 will have a Head of Year and two Assistant Heads of Year to support the larger cohorts. The position of a dedicated Student Wellbeing Officer in the Middle School has continued in 2024, following a successful trial last year.
“The Student Wellbeing Officer role is designed to alleviate administrative pressure on our Assistant Heads of Years and Heads of Years.
“They can focus on supporting students through adolescence, creating a positive and supportive culture within their cohort,” Ms Campbell explained.
Sharing her passion for all things Middle School is Head of Year 6 Ian Grice, who has taught at BGS since the opening of
Middle School in 2003.
Mr Grice, who is an Old Boy, former BGS parent and long-serving staff member, is quick to point out the expansion presents a wealth of opportunity when it comes to improving student wellbeing and helping the boys reach their full potential at school and beyond.
“It is exciting to be in the expansion phase — the 20-year contrast is certainly significant.”
As part of the expansion, classrooms in N Block have been refurbished into bright
and inviting learning spaces for six of our Year 8 classes. Pod offices have been installed on the top floor of Centenary Block, where four Year 7 classes will eventually be taught.
Excitingly, the former Art Block will be transformed into a Middle School Library and a new staff room.
The key to moving the Middle School into the next phase successfully, according to Mr Grice, is to “keep changing and adapting”.
“We value our school’s past... but we aren’t stuck in it.”
Below Year 5 Teacher Mr Logan Hawkins, Head of Middle School Ms Rebecca Campbell, Head of Year 5 Mr Paul Kenny and Year 7 Teacher Ms Alison Horne
Tackling
the Opioid Crisis
Written by Miranda Cook
Old Boy Aiden Jabur ’17 has wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps as an orthopaedic doctor since primary school, inspired by their conversations about surgery over dinner.
Aiden never dreamed his medical research — aimed at tackling the opioid crisis — would be published in the prestigious British Journal of
Surgery, despite having only just started as an intern doctor on the orthopaedic ward at Brisbane’s Princess Alexandra Hospital.
Two years ago while still at university, Aiden was part of a small group of ambitious medical students, from Australia and New Zealand, who were eager to research the use of
opioid medication to treat pain after surgery.
The team broadened its approach to launch the international study titled Opioid Prescriptions and Usage After Surgery. Aiden sat on the steering committee and oversaw the research project conducted in six Queensland hospitals.
Clinicians from 25 countries, including the US, Russia, Italy, Egypt, and Libya, took part in collecting data on post-operative prescribing patterns in orthopaedics, urology, gynaecology and general surgery.
“Having multiple hospitals around the world collaborate and collect data on one idea is a relatively new way of doing research.”
The study investigated patient-reported effects of opioid use once they were discharged from surgery, as well as the rate of patients representing at hospital due to inadequate analgesia or adverse effects.
Opioid-based medications are used to treat long and short-term pain; however, these prescription drugs can be highly addictive and have been exploited on a large scale in many countries since the 90s.
“To have the study accepted in the British Journal of Surgery was huge validation that clinicians and academics care about our work.”
“Over-prescription of opioids is a big factor contributing to the opioid epidemic — not to mention the cost of over-prescribing on the healthcare system,” Aiden said.
“We wanted to see if pain levels were high enough to warrant using opioids or if an opioid-free analgesia would be adequate.”
In most cases, doctors prescribe around 10 oxycodone immediate release tablets upon discharge “just in case” a patient experiences breakthrough pain when they get home, Aiden explained.
“It’s always nice to have stronger pain relief as a backup from a patient’s perspective, but the question is, is it needed?”
The findings revealed that prescribing opioids to treat pain after surgery didn’t
improve patient satisfaction compared with non-opioid pain medications, like paracetamol and ibuprofen.
The study showed roughly 15 per cent of patients felt they were given an unnecessary amount of tablets, and patients in low-to middle-income countries — which are part of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) — reported spending the same amount of time in severe pain as those in high-income countries, despite being prescribed far less opiates.
“It doesn’t sound like a huge landmark finding, but it is.
“This is because it touches on an aspect of patient care that clinicians usually gloss over when prescribing discharge medications — we tend to do
what’s always been done.”
Aiden hopes the findings lead to more patient-tailored care when it comes to prescribing, which would involve doctors asking patients more personalised questions about their pain, their past and how many tablets they’ve taken once discharged rather than “just giving everyone the same thing”.
“To have the study accepted in the British Journal of Surgery was huge validation that clinicians and academics care about our work and that something can be done about it.”
You can read the study in the British Journal of Surgery here:
In the centre of the Byrnes Honour Board at the front of the Great Hall, the heart of the school, is the list of Lilley Gold medalists. The medal represents the pinnacle of academic excellence.
Deputy Headmaster Teaching Learning, Mr Steve Uscinski, says of the Lilley Gold medal:
“In my 15 years in this role, the greatest pleasure and satisfaction is unquestionably found in the assembly each
The Lilley Medals
Written by Chris Price School Historian and Archivist
October, when I announce the winners of the academic prizes to be awarded at Speech Day.
“Most telling about us, as an educational institution, is the extended and unaffected standing ovation given by the assembled school each year to the Lilley Medal recipient.
and an outstanding scholar in Year 9. The design of the medal tells us what he wished to celebrate.
“Earning the title ‘Dux’ — from the Latin ducere, to lead — is a substantial achievement in any institution of learning. At Brisbane Grammar School, it is a remarkable feat of stamina demonstrated through sustained intellectual engagement, a feat we celebrate as a community.”
The Lilley medals were established in 1869 by Sir Charles Lilley, a founding trustee of the School and then premier of Queensland. There is a Gold Medal awarded to the Dux of the School, and silver medals awarded to the Dux of Year 10
Former headmaster Dr Peter Lennox wrote about the symbols. He noted that on the obverse (front) of the medal is the recipient’s name encased in a laurel wreath, the prize won by those ancient Greeks who triumphed in their games. It emphasises the intrinsic pride and honour which comes from such a prize, rather than an extrinsic monetary reward.
The School is not depicted on the medal by either its crest or buildings. It simply states our name and our motto — who we are and what we stand for.
On the reverse of the medal is the figure of Clio dressed in flowing robes, seated on a stone plinth holding a sprig of laurel and a scroll.
“The medal represents the pinnacle of academic excellence.”
Below Sir Charles Lilley, who initiated the medals.
She is one of the nine Greek Muses. In Ancient Greece, the muses were the inspirational goddesses of literature, science and the arts. Clio was the Goddess of historical writers. Dr Lennox reflected that Clio resembles the figure depicting Britannia, which featured on penny coins of the day, a link to the important values of loyalty and service. Another headmaster, Mr Stuart Stephenson, observed that it is important that a figure representing history should be set securely on a firm foundation.
According to the Greek poet Hesiod, those honoured by the muses go onto to take a prominent role within their society. Our Lilley Gold medallists certainly bear testament to that. Thomas Joseph Byrnes, a recipient in the 1870s, went on to become Queensland’s youngest Premier. Countless others have made important contributions in many fields of endeavour.
Above Thomas Joseph Byrnes, a three-time medal winner and for whom the honour board is named.
The Wilson Old Boys Designing Brisbane
Written by Kloe Phelan
Wilson Architects, founded in 1884, is one of the world’s oldest continuous architecture firms, and is carried by a masterful lineage of BGS Old Boys. It all started when a young Alexander Brown ‘A.B.’ Wilson immigrated from Scotland to Brisbane, in 1864. A.B. soon became renowned for his intricate watercolour, pen and ink depictions of waterscapes and local architecture.
He honed his technical skills as much as possible and this determination landed him prestigious commissions, such as St Stephen’s Roman Catholic Cathedral on Elizabeth Street, South Brisbane’s Plough Inn, and the iconic Home at Kangaroo
Point — many of which remain landmarks today.
Ensuring son Ronald was afforded the opportunity of a good education, A.B. enrolled him at BGS for his senior years. After finishing school in 1900, Ron soon became his father’s Chief Architectural Assistant, going on to achieve myriad awards and architectural feats of his own, including Somerville House and South Brisbane Memorial Park.
All this despite enduring the effects of war.
His interest in planning and engineering resulted in Ron being an early graduate of the University of Queensland’s new School of Engineering, also
acquiring a planning degree from London’s Architectural Association. As part of the cross-river commission, Ron established the location for the Story and Grey Street bridges and was a primary advocate for developing ANZAC Square.
Ron’s son Blair, Old Boy of ’48, reinvigorated the firm pencil in hand. Blair went on to receive the Queensland Institute of Architects’ Medal; breathed life to Brisbane’s beloved La Boite Theatre and the School of Science at Griffith University’s Nathan Campus, and was national president of the Australian Institute of Architects.
The first of Blair’s three sons, Hamilton Wilson ’78 is the most recent descendant to run with the flame. Recognised widely as one of Australia’s leading architects and Managing Director of the family firm, Hamilton is also an Adjunct Professor in the Faculty of Architecture at UQ.
This year marks 140 years since the foundation of Wilson Architects, aptly coinciding with the grand opening of the BGS STEAM Precinct.
Renowned for his exceptional design of educational facilities, such as the James Cook University Ideas Lab which received The Harry Marks Award
Below A.B. Wilson Drafting
“All the work we did, to actually see it come to life and see how the students are using it, that’s better than any reward.”
for Sustainable Architecture 2021, Hamilton was excited to collaborate with many BGS students, staff and stakeholders to conceive an exciting new home for the future of STEAM education.
Attending BGS had a formative influence on his design aspirations and directly influenced the conceptualisation of the precinct.
“The school shapes anyone who attends. From a person who’s interested in design, I was incredibly inspired by the Great Hall,” he said.
“Buildings make a difference to your understanding of experience. Part of that experience was going to the old science buildings, which was pretty bleak,” he lamented.
“I’m really proud that we’ve
actually solved the problem of circulation around a site that’s on a hill and made sense of that in a way that improves connection across the whole campus,” he said.
The STEAM Precinct recently received the Jennifer Taylor Award at the Queensland Architecture Awards. Wilson Architects also designed the School’s Lilley Centre in 2011.
Hamilton’s elation, however, stems from knowing he has created innovation hubs, where BGS students feel the world is at their fingertips.
“All the work we did, to actually see it come to life and see how the students are using it... means a lot more to me than a peer award. To see how it makes an impact on an educational level, that’s actually way more important.”
His son Old Boy Howard Wilson ’14 is currently pursuing interior architecture in London, following the completion of his Bachelor of Architectural Design degree at UQ.
Above Hamilton Wilson ’78 (middle) speaking about his design process of the STEAM Precinct at the building’s official opening.
Below The Lilley Centre was completed in 2011.
For the Love of Volunteering
Former P&F Auxiliary President Berthine Ommensen doesn’t want to be painted as a mother who “has it all”, debunking the idea as a misrepresentation and a myth.
Still, it’s hard not to be impressed by her ability to raise four boys, complete a PhD, while at the helm of the P&F Auxiliary — a volunteer position she held
Written by Miranda Cook
for four years, taking up almost full-time hours to raise money for the improvement of Brisbane Grammar School.
“I know it does sound a bit crazy,” she said with a laugh.
Berthine stepped down as President at the start of this year, handing the reins to Vice President Rachael Dauber.
Honest and down-to-earth,
Berthine explained she couldn’t have done it without the support of her mum helping at home.
“She was always supportive of my sister and I going to university, and I don’t think she saw it as a chore as she loved having that relationship with our boys.”
Berthine has several connections to BGS.
“I saw it as a way to make a positive contribution. I was a stay-at-home mum, but I wanted to stay engaged and cognitively active.”
Her husband is Old Boy David Weightman ‘88 whom she met through a mutual friend who also attended the School, and her cousin Old Boy Andrew Wilkie ‘88 boarded at BGS.
Despite each of her sons — Old Boys David Weightman ‘18, Hugh Weightman ‘20, Drew Weightman ‘21 and Ned Weightman ‘23 — being “vastly different”, the couple felt BGS had something to suit each of their interests and ambitions.
She went on, however, to create her own personal connection to BGS when she began volunteering with the P&F Auxiliary in 2012. She held several positions, including volunteering at the Tuckshop, Parent Representative, Vice President and then President in 2020.
The Auxiliary consists of both a committee and an executive team, which are made up of volunteers who oversee the running of the Tuckshop and Grammar Uniform Shop as commercial businesses, generating funding for significant projects at the School.
“I saw it as a way to make a positive contribution. I was a stay-at-home mum, but I wanted to stay engaged and cognitively active.”
Berthine graciously managed
the Auxiliary’s volunteers and businesses through heightened emotions and economic instability during the COVID-19 pandemic. She is known for strengthening the corporate governance of the organisation to promote long-term sustainability.
“We have managed to operate both businesses in a commercially efficient way, and as a result, have been able to donate a lot of money back to the School.”
In recent years, funding has supported renovations of boarding facilities at Griffith House and Harlin House, the Bursary Fund, the STEAM Precinct and STEAM Cafe. The Auxiliary made a generous pledge of $1.5M towards STEAM on Giving Day last year.
Her proudest achievement, however, has been working with a cohesive, committed and enthusiastic group of volunteers and staff.
“We had a lot of new people start in 2020, and they’re all still here — I think that’s evidence we got it right.”
For many years, Berthine also volunteered with other support groups, such
as the Tipperoo Support Group and Rugby Normanby Blues.
After somehow managing to find time to complete her Doctorate of Philosophy last year, she plans to present the findings of her thesis at conferences, and then look for the next challenge.
“I’ll come up for some air first,” she said with a smile.
BGS Art Show
Written by Kim Quinlan Art Show President
The 2024 BGS Art Show has once again proved to be a popular event on the BGS calendar, breaking records for both attendance and art sales.
Attendees explored and enjoyed artworks on display in Centenary Hall over three days, between 26 and 28 April.
More than 530 people attended the Gala Evening, where art sales soared to record levels for the second year in a row. All proceeds go towards developing the BGS Art collection, funding the Emerging Artist Award and supporting the School’s Art Department.
The 2024 BGS Emerging Artist Award went to Year 12 student Lachlan Elliot, whose work showcased his proficiency in traditional and digital media.
He earnt praise for his innovation and artistic exploration from the independent selection panel. We extend a heartfelt thanks to the parent volunteers on the
Art Support Group committee, who put countless hours into the event. A special mention goes to Lead 2D Curator Helen Wade, Head of Art Anne KennedyLevesque and Jo Waite who is stepping down after eight years in numerous roles.
We thank all BGS staff who go above and beyond to make the Art Show a wonderful annual event for our community.
The STEAM Art Gallery
Written by Stewart Service Art Curator
The Brisbane Grammar School Contemporary Art Collection has 350 works acquired over 55 years by donations from members of the school community, including Art Committees, Art Support Groups, Old Boys and parents. With the opening of the
STEAM Precinct, the collection now has a new home with a gallery classroom and generous storage.
The new gallery in STEAM is a dedicated space for subjects across the curriculum to use the collection in their learning. At present, English classes are
using works to inspire their poetry writing. The School acknowledges the new donation of Flourishing by Arabella Walker and Data echo 5 & 6 by Althea Richter by the Art Support Group, which add thought-provoking works to the collection.
The of
Stories Melody
Written by Peter Ingram Head of Music
With a huge variety of concerts, festivals and other events successfully presented, Semester 1 has been a whirlwind of activity for the Music Department. Of course, none of this would be possible without hard work occurring behind the scenes at lessons and rehearsals, so well done to our teachers and tutors for making this happen.
The Music Department was
delighted to be a part of the official opening of the STEAM Precinct. Not only did the Grammarphones entertain the crowd, but other ensembles placed themselves in the various learning hubs so that music was floating around the entire precinct.
The growth of music at BGS means that we need three concerts to accommodate just
our intermediate ensembles. These concerts were full of joy and great music with huge audiences amazed at what the boys achieved in just a few weeks.
To add variety to the calendar, we have hosted two string festivals for string players of varying levels of experience. We love to collaborate on such occasions, as demonstrated by the gathering together of some the finest string players from this part of Queensland at the Senior String Festival in March. Our band also did BGS proud when they marched in the annual ANZAC Day parade.
Undoubtedly, the highlight of the year so far was Grammar Community in Concert. This much-anticipated event was held in the magnificent Conservatorium Theatre and
attracted a full house of almost 700 patrons. They were treated to a program entitled The Stories We Tell which focused on the way in which music is intimately wrapped up in our own life stories. The storytellers were the incredibly talented and dedicated BGS music students along with members of the wider BGS community, which formed the Grammar Community Choir. It is impossible to distinguish between performances, but standouts include Tom Chan (Year 12) bringing the house down with his performance of Feeling Good with the Big Band; the Senior Vocal Ensemble’s glorious harmonies in You’ve Got a Friend in Me; the Senior Percussion Ensemble mesmerising the audience
just with drum sticks and some stools, and the Orchestra conjuring up images of dancing zombies with the Dance of the Macabre. The pinnacle of the night was a massed finale of over 300 performers presenting their energetic rendition of Sit Down You’re Rockin’ the Boat.
Romeo Juliet
A BGS and BGGS Co-Production and
Written by Ben Newth Head of Drama
In Term 2, we not only celebrated the joining of the Montagues and Capulets, but also of the Brisbane Grammar School and Brisbane Girls Grammar School drama departments.
This year’s Senior Dramatic Co-Production, Romeo and Juliet, was an ambitious and eclectic reimagining of William Shakespeare’s timeless classic. From reckless knife fights to innocent love, our Romeo and Juliet was an exploration of the importance of human connection.
The conceptualisation of this year’s Senior Dramatic CoProduction took place over 18 months ago, and since then, the creative team has collaborated with numerous industry professionals spanning set and lighting design, videography, intimacy and fight choreography, and dramaturgy.
Our schools were fortunate to have the opportunity to commission Brisbane based award-winning writer and
director, Daniel Evans, to adapt Shakespeare’s text. Evans’ adaptation positions the audience to view the plight of the Montagues and Capulets from the perspective of youth. As always with Evans’ work, it was fast paced, ‘epic’ in all meanings of the word and, of course, breathtakingly poignant.
Staging a text as ‘epic’ as this one is no mean feat and has taken a village. The BGS and BGGS drama departments collaborated to bring about a vision that not only celebrates love, but also challenged our community to consider that violence is not the answer.
“These violent delights have violent ends” William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet.
In a world currently dictated by the façade of social media, the prolonged effects of a global pandemic and the looming threat of a turbulent political and economic climate, today’s youth are being forced to grow up quicker than usual. As teachers and parents, and as artists, we are faced with a challenge; supporting young people to envision a more hopeful future, while preparing
them for the reality of the world they face.
Our adaptation presented the hope of a world where violence is not the answer, because violence only begets violence We challenge our community to consider how we can shape a world through love. Romeo and Juliet showed us that our students want love to be the answer, but they need the adults in their lives to model that for them.
RAVE REVIEWS
“INCREDIBLE. SO MANY FEELS.”
“The reimagining was truly poignant and stunningly presented in the most exquisite of locations.”
“Loved, loved, loved it!”
“The whole experience felt fresh and alive while still honouring the original text.”
“Absolutely blown away by the talent.
Preparing for an AI-future
Written by Miranda Cook
Australia’s education system continues to grapple with how to respond to artificial intelligence as schools take vastly different approaches, from embracing it to blanket bans.
Bridget Pearce is an English and Academic Services teacher at BGS. She is passionate about supporting neurodivergent students, such as those with ADHD and dyslexia.
Ms Pearce became cautiously optimistic about the positive impact AI software, such as ChatGPT, could have on students who struggle to express themselves through text.
“What used to be a barrier won’t always be a barrier, and I was really excited by that,” she told Grammar News
Over her career, she has witnessed students fail exams, have limited tertiary options and suffer from low self-esteem when struggling to use the written language.
Bridget Pearce Teacher
“My first experiment with ChatGPT made it apparent that difficulties in written expression will no longer hold people back after they graduate and go into professions.”
While in awe of the technology’s ability to “even the playing field”, Ms Pearce had concerns. She noted issues surrounding plagiarism, personal data breaches and over-reliance on technology.
On a mission to learn as much as possible about the impact — good and bad — on the education industry, she has spent countless hours exploring the technology, listening to podcasts and reading articles.
Last year, Ms Pearce published her own comparative study, Beyond the Hype: Critical Questions about the Impact of AI in Education, after holding a three-day innovation summit in the Great Hall with Year 7 students.
Students were divided into two groups: those encouraged to use AI, and those who had to rely on their own thinking. The teams were tasked with finding a solution to save humanity from an AI apocalypse.
“We want to empower teachers to have meaningful conversations with students about AI.”
Both teams designed, prototyped and tested their strategies while keeping a process log in a journal. They created a video to persuade the public to act on their strategies.
“I suspected the students who were using AI would produce more compelling strategies and videos, even if they failed to fully understand them,” Ms Pearce said.
Much to her surprise, however, a panel of external judges deemed the work of the human-only group to be of the higher quality.
“The students who weren’t using AI said they didn’t feel limited because they could work closer together and build on each other’s ideas.
“They produced better products when they had
ownership over the process,” Ms Pearce said.
The results of the summit sparked conversations among BGS students about whether AI should be used at schools.
A student said: “Ultimately, we need to learn AI because our future will be full of AI, and if we are best prepared for an AI-enabled future, then we need to develop those skills now.”
The stance was shared by all participants who also agreed AIgenerated work should not be passed off as original, Ms Pearce said.
Last year, education ministers formally backed a national framework guiding the use of the new technology in Australian schools from 2024.
Ms Pearce, however, pointed out that the results in her study
raised questions about the framework, such as how much do educators really know about the extent to which AI improves or confuses human cognition? And, how much time should schools invest in AI, if they might not be as beneficial for learning when compared with high-impact teaching strategies?
As the AI space continues to evolve at a rapid pace, Ms Pearce holds regular meetings with BGS teachers to discuss how AI can be used in a way that still helps students develop as learners. She was also the chairperson of the three-day Generative AI for Education Leaders Summit, held in March.
“We want to empower teachers to have meaningful conversations with students about AI.
“It is important we don’t take a hard line that generative AI is prohibited at the School — we don’t think that sets students up for success.”
From the OBA President
Written by Cameron Feltham ’86 BGSOBA President
In the first half of the year, a busy social calendar has provided lots of opportunities for Old Boys to catch up and reconnect.
In February, we welcomed 32 new Old Boy fathers who have joined the current 200 Old Boys with a son at BGS and the 400 Old Boys who coach, teach or mentor at the School. At Foundation Day, the new Old Boy fathers were presented with their personally embroidered caps, which they can wear watching their son’s Cocurricular events.
At the BGS Community Business Breakfast in April, we heard from award-winning
journalist and past parent Hedley Thomas.
In a wonderful addition to our calendar, we organised the inaugural Grapes and Grazier Lunch, at the Lord Alfred Hotel. The event showcased mouthwatering Wagyu tomahawk steaks and rump caps, complemented by a selection of Torbreck wines. We thank Andrew Shearer-Smith ‘87 and Max Cochrane ‘17, of Smithfield Cattle Co, for their generous support of the event, and OBA Committee Member Oscar Higgins ‘15 for his exceptional organisation in pulling everything together. It was heartening
to see a significant turnout of younger Old Boys, including graduates from the Class of 2023. We anticipate that this event will only grow in popularity.
Finally, the OBA Committee has worked with the School to formalise the recent practice of making all graduates automatic Life Members of the association. To ensure we remain connected, I encourage you to keep your details updated so that both the School and OBA can contact you with information about events, as well as exclusive communications from the Old Boys’ Association.
BGS Business Breakfast
In April, Walkley Award-winning journalist and former BGS parent Hedley Thomas shared rare insight into his fascinating career at the BGS Community Business Breakfast.
More than 70 guests enjoyed a hot breakfast at the Grove
Rooftop, where Hedley spoke about ethical journalism and his work at The Australian newspaper.
His podcast, The Teacher’s Pet, was a global success. The series eventually led to the conviction of Chris Dawson over the murder
of his wife Lynette Dawson who disappeared in 1982.
“Training and experience as a journalist helps you get through the unavoidable conflict you face when telling a story, because you still have to emphasise that Chris at the time of recording, in the eye of the law, was presumed innocent,” Hedley told the crowd.
OBA Medal Recipient 2024
At the annual Foundation Day ceremony, the Old Boys’ Association announced Cameron McLeod ’88 as the winner of the 2024 OBA Medal.
The award recognises significant contributions made by Old Boys to the wider BGS community.
During his time at BGS, Cameron served as School Captain and was in the First teams for both Cricket and Rugby.
He has a long family
connection to BGS, with his father, brother and son all attending the School.
After graduation, Cameron worked as a lawyer for much of his career until taking on his current position of Principal Official Visitor for Mental Health for the New South Wales Government.
He was appointed as OBA President in 2010, and was heavily involved at the School when his son
attended. He still volunteers for the Moogerah Support Group.
Cameron said receiving the OBA Medal was an honour.
“The School gave me many great opportunities in my life, and I thought I could just pay back a little bit through volunteering.
“I feel I got more out of it than the School, as I thoroughly enjoyed it and had a great time.”
“The School gave me many great opportunities in my life, and I thought I could just pay back a little bit through volunteering.”
A Class
Act
Written by Miranda Cook
Year 9 student Orlando Dunn-Mura was shocked when he was asked to audition for a lead role in a Queensland Theatre production.
Despite having only done a few acting classes “here and there”, Orlando’s talents were obvious to staff from Queensland Theatre during a workshop with BGS students.
They reached out to see if he would try out for a part in Medea, written by Kate Mulvany and Anne-Louise Sarks, and directed by Daniel Evans.
“To be honest, I wasn’t expecting to get the part but as auditions continued on, I thought maybe I had a chance,” Orlando told Grammar News.
“I like trying new things, and seeing what goes right and what goes wrong on stage.”
Following a video and three in-person auditions, Orlando was cast as Leon who is one of the two brothers the play is centred around. The story explores the relationship between the siblings, who are hiding in their bedroom while their parents argue outside.
“Leon is like the cool kid at school, and he finds his younger brother very annoying — like every brother does.
“A lot of the times, he is teasing his younger brother, but then there are times when he is sympathetic.”
Medea ran between 11 May to 8 June, at the Billie Brown Theatre.
Orlando said juggling the intense rehearsal schedule with his other cocurricular passions was a challenge, but he loved the experience and hopes to continue his career in theatre.
“When the opportunity comes, I’ll try it out because what is there to lose?
“I like trying new things, and seeing what goes right and what goes wrong on stage.”
