Winter 2015
In This Issue:
›› Grammar at Gallipoli ›› Making an Impact ›› Teaching Innovation
BGS ALUMNI & COMMUNITY /1
6 Our Purpose Brisbane Grammar School educates boys within a strong learning culture that is innovative yet respectful of its traditions, by nurturing their intellectual, physical and emotional wellbeing to become thoughtful and confident men of character who contribute to their communities.
ON CAMPUS
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Our Ambition Brisbane Grammar School aspires to be the best school for boys in Australia, and an international leader in teaching and learning. The School is committed to offering premium educational and leadership opportunities for boys of all backgrounds, to strengthen its global connections, and to build a vibrant school community among students, parents, staff, Old Boys and the broader society.
DESTINATIONS
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Our Values •
Endeavour
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Learning
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Respect
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Leadership
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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, life-long learning.
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To develop and extend personal character and talents.
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To develop a strong sense of service, community, leadership and loyalty to others.
FEATURED ARTIST
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GENERATIONS
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Registered by Australia Post Publication No. QBN 4259
MAKING AN IMPACT
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CONTENTS
GRAMMAR AT GALLIPOLI gn grammar news is produced by Advancement and Community Relations Brisbane Grammar School Gregory Terrace, Brisbane, QLD 4000 Telephone: Email: Website:
+61 7 3834 5745 grammarnews@brisbanegrammar.com www.brisbanegrammar.com
STAY CONNECTED www.facebook.com/ BrisbaneGrammarSchool
Editorial Team Heather Watson Executive Director Advancement and Community Relations Philippa Cable Publications Manager Chris Walker Digital Communications Manager
www.twitter.com/ BrisbaneGrammar au.linkedin.com/company/ brisbane-grammar-school
Julia Goodwin Graphic Designer Contributors Philippa Cable Rebecca Campbell Alex Carroll David Carroll Jack Coates Ron Cochrane
Tom Earle Damon Emtage Fran Hawkes Nicholas Henderson Lee Holdsworth Peter Ingram
Elizabeth Kendall Kit Lindgren Anthony Micallef Tanya Neilson Chris Price Stuart Rees
Ed Roper Matt Smith Chris Walker Heather Watson Angus Woods
Thank you to our community for sending in your photos that are featured within this publication. Cover image: BGS Old Boy Uvedale ParryOkedon is pictured with the honorary mascot of the Queensland section of the 1st – 15th Reinforcements. Parry-Okedon embarked on the A40 Ceramic on 22 December 1914 with eight other BGS Old Boys who went on to be killed. He was appointed officer in command of ammunition, mentioned in despatches for conspicuous gallantry on 13 July 1915, and awarded the Military Cross on 8 November for distinguished service in the field.
Back cover image: This aerial photo of the School was taken by James Petersen, a member of the BGS Aviation Club, using his home built quadcopter. Effectively operating as a drone, it was fitted with a GoPro camera and took some impressive aerial photographs of BGS from 80m.
CRICOS No: 00489C
4 6 TH A N N U A L A R T S H O W 2 0 1 5
The Brisbane Grammar School Art Committee is proud to present the opening of the 46th Annual Art Show 2015 - Friday 21st August. Friday 21 August @ 7pm (ticketed event) Saturday 22 August @ 10am – 3pm
Open Day Saturday 22 August 12pm to 3pm
Visit us on Open Day to discover the School’s culture of learning and commitment to preparing boys for life as global citizens, through outstanding opportunities across sport, the arts, special interest clubs, and community service. Meet the people, and explore the programs and facilities that contribute to the exciting life of every Brisbane Grammar School boy. For more information contact our Director of Enrolments on +61 7 3834 5200
Sponsors 2015 - The Brisbane Grammar School Art Committee gratefully acknowledges our sponsors PLATINUM
GOLD
SILVER
BRONZE
HEADMASTER’S MESSAGE
// 100 YEARS ON
WE REMEMBER THEM
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his year marks an important centenary event in Australia’s history, one that we at Brisbane Grammar School share not just as fellow citizens, but in a more direct sense, as custodians of the memory of those who participated.
The record of the service of our Old Boys is quite remarkable. One of the most important things we can do as a community is not to glorify the events of 1915, but to simply remember the boys, our boys, who served. A special feature on Grammar at Gallipoli can be read on page 14. I encourage you to send in your own family stories and photos from WWI to grammarnews@brisbangrammar.com.
The centenary I refer to is that of WWI and the Gallipoli campaign of 1915. April 25 marked 100 years since members of the AIF landed on the shores of the Gallipoli Peninsular. Thousands of young Australians thought they were heading to Europe to fight the Germans. Instead they were diverted to Egypt and trained for an attack on Turkey – a place most knew nothing about. After eight months of fighting and more than 8000 Australian deaths, the campaign was abandoned in defeat.
Also in this edition of grammar news we touch on global citizenship and what it means to BGS, and how our school is developing meaningful connections with the global community. We examine recent graduate outcomes, where you can read about past students studying interstate and abroad. We have delved into the arts and sport, and followed our students all the way to Antarctica. A number of stories will connect readers with our outstanding alumni around the world, and how members of our community are generously supporting current and future generations of BGS students through the power of philanthropy.
The connection with our school community is one of great significance. A total of 174 of our Old Boys served at Gallipoli. It was the first major campaign of WWI that our Old Boys fought in, and was a campaign that brought home the reality of war as the casualty list mounted. It was the melancholy duty of one of my predecessors – BGS’ third Headmaster Frederick Bousfield – to read out the names of those boys wounded, missing, or killed in action. There were great tales of heroism, but also tales of horror.
I hope you enjoy the new direction we have taken with grammar news. As you read through I encourage you to send in your feedback and connect with us. Anthony Micallef Headmaster
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ON CAMPUS
// BGS CLOSES THE GAP
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losing the Gap week was recognised and celebrated at Brisbane Grammar School at the annual ceremony held in March with an educative assembly address and cultural dances from our Indigenous students. This recognition is important to the School as ‘closing the gap’ is not purely about the empowerment of our Indigenous population, it is about empowering the relationships between our communities, as we strive for the success of our society as a whole.
Closing the gap is not an Indigenous issue, it is an Australian issue. Senior student Sam Matthews eloquently and persuasively spoke at the assembly about how basic human rights has an affect on life expectancy, infant mortality, education, employment and the lives of all Australians. He also challenged all boys to embrace this commitment as a collective responsibility. Our resident Indigenous students from the School’s boarding house then performed a series of traditional dances on the Centenary Courtyard lawn as a celebration of their culture.
Closing the gap is about changing the way in which we view diversity and changing the way we look at other cultures; about fixing the damage we have previously caused and looking to the future to ensure both communities can move together as one; about progressing while also remembering the one thing which our communities share – being Australian.
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Events such as these are important to celebrate as it is through this awareness and expression that civic character is born. It is only then that moral action to serve the common good is facilitated.
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// BULLYING. NO WAY!
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mbracing the message ‘Bullying. No Way!’ BGS turned orange for the day for the fifth year in a row, and joined almost 900,000 students, across Australia in March this year for the National Day of Action Against Bullying and Violence.
As well as a series of ‘mini-lessons’ completed in Form Classes, other activities for the Middle School boys included identifying the different forms of bullying, examining the BGS policy on bullying, watching a video, and completing a ‘key facts’ quiz.
During an address from Vice Captain Tom FitzGerald about the seriousness of bullying, he stressed the need for bullying victims to speak out and seek help, and for those around not to be silent bystanders. Tom also addressed boys during the Senior School assembly, where he focused on positive relationships and encouraged them not to target someone’s differences, but know how to embrace them.
The ‘stand together’ lesson plans created for the 2015 National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence can be viewed at: http://www.bullyingnoway.gov.au/national-day/
// THANK YOU MUMS
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mother plays such an important role in the life of their son, and the Mother’s Day celebrations at BGS provided an opportunity for our Year 5 boys to say thank you.
the day. The highlight was when the boys sang Thank you to our Mothers to the tune of ABBA’s Thank you for the Music. There was hardly a dry eye when the boys moved from the stage to present their mums with a flower and a hand-written letter. The concert was preceded by a beautiful morning tea in the sunshine together.
Through music, drama, and a special presentation the boys had a chance to demonstrate their chivalry and gratitude by being the perfect hosts of their mums for
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// HIGHLIGHTS SPORTS ROUNDUP The boys and the coaches of term 1 GPS activities had a most successful and enjoyable experience. S W I M M I N G | The tone was set for the GPS season by our swimming team who performed with distinction at the GPS championships at Chandler. The entire team and coaching staff worked tirelessly to record second place in the championship. There were fine individual performances including: •
Sam Young – first open 100m freestyle, breaking a 27 year record set by Olympian Andrew Baildon; first open 200m freestyle; second open 50m freestyle
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Charles Ormrod – first U16 50m backstroke
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Joe Jackson – first U15 100m freestyle; second 50m butterfly
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Mark Adi – first U16 50m butterfly
R O W I N G | Our GPS Head of River competitors were led by the Year 11 First VIII, who recorded a marvellous win. BGS rowing crews had a much improved regatta season than in recent times, with a number of victories recorded by various crews. Only one point prevented BGS from moving into fourth position in the Old Boys Cup during the 2015/16 season. V O L L E Y B A L L | Our volleyball community completed another impressive season. The headline act was the First VI, who claimed an undefeated GPS premiership to further bolster BGS’ strong GPS volleyball record. C R I C K E T | Our GPS cricketers teamed for an impressive display overall, led by the First XI who placed third. Their fighting spirit was rewarded after a difficult start to the season. S A I L I N G | Our BGS sailors often battled tough weather conditions throughout a demanding season, but performed strongly to secure second in the GPS championship, sailing in a fleet racing format. G Y M N A S T I C S | BGS gymnasts put in some incredible performances at the national gymnastics championships in Melbourne in May this year. Jack Riek was named all around level 9 national champion, and together with Jack Rowell (eighth) the pair were part of the gold medal winning Queensland team for level 9. Alex Wilson (eleventh individually) and his team won gold in the level 8 open competition. L O O K I N G B A C K | Gymnastics is the oldest GPS sport and BGS has a very proud history claiming the most premierships of any school over more than 90 years. Last year saw BGS continue its golden era. Having finished 2013 as GPS premiers for three straight years our gymnasts knew they were favourites once again, and with that came responsibility. The coaching staff and gymnasts worked hard all year and lived up to expectations winning all three divisions and taking out the premiership for a fourth consecutive year. The 2014 Captain Thomas Grogan graduated BGS on a high and handed the reigns over to the very deserving Jack Riek and Jack Rowell, who became Captain and Vice Captain this year. The gymnastics program is currently in full swing and the team is looking to do what no school has done since the three division rule system was introduced over two decades ago, claiming a fifth straight premiership on Saturday 24 October. /9
THE ARTS
// GRAMMAR IN CONCERT
A MUSICAL JOURNEY
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rammar in Concert is a much anticipated annual musical highpoint at the School and this year was no exception. Once again the boys filled the grand City Hall with a wonderful program of music. The standard of performance was astounding and thrilled the huge audience of family, friends, and supporters. Even several City Hall staff, used to hearing music of the highest quality, commented that they could not believe it was students performing. It truly was a magical night. There was the precision of the symphonic band, the energy of the percussion ensemble, the glorious sounds of our magnificent singers, the excitement of the big band and the sheer power of the 110-member symphony orchestra. For many, two of the musical highpoints came from the biggest and the smallest ensembles on the program. The first half concluded with a massed choir of almost 200, accompanied not only by an instrumental ensemble but also the newly-restored pipe organ. The sheer power of such musical forces did not have a monopoly on musical excellence, as proven by the incredibly entertaining barbershop quartet, who harmonised brilliantly. There was certainly something for everyone. The theme, a ‘musical journey’, was constant through the night with the music taking the audience on a journey around the world. We shivered when the choir sang about Shackleton’s journey across Antarctica, we danced when the big band played their Latin American number, and we felt queasy when the Grammarphones sang about drunken sailors. We went on an emotional journey when the orchestra channelled national pride in Tchaikovsky’s Marche Slave and when Grammar singers sang of tragic love. Our Middle School instrumentalists in the concert band shone brightly as they displayed how much they have developed as young musicians and young men. Grammar in Concert, in many ways, is a celebration of the journey of our younger performances and their chance to display how much they have improved, how much they love to perform and how much they love music. There is no doubt the audience enjoyed this musical journey.
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// SENIOR DRAMATIC PRODUCTION – 1984
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he BGS Drama Department is committed to creating innovative, ambitious and multifaceted senior dramatic productions that provide opportunities for students to advance their stagecraft through acting, collaborating, and technical design. The selection of our shows is based on themes and stories that are of interest and important to our students, leading to this year’s production of George Orwell’s iconic and revolutionary novel, 1984. BGS was very fortunate to receive the licensing rights to the bold adaptation produced by one of Australia’s leading young adult theatre companies – Queensland based shake & stir co. Orwell described 1984 as his desire to forward the cause of democratic socialism and oppose the menace of fascism. Other factors included his reverence for objective truth, which he feared was being driven out of the world by the deliberate distortion and even obliteration of recent history. All of these elements were translated successfully in the play text, particularly Orwell’s near-visceral feeling for the English language. The sheer scale of this production was enormous and by far our most technically challenging to date. Many BGS staff were involved behind the
scenes to help support the vision of this show. Tanya Neilson and Craig Timms (co directors), Michael Moloney (technical director), Sam Russell (multimedia), Ben Newth (audio design), Geoffrey Moore (set construction), and Lynda Kerridge (drama administrator), all contributed to the many administrative, technical and performance components of the production. BGS Old Boy Nathan Gatenby also returned to compose two original songs exemplifying his virtuosic composition skills. The bleak white set was inspired by Michael Bay’s The Island and was designed by professional set designer Josh McIntosh. His artistry and ingenuity conveyed the hopelessness suffusing Orwell’s tale, the moveable set elements, and the all-powerful and dominating tele-screen. The show was performed over three sold out evenings in May. It was lovely to see many Old Boys from previous productions come back to support our senior cast. On opening night, the performance was ultimately ‘handed over’ to the students and the success of this year’s production was due to the very talented and dedicated senior cast and crew from BGS and BGGS, who spent many afternoons and weekends collaborating and rehearsing.
Creative team for the 2015 production included: Tom Johnstone, Ned Creese, Sachin De Silva, Sam Matthews, Callum Page, Dougal Clark, Michael Young, Corbin Redburn, Will Stock, Madeleine Goss, Mondi Milenkovic, Imogen Low, Phoebe Gisbon-Dougall, Finn O’Brien, James Cafferky, Brock Kelly, George Kelly, Bassam Tawil, James Petersen, Sidney Younger, Isaac Povey, Mitch Anderson, and Kai Nowitzke. / 11
GRADUATE OUTCOMES
// MY GRAMMAR JOURNEY
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y Brisbane Grammar School journey started in Year 7 in 2009 and is one I will never forget. The friendships I forged and the opportunities I was given will forever influence me as a person. Throughout my time at BGS I was given the chance to participate in a wide range of activities, from a cultural visit to an Indigenous community, to the School’s outdoor education centre at Moogerah.
about. While, I am not from the country, I spend a great deal of time in rural Australia working and enjoying the freedom our country has to offer. My future pursuits will most likely exist in agriculture, however I’m not entirely sure whether that will be in the business, research, or management side of things. For me, this degree is exciting because it opens up so many options, and I’m currently deciding which path to take.
I was interested in anything and everything at BGS and quickly learnt the need for time management. I really enjoyed the ability to pursue the sporting, musical, and cultural activities on offer. Swimming in particular was both an enjoyable and rewarding passion for me which I was involved in throughout my senior years.
Nicholas Henderson Nicholas was a recipient of the George Alexander Foundation Scholarship through The University of Melbourne.
The beautiful thing about BGS is the way it caters for a wide range of passions. Whether you’re into chess, trombone, rugby, or you’re a day boy or a boarder, the connections between everyone is very evident, something which you take for granted once you go to university. I graduated from BGS last year and have started a Bachelor of Agriculture at The University of Melbourne, a career path which I am very passionate and excited
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// 2014 ACADEMIC RESULTS
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he newest BGS Old Boys deserve congratulations for their academic results and hard work throughout 2014. The outstanding results of the 2014 graduates set a new benchmark for the School, opening doors of opportunity at home and abroad. The 2014 graduates broke a number of BGS records, including the highest percentage of OP scores between one and seven, and one and 13. More than 71 per cent gained an OP between one and seven, and 93 per cent secured an OP between one and 13. These outstanding results have seen boys offered places at prestigious universities, both at home and overseas, including Yale. To the seniors of 2014, the School is grateful for your contribution, and confident that the lessons you have learned will serve you well in the years to come. Welcome to the special community that is the BGS Old Boys.
UNIVERSITY OFFE RS BGS boys who graduate d in 2014 were offered places at many universit ies at home and abroa d, including: HOME: The University of Queens land, Queensland Unive rsity of Technology, Griffith Un iversity, The University of New South Wales, The University of Melbourne, The Australian National University, The Universit y of Sydney, University of We stern Sydney, Macquarie University, and Monash University. ABROAD: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of California – Berkeley, Harvard, Brown, and Ya le.
// FROM BUDAPEST TO BGS
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speakers, and the people that you socialise with day-today. All these small moments add up and I realised that this isn’t just a place to learn about subjects, it’s a place to learn about life.
After finishing Year 8, the minimum level of education in Hungary, my brother Nick moved into Harlin House as a boarder. I followed a year later, with my main worry leaving behind competitive handball, along with the fears of starting school in a new country.
After graduating from BGS last year I accepted an offer to study a Bachelor of Aviation at Griffith University, with the aim to one day become a commercial pilot. I have always had an interest in flying, and the wide choice of subjects at BGS prepared me for what lies ahead. I believe that it will be an interesting and passionate career for me.
was born and raised in Hungary by an Australian father and Hungarian mother. My parents wanted my older brother and me to have the best schooling possible so they decided to send us to Australia for high school.
When I first walked into the boarding house I was welcomed by staff and students. I would definitely recommend boarding at BGS as you get to make lifelong friends and enjoy an extremely social life. Having spent five years with people all over Australia and the world I believe that it doesn’t matter where you come, the people at Harlin House and BGS are all there to help you become a better man.
Alex Carroll – Budapest, Hungary Bachelor of Aviation, Griffith University
Throughout my time at BGS I was always amazed by how much effort teachers and staff put into the daily running of the School. In my first year at BGS I thought it was just another school and I would learn the same things back home, but I was wrong. It’s different because of all the extracurricular activities, inspirational
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GRAMMAR AT GALLIPOLI
// WE REMEMBER THEM
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he centenary of WWI has provided the BGS community with the chance to remember the service and sacrifice of the 1020 Old Boys who fought in that conflict. The honour boards and the School’s Golden Books reveal that 174 of our Old Boys were killed in action or died of wounds in the war. This year the focus has been on the Gallipoli centenary, a campaign where 28 Old Boys were killed and a further 146 fought.
name in The Golden Book and got the date of his death wrong. That had to be fixed. Our search began with the archivist at Newington College, where MacGregor taught before enlisting. They had his date of death as 21 May. We had it as June. The AWM had it as 25 April. The mystery was solved by reading the private letters of Neil MacGregor and his brother, who tried desperately to trace his fate. His brother wrote to Sgt Button, MacGregor’s company sergeant, who replied on the back of that letter (as they had no paper) that he had actually died on 26 April, the result of a sniper’s bullet that hit him in the trench. MacGregor’s story is like so many whose fate was unknown in the midst of the carnage of the landing. The full story can be read in Grammar at Gallipoli which is available to purchase through the School.
Through the publication of Grammar at Gallipoli and the School’s Anzac Day services we have endeavoured to explore the stories that shed light on the lives of those boys who served and died. A small committee of staff and students have been involved in collecting stories to help preserve their memory. The project will run the course of the centenary and we hope to create a large digital archive by 2018. The work has involved cross-checking our records with the Australian War Memorial (AWM), battalion histories, and the AIF Project. It has also involved searching the School Magazines, National Archives, private papers, and local newspapers to find something personal written by them or about them. Many of the lives of our Old Boys are well documented, but some had no family or descendants. These boys have been our special focus. All the stories were important, but this one briefly captures much about the search. Neil MacGregor, who left BGS in 1904, was one of our mystery men. With the best of intentions, we had misspelled his
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// THEIR STORIES
SIGNING UP
LIFE IN EGYPT – MENA CAMP
The youngest to fight at Gallipoli was Sam Hawkins, aged just 17. Aged 46, Malcolm Mearns was our oldest boy to serve and was killed in the August push. Arthur Kenyon gave up his commission and passed the sergeant’s exam so he could fight. He too was killed in August. Arthur Leslie (pictured above) travelled 2000 miles across the Gulf Country to enlist. He served at Gallipoli alongside his brother Walter, who died of injuries suffered at Gaba Tepe. Clem Wragge was on a chance holiday back to Brisbane from Edinburgh, via Mt Kosciusko, where his father ran the meteorological station, when he rushed to enlist. He died of gun-shot wounds and was buried at sea.
Rupert Young of the 5th Light Horse describes Mena Camp: The picture that met our eyes was not altogether cheerful. On one side could be seen the limitless expanse of desert, relieved by an occasional hillock; but on the opposite side the view was more cheerful. There could be seen the Nile with palm trees ... green vegetation ... sails of the Nile boats reaching high above the trees ... In the distance are the pyramids standing out against the skyline.
Contact us if you have a story from the front: grammarnews@brisbanegrammar.com
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TRAINING FOR THE LANDING Tommy Ford celebrated his 20th birthday on the Island of
Lemnos just a few weeks before the landing. He wrote this in his diary about the practice for the landing:
It was truly a laughable affair. Sergeant Polley, our platoon sergeant, was landing us men who were aft in the boat all over the country looking for the rest of the platoon. We would have been shot over and over again. After several bad attempts it was given up as a bad job. We will be the first to land – it only needs coolness and shrewdness from our officers and our reputation will be made – also our graves perhaps. He was killed on 25 April.
EY EW I T N E S S TO T H E L A N D I N G Frank Moran (pictured sitting centre), the School’s loyal cadet officer was at the landing. He wrote this: Before daybreak on Sunday 25 April I saw the first shots fired from the warships before the landing of any troop... It was a wonderful sight and I would not have missed it for world. At the one time I saw English, French and Russian Men-of-Warships bombarding the shore where our troops afterwards landed. The new warship ‘Queen Elizabeth’ was there and it was really wonderful to see the way she tore up the ground wherever her shots struck. No doubt of it, she saved our lives over and over again ... by preventing the Turks getting too near us with their artillery. The Australians made a name for themselves on that same Sunday by landing and charging up high sand hills, which one would think quite impossible to take.
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Frank Moran, seated centre.
T H E U N K N O W N F AT E O F O U R B OY S Ray Shirley was killed in action on 25 April. He was thought to be a prisoner in Constantinople, but according to Red Cross files was last seen by his BGS classmate, James Atkinson, during a charge up a hill just before midday. Atkinson, who later died on the western front in 1918, may have been the last to see Shirley alive. Shirley was a champion tennis player at school and was the first member of the Queensland bar to enlist. Tom Robertson was called on by a Turkish officer to surrender. Robertson replied: Surrender be damned. Let them have it boys, and shot the Turk officer with his revolver. Robertson was killed in the return fire on 27 April. Alan Radcliffe was killed in action on the day of the landing. Not unlike Russell Crowe’s film The Water Diviner, Radcliffe’s father searched for the whereabouts of his body for seven years. His death was not confirmed till 1916, his body still not found years later. Finally, in 1922, his body was discovered with his identification disc.
Ray Shirley, back row, right.
FINAL WORDS Frank Armstrong wrote this letter to his wife on the night he charged Turkish lines: My dearest wife, I am in an assaulting party against the Turkish trenches tonight and have no time to write at any length. I am entrusting this message to Graham Wareham so if I do fall dear you will know my last thoughts are with you and our son. I hope you are spared for many years to come and that our son will turn out a good man. Forgive me for anything I have done in the past to hurt your feelings. Fondest love to dear Mrs Mackay and the boys and all our friends. Goodbye my dearest wife. Armstrong perished early the next morning and the letter was recovered from the body of another Old Boy, Graham Wareham, who was also killed on 10 May.
// THE HISTORIAN & THE COMMITTTEE BGS Head of History Chris Price has a 27-year association with the School, having started teaching in 1988. An author and historian, Mr Price has compiled an impressive list of achievements at BGS. He has been a resident Housemaster, MIC of cricket, editor of the School Magazine, coach of debating, as well as a cricket and rugby coach. From 2000-2005 he was Head of Year, before taking over his current position as Head of History in 2006. In the lead-up to the launch of Grammar at Gallipoli he worked tirelessly, managing a committee of students, and working with other staff, to ensure the School produced a wonderful chronicle of BGS’ contribution to the Gallipoli campaign in WWI.
Gallipoli Committee: Mr Chris Price, Dr Alan Barrie, Mr Mark Tremble, Manning Clifford, Tom Earle, Wilson Poon, Michael Young, James Cafferky, Thomas Choo, and Jeremy Hunt.
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DESTINATIONS
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// ANTARCTIC ODYSSEY
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magine cutting through Drake Passage between the southernmost tip of South America at Cape Horn and the South Shetland Islands of Antarctica, as winds surge to 100km/h and seas swirl to 10m. Late last year 16 Brisbane Grammar School boys and two staff members did just that – taking a retired Russian communications ship, complete with Russian crew, to the great white continent of the south – Antarctica. Making the journey with One Ocean, the boys were escorted by its team of on-board experts, including ornithologists, scientists, guides, and leaders. After successfully navigating the Drake Passage the ship moved into calmer seas, and the students were able to begin a daily routine of explorations, heading ashore to discover what Antarctica had to offer. BGS Director of Outdoor Education Jon Hodges, who completed his second trip to Antarctica, said the world’s coldest continent was also the most educationally fascinating. “Every day brought new adventures with ice fields, ice bergs, and a myriad of amazing animals and sea life to observe,” he said. “One evening we were thrilled to dig our trench in the ice and camp out on foam mats surrounded by floating icebergs freshly broken off the nearby glacier, with penguins as our neighbours.” The two hours of darkness didn’t encourage sleep, nor did the -5 temperature, but spectacular scenery made up for those difficulties. On one particular cruise in Wilhelmina Bay, the silvery bay and grey high cloud cast an eerie light for visiting pods of humpback whales. “We floated in the zodiacs with engines cut, and watched the whales dive deeply as they fed on krill before our eyes, coming within metres of the boats on a number of occasions,” Mr Hodges said. Not missing the chance for a snowball fight, BGS students were also brave or silly enough to complete a polar plunge, jumping into the ocean surrounded by blocks of ice. Then it was time to brave further giant swells on the return journey, ahead of a marathon 40 hours of connecting flights back to Brisbane. Mr Hodges said one of his highlights was listening to the boys discuss complex environmental issues after a special lecture put on for BGS students by the ship’s biologist, penguin experts, and ornithologist. “It became apparent that they truly had been affected by their visit to this special and sensitive place, and will not forget how fragile the balance actually is,” he said.
On December 5 2014 a group of BGS boys departed Brisbane. Over two days we travelled to Dubai, Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires, and finally Ushuaia, the world’s southernmost city. Our vision of this extreme region came when we climbed into the mountains the next morning to view the stunningly picturesque mountains and colourful township below. Next we boarded the Russian icebreaker Akademik Loffe, bound for Antarctica via the infamous Drake Passage. After two days we reached the Antarctic Peninsula, and on a daily basis we experienced zodiac cruises, visits to penguin colonies, hikes, and tours of historical sites and international research bases. A favourite experience from the journey was hiking up a volcanic rise, to be surrounded by a blizzard, followed by a dangerous trek back to an ash-strewn beach, and a final ‘polar plunge’ in the freezing ocean. My trip to Antarctica provided me with memories of a lifetime, and raised my awareness of the natural environment, ultimately giving me an insight into the last untouched continent on the planet. Kit Lindgren Year 12
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BGS ART SHOW
// FEATURED ARTIST WAYNE SINGLETON
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he BGS motto – nil sine labore or nothing without work – is an apt description of the compelling, detailed and laborious work of relief printmaker Wayne Singleton.
various tools and – after up to 60 hours of cutting – a hand-operated press transfers the image from these ‘relief ’ prints pull ink from the surface of the block, whereas an etching or ‘intaglio’ print pulls ink from the excavations on a block.
Spend a moment with the feature artist at this year’s BGS Art Show Discover and you will also discover Singleton embodies the very characteristics BGS seeks to encourage: ‘Critical intelligence, imaginative and creative powers, effective communication, and the capacity and enthusiasm for independent, lifelong learning.’
After being cured and stacked flat under pressure, each print in an edition is coloured by hand, producing subtle variations between each original print, “much like brothers or sisters”, explains Singleton. Renaissance Man? Polymath? Philosopher? Perennial student? Although these labels seem apt, Singleton might consider them mere “cultural constructs” as he continually explores the seen and the unseen in both art and life. With a Diploma of Design; a Graduate Diploma of Art Education; a Graduate Diploma of Religious Education; and a Bachelor of Education, a couple of hours with the artist reveals him to be connected to both people and places, inquisitive, generous, patient, practical, humble, and a person of quiet faith.
Singleton says he was “born hungry, selfish and curious. My parents looked after my hunger, contained and taught me to modify my selfishness, and vainly tried to focus my curiosity into the sciences.” Fortunately, Singleton was naturally good at maths and science and describes his aptitude as “the best training for my art”, explaining that he constantly “sees patterns and the relationships that occur between shapes”. This ability to see physical elements in multiple dimensions makes relief printmaking a natural fit for Singleton. However, it’s clear that his powers of perception translate well beyond art into a life of great depth and detail.
There’s much to be learned from Singleton as both a printmaker and a person, and the BGS community will be richer for his contribution to the 2015 BGS Art Show.
In his studio, Singleton enters ‘into a world of inquiry, discovery, problem-solving, and creation’. He meticulously draws his composition in reverse on a linoleum relief block (the printing plate), using oldschool pen-and-ink. The block is then cut by hand with
grammar news winter 2015
More information about Wayne and the 2015 Art Show can be found on the website: www.brisbanegrammar.com/NewsandEvents
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CONNECT
D
uring my first six months at Brisbane Grammar School I have witnessed the extreme pride our alumni community has in their school. So far this year I have attended a 1948 reunion and Sydney reunion, where I saw firsthand a great willingness to interact and engage with the School and other Old Boys. BGS is proud of its 27,000 alumni, past and present, and the impact they have had and continue to have in communities at home and abroad. We want to connect with you and learn more about you. What are your special memories from your time at BGS? Are you part of a family where several generations studied at BGS, such as the Hirsts on page 29? Do you have a story to tell about a family member involved in war? Are you making an impact on the lives of people overseas or closer to home, such as Chris Raine on page 24? Do you have a story about achievements in the Arts, Science or Sport? Email us with your submissions to grammarnews@brisbanegrammar.com. Heather Watson Executive Director – Advancement and Community Relations
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ALUMNI Q&A
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// Q&A
BGS OLD BOY & V8 SUPERCAR DRIVER
LEE HOLDSWORTH
L
ee Holdsworth’s racing life started when he climbed into a go-kart at the age of six, and eventually progressed to a highly successful professional car racing career. Racing for Holden, this year is his 10th in the V8 Supercars Championship. He started at BGS in 1996 and graduated in 2000.
when my father bought us a go-kart at six years old that was all I needed to start chasing my dream. Did you have any other extracurricular interests at BGS? As I said I was a mad keen rugby player, but also enjoyed playing water polo, and athletics. It was always tough trying to coordinate other sports into my weekend when racing was the priority.
How did you first hear about Brisbane Grammar School and what made you want to go there? I was enrolled into Trinity Grammar in Melbourne from the time I was about two years old. When my family moved to Brisbane in 1989 we were able to enrol at BGS. We lived in Milton where my brother Brett, also a BGS Old Boy, and I did our primary school education at Milton State School.
Do you think BGS prepared you as both a person and academically to graduate? Absolutely. I think the most important thing in school is to be surrounded by people with good values and morals. No doubt it helped shaped my personality and attitude. I now have a two year old daughter and would love to see her have the same opportunities I had with my schooling.
Do you remember your time fondly at BGS? My time at BGS were some of the best years of my life. I enjoyed sport and gained a group of friends who are still some of my closest mates to this day. My love for rugby union started in Year 8, and I went on to play for another eight years, continuing on through club rugby at Wests Toowong after leaving school.
What are your short term and long term aims? My short term aim is to win the V8 Supercars Championship and Bathurst 1000. My long term aim is to start a business in educating young drivers in defensive driving. Too many young drivers are uneducated in controlling a car in dangerous situations.
You started in go-karts before moving into cars, did you know this was what you wanted to do during you time at BGS? I knew I wanted to race cars professionally from the time I started go-karting at six years old. The only other thing I ever put as much commitment into was rugby.
What should people know about BGS that they may not? I was always amazed it was never mentioned that Dick Johnson went to BGS too. I’m not sure how long he went there but it was a something that inspired me.
You are great at what you do, but you would probably be willing to admit you haven’t followed the path of the average Aussie schoolboy. How did you find yourself pursuing a career in racing? It’s a totally different career path to the average Aussie schoolboy. I certainly didn’t meet anyone else at BGS with aspirations to become a V8 Supercar driver. My father was the one that introduced me to the sport. Starting at about four years old, he used to take me and my brother to Bathurst to watch the biggest race in Australia. Racing drivers like Peter Brock, Dick Johnson, and Larry Perkins became my heroes. So
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ALUMNI PROFILE
I
// COMBATTING AUSTRALIA’S DRINKING CULTURE
nvited back to school as the 2015 BGS Foundation Day guest speaker, Old Boy Chris Raine is changing the lives of thousands of young Australians who rely heavily on alcohol. Speaking to a captivated BGS audience, some 12 years after graduating from the School, Chris explained his life journey had taken a non-linear path. His school days were challenging and his early years at university didn’t come easily either. But fast forward and today Raine is the founder and CEO of Hello Sunday Morning (HSM), an organisation challenging young people to give up alcohol for periods of time, with the overall aim of breaking his generation's unhealthy obsession with binge drinking. “Young people need to believe in an alternative that will improve their lives, provide a sense of purpose and help build meaningful relationships,” he said. An Oxford MBA, Raine said HSM was borne out of a frustration of working in night club promotion, and constantly waking up with a splitting headache. In his early 20s he felt the need for change. Hello Sunday Morning launched in 2010, and today users benefitting from the online service come from Australia and abroad. The most recent development for HSM was the creation and launch this year of
a smartphone app, which uses the ‘brief intervention’ technique to help work out how ‘normal’ and ‘healthy’ a person’s drinking is. Following a short questionnaire, the app provides a diagnosis on drinking behaviour. Fundamental to the success of the technique is goal setting, with HSM providing users with an extensive list of challenges to choose from each week. It is these challenges that Raine believes serve as lessons and eventually provoke genuine behavioural change. “We want to build a world where drinking is a choice, not an expectation. Where we question the role of alcohol in our lives and where we have fewer hangovers and more Sunday mornings,” he said. To find out more visit hellosundaymorning.org or download the HSM app at the app store. Foundation Day scholarships: The awarding of these scholarships reminds BGS boys of the pioneers from Grammar’s past: our longest-serving and most significant head R. H. Roe; our first Rhodes Scholar A. S. Roe; and A. J. Mason who taught at BGS from 1889 to 1940. Elliot Cichero – R.H. Roe Scholarship John Cavaye – A.S. Roe Scholarship Angus Farr – A. J. Mason Scholarship
WHAT IS HSM? Hello Sunday Morning is a movement towards a better drinking culture. They build technology that supports any individual to change their relationship with alcohol. Whether it is taking a break from drinking or cutting back – HSM offers support. Since 2010 HSM has grown to be the largest online movement for alcohol behaviour change in the world. Their vision is a world where drinking is an individual choice, not a cultural expectation. A world of better choices, fewer hangovers, and unforgettable Sunday mornings.
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OLD BOYS‘ ASSOCIATION // OBA PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
W
ith a number of reunions already hosted this year and others planned, it is really pleasing to see Old Boys keeping in touch with each other and maintaining their connection with the School.
The School’s Advancement and Community Relation’s team has assisted with the reunions for some of our most distinguished Old Boys from 1948, as well as the popular annual Sydney reunion held at the Sydney Theatre Company, Walsh Bay. BGS OLD BOYS' ASSOCIATION COUNCIL President
Mr Stuart Rees ’79
This year’s marque event remains the Annual Reunion Dinner on 28 August. We return to the Hilton Hotel and with Peter FitzSimons AM secured as guest speaker, the evening promises to be a memorable one. While celebrating our milestone year groups, the evening will also pay tribute to Old Boys who served in the Great War, 100 years on from the landing at Gallipoli. As the author of several published historical works, including Tobruk, Kokoda and Gallipoli, our guest speaker promises to be not only relevant, but entertaining. Why not gather a table (or two) from your year group? Ticket costs are Old Boys $150 pp, Life members $135pp, and Young Old Boys (2010 – 2014) $100pp and can be purchased online at http://connect.brisbanegrammar.com/event/ard
Vice President Mr David Fielding ’80 Secretary
Mr Callam Porch ’00
Treasurer
Mr Chris Austin ’79
Members
Mr Geoff Clarke ’64 Mr Ross Hirst ’78 Mr Lewis Radford ’12 Mr Nathan Lloyd ’98 Mr Michael Forrest ’87
Past President
Mr Cameron McLeod ’88
If you would like an invitation posted to you, please contact Advancement and Community Relations on +61 7 3834 5322. Stuart Rees President Old Boys’ Association
BRISBANE GRAMMAR SCHOOL
OLD BOYS’ ASSOCIATION INVITES YOU TO ATTEND THE
2015 Annual Reunion Dinner Incorporating 10, 20, 30, 40 & 50 Year Milestone Reunions
Remembering Old Boys’ military service
Friday 28 August 2015 The Hilton Hotel, 190 Elizabeth Street, Brisbane
6.30pm for 7.30pm / 25
REUNION HIGHLIGHTS
SYDNEY REUNION
1987 REUNION
SYDNEY REUNION 1987 PREFECTS
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// REUNION REVIEWS 1968 Old Boys enjoyed their 2015 reunion 1 February. A yearly event, the group enjoyed a casual breakfast at a park in West End.
1968 REUNION
The class of 1945 held their yearly get-together on Wednesday 1 April. Sixteen Old Boys from this year group enjoyed a lovely lunch with guests travelling from as far as Melbourne and the Gold Coast. The Sydney reunion was held on 30 April 2015 and saw 52 attendees enjoying an evening of comraderie and networking on the Harbour with guest speaker BGS Head of History, Mr Chris Price entertaining the crowd on the recent publication Grammar at Gallipoli, which commemorates the 174 Old Boys who fought at Gallipoli in 1915. Almost 50 enthusiastic 1987 Old Boys caught up for a casual reunion at Kingsleys Steak and Crabhouse restaurant on Friday 5 June. During the evening they auctioned Neil Diamond tickets with proceeds of $600 going towards a needs based bursary. Thank you.
1945 REUNION SYDNEY REUNION
// UPCOMING EVENTS REUNIONS BGSOBA 116th Annual Reunion Dinner 28 August 2015 Incorporating the following milestone reunions held at separate functions prior to the OBA Annual Reunion Dinner: 50 Year (1965), 40 Year (1975), 30 Year (1985), 20 Year (1995), 10 Year (2005) 1985 – 30 Year Reunion 3 October 2015 INTERSTATE & INTERNATIONAL REUNIONS London Reunion 1 July 2015 Melbourne Reunion 17 September 2015 New York Reunion November 2015 (Date TBC) If you want to join or organise a reunion, contact Advancement and Community Relations on +61 7 3834 5322 or email communityrelations@brisbanegrammar.com.
BRISBANE GRAMMAR
GOLF DAY 2015
Join the Brisbane Grammar School community for a great day of golf on Friday 9 October 2015 at Indooroopilly Golf Club. Please consider sponsoring a hole or prize for the 2015 Golf Day, or get a team together, to help us raise $30,000 for a BGS bursary. The bursary will enable one student who has the scholastic ability, but is in financial need, to attend Brisbane Grammar School.
Information on sponsorship opportunities and player registration can be found on the Brisbane Grammar School website at www.brisbanegrammar.com. To discuss sponsorship opportunities contact Advancement and Community Relations on +61 7 3834 5322 or communityrelations@brisbanegrammar.com.
// THREE GENERATIONS AT BGS
A
s a leading Brisbane tailor it was through conversations in the early 1940s with a number of Old Boys that Wallace Hirst heard about Brisbane Grammar School. Those conversations led to a meeting between Wallace and BGS Headmaster George CarsonCooling, and resulted in Norman Hirst enrolling at the School.
all went through BGS, and grandchild Sam followed the same path in more recent years.
Norman said his father enrolled him in secondary school at BGS for the same reasons he would later enrol his three sons at the School – the teachers, the facilities, and the culture. In turn, one of his sons Ross did the same with his son Sam, who is currently in Year 8.
He involved himself in rowing and rugby, with Norman coaching rowing at the school in the 1950s and early 1960s, and again in the 1970s. “Our year was not the best in the sporting environment but we excelled in the arts and acting,” Ross said. “John Atherton was famous for his role in The Mango Tree after leaving school, as was Geoff Rowe who had a leading role in Puberty Blues. Brad Shepherd went on to stardom as the guitarist in the Hoodoo Gurus.”
Ross, who attended BGS between 1974 and 1978, said he too could remember his first day at school vividly. “We had a delayed start because of the 1974 floods. We met around the gun and filed into our first full assembly,” he said.
Norman said he still remembers his first day at BGS, more than 70 years ago. “I was in awe for starters,” he said. “We lived at Kedron and dad came with me on the tram for my first day. In those days there was a tram line up Edward Street to the School through Spring Hill.”
Working hard at school with the ambition of studying law, Ross’ efforts paid off with entry to The University of Queensland and a career ever since as a solicitor. Now a father himself he said the decision to send Sam to BGS was straightforward. “Enrolling my son at BGS was an easy decision to make and, in fact, I proudly booked him into BGS on the day he was born,” he said. “Samuel started in Year 6 and is now in Year 8. He cannot wait to get to school every day.”
His initial feelings of awe were soon overcome and it wasn’t long before BGS was home. “I became part of the culture,” he said. “Attending the School has had a huge influence on my life and the life of everyone who goes there.” After such fond memories of his schooling years, Norman and his wife Glenda were always going to give their boys the same opportunity. Their three sons, David, Mark, and Ross,
Do you have a BGS family story? Send your ideas to grammarnews@brisbanegrammar.com
Today Ross remains heavily involved with the School, as a volunteer and member of the BGS Old Boys’ Association, following in his father Norman’s footsteps who was a member for many years. Earlier this year the Hirsts, Norman, Ross, and Sam, returned to the School to present a first edition of a book written in 1949 by former BGS Headmaster George CarsonCooling. The book ‘Here’s a Villain’ was an account of his life at the School, along with his views on education.
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TEACHING INNOVATION
// THE VALUE OF VIDEO MENTORING IN CLASSROOMS
T
raditionally classrooms have long been considered a private teaching space. Teachers’ ambivalence to being observed by colleagues or mentors is often exacerbated further when video is added to the process. Seeing themselves teaching for the first time can be confronting, and the videos are often taken away to be reviewed by a third party. This impacts ownership and trust in the process which are crucial elements in teachers’ professional growth.
Brisbane Grammar School teachers are now seeking more opportunities to engage in personal and practical conversations that help them transform the ‘proficient’ classroom into an authentic ‘distinguished’ learning community. To that end, this year BGS has re-engaged the services of Dr Peter Taylor as a special advisor. Using his extensive experience he has been able to turn classrooms into a place in which pedagogical improvement can occur through authentic professional collaboration.
Many traditional classroom techniques – clear instruction, well-structured processes, and timely feedback – continue to be markers of highly effective teaching. While some practices that were once at the core of classroom pedagogy are now much less relevant to the way our students learn. No longer is keeping students anchored silently to their desks considered a valuable teaching technique, just as memorisation is less valuable as a learning technique.
grammar news winter 2015
In February, Dr Taylor began working in a mentoring capacity with the 14 teachers new to BGS in 2015. Some brought with them years of teaching experience and others were new to the profession. As part of the process the new staff met with Dr Taylor individually to discuss his approach to mentoring, ahead of an initial observation and video recording of a lesson nominated by the teacher.
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DR PETER TAYLOR Dr Taylor previously worked with existing BGS teaching staff in 2011, when he researched the impact of Tablet PCs on Year 8 classroom pedagogy, and since then he has contributed to the drafting of the Framework for Teaching at BGS (FfT). He has also served as an external expert for observations of classroom practices of the 2014 applicants in recognition of their high quality performance (HQP). At the start of 2015 Dr Taylor joined the Associate Dean – Teaching Development Helen Johnston and Deputy Headmaster – Staff and Community Relations Ed Roper in leading the implementation of the School’s Teaching and Leadership Development Program.
This mentoring role was intended to assist the new staff members adjust to BGS expectations, as well as promote self-improvement. In reviewing the effectiveness of the process, Dr Taylor recently met with two enthusiastic participants – Middle School core teachers Anna Sanderson and Carla Salmon.
to relax and teach as normal, vital in gaining a true representation of their teaching. As the mentoring relationship developed, the teachers began indicating which classes and lessons they wanted ‘observed’, and what issues they wanted Dr Taylor to focus on during their follow up discussions. This could be centred on their own professional growth goals, or particular approaches they were trialling with the class.
From the outset both Ms Sanderson and Mrs Salmon said Dr Taylor’s approach to videoing their lessons was positive. “I have experienced observations before, but it was just so evaluation based, to the extent that is was quite an unfriendly experience,” Ms Sanderson said. “This is very different, it is a supportive mentor type of arrangement with a much more personal approach.”
Ms Sanderson said it was important to realise the camera itself wasn’t the game changer. “You could give the camera to somebody else and it could be a totally different tool, that’s something I appreciate,” she said. The pedagogical process in which the mentoring is embedded is what transforms the experience from one of being observed and evaluated into one of powerful, collaborative and personal professional growth.
Mrs Salmon said being able to see herself teaching was incredibly powerful. “I don’t think there is a way that you could possibly generate the same reflection from words,” she said. “You would take it as criticism as opposed to a way to improve. After watching the video you can then ask yourself ‘what can I do to move forward?’.”
Both teachers have initiated additional arrangements to have lessons videoed, for their own professional learning purposes. This acknowledgement of the immediacy and validity of the video evidence as a stimulus for, and evidence of, professional learning, shows the value of video mentoring in classrooms.
Both teachers said they became so comfortable with Dr Taylor and his video camera that they were able
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IN THE COMMUNITY
// CHAMPIONS OF GENDER EQUALITY
T
he HeForShe campaign, initiated by the United Nations Women, strives to change men’s attitudes towards women and push for gender equality. Last term our Captain and Vice Captain of Harlin House addressed the school assembly after attending this year’s International Women’s Day. Their speeches focused on the inequalities that still exist in our society between men and women and how we, not only as representatives of BGS, but also as members of the global community, can influence the respect and opportunities women deserve. This sparked our school into action, with many pictures being taken of Year 12 prefects holding signs on why they think equal rights is a necessity and ultimately, why they support the HeForShe campaign. The Year 12 service committee’s invitation to all BGS staff, support staff and boys to support this cause has been met with enthusiasm.
we can do together, to make this country more even for both men and women. It is encouraging to see more and more high profile men and women speaking out in favour of gender equality. Australian rugby player and BGS Old Boy Stephen Moore, continues to be a driving force behind this change and has encouraged all of us to get on board. The campaign’s primary aim is to continue to highlight the importance of gender equality. Exposure to statistics, exposure to people, and exposure to the reality. We want our support for gender equality to be more than a token gesture, more than a one off speech each year on International Women’s Day. We want it to become embedded in our school culture as something we just do. Remember that we, as young men, need to be the champions of change. We hope that you will join us.
A popular phrase used by the International Council of Women is that men need to be the ‘champions of change’ and it is essential that we, the young men, along with the staff of BGS, embody this. Violence against women has been described as an epidemic threatening the state of women’s health in our country, and female representation in positions of power and influence are seriously lacking.
Tom Earle Captain of Year 12 service committee 2015
Stephen Moore BGS Old Boy ’00 Ambassador of the HeForShe Campaign Brumbies Captain 2015
The more we are aware and the more we learn about the factors that contribute to these inequalities, the more
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// WORLDS GREATEST SHAVE
E
very day more than 30 Australians will hear the devastating news that they have leukaemia, lymphoma, myeloma or a related blood disorder. Helping the Leukaemia Foundation’s mission to cure and care, each year students rally to raise funds for the World’s Greatest Shave campaign. This year was no different, as students set about exceeding their fundraising targets.
David Carroll, and school mascot King G were among those brave enough to ‘shave for a cure’ as part of the campaign. After a challenge was set, Mr Micallef and Mr Carroll had no option but to lose their locks after the School raised more than $20,000. Our School Captains then endured painful leg waxings, before King G returned to challenge the crowd for a further $250 to have his chest waxed. The crowd obliged.
Excitement reached fever pitch in the Middle School amphitheatre early in April as our Headmaster Anthony Micallef, Deputy Headmaster – Students
In total an incredible
$23,847.08
was raised by BGS for the Leukaemia Foundation. The top raisers were: Mark Adi – $4,244 Findlay Barnes – $2,831 Carlos Hurst – $1,850 Michael Fielding – $1,803.73 Prajin Shah – $1,520 / 33
// THE POWER OF MUSIC
B
risbane Grammar School encourages a culture of giving and community service. As this year’s Music Captain, I wanted to support this culture by organising a gala fundraising event to give back to Gondwana Choirs, the internationally renowned National Children’s Choir of Australia. To help close the gap, Lyn Williams OAM, founded the Gondwana National Indigenous Children’s Choir to give talented young Indigenous singers the opportunity to share their voices, music and culture with the world. On Saturday 18 July 2015 at 5.30pm, elite ensemble groups from BGS, Girls Grammar, St Peter’s, Churchie, St Margaret’s, the Queensland Conservatorium of Music, the Gondwana National Children’s Choir, and professional musicians, will collaborate together at Giving Back to Gondwana Choirs Musical Soiree – Concert and Cocktail Party. The aim is to raise money for Indigenous music bursaries to the
two-week Gondwana National Choral School in Sydney in January 2016. This school provides access to expert musical training and opportunities to learn from Australia’s best musicians. St Peter’s Lutheran College’s 1000 seat performing arts centre is the venue for this spectacular musical fundraiser. I am hoping that with the support of the BGS and Brisbane community, talented young Indigenous singers won’t miss out on the passion for music and opportunities that we are privileged to receive from BGS, because of their financial barriers. Music is a powerful language to create change and I believe that together, we can share the commitment to closing the gap. Tickets can be purchased through TryBooking with adult tickets $75, school students $40, and performers complimentary. http://www.trybooking.com/HZSW Angus Woods Music Captain
// USING YOUR TIME FOR THE GOOD OF OTHERS
T
custom fitted van has been servicing parks and drop in centres across the city and the wider area with two industrial washers and dryers.
Senior boarders have given their time as volunteers for Rosies offering much needed support to homeless and those at risk of homelessness. While Rosies’ most visible outreach is their street van, providing food and drinks, the not-for-profit organisation also focuses on offering a friendly ear to listen.
To find out more visit rosies.org.au or orangeskylaundry.com.au.
he Harlin House Public Purpose Program is showing BGS boarders how much value there is in donating their time for the good of others. The two major projects within the program this year have involved the boys working in the city with Rosies – Friends on the Street, and Orange Sky Laundry, helping the underprivileged in what the boys describe as an uplifting and truly humbling experience.
Although it is the Years 11 and 12 boarders who offer their time directly, the rest of the boarding house are just as involved behind the scenes. Junior boarders are the driving force behind a number of fundraising and clothes drives, which prepare them for more applied involvement in their senior years in Harlin House.
Year 11 boarding boys regularly work with Orange Sky Laundry, a mobile laundry service for the homeless. A world first, started in Brisbane by two 20 year olds, the
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PERSPECTIVE
// DEVELOPING GLOBAL CITIZENS AT BGS
F
or a person who recently ticked over the half century the concept of global citizenship did not develop without some considerable thought. Growing up as a young boy I was fortunate to be raised in a large family in a neighbourhood where lots of children of a similar age spent time together. It is a childhood memory that is still as cherished today as it was at that time.
The millennials have taught this Gen Xer the benefit of being connected to a global community. I am enjoying the challenge of ensuring the future graduates of Brisbane Grammar School develop a meaningful connection to an emerging global community. Perhaps our young men would do well to think globally act locally. David Carroll Deputy Headmaster – Students
Similarly I developed strong connections to my school community and developed a strong sense of connection and a desire to support and assist others.
The concept of global citizenship is being discussed more deeply in modern schools. The International Boys Schools Coalition (IBSC) has decided to make global citizenship its theme for the 2016 international conference in Vancouver. The theme think globally act locally will ensure the issue will continue to develop in schools around the world.
I have no doubt that this shaped my desire to be an educator and more specifically my passion for connecting students to their school and developing young men as serving leaders. Along this educational journey the digital revolution took local issues and made them global. Today’s students still identify, as I did, with their local and school communities as well as developing a patriotic connection to their country. What is different now is the connections being created with emerging global communities.
At Brisbane Grammar School the issue of global citizenship has been on the wellbeing agenda for a number of years. Research by the School’s coordinator of service Philippa Douglas is helping to build on foundations already established. Philippa is the recipient of a fellowship in the second half of this year. It will afford her the opportunity to research the possible links between global citizenship and assist others through meaningful service.
Over time it is BGS’ desire to develop, through a variety of experiences, ethical young men who value diversity and are aware of global issues. They need to be able to communicate across boundaries and understand cultural nuances as well as developing an understanding of leadership as a form of service. / 35
The bursary has changed my life, it has changed my family’s life. Coming to BGS gives me the greatest head start in life. – Zeke Leaupepe Perkins
// THE GIFT OF EDUCATION
A
s Lesley Huxley listened to Indigenous leader and lawyer Noel Pearson deliver an address at a BGS Speech Day, she felt moved and empowered at the value she could make by giving a boy an education at Brisbane Grammar School.
embracing the life changing opportunity that has been given to him. Zeke’s mother, Lee, was overwhelmed at the generosity of the donation. Although difficult to see her son go to boarding school she knew it would allow him to reach a potential that he may not otherwise achieve at home.
Together with her brother Nicholas Heath and mother Betty Heath, they decided to fund a bursary at BGS, covering school and boarding fees, for one boy who would not otherwise have been able to afford to attend the School.
“This is something that every parent wishes they could do for their child, the generosity is extremely overwhelming. We are honoured that Zeke was chosen and we are very humbled by it. He has been given an opportunity and we’ve told him to grab hold with both hands, when opportunity knocks you need to answer that door,” Lee said.
Rather than giving money to a charity, the trio have a sense of immense reward as they are able to see the results of how their gift of education for one boy is making an impact and difference to his future. The bursary donation is the family’s way of giving back, with Lesley’s grandfather receiving a scholarship to attend BGS in the early 1900s, as well as her two sons benefitting from a BGS education.
Zeke has embraced many opportunities at the School, feeling like he gets a sleepover every night with his best friends. When he’s not honing his skills on the volleyball court or the football field, Zeke is doing up his light dark blue tie and enjoying the journey of being a Grammar man.
Zeke Leaupepe Perkins was awarded the bursary and started at BGS in 2014. Now in Year 9 Zeke is
grammar news winter 2015
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“
MAKING AN IMPACT
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// SUPPORTING FUTURE GENERATIONS AT BGS
A
fter a meeting with BGS Headmaster Anthony Micallef in New York last year, Old Boy Simon Fenwick knew the School had a concurrent vision for excellence and broadening access. The 1987 BGS graduate, a founding partner of International Value Advisers in New York, said he wanted to provide the same opportunities available to him to those less financially able.
School. The establishment of the Fenwick Bursary will cover expenses for one boy’s tuition and boarding at the School in perpetuity.
“Being a slow learner, I finally realised how privileged my background was, including my schooling at BGS, and how it might be helpful to give something back. I am a third generation of BGS, yet I have daughters, so there will be no fourth. Seeing the opportunities my girls have been given, helped jog the memory on those chances that were provided to me,” Mr Fenwick said.
“BGS was founded upon the goodwill of public subscribers, who believed that a broad liberal education would provide the best all-round education for boys. That same philosophy exists today.”
Grateful for the generous gift Headmaster Mr Micallef knows it will go a long way towards furthering the School’s vision to grow the endowment fund that will support future generations of students.
“Not only do donations provide financial means, they also open access to a world of opportunities – academic, sporting, cultural, and social connections that can be life changing. The School is very grateful to those families who support our ambition to provide an avenue for eager young people to actualize their full potential,” Mr Micallef said.
His decision to give back came in the form of a transformative donation of $1.34 million to BGS, to establish the Fenwick Bursary to support well-rounded and outstanding Indigenous or regional boys who are keen to learn, but lack the financial means to attend the
WE THANK YOU for all you do for
BRISBANE GRAMMAR SCHOOL Brisbane Grammar School would like to thank all our donors for their generosity and support. Ensuring our boys have access to contemporary learning spaces, while preserving the School’s tradition for future generations is a significant responsibility and a priority. Your continued support is an investment in the education of current and future students, and will make a significant difference to the journey of a boy – one where he can flourish and grow into a thoughtful and confident young man of character. If you would like to talk to someone about making a donation or bequest to BGS contact Advancement and Community Relations on +61 7 3834 5322 or communityrelations@brisbanegrammar.com. To make a donation online visit: www.brisbanegrammar.com/OurCommunity/Giving@Grammar / 37
HONOURS
QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY HONOURS 2015 Mr Kevin James Brasch AO Old Boy ’53 For significant service to rugby league, at the local, state and national level, to primary education, and to school sports. Distinguished Professor Stuart Duncan Cunningham AM Old Boy ’70 For significant service to higher education, particularly to the study of media and communications, as an academic and researcher. The Honourable Justice Patrick Anthony Keane AC Past parent of sons Patrick ’94, David ’96 and Michael ’97 For eminent service to law and to the judiciary, through contributions to improved legal and public administration, as an advocate for increased access to justice, to ethical standards, and to a range of professional organisations.
AUSTRALIA DAY HONOURS 2015
Emeritus Professor Allan Luke AO Currently has a grandson at BGS For distinguished service to higher education, particularly in the areas of literacy, curriculum reform, educational policy, applied linguistics and sociology, and to improved learning outcomes for Indigenous students.
Dr Charles Denaro PSM Past Parent of son James ’08 For outstanding public service to Queensland Health. Mr Ian Reeves OAM Past parent of son Shaun ’83, Peter ’87 and Dean ’91 For service to cricket and Australian rules football.
Dr Ashim Kumar Majumdar OAM Past parent of sons Suman ’97 and Avik ’00 For service to the Indian community of Queensland.
Mr John Gaskin AM Past parent of sons Luke ’91 and Matthew ’94 For significant service to the building and construction industry in Queensland to professional organisations and to the community.
Dr Ralph William Neller AM Old Boy ’68 For significant service to dentistry as a clinician, to improved community oral health outcomes, and to professional dental associations.
Mr Peter Rule AM RFD PSM Past Parent of son Justin ’93 For outstanding public service to local and state government in Queensland.
Mr John Douglas Story AO Past parent of sons John ’91, Thomas ’93 and William ’95 John’s grandfather Old Boy 1883; John’s father-in-law Old Boy ’20 For distinguished service to business and commerce through a range of corporate governance roles, as an industry leader and mentor in the public and private sectors, to the law, and to professional organisations.
Mr Peter Skewes OAM Old Boy ’75 For service to local government and to the community of Blackall.
// CELEBRATING ONE OF OUR OLDEST OLD BOYS
O
ne of our oldest BGS Old Boys, Robert “Ernie” Jensen, celebrated his 100th birthday earlier this year. He was born the year the Anzac tradition began during WWI with the landing at Gallipoli. After graduating from BGS in 1931, Ernie went on to complete teaching qualifications at The University of Queensland and taught for decades in rural schools, working his way up to principal, before retiring in 1978. One of his key achievements was helping introduce the metric system in northern Queensland. Ernie has a love of botany and in his late 80s and early 90s developed three books for the Downfall Creek Reserve at McDowall. A father to four children, Ernie loved learning Latin during his time at BGS. He is pictured with granddaughters Belinda Klien and Natalie Kennedy after cutting the cake.
grammar news winter 2015
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THEN AND NOW
1965
2015
// SCIENCE AT BGS These images show how science at BGS has evolved over the past five decades. The above photo, taken in 1965, shows Roy Curry after he earned top honours at the State Science Talent Quest with his project on fuel cells. Three years of research and construction, along with a lengthy thesis led to his win. The output of the cell proved to be one of the cheapest in Australia, even comparing favourably with those in American space laboratories. Fast forward to 2015 and the second photo shows two current BGS students enjoying a science lesson. Did you study science here at the School? Did you have an inspirational teacher whose words stay with you today? Share your favourite BGS science story with us at grammarnews@brisbanegrammar.com.
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