From the Principal

I was struck by a somewhat strange realisation recently. In a counterintuitive way, I have been fortunate in my first 18 months at Trinity to see our community under stress. While of course I would not wish the pandemic on anyone or any organisation, and the wide-ranging impact has been awful to witness, I have been given a window into the character of Trinity as we have negotiated a way through the messiness of COVID. Amidst all of the reorganising of schooling, the shift of mindsets, the loss of dearly-held events and opportunities, and the uncertainty of everything from the calendar to the economy, our community revealed its character in a way that has helped me understand more clearly our purpose. But more of that later. 1903 was a remarkable year in history as it was in December of that year that the Wright brothers made enough progress with their powered flying machine to travel – to fly – 37 metres in their first successful attempt. Theirs was a long and committed journey to reach this extraordinary achievement. By the end of that day, they had flown a few more times, including their final effort which saw the plane travel 260 metres. Their progress was rapid on that day and, ever since, the progress of flight has continued to evolve rapidly. NASA’s Ingenuity helicopter is currently on Mars and demonstrates quite remarkable advances in technology, and the ability of humans to imagine and to innovate. In a nod to flight’s pioneers, Ingenuity carries a patch of material from a wing of the Wright Flyer, the brothers’ plane, despite the whole craft weighing less than 2kg. Ingenuity’s flights have mirrored Wright Flyer’s in a way, with impressive gains each try and brand-new possibilities coming as a result.

It must have taken enormous vision for the Wright brothers and all of the others trying to achieve flight.

It would also have taken faith, money and a good deal of hard work! So too the founders of Trinity Grammar, Kew would have needed these elements to get the school ‘off the ground’. Interestingly, it was in the same year, 1903, that our school community met

Due to COVID, the Gala Concert was livestreamed, but it was still a spectacle to behold!

as a school for the first time. Just over 20 students and a few staff members started our long journey in the parish hall of Holy Trinity, Kew. I suspect that there was not a lot of money, but there was hard work, faith and vision.

The vision for our school is tied firmly to its character. Not too long into Trinity’s story, then Headmaster, Frank Shann, wrote, ‘Trinity differs from other independent schools chiefly in one particular. The aim has been to emphasise the value of moral training as distinct from merely intellectual.’ Though that was in 1929, it is fundamentally true of Trinity today and reflects the deep connection to our Anglican origins. What is also readily apparent to me is the value we place on each person. Indeed, our former archivist and historian Dr Jane Carolan OAM said about Trinity people that, ‘They don’t aspire to be the largest, the wealthiest or the most prestigious school. While they value achievement and distinction, they value individuality and personality more.’ These assertions align with what our parent body tells us about why they chose Trinity: for our emphasis on the development of sound morals, beliefs, values and attitudes.

Amongst all the challenges that COVID has offered, I have seen our community’s character revealed. I have witnessed a commitment to outreach – driven by the students – that reflects our values entirely. I have watched staff embrace vulnerability and retrain (or be redeployed) swiftly to conquer new ways of educating so we can ensure our students thrive. I have seen our students guide each other through the difficulties by connecting in innovative ways across year levels and the school. I am aware of the many families who helped prop up others when the financial reality struck. In short, I have witnessed a true community’s character in action.

As we embark on the next step for our school in our strategic planning process, the underpinning of our values and redefining of our future will absolutely be guided by the great work of our long, and more recent, history. I feel fortunate that I have been offered such a clear line of sight already, and I look forward to engaging further with our community as we seek to shape our plans and future for the school. Since 1903, the impressive gains that occurred quickly and then over time, have ensured that we are now a gathered community of Trinity people sure-footed in our purpose and ready to continue to fulfil our enduring vision in a contemporary setting.

Adrian Farrer

Principal

Amongst all the challenges that COVID has offered, I have seen our community’s character revealed.