TheGRAMMARIAN
For the second consecutive year, our School Captains planted a tree in our Avenue of Trees, which was established in 2023 for the School’s 135th anniversary inside the historic War Memorial Gates on Paxton Street It is our intention, that by the 150th anniversary in 2038, this area will form an avenue of 15 trees (Tuckeroos - Cupaniopsis anacardioides) leading to the ovals, each with a plaque featuring the names of the School Captains of the year of planting
For 136 years, Townsville Grammar School has been proudly serving our communities, providing an exceptional education and boarding program We continue to remember our founders and acknowledge their vision and commitment to establishing this great School, of which weare thecurrent custodians
Pictured:SchoolCaptains,YasminEatonandChristiandeJerseyplantatreeintheAvenueofTrees tomarkFounders’Day .
PRINCIPAL'SWELCOME
Iwritethismessagefollowingour TGSReunioneventwhichwasheldforthefirsttimeinournewlyrestoredSchoolHouse ThiswasthemostwellattendedReunioninmytimeasPrincipal,andcertainlysinceCOVIDThisyear’sReunionwelcomed backalumnifromgraduatingyearsendingin ,andweweredelightedtoopenthedoorsonceagaintoPastGrammariansfrom asfarbackas ,celebratingtheir thanniversary.
The Reunion was a wonderful event, where we also showcased the newly installed TGS Museum on the top floor
of School House which already features some wonderful displays I am highlighting this event as it signalled to me the enthusiasm that exists within our alumni to re-engage with the School In the days leading to the Reunion, and in the days following, we welcomed many Past Grammarians who wanted to take a wander around the School, spend some time in the Museum, and, in some cases, donate items of memorabilia
As our Museum continues to grow, we hope that the word spreads that our School is always open to Past Grammarians
Our School Archivist, and former Head of Boarding, Chris Wilson, has been working diligently for almost two years collating and sorting our massive stores of archives He is preparing the Museum as a place for our School community to visit and engage with the history and stories of our School More information about our Museum is included in this publication
We once again invited a Past Grammarian as guest speaker at our annual Cum Laude Awards Ceremonies for Years 5-12, held at the North Ward Campus We welcomed Ms Yvette Griggs from the class of 2003 who spoke of her time at the School and her career journey to date Ms Griggs is currently the Project Technical Manager at Alstom and has enjoyed a career in engineering, particularly in the field of railways and train networks Ms Griggs spoke about the decisions she made throughout her career in terms of choosing roles that best utilised her skill set, as well as matching her personal values
This year we have celebrated some impressive highs with our Past Grammarians, from Steph Kershaw’s (12/2012)
Olympic success with the Hockeyroos, through to Wade
Forster’s (12/2015) crowning as the winner of the 2024 Star
Maker Award in Tamworth We were also honoured to welcome back Colonel Siale Diro DMS OBE (12/1984) who is the Defence Adviser for the High Commission of Papua New Guinea Colonel Diro was our guest speaker for our National Boarding Week Assembly
More broadly, our School has experienced another dynamic and positive year as a community This publication will highlight only some of the wonderful occasions and achievements within our community and I encourage you to follow us on our social channels so that you can keep up to date with our latest news and share in our celebrations
At our most recent Staff Professional Development Day, I took the opportunity to address our teaching staff with a focus on what teaching and learning will look like in the years ahead The educational landscape in which we operate is currently experiencing significant transformation This can be seen in
the demographic trends of new generations;
the challenges of attracting and retaining younger staff
amidst an ageing of the profession;
technological transformations;
curriculum progression;
socialchanges; globalinfluences; customerexpectations;and atransitiontoanewworldofwork
Each of these will have an impact on the strategic and operational planning of schools, and subsequently, the learningthatoccursinthem Inmyattempttolookatthese broadtopics, Ifocusedspecificallyonfourfactorsthatwill influence thelearning of students over thenext decade –technology, the personalisation and customisation of education, mental health and wellbeing, and a consumer approachtoeducationthatisincreasinglytransactional
Thesearemacro issues that affect the wider educational landscapeandwearecurrentlyworkingthroughwhatthese meantousatTGS,whilstkeepingtruetoourSchoolvalues andpurposeofdeliveringabroadandliberaleducation
Educationshoulddevelopinstudentsstrongandtransferable intellectualandpracticalcapabilitiessuchascommunication, analytical, reflectiveandproblem-solvingskills, anabilityto applytheirknowledgeinreal-worldsettings,aswellasasense ofsocialresponsibility
Ultimately,theSchoolaimstoproducefineyoungpeoplewho arereadyandwillingtocontributetotheworldaroundthemin whatevershapeorformthatmaybe
Whilstnavigatingchangestotheeducationallandscape,the education offered must remain true to this: educational programs must seek to be transformational, to develop a depthandstrengthofcharacterthroughlivedvaluesandto guidestudentstolivelifewithasenseofhumilityandservice so they canmake their world, and the worldaround them, betterfortheirpresence
This is the aim that any change the School makes should be seeking to achieve, and it is the responsibility of each of us to provide the culture, structures and opportunities for the community to achieve this
After 136 years of providing a Grammar education to the families of North and North-West Queensland and further afield, I am assured that our School will continue to evolve, adapt and pivot to meet our changing world and continue to deliver an exceptional student experience with leading academic outcomes and a TGS alumni network for life
I trust this edition of The Grammarian Magazine will show you the level of engagement we are enjoying with our community and will encourage you to join in, where possible, to reconnect with your School I encourage you to visit, have a look at our impressive and growing Museum, and share some fond memories
Bonus Intra Melior Exi
TIMOTHY KELLY PRINCIPAL
Bonus Intra Melior Exi
STAFFNEWS
We received notice that four of our long-standing staff members are moving on to new chapters, each of t
Carolyn and Michael have a very long history with Townsville
Grammar School Carolyn herself was a Grammar student, and she and Michael are parents to three children who attended theSchoolfromPrep to Year 12
Carolyn’s journey with the School over 29 years has involved beinga teacher, Head ofFaculty – Science, and, from 2020, the
Director of Curriculum During her time as Director of
Curriculum and member of the Senior Management team,
Carolyn has also been the IB Co-ordinator and, at times, has also acted as Head of Faculty – Educational Support, Head of
Faculty – Drama, and Careers Advisor In her role as Director of
Curriculum, Carolyn has worked across the School, expertly leading and supporting our staff in the delivery of the curriculumfromPrep to Year 12
Throughout Michael’s 27 years, he has been a teacher, Form teacher, Acting Head of Faculty – Mathematics, and, since 2019, Head ofFaculty – Mathematics Together with their three children, the Moores family has collectively spent almost a hundred years at Grammar
Throughout their time at Townsville Grammar School, Carolyn and Michael have always demonstrated their love for the School They have both made a very significant contribution to our School and our wider School community, and we sincerely thank them for their passion, dedication and professionalism which has benefited our students for almost three decades
We wish them the very best for their relocation to Victoria
KRISTELLSCOTT
Kristell has beenanintegral part of our TGS community for 28 years, enrolling an estimated 10,000 students in this time
In addition to her senior leadership role, she is also our office manager, international student co-ordinator, liaison with the Parents Network, and the Interact Club convenor She has been the liaison for the former Black & Gold committee and the Past Grammarians Association, and was also a debating coach and English teacher Until 2019, Kristell managed both the enrolments and marketing programfor theSchool
Kristell has been influential across all aspects of the School, from Pre-Prep to Year 12, in boarding and our international student community Her thoughtful insight and advice has shaped many of our operations and processes and her dedication to our service program through the Interact Club has seen their efforts and contribution go from strength to strength For many, Kristell has been the face of our School, and she has been a positive influence for thousands of families in their decision to enrolat TownsvilleGrammar School
Kristell has an enormous passion for the School and we are indebted to her for her significant contribution that has extended well beyond her position description We sincerely appreciate Kristell’s significant contribution and wishher the very best inher next chapter
MARIOMELCHIORI
t
t
t
t
at T
Grammar School, Mario Melchiori has announced his plans to retire at the end of the year Mario has been a valued and respected member of our teaching team, and we’re pleased to share that he will return next year for some relief teaching
Reflecting on his time at TGS, Mario expressed appreciation for the strong sense of community, the wonderful colleagues he’s worked alongside, and the privilege of teaching young people, a role that he says has kept him busy and energised throughout his career We thank Mario for his incredible contribution to our School, for his professionalism and dedication to his students and the Mathematics Faculty We wish Mario all the best in his retirement
Scholars’Assembly-Classof
ACADEMICOUTCOMES2023
We celebrated the academic achievements of our Class of 2023 at our annual Scholars Assembly on Monday, 5 February 2024, welcoming back our students and their family and friends, and announcing our 2023 Academic Awards
Congratulations
Dux : Saachi Hira
Proxime Accessit: Phillipa Dowling
ATAROUTCOMES2023
TopATAR–9995SaachiHira
MedianATAR–906
52%received99+
268%received95+
505%received90+
866%received80+
Twostudentsreceived100%fortheirsubjects:
SaachiHira(English)
PhillipaDowling(Physics)
StudentsattaininganATARmorethan99:
SaachiHira
PhillipaDowling
FreyaBoggild
SiennaCaniato MaherZulfiquer
IBOUTCOMES2023
Highest IB scores (highest score possible is 45):
Sabeer Nayyar - 43
Evangelos Yiallourides - 42
16 7% received a score of 40+
ACADEMICAWARDS2023
SaachiHira MaryFoley-ElliottMemorialPrizeforDuxoftheSchool
PhillipaDowling
LaurenceEdwardWilkinsPrizeforProximeAccessit
FreyaBoggild
QuickFamilyPrizeforAcademicExcellence
“This is my favourite assembly of the year It is our chance to celebrate the hard work and diligence of our students and to wish them well as they embark on their various pathways It is always evident that working hard and striving for personal best equates to choice when it comes to all post-school options It is fantastic to see students embarking on a wide range of tertiary courses coveringall study areas, indicating that thebroad, liberal education provided at TGS prepares our students for increasinglydiversecareerspaths
It was fantastic to see and talk to so many students and their parents who expressed their genuine appreciation of their time at TGS Regardless of their score or the offer, their gratitude for their teachers and the school is justwonderful "
DRCAROLYNMOORES-DIRECTOROFCURRICULUM
DUX&PROXIMEACCESSITACADEMICAWARDSYEARS6-11
PRESENTEDATTHE THANNUALSPEECHDAY,
YEAR11
AlyssaCurtis CHHodgesMemorialPrizeforProximeAccessit NaomiKutash TAGulliverMemorialPrizeforDux
YEAR10
HariniRamesh ProfessorIanYangPrizeforProximeAccessit GemmaMorris PFRowlandMemorialPrizeforDux
YEAR9
LukeBroadfoot YangFamilyPrizeforProximeAccessit ShreeyaRanabhat PFRowlandMemorialPrizeforDux
YEAR8
AkshayaMallya Parents&FriendsAssociationPrizeforProximeAccessit ClaraWin PastGrammarians’AssociationPrizeforDux
YEAR7
TenilleRound LadiesAuxiliaryAssociationPrizeforProximeAccessit EllaCumming PastGrammarians’AssociationPrizeforDux
YEAR6
AnishSrivastava Parents&FriendsAssociationPrizeforProximeAccessit TienErnChan LadiesAuxiliaryAssociationPrizeforDux
TheAlanDMorwoodAcademicAwardswerepresentedatthe2024CumLaudeAwardsCeremonytoYear12studen
Photograph:BuddPhotography
LESTWEFORGET
ANZACSERVICE
Our School community again gathered in the Quad at the North
Ward Campus for our 2024 ANZAC service, in front of historic
School House, where such ceremonies have been held throughout the School' s history
Thank you to special guest, Wing Commander (WGCDR) Luke
Headley, Commanding Officer 27th Squadron, and to our visiting dignitaries and invited guests, flag bearers, Cadets, performers, staff and students who gathered for this occasion where we remembered those who serve, and who have served, in particular the 60 Past Grammarians who lost their lives in service in WWI, WWII and the Vietnam War
ANZACMARCH
Students from our three campuses were once again proud to march in the Townsville ANZAC parade along The Strand This year they carried posters featuring the photographs, names and details of the sixty Past Grammarians who lost their lives in service in WWI, WWII and Vietnam
LEST WE FORGET
SERVICE
We welcomed Mr Ron Degenhart from the Rotary Club of Mundingburra who presented at our Assembly on his recent visit to the Fatumasse School, Timor Leste Mr Degenhart delivered postcards, written by TGS students, to every student at Fatumasse School, along with a supply of Tetum to English dictionaries Through the help of the Rotary Club of Mundingburra, our TGS Interact Club has this year become a sponsor school for Fatumasse School, Bazartete, Timor-Leste, creating a Sister School relationship We are hoping to continue to develop this relationship to the point where we can look at students travelling to our Sister School and developing a long term partnership that sees a genuine hands-on community service opportunities for our students (pictured above)
ANNUAL
FOOD APPEAL
Across our three campuses, our families once again donated food items for our annual TGS Food Appeal We packed the ute with more than 2000 food items which were delivered to Food Relief NQ The Food Appeal is organised by our
Interact Club members
ZONTA BIRTHING KITS
We warmly welcomed back Beth Snewin from the Zonta Club of Townsville Inc who assisted our Interact students in this year ' s Zonta Birthing Kits project (pictured right) This year we collated and funded the delivery of 200 birthing kits to Uganda The students collated the kits over several weeks before they were shipped overseas to help mothers with little or no assistance during child birth
POSTCARDSOFHONOUR
We welcomed Mr Neville Hines, President of the National Servicemen’s Association of Australian (Qld) Townsville and District Branch to our Assembly at theNorthWardCampus Mr Hines invited students to take part inRSLQueensland Postcards of Honour project In participating, students decorated and wrote messages of appreciation on cards which were distributed to veterans ahead of ANZAC Day Mr Hines is a Past Grammarian and was a class-mate of Malcolm McConaghy, who diedin servicein theVietnamWar
Pictured:OurDefenceCaptains,DylanPriceandLiamClementswithMrNevilleHines, DeputyPrincipal,MrConnorBarrettandDefenceSchoolMentor,MrsMaryGunn
NationalBoardingWeek
BOARDING
As is tradition, our boarders gatheredfor a photo to markNational
BoardingWeek on the stairs of theiconicSchoolHouse - thefirst
boarding dormitory and classroom of the School, built in 1888, picturedabove
We were fortunate to welcome back Past Grammarian boarder,
Colonel Siale Diro (12/1984) to address our Assembly for National
BoardingWeek
Colonel Siale Diro DMS OBE is from Rigo District in the Central
Province of PapuaNew Guineaandis currently basedinCanberra
as the Defence Adviser for the High Commission of Papua New
Guinea Colonel Diro graduated from the Royal Military College of
Australia in 1992, and has served extensively in operational, trainingandstaffappointments Hisachievementsinclude:
AwardedPNGChief ofDefenceForceCommendations in 2004
for performance on RAMSI, 2013 for writing the PNG Defence
White Paper, and 2015 for recovering PNGDF Missing in Action remainsonBougainville
AwardedtheDistinguishedMilitaryServiceMedalin 2011
Awarded theOrder of theBritishEmpirefor his services to the PNGDFin 2017
Colonel Diro spoke beautifully about his time at TGS and in boarding, describing and comparing life in the 1980s, and parting
with some wise pieces ofadvicefor livingagoodandfulfillinglife
"Whatyouthinkiswhatyoubecome "
"Respectandcharacterarewhatmatters "
ICPASTATECONFERENCE
OurSchoolhostedthe2024ICPAStateConferenceDinnerunder
the lights of the tree in the Quad, welcoming more than 300
guests Thetreewaswrappedinfairlylightsthisyearasaproject
oftheTGSParentNetwork(picturedright)
SPORT
NEWDIRECTOROFSPORT& ACTIVITIES
We have welcomed Mr David Enfantie this year as Director of
Sport & Activities and also Director of Rugby David comes to TGS following ten years at Toowoomba Grammar School as coach of the 1st XV, and prior to that he was coach of the Premier Colts at UQ
SOFTBALL
Thank you to Julia Fulton (12/2024) who donated this signed softball from the U18 Australian Softball Oceania
Championships 2023 (pictured below right) This sits proudly in our Co-Curricular Office along with other memorabilia from our TGS sporting legends
CLUBSPORT
Club Sport continued in force in 2024, with four teams in
Rugby, Netball, Rowing and Touch Football Three
Rugby@Home games were scheduled at the North Ward
Campus this year Our U17 and U10 teams both made the
finals series The U17s were eliminated in the minor semifinal but can be very proud of their season
Our Club Netball teams ended the year with success with
Grammar 3 and Grammar 4 taking out the Grand Final
Grammar 12 made it to the Grand Final, but narrowly missed
the win by one point
Our two 1st VIII crews battled it out in the Head of the River Regatta, with both placing second in what was the culmination of a fantastic year on the water A team of 19
TGS rowers travelled to Wyaralong Dam for the 2024 Qld
Schools State Rowing Championships, hosted by Rowing
Queensland with more than 50 schools, and 200 races
Our girls were the winners of the Open Girls at the NQ All
Schools Touch Championships in August, to mark the beginning of what promises to be an excellent season for the Black and Gold
The Under 18 Mixed Touch Football Team put on a commendable performance at this year’s Queensland All
Schools Carnival, showcasing determination and skill against some tough competition Competing against approximately 80
teams, our team finished in 17th place, narrowly missing out on the finals by just one ladder position
RUGBY7S
TGS had a strong showing in the annual TDRU Festival of Rugby 7s, entering 16 teams (boys and girls) from Under 8 to Under 18 Performances of note were the Under 16 Boys, Under 16 Girls, and Under 18 Boys who all finished fourth in their respective competitions
Our Junior School tourists travelled to Cairns for the 2024 Junior School Sports Tour, playing netball and rugby against St Andrew’s Catholic College and Trinity Anglican Schoolfinishing the tour undefeated
FENCING
Our fencing program, which started in 2018, has been extremely popular and is now offered at all three campuses, thanks to Mr Peter Millios of the North Queensland Fencing Academy (NQFA) Congratulations to our 2024 fencing champions and to all fencers on a fantastic season for the Black and Gold
70THANNUALMCKIMMINMILE
The 70th annual McKimmin Mile was run on Friday, 2 August 2024, starting on the Bill Muller Oval, in memory of Past Grammarian, Alan McKimmin who died in 1945, aged 17
PERFORMINGARTS
MUSIC
In 2024, the Music program expanded to include two Taiko Drumming groups, an additional string group, Vivo Strings, and an auditioned based extension choir, Cadenza Chorale These groups have sparked great enthusiasm among students, adding fresh creativity and energy to our performances
Students have been engaged in a full program of School-based performances, community performances, workshops and competitions including another highly successful Townsville
Eisteddfod season and the Australian Concert and Vocal
Competition (ACVC) In Term 3, our Choral Ensembles had the opportunity to perform in the Grammar Sings Concert at St
James Cathedral, followed by the annual Instrumental
Showcase Concert held at the School, for both Junior and Senior groups
THEATRE&DANCE
Students in Years 4-6 had the opportunity to participate in the
School’s inaugural Junior School Production, Alice’s Magical
Adventure, and students in Years 7-9 were involved in the
Middle School Production of Mythical Mosaics: Tales of
Ancient Greece Students in Years 10-12 auditioned for the 2025 Senior School Production of SpongeBob SquarePants The Musical to be held at the Townsville Civic Theatre
Other opportunities for students in Theatre Club included The Scene Project, through Queensland Theatre, where they were challenged to create their own unique 15-minute version of the play, Flowers in Antarctica by Wendy Mocke
Our senior dance students participated in a contemporary dance workshop delivered by Dancenorth Australia The Australian Ballet also visited the School to perform, From the
Gadhu, and delivered a choreography workshop
CO-CURRICULARENSEMBLES
In2024,theSchoolwasproudtoprovidestudentsan extensive,andgrowing,rangeofinstrumental,vocal, theatre and dance ensembles and performance
opportunities:
Dance
GrammarBlack
GrammarBlueandGrammarGold(auditionedgroups)
JuniorSchoolDanceTroupe
ChoralMusic
CadenzaChorale
GrammarSingers
LezomBoysVocalEnsemble
MezzoChoir
SeniorGirlsVocalEnsemble
JuniorSchoolMajorsChoirandJuniorSchoolMinorsChoir
InstrumentalMusic
BigBand,BrassEnsemble,CelticStrings
SymphonyOrchestra,GuitarOrchestra,MaggioreStrings
RecorderEnsemble,TaikoDrumming,WindOrchestra
WoodwindEnsemble,VivoStrings
JuniorSchoolBand,JuniorSchoolYear3Strings
JuniorSchoolAndanteStrings,JuniorFluteEnsemble
JuniorSchoolGuitarEnsemble,JuniorRecorderEnsemble
JuniorSchoolPercussionEnsemble
Theatre
TheatreClub
TheSceneProject
EisteddfodGroups
MiddleSchoolProductionandJuniorSchoolProduction
MIDDLESCHOOLPRODUCTION-MYTHICMOSAICS
This year’s Middle School Production, Mythic Mosaics: Tales from Ancient Greece, was a tremendous success with more than 400 people witnessing our Middle School students bring these ancient tales to life across three performances
This production was a unique collaborative effort, written, choreographed, and directed by our talented Senior School students, showcasing their remarkable leadership and creativity
With more than 100 students involved, the energy and enthusiasm throughout the preparation and performances was palpable The excitement and pride that the students felt after the closing night were truly incredible, a testament to their hard work and dedication
The collective efforts of everyone involved made Mythic Mosaics: Tales from Ancient Greece an unforgettable experience for both the students involved and the audience
JUNIORSCHOOL
BRICKMANCITIESCHALLENGE
Year 4 students were selected as the winning team of the Imagining Townsville Brickman Cities: Build the Future Schools Challenge
The challenge required students to work in teams to confront a problem that young people face in Townsville and design a new building or public space to help solve the problem Year 4 classes at both Annandale and North Shore entered the competition, with our North Shore team placing third
As the winning team, the students won an exclusive class visit to the LEGO® Brickman Cities exhibition at the Queensland Museum Tropics, where they met Ryan 'Brickman' McNaughtknown for his role in the TV series, Lego Masters Ryan Brickman spent time with the class touring the exhibition - a fantastic opportunity and experience
MELIOREXI
The Melior Exi is a year-long program of personal development for students in Year 6 Students undertake physical challenges, community service, and are tasked with learning new skill and presenting this to their peers at the completion of the program
In 2024, Year 6 students from both Junior School campuses embarked on the program Physical challenges included mountain biking and hiking Castle Hill, and the community service component involved cleaning up local neighborhoods and hosting guests from the Good Shepherd Aged Care Home
Students were also tasked with learning a new skill throughout the year under the guidance of a mentor (teacher or member of staff) In Term 4, the students presented their learnings of their new skill to their peers New skills included music composition, coding, cooking, AUSLAN, photography, refereeing and languages
100DAYSOF PREP
Our Junior School campus communities celebrated 100 days of Prep and 100 days of learning on Thursday, 25 July
Students came to to School dressed as 100year olds and engaged in 100-themed games and activities to celebrate this learning milestone
Our 2024 Past Grammarians Reunion took place on Saturday, 10 August, this year with a special focus on the graduating years ending in 4 We welcomed Past Grammarians from 2014, 2004, 1994, 1984, 1974 and 1964/63 Sav
Sa
,
HONORARYLIFEMEMBERSHIP PASTGRAMMARIANSASSOC
At this year ' s Past Grammarians’ Reunion we presented an
Honorary Life Membership to Chris Wilson, former TGS Head of
Boarding and currently the School’s Archivist developing the
Museum The criteria for this honour, as is listed in the Past
Grammarians Association Constitution, states:
"To be considered for Honorary Life Membership, a nominee
should have provided a significant service to the School as a member of the Board, teacher, administrator, coach, staff member, volunteer, or in other ways, such that they are
considered to have made a significant contribution the School or the Association”
Chris joins Brian (BC) Christensen, the late William (Bill) Muller, and former TGS Chair of the Board of Trustees, Judge
Stuart Durward, as recipients of this award - pictured below
y
‘Our Place, Our People, Our Stories - A Collection of
Essays ' is a wonderful trip down memory lane, as the
writer shares reflections, stories and historical accounts
of the School The Past Grammarians Association hopes to produce a series of publications over time
HOW TO ORDER
Copies are available for purchase ($30+ postage) via www tgs qld edu au/pastgrammarians or scan the QR code
L-R:PastrecipientsofanHonoraryLifeMembership-JudgeStuartDurward,thelateWilliam(Bill)Muller,andBrian(BC)Christensen.
2nd annual
We welcomed Past Grammarians from the ‘60s through to 2023 at our second annual Brisbane Catch-Up, held on Saturday, 25 May 2024
We host this event on the same weekend in May each year, and in 2025, it will be held on Saturday, 24 May Invitations will be available in early 2025 via the Past Grammarians Facebook group, the website (www tgs qld edu au/pastgrammarians), and email, providing we have your email address Please email marketing@tgs qld edu au to provide us with your contact details, or to check we have up-to-date information
MELBOURNECATCH-UP2025
WeareplanningaMelbournePastGrammarianscatch-upinthefirsthalfof2025 Victorian-based,PastGrammariancommittee member,DanThearle(1996),isassistingwiththeevent IfyouareinMelbourneandwouldliketohelpout,orattend,pleaselet theAssociationknowviapastgrammariansassoc@tgsqldeduau Informationonthedateandvenuewillbeavailableearly2025,viatheQRcodeabove,andonthePastGrammariansFBgroup
FOURTHGENERATIONGRAMMARIAN
Robyn Townsend, daughter of Stanley Joseph Foster who enrolled in 1927, donated his Old Boys Association badge Robyn believes this badge is from a 1938 reunion celebrating 50 years of Townsville Grammar School
Stanley’s great granddaughter, Lily, is a current student at the School - a fourth generation Grammarian Lily is pictured next to her great grandfather’s badge on display in the Museum
OURMUSEUM,YOURMUSUEM
School House is the historical heart of the School, established in 1888, originally housing boarders on the top floor and classrooms on the lower level School House is a fitting place to hold our stories
The need for a museum has long been recognised It is only with the recently completed refurbishment of School House that this space has become available The museum project was initiated in 2021, and, with funding from the School, the Past Grammarians Association and the Parents Network, the cabinetry was installed in July 2024
We have gratefully received donations of memorabilia from Past Grammarians for inclusion in the Museum Pictured above is Ed
Cattoni (1974) and Steven Young (1974) who both donated School blazers and items of memorabilia which are now on display in the Museum - pictured above
“Justimagineifyoucouldputyourhandononeof thewallsandhavethebuildingtellyouaboutitslife since –andknowyouwerepartofthestory”
JACK CALLCOTT
PAST PRESIDENT OF THE PAST GRAMMARIANS ASSOCIATION
MUSEUMOBJECTIVE
Our objec
tive for the museum is to provide a place to:
Celebrate the rich and diverse history of our School and our people
Share our stories with our alumni, our students, and staff and the broader Townsville community
Foster the bonds between Past Grammarians and their School, and to foster the sense of pride and belonging of current students and an appreciation of our history and significance
Enjoy and engage with the ‘who and what’ we are, a place where our guests can view and learn more about Our People, Our Place and Our Stories
Preserve and display collections, photographs, artifacts, and treasures from our long and rich history, capturing our setbacks and our struggles, our triumphs, and achievements
Provide an opportunity for ongoing school related research
Recognise those who were responsible for the founding of the School and those who have been responsible for our journey
Recognise and celebrate our Past Grammarians
Encourage our community, past and present, to contribute to our ongoing story
It is our sincere wish that visitors to this ‘home of our history’ connect with, and enjoy, the stories of our past We hope that every visit enhances the appreciation of the School and its place in the history of Townsville, Queensland, and Australia
CALLINGFORMEMORABILIA
As our museum evolves and grows, permanent and temporary displays will be curated, to align with our steering objectives Envisaged display ideas include, but are not limited to the following Your ideas and suggestions are valued
BoardofTrustees
Headmasters,Principalsandothersignificantmembers ofstaff
Past Grammarians Association, OldBoys UnionandOld
GirlsUnion
Historicalevents
Ourdefencestoryandconnections
Schooltraditions,songs,uniformsandhats
SchoolHouseand other significant buildings, including
thedevelopmentofourJuniorSchoolcampuses
Historicallysignificantpublications
Bookprizes
Archivallibrarybooks
Booksby,andabout,PastGrammarians
Schoolmagazinesandotherrelevantpublications
Historicallysignificantartefactsandimages
Trophies,medals,badges,pinsandflags
Important aspects in the life of the School such as
boarding,sport,thearts,service,Houses
PastGrammariansofsignificance
We were delighted to welcome Pamela Saal who visited the School to donate some photographs and original letters to the new School Museum Pamela’s connection to TGS dates back to the origins of the School
Pamela’s grandfather was George Foot who attended TGS (enrolled 1896) George was one of five boys, four of whom served in WWI Two of the boys died in the war, and two returned George married Eileen in Townsville Eileen was Godmother to Sybil, who was married to Charles Henry Hodges, the first permanent Headmaster of Townsville Grammar School from 1889-1900
One of the photos Pamela donated is of CH Hodges and Jim Castling, who wrote the music for the School Song, Carmen Townsvillare (pictured right)
Pamela also donated the original letters written by Hodges to Eileen and to Eileen’s mother, Ellen Marshall One of these letters contains an Honour Roll compiled by Eileen
In 2020, the School was presented with George Foot’s rifle from Gallipoli It is on display in School House – Pamela is photographed above, next to this display
George Foot’s diary is held by the Townsville RSL
The School also has copies of the letters that Alexander Foot wrote home to his mother and sister from Gallipoli, including the one he wrote the night before his was killed
We are very grateful to Pamela for her incredible donation to our School Museum
HISTORICPRIZES-2024RECIPIENTS
The historic Chelmsford Cup (the Rugby Cup) and the Mary Agnes Donald Prize were awarded to School Captains, Christian de Jersey and Yasmin Eaton respectively, pictured above
The Chelmsford Cup, sometimes referred to as the Rugby Cup, has a history dating back to 1905 when Headmaster Mr Rowland introduced the Rugby Prize in honour of Mr Hodges, the School’s first Headmaster who taught at The Rugby School in England In 1907, the Chelmsford Cup was presented by Lord Chelmsford, then Governor of Queensland It has evolved over time to become the award for the Best All Round Boy in Year 12
The Mary Agnes Donald Prize was established in 1929 by Dr WH Donald in memory of his mother From 1930-1938, this prize was awarded to the girl who was considered to have best maintained the School’s traditions by her devotion to study and her general conduct From 1939-1980, the prize was awarded to the girl obtaining the best pass in the Queensland Junior E
F
1981, the prize has been awarded to the Best All Round Girl in Year 12
100THBIRTHDAY-WALLYLLOYDTGS1970-1986
Past Grammarian, Steven Young (1974) presented former TGS staff member, Wally Lloyd, with a copy of the publicat
, The History of Townsville Grammar School 1888-1988, signed by Princip
the book, writtenbyKimAllenfortheSchool’scentenaryyear, onlyafewdaysshyofhis 100thbirthday Wally came to Townsville in 1956 and was
to Townsville Grammar School, he started Manual Arts
whenit opened Prior to this, Wally servedin theRAAF
D
inghis time at TGS, Wally started the Manual Arts Centre and w
Master, andmanyformerboarderswillrememberhim
PASTGRAMMARIANSASSOCIATION
OurPastGrammariansAssociationhascontinuedtogrowwithnewcommitteemembers,eventsandincreasedengagementacross thegenerations.
Our Past Grammarians Association has continued to strengthen in 2024 as we work towards the engagement of our alumni across the generations
This year we hosted two Past Grammarians events including the second annual Brisbane Catch-Up on Saturday, 25 May, and our Reunion on Saturday, 10 August 2024
Our 2024 Reunion was another wonderful occasion where we welcomed Past Grammarians from across the decades, this year with a special focus on the graduating classes of years ending in 4 Our Reunion took place for the first time in the newly restored School House, and we attracted a record number of Past Grammarians from 1964 through to the Class of 2014 This year we presented former Head of Boarding and current School Archivist, Mr Chris Wilson, with an Honorary Life
Membership Chris joins the late William (Bill) Muller, Judge
Stuart Durward and Brian (BC) Christensen as former recipients of Honorary Life Memberships of the Past Grammarians Association
The Past Grammarians Association committee supported several of the School’s events in 2024 including the North
Ward Campus Open Day and the ANZAC service We held a
pizza lunch for the Year 12s on their final day of school (pre-
exams) to welcome them to the Past Grammarians
Association A representative of the Association attended the
Year 12 Graduation ceremony, and we gifted each graduate
with a Past Grammarian pin and other memorabilia in the spirit
of welcoming them as the newest group of Past Grammarians
Our major funding project this year was a contribution toward the development of the Museum on the top floor of School House The Past Grammarians Association was
pleased to provide support to this important project, and we were able to provide a ‘soft’ launch to guests at our Reunion event
The Museum is being curated by the School’s Archivist, Chris Wilson, and already houses some fantastic memorabilia from across the decades This is a work in progress and the official launch of the Museum will take place inn 2025 The Museum is open to Past Grammarians who wish to visit, and we are always grateful to receive donations of items of memorabilia
Our Past Grammarians Facebook group has grown to more than 2,200 followers This is an important way of communicating with our Past Grammarians and also provides them with a platform to share their news and information We have plans in 2025 to expand our alumni events to include Melbourne, and possibly Canberra, as a way of broadening our connection with Past Grammarians across the country
JOHN SHORT
PRESIDENT - PAST GRAMMARIANS ASSOCIATION
PASTGRAMMARIANVISITS
1969GRAMMARIANS
We welcomed a group of past students from 1969 predominantly who had a tour of the School, School House and the Museum, pictured above
L-R: Neville Whitfield (8/1969), Rob Callcott (10/1969), Jack (John) Callcott (10/1969), David Lemmon (12/1971), Reg Whitfield (10/1969), Alan Whittle (10/1969), Gary Pappalardo (10/1969)
There were three Form IV (Year 10) classes in 1969 Rob, Jack and Alan were in IV 3 and Gary Pappalardo and Reg Whitfield were in IV 2 along with Greg Norman David Lemmon was School Captain in 1971
PASTGRAMMARIANPANEL
AspartoftheYear12PositivePurposeWeekofactivities, our students enjoyed hearing from a panel of Past Grammarians about their careers post-school The panelists talkedabout how their plans unfoldedafter school-eachtakingverydifferentdirections
Past Grammarian News - Marriages & Births
Lachlan CAVALLIN (1998) and Vashti HALL (1999) married in June 2024 They met in boarding at TGS and have been together for 10 years Their bridal party members were all Past Grammarians, pictured #1
Luke OLHOLM (2010) married Tahlia on 10 October 2024, pictured #2
Sarah BINDER (2012) married Lee Crawford on Saturday, 22 June 2024 Sarah is the Director of Performing Arts at Townsville Grammar School, and Lee has recently joined the team at TGS in the IT Department, pictured #3
Zachary (Zac) LUCAS (2012) married Jade BAXTER (2012) on 31 August 2024 at Airlie Beach, pictured #4
Katherine WILSON (2007) and her partner, Matt, welcomed their baby boy, Kai Ilo Harry, on 21 July 2024 in Townsville, pictured #5
Bronte LYNE (2009) and her partner, Mitchell, welcomed their first child, James Robert Palmer on 1 November 2024 in Brisbane, pictured #6
Saxon LYNE (2011) and his wife, Bree, welcomed their first child, Alexander Carter Woodd Lyne on 9 June 2024 They live in Richmond, Western Queensland, pictured #7
Past Grammarian News
OLYMPIAN-STEPHKERSHAW
We are so proud of Past Grammarian, Stephanie KERSAHW (2012), for her outstanding performance at the Paris Olympics - her second Olympics From the black and gold to the green and gold Steph is pictured (to the right) during her visit to Townsville Grammar School in 2021 where she donated a signed singlet from the Tokyo 2020 Olympics
PASTGRAMMARIANSTAFF
Front row: Karin Poole (1986), Rebecca Bourquin (2016), Kerrina Corrigan (1986), Rachael Pearson (2006), Jake Vaiciulevicius (2011), Kirra Hone (2006), Carolyn Moores (1986), Sasha Lea-Rowell (2021)
Back row: Rachel Harte (2005), Angela Woodward (2001), Sarah Binder (2012), Helen Garner (1989), Susan Case (1990), Lauren Todd (2016), Roop Barring (2018)
Absent: Mia Ohlin (2009), Jenna Fielder (2004), Caitlin Ainsworth (2021), Brendan Young (2001)
Past Grammarian News
Wade FORSTER (2015), was crowned the winner of the 2024 Star Maker Award in Tamworth In 2023 he was honoured to play at the opening of the Tamworth Country Music Festival and, in 2024, the 25-year-old was nominated as one of 10 finalists in the Toyota Star Maker competition On 21 January this year, he was crowned as the 44th Toyota Star Maker, following the footsteps of country music household names like Lee Kernaghan, James Blundell, Keith Urban, Gina Jeffreys, Beccy Cole and many others At the time of writing, Wade's single, Rodeo Romeo, had reached #1 on the 2TM Country Music Chart Pictured above #1
Chelsea SMITH (2020) led the Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA) Graduation Parade as Academy Cadet Captain for 2023 Chelsea was presented with the Chief of Air Force prize by Chief of Air Force (CAF) Air Marshal Rob Chipman AO, CSC Pictured #2
Jordan (Jordy) DUNCAN (2007)
Aquatic Centre in 2024, achie
and
Past Grammarian News
Bianca GRAHAM (1999) made history in London as the first Torres Strait Islander person to complete all six Abbott World Major Marathons Bianca, who was in the first female contingent of the Indigenous Marathon Project in 2011 consummated a thirteenyear journey as she crossed the TCS London Marathon finish line on 21 April 2024 As a seasoned runner, Bianca has travelled the world, racing in the UK, Tokyo, New York, Berlin, Chicago, Boston and on home soil in Australia, For more information on Bianca’s journey, visit https://www imf org au/bianca-graham/ (Photo and information sourced from this website) Pictured above #1
Adom D’AMICO (2009) and wife, Lauren, have been fost
placement of two boys “Opening our h
to
Kate PEDDLE (2004) was elected as Mayor of Flinders Shire Council, pictured #3
Johnty O'BRIEN (2018) on his election as Councillor of Carpentaria Shire Council, pictured #4
Mark WARNOCK (2004) starred in the hit television series Survivor Titans V Rebels in 2024, pictured #5
Past Grammarian News
Tia-Clair TOOMEY (2010) took out the title of 7-Time Crossfit Games Champion in 2024 Imaged sourced from The Female Athlete Project (FB), pictured above #1
Jack GROWDEN (2013) was named in the Forbes 30 Under 30 Social Impact List for Asia 2024 This list brings together some of the brightest young entrepreneurs, innovators and leaders in the world, pictured #2
Holly FORSTER (2020) was named the 2023 APRA All Around #NFR Ariat Australia Aggregate Champion Cowgirl and the Australian Pro Rodeo “All Around Cowgirl “ aggregate at the National Finals Rodeo 2023, pictured #3
Sasha-May FLEGLER (2023) Following her selection in the 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games in Trinidad Tobago, Sasha, pictured below, was this year named one of the 2024 training partners for the Suncorp Super Netball Club, the Queensland Firebirds She was also selected for the Netball Queensland U19 team for the National Netball Championships in Victoria, pictured #4
Dr Lee DUFFIELD (1964) has been elected to the 35th Senate (2022 - 2025) of The University of Queensland
Sid SHARMA (2017) graduated chem/bio engineering from UQ 2023 “I decided to pursue entrepreneurship and startup rather than engineering Three months ago I was accepted into the UQ Ventures ilab program with my startup (musheeco com au) Very early days but continuing to make my own path and and continuing to innovate ”
PASTGRAMMARIANSVale
Charles‘Charlie’DonaldCUNNINGHAM(1948)passedaway August2024
ProfessorRaymondCOOK(1951)passedawayinJanuary2023
KeithMcLEAN(1956)passedawayFebruary2024
ElaineGilbert,neeNILSSON(1957)passedawayMay2024
Luxmore‘Lux’KnethellFOOT(1957)passedawayinApril2024
JohnMaxwellSCOTT(1960)passedawayinAugust2024
LenoreGARLAND(1961)passedawayinAugust2024
DeanSNELL(2001)passedawayApril2024
Thefollowinghavebeensubmittedforpublishinginthe editionofTheGrammarianMagazine.
RAYMONDCOOK(1951)
Professor Cook, pictured above left, was an Australian-born ballet and modern dancer and expert on reconstruction through
Labanotation He attended the Juilliard School where he studied with José Limón and Anna Sokolow, and performed in each choreographer’s works Cook divided his time between teaching, choreographing, performing, and directing in Australia and the U S
At Vassar, Professor Cook was an outstanding professor of dance from 1981 until 1996 in what was then the Physical
Education and Dance Department He literally put the “Repertory” in Vassar Repertory Dance Theatre (VRDT) After Ray arrived, Vassar changed the name of its dance company from Vassar Dance Theatre to Vassar Repertory Dance Theatre since he was an expert in reconstruction via Labanotation and introduced classic modern dance pieces to the Vassar community Vassar dance students welcomed the historical
nature of what he offered and very much enjoyed his leadership in designing VRDT performances at the Bardavon in
Poughkeepsie Professor Cook authored some classroom text materials in Labanotation as well as a few books including The Dance Director, of which he was especially proud
After his retirement from Vassar, Cook continued to do freelance notation projects with choreographers including Martha Graham, Doris Humphrey, José Limón, Anna Sokolow, Helen Tamiris, Alvin Ailey, Miche Fokine, Lin HwaiMin, Walter Gore, Beth Dean, Cecil Bates, Rex Reid, George Balanchine, Lester Horton, Lucas Hoving, Jeff Duncan, and Dan Wagner Vassar was lucky to have benefited from Professor Cook’s many contributions, and he will be deeply missed
WrittenbyElizabethHBradley President VassarCollegePoughkeepsie,NY
LENOREGARLAND(1961)
Lenore,picturedabove,wasenrolledatTGSin1958She wasaproudGrammarianfortherestofherlifeVery capableandclever,Lenorewasundauntedbyanythingor anyoneFromwinningEisteddfodawardsforHighland dancinginKingaroytoimplementingmanyeducational changesinherteachingcareer,Lenoreputherheartand soulintoeverythingshedid-alargerthanlifeborn entertainerwithpersonalityinspadesthatattracted peoplefromallwalksoflife
ShewasanaturalleaderandbecameaprefectinYear12 takinghernewresponsibilitiesveryseriously Lenore attendedKelvinGroveTeacher’sCollegeinBrisbanewhere sheexcelledinherstudies,graduatingin1963and returningtoTownsvilletocommenceherteachingcareer atMundingburraStateSchool
LenoremarriedJeffreyMitchellin1964andspentacouple ofyearsinPortMoresby,PapuaNewGuinea,raisingher familyofthreesonsMovingbacktoBrisbaneshetaughtat thePetrieStateSchoolforoveradecadebefore continuinghercareeratHerculesRoad,KippaRingand EvertonParkStateSchoolsShewaslovedbyherstudents manyofwhomkeptintouchovertheyearsSheregarded thefriendshipsformedinthoseTGSyearsasvery precious
WrittenbyLenore’stwosisters,LoisNishizawa(Garland)and ShelleyKaraloukas(Garland)andbyJudithJohnston(Lovell) andLloydHoneycombe-allPastGrammarians
KEITHMcLEAN(1956)
Keith, was born in Wau, in New Guinea His first home, and life, was in the bush in Papua New Guinea, in a settlement of three houses, far from the nearest small town
His high school education was completed in Townsville and the highs and lows of that experience ran very deeply throughout his life Separation from his Mum (who was effectively single in the
early 1940s, having been evacuated from New Guinea as the enemy forces approached, and moving to Victoria to live with family during the years of the war), to attend Townsville
Grammar School so far away from his home in New Guinea was a momentous time With this background, Keith grew up tough, but sensitive and very poor But not poor of spirit or optimism
This all had a bearing on what made Keith tick He got a lot of pride out of doing things right, whether it was in his work as a
Valuer for Essendon City Council, his jobs around the home, or his volunteering that weaved all through his adult life; the main ones being church, tennis and Probus
Certainly, his links to St Andrew’s ran deeply through his life It’s the place he met Jan (when he joined the tennis club in 1958)
and his wider group of mates that remained close It’s also the
place he poured hours into, through church committees and
responsibilities to the parish, and through his dedication to the
tennis club affiliated with St Andrew’s This dedication
expanded to the wider Essendon & District Church Tennis
Association, for which he was conferred a Life Membership for the many roles he undertook – President, Treasurer, Secretary &
Match Secretary Keith was also awarded Life Membership of the
following: the St Andrew’s Tennis Club, The Essendon & District
Churches Tennis Association, the Municipal Valuer’s Group and the Strathmore Combined Probus Club all of which speak volumes to what Keith gave of himself to these groups
Keith’s love for the people he held close, was marvellously strong and simple One of the most important factors in how
Keith measured fatherhood was whether he did better than the model he grew up with
Keith’s professional life was summed up by one of the key players in the Municipal Valuer’s Group, Loretta Mason, as follows: When Keith arrived in Melbourne from Townsville he commenced work with the State Government in 1957 in the Fair Rents Board, while at the same time enrolling in the Real Estate Management night-time course at RMIT He completed that course and then followed it with a three-year Diploma in
Valuations He graduated at the end of 1961 and then began his
long municipal career, starting as a Cadet Valuer at the City of Moorabbin in 1962 when he joined our Municipal Valuers’
Discussion Group
Heimmediatelybecameinvolvedandcontributedregularlyto ourgrouprightfromthebeginningThisresultedinalifetime offriendships,manyhavinglastedover60yearsIn1967
KeithtookupthepositionofAssistantValuerinhislocal stompinggroundattheCityofEssendon Keithwas appointedCityValuerin1969andremainedatEssendon (whichbecametheMooneeValleyafterthe1994Council
Amalgamations)untilheretiredinSeptember1995
Inretirement,hesoongottiredofdomesticdutiessohewas luredbacktopart-timeworkasavaluationauditorforthe 1996propertyvaluationsatManninghamandMaroondah
CouncilsWhenthattaskwasfinished,Keithresumedmaking anuisanceofhimselfathomeuntilindesperationin1999,he waspersuadedtoassistwithpropertydatacollectionforthe ruralareasofNillumbikandWhittleseaCouncils
Keith' sinvolvementandcontributionwiththeMunicipal
GroupofValuerswassubstantialoverthose60plusyears
During that time, he volunteered on theExecutive
Committeeforeightyears,andbecameChairmanofour
Groupin1983Hewasalong-timememberoftheGroup’s
LegislativeCommitteeandrepresentedtheGroupat
conferencesandsatonStateGovernmentworkingparties
KeithwasadmittedasanAssociateoftheAustralian
PropertyInstitutein1966andwaselevatedtoFellowin1977
TosumupKeith’slife,aboveallwashisloveforJanandhis familyTheybroughthimgreatjoyandpurposeinhisroleof husbandandfatherandmuchlovedgrandfatherTogether theteamofJanandKeithhavecontributedenormouslynot onlytoStAndrew’s,butwhateverareasuchastennisand
ProbustheysupportedKeithlovedlifeandlivedittothefull
withgreatenjoymentandlaughter Hisfamily,friends, workmates,anyonewhohadtheprivilegeofknowingKeith willmisshisuniquepersonality,hisquirksandidiosyncrasies
Keithhasleftalastinglegacy,lovedbyallwhoknewhim
SATURDAY,9AUGUST2025
AReunioneventforallPastGrammarians,withaspecialfocusonthe graduatingyearsendingin .
