It's been a really enjoyable two weeks in boarding at Toowoomba Grammar School, from external exams, boarders activities, cricket matches and Rugby 7s tournaments, there's been plenty happening, as there always is. My conversations with boarders also tell me that the harvest this year is well underway. The majority of boys have suggested it is going to be a good year with some high yields.
Our Year 12 students have begun their external exams with the feedback so far being that the examiners have been kind with their questions. Boarders I’ve spoken with have certainly been feeling confident about their performances in the exams. I've also been really pleased to see the manner in which our Year 11s have begun their leadership journey. On Tuesday night I had the pleasure of taking all of our nominated boarding leaders over to The Glennie School. The boys participated in a public speaking workshop hosted by Dr Kate Foy, an acting lecturer at Griffith University. This event was the first gathering for the 2025 leaders of TGS, The Glennie School and Fairholme College. This collaboration between our three boarding schools is aimed at providing some tangible leadership opportunities for our boarders, promoting strong relationships between boarders.
Excitingly we are also at that time of the year when the projects for the summer holidays are being confirmed. Our Director of Facilities is meeting with me next week to confirm the full program of works. However, I can reveal that Groom and Stephens will be receiving plenty of attention. Chartwells are also looking to refurbish the Dining Hall.
Our activities program hasn’t stopped this term and last weekend has seen a group of Year 10 and Year 11 boys travel down to Manly Boat Harbour to complete their boat and jet ski licence with a practical assessment. The weather wasn’t very nice at the start of the day but thankfully conditions improved. It's been wonderful to see these boys take the opportunity to get to gain some new skills and qualifications. There have also been trips to Kloud9ine, bowling and laser tag. In short, our boarders have really enjoyed the time hanging out with their mates. All of the activities running in the remainder of this term have been confirmed and I encourage parents to discuss these with their sons and sign them up on the Parent Lounge.
As we are now at the halfway point of term, I am confident in saying that preparations for travel at the end of the year are being finalised. As usual, there will be buses down to Brisbane airport. These are available to be booked on the Parent Lounge. The boarders travel day is on Friday, 29 November and the School year concludes with the House Touch Carnival on the Thursday, 28 November. If there is a need to travel before this date, I ask that parents communicate with Mr Mark Oliphant, Head of Senior School, for approval.
This term is flying by and for our Year 12 boys and their families, the countdown has begun as final exams are now well underway. Congratulations to our incoming leaders who have eagerly stepped into their roles, guiding us forward into 2025 and TGS's 150th year.
As I missed contributing to the last Boarders' Telegraph, I’d like to recap some highlights from the end of last term. We held the Annual General Meeting for the BPSG and are thrilled to welcome new parent representatives: Brenda McMillian (Mackintosh House) as Secretary, Toni Gray as Stephens House Representative and Sarah Acton (Taylor House) as Corfe House Representative. A huge thank you to outgoing parent representatives Megan Officer, who served as Secretary and Stephens House Representative for five years and Lisa Baker, our Corfe House Representative this year.
One key discussion topic at the general meeting was planning event dates for boarding families. We’ve started on this by holding a meeting with Nick, available House reps and myself at the start of the term to outline dates for boarding-specific events. Nick has presented these dates at the School-wide calendar planning meeting. We are also committed to creating a Boarding Events Calendar to help our boarding families plan visits for key events well in advance.
Finally, I want to recognise the families who are graduating along with their sons and concluding their boarding journey with TGS. A few families have been invited to share their reflections and offer advice to those beginning or continuing their journey. We will have some more contributions to follow in the next Boarders' Telegraph so stay tuned…
Graduating Parents' Special Feature
Parents Names: David and Leona Bailey
House: Mackintosh
Graduating boy’s name: Tom
Previous Graduating boy/s name’s and year/s graduated: Will in 2020 and George in 2022
Where are you from: Cecil Plains
What year did you start your boarding journey at TGS: 2016
What has been the highlight of your time at TGS: I can’t pinpoint one moment. My time as a TGS parent has been extremely pleasurable and if there was a hat pin for a TGS Old Boys' Mum, I’d be proud to wear one.
What has been the most challenging/hardest time in Boarding at TGS: Tom leaving home when he was 11 years old to board in Year 6, the empty bedrooms and missed birthdays.
What got you through the hard times: Knowing the boys were happy, enjoyed School and having good mates around them.
What are you going to miss the most: The cameraderie of parents on the sidelines on weekends and social events that TGS do very well.
What are you going to miss the least: Buying school uniforms and I’d be lying if I didn’t say, paying the term fees😊.
What is one piece of advice you could give to new TGS parents starting their boarding journey: Go on the journey with your sons. Make the most of all the opportunities to become a part of the TGS parent community. Enjoy watching your sons with their mates around them as often as you can. This is when you recognise that your sacrifices are very worthwhile.
Will, George and Tom Bailey
Parents Names: Will and Megan Officer
House: Stephens
Graduating boy’s name: Stuart
Previous Graduating boy/s name’s & year/s graduated: Henry in 2020
Where are you from: Yelarbon, QLD
What year did you start your boarding journey at TGS: 2017
What has been the highlight of your time at TGS:
There are a few:
seeing both our boys grow into confident and respectful young men
our boys chose different pathways, one a vocational path (when asked if he thought he should proof read his assignments, replied with ‘she’ll be right Mum!) and the other an academic pathway but both received amazing support and guidance from staff
getting to know the boarding staff who look after our boys
the friendships we have been fortunate to make
What has been the most challenging/hardest time in Boarding at TGS: When your child is unwell or injured at sport.
What got you through the hard times: The nursing staff at the Health Centre are simply amazing. They always ensure the best of care.
What are you going to miss the most: This is the final year of our boarding school journey. We’ll miss most just visiting the School and seeing them enjoy this time in their lives. That and chatting with their mates… the boys are always keen for a chat!
What are you going to miss the least: The many miles back and forth and the School fees…(can I say that!?).
What is one piece of advice you could give to new TGS parents starting their boarding journey: If they are not ringing or contacting you as often as you would like then it generally means they are busy with their mates and happy….enjoy this!
Stuart and Henry Officer
BPSG House Representative Details
Please do not hesitate to reach out and connect with me and/or your House Representative if you need help, we are all here to support you on your TGS boarding journey.
Since I last wrote to you, it feels like there has been a lot to celebrate in Boyce House. Firstly, winning the Headmaster’s Shield was testament to the boys’ engagement with the various house events over the course of the year. However, our diligence scores, where we finished bottom of the pile for Term 3, made the competition closer than it could have been. That said, we have been provided with a ready-made focus for 2025 – improve the work ethic on display in the academic area of the School.
For the meantime, the boys have enjoyed a zooper dooper – the latest piece of Australian slang I have encountered – during last week’s House meeting. The newly installed house leaderboard in the Assembly Hall, gifted to the School by this year’s senior cohort has brought a further smile with Boyce proudly sitting on top.
Secondly, our Year 12 farewell House meeting provided a platform for the journeys of each of our seniors to be celebrated and shared. Jack, House Vice-Captain, was announced as the Boyce Senior Boarder of the Year and Stirling became the ninth Man of Boyce in recognition of his efforts to go above and beyond for the House during his time at TGS. We were very well-represented during the Year 12 Awards Assembly, with the presentation of the following prizes:
Dom – The Bell Prize for Best All Round Sportsman of 2024, Pro Summa Diligentia Award, Dr George Fielding Award for Application and Diligence
Stirling – James and Rita Bain Scholarship to the University of Queensland Gatton Campus
Sam G – First V Basketball Defensive Player of the Year
Hamish – Dr George Fielding Award for Application and Diligence
Keahn – Representative Basketball Award
Connor – Representative Cricket Award
With the ATAR exam block now firmly underway for many of this group; English, Engineering and Psychology are amongst the subjects boys have already ticked off. As well as the traditional Year 12 end-of-year events, on the horizon we also have the Year 12 Father and Son Breakfast on Wednesday, 13 November. Invites have already been sent for this event; however, please do reach out if you have any questions.
As attention begins to shift to what comes next, Meg and I enjoyed firing up our pizza oven with the Year 11s and talking about what they want their senior year in Boyce House to look like. There is no shortage of energy within this group and I am confident they will throw themselves into any initiatives they propose. First up is going to be Taco Tuesday Touch on Tuesday, 12 November, where we will combine tacos with a touch competition as a House event. Well done to Tom T on demonstrating his alliterative flair when coming up with the name!
Our 2025 student leaders, Archie B and Hugh as 2025 House and Vice-Captain, have kindly contributed the below words to reintroduce themselves to the Boyce Community.
Archie Beckwith - 2025 Boyce Boarding House Captain
"My name is Archie Beckwith and I am the 2025 Boyce Boarding House Captain. I am from Walgett in Northwest New South Wales, where my family run a broadacre and livestock property. Things I have enjoyed the most this term include hanging out with my mates of an afternoon and playing touch footy and table tennis. My highlights from this year have been weekend golf with mates, the Boyce Boarders Formal Dinner and the tennis competition in Term 1. In 2025, I’m looking forward to getting to spend my last year at TGS with a great group of blokes. My goals for 2025 as House Captain are to improve our sense of belonging, ensuring everyone is getting involved and feels welcome in Boyce."
Hugh Coffey - 2025 Boyce House Boarding Vice Captain
"My name is Hugh Coffey and I am the 2025 Boyce House Boarding Vice Captain. I am from Roma, which is about four hours Southwest of Toowoomba and when at home I spend my time working on our cattle property. Before moving to Roma in 2016, I spent my early years growing up on a massive property in Northern Queensland. Both these places, along with Grammar, have sculpted and made me the young man I am today. I have learnt to be a hard worker, resilient, a team man first and have been lucky to learn from many good leaders throughout my life.
One of my highlights from this year in Boyce would have to be beating Taylor in the House of Origin game on State of Origin night, which sets our record 2-0. We went into the game as underdogs, with more junior boys then seniors in the team, but all the boys came together and got the job done. I love the unity of Boyce House the most. It is events like these that bring the whole House together and where all boys and staff come together as a family.
Coming into 2025, I would like to maintain our strong culture and Boyce brand, representing the Triple H code. This code stands for hard work, humility and house. In 2025 Archie and I, alongside the rest of our cohort look to lead from the front, representing the House with pride and setting an example for boys to follow. This, whilst being the best leaders we possibly can, but also being great members of the House and serving it in our senior year."
Although the pace of birthdays seems to have slowed, we have celebrated Josh’s 17th birthday with the now firmly established brownies, song and photo routine. Josh is extending his birthday celebrations, alongside Elijah and Will, with a Geography field trip to the Gold Coast this week! This, after Elijah and Emmanuel return from mentoring and coaching the Year 7 basketballers at the Sophomore CBSQ tournament.
Our mountain bikers, Alex, Chris, Cooper B, Mitch and Rory, all continue to be active with the forthcoming return ride from Toogoolawah to Colinton certain to provide some thrills. Cricket and football training are also beginning to involve greater numbers, whilst rugby sessions re-start in Week 6 for those invited to trial for first team involvement. On a rugby front, Sam P recently represented the Queensland Royals and Rhymen has now returned from extensive commitments playing for the Western Force. Furthermore, Henry, Tom H and Myles all competed at the Queensland Rugby All Schools 7s competition last weekend, with both the U15 and U18 teams remaining competitive throughout the two days of fixtures.
Plainly, whilst Term 4 can be viewed as a slightly quieter time of year there is still lots going on. At home, I am aware this can be the busiest time of year for many of our families. Please do let me know if we can help to facilitate any necessary leave arrangements, with a polite reminder to request leave from the day school through Mr Oliphant, Head of Senior School.
John Troxler Head of Boarding - Boyce House
Corfe House
Corfe Courier
A Word from Henry White, Head of House
Dear Corfe Families of 2024
Please excuse me for what is a comparatively brief edition of Corfe Courier. In summary, I’m saving the best until last and look forward to writing my end-of-year wrap, including final announcements and achievements, which will be outlined next fortnight.
This fortnight, things have been business as usual – we’ve had some hiccups behaviourally with boys testing boundaries and feeling adrift as end-of-year fatigue and the emotions surrounding the transition to senior boarding take hold. It’s natural that our boarders, particularly Year 7s, experience this patch around the midpoint of Term 4 as their sense of belonging within the house is tested. They begin to realise that there are only a few weeks left of being a Corfe Boarder and that bonds made with boys from other houses will soon be tested as they part ways. What's more, they begin to sense that all that has become familiar will soon be lost. There is a mixed sentiment of excitement and trepidation. Similarly, our Year 6s begin to sense the imminent change and can find it challenging navigating this space, often feeling a sense of loss and the fear of missing out.
With little news this fortnight, I invite you to review the summary of our first Year 7 Transition Afternoon on Sunday, 27 October below and the following details concerning end of term planning.
An Update on the Senior Boarding Transition
Last Sunday, 27 October, Corfe House Year 6s and 7s joined the Senior Boarding House Captains and Vice Captains for informal introductions, dinner and a pretty impressive game of Grammar touch football.
I was impressed by the calm patience and guidance displayed by the cohort of leaders for 2025 and was encouraged by what I heard when listening in to their small group conversations. The Corfe boys asked plenty of pertinent questions – house layout, routines, opportunities for leave, prep time – and the senior leaders took the opportunity to relay supportive comments and set the tone for next year. Interestingly, each group appeared to follow a similar theme relating to ‘mindset’. The seniors astutely acknowledged that things were about to change for the Corfe boarders and this can be both exciting and unsettling for some. They also reminded the boys to make the most of their time over these last few weeks and enjoy the remaining time together as “you won’t get it back”.
For the remaining weeks this term, Corfe House will enjoy Senior Sunday Arvos in their respective senior boarding houses, commencing with House BBQs, followed by House Assemblies and Senior Prep.
As we look
ahead, I felt it timely to begin setting a runway for the end of term planning.
On Thursday, 21 November (Week 8), Corfe Year 7s will begin to
pack their bags, empty their cubicles and carry their belongings up/down the
hill to their respective senior boarding houses before returning to Corfe to
complete a deep clean, tidying individual and communal spaces.
On Friday, 22 November (Week 8), Corfe Year 7s will enjoy the
Corfe Formal Graduation dinner, in the company of staff and 2024 Year 10
Service and Leadership Residents. During this time, the Year 6s will take part
in their final Junior School Twilight Concert. During this dinner, we will
announce the Contribution to Corfe Recipient and, at the event’s conclusion,
invite the 2025 Senior Boarding Prefects to escort the boys to their respective
houses for their first night in senior boarding.
As such, Corfe Year 7s will conclude 2024 in their senior
houses, whilst the Year 6s will remain for Week 9 to enjoy the 2025 Boarding
Sleepover on Sunday, 24 November with their future housemates.
I will communicate this detail again in the next Corfe Courier,
as well as instructions concerning end of year holiday leave.
Henry White Head of Corfe House
Groom House
Groom Gazette
Four more weeks to go
We are nearly there - where "there" is I am not always certain, but it is close!
The house seems like a very good place to be at the moment. The boys are (usually) ticking along nicely, building strong relationships across all grades out on the ovals and in the House. Prep time seems to be running efficiently, with a number of Year 11s beginning to realise that their assignments and assessments are suddenly becoming significantly more important. It is such times that make this a fabulous place to work and my daily duty reports from the other members of the team suggest that I am not the only one thinking this. This is not to say that teenage boys don't perpetually try to push the envelope but their mature understanding of the benefits of our processes is great to see.
Unfortunately I have been away on a couple of occasions over the past two weeks for some professional development and the Year 11 Geography fieldtrip (more on this shortly). Nevertheless it is reassuring to know how wonderfully the Groom staff are looking after your sons.
Transition to 2025
The Year 12s are steadily finishing their final exams and the Year 11s are doing an extraordinary job of continuing their leadership journey with great confidence.
This said I think the most exciting talk around the house is when boys are going to move into their new rooms! This process will have started by the time of publication of this article, with the Year 11s moving into their prime locations, soon followed by the rest of the house, so leaving space for the new Corfe boys to move into their new dorm for the last weekend and week of term. This is a relatively new initiative which has proven invaluable to reduce any anxieties (boys and parents) that may be present over the long holiday and allow the boys to have a better experience of what their next few years at TGS might look like.
As part of this Corfe-to-Groom transition process there have been a number of integration events over the last few weeks and a few more to come. Last Sunday, Ed Webster and Roy Bredhauer joined the juniors for a BBQ and activities. Here is Roy's thoughts on this event:
"Last Sunday, Ed and I, along with the other houses' Year 11 boarding leaders, spent the afternoon with the Corfeys out on Old Boys' Memorial Oval. It was a great chance to get to know some of the Corfe boys, in particular the ones making the transition into Groom House at the end of the term. Much of the afternoon was spent playing touch footy, but it also gave the Corfe boys an opportunity to ask any questions about their senior boarding houses and how they are run. Overall, it was a great afternoon and definitely beneficial towards the Year 7s transition into their senior boarding house."
Groom Success in TGS Rugby 7s
Club 7s has continued over the past couple of weeks at the Highfields Sports Complex. This has been a great outlet for the boys' energy - especially those who are not taking part in pre-season cricket training or club matches. Unfortunately this was cancelled last Thursday due to a storm; even our regular gym goers aren't strong enough (yet) to wrestle lightening.
Special mention must go to Declan Cameron and Jonah Allen who headed down to Brisbane last weekend to represent TGS in the All Schools Q7s competition, in the U15s and Opens respectively. Their reports are below.
Declan Cameron (U15s)
The U15’s all schools 7s team had a great weekend as we came 1st for our own pool and 4th overall out of 16 teams. On day 1, we won all three games which put us into a guaranteed quarterfinals spot. We won our quarterfinal 31-5 against Nambour Christian College but lost to Brisbane State High School in the semifinal, 22-10.
The U15s Q7 Team - Declan Cameron, front row (second from the right)
Jonah Allen
Sevens began two weeks before the competition day with both the U15 and U18 teams training twice a week, being prepared well by their coaches the teams took on Saturday with the U18 team winning 2 out of 3 of their games on Saturday putting them second in the pool. Sunday was an early start, unfortunately losing to King's then finishing off their day with another 2 wins placing them fifth out of 14 schools overall.
Nick Denny (Taylor) and Jonah Allen at the All School Q7s
Chris Stearn Head of Boarding - Groom House
Mackintosh House
Mackintosh Mail
Unplugged 24 - A Day of Reflection on Technology Use
The recent Unplugged 24 event at our boarding house sparked a variety of reactions among the students. While some were enthusiastic and eager to participate, others were more questioning the benefits of a day without screens. However, the day proved to be a success, fostering a more sociable environment. Students were seen engaging in outdoor activities and having meaningful conversations, in contrast to many of their usual screen-focused routines.
This experience has prompted me to reflect on the role of technology in our children’s lives. Observing a teenager ask their phone to calculate the hours between 11:20 AM and 1:50 PM highlighted a growing dependency on devices for even the simplest tasks. This reliance raises important questions about the impact of technology on our children’s cognitive development and social skills. There were some of our boys commenting about making these types of days more frequent and reducing the time on games and small screens. This movement underscores the importance of balancing technology use with offline activities to promote mental wellbeing and human connection.
As we navigate this digital age, it’s crucial to consider the following questions:
What aspects of technology are we truly comfortable with?
Are we prioritising our children’s happiness over their long-term wellbeing by allowing unrestricted screen time?
Are mobile and small screens essential, or is convenience driving their use?
How do we, as parents and educators, contribute to screen use?
What strategies can we implement to effectively limit screen exposure in our settings?
Which types of screens and content are acceptable?
How can we ensure our children are safe and not falling behind in essential life skills due to excessive screen time?
These questions are not meant to dictate actions but to provoke thoughtful consideration and discussion about our relationship with technology. By reflecting on these points, we can better understand how to create a balanced and healthy digital environment for our children. Many, maybe a majority of young people, struggle to moderate their use of mobile small screens and gaming. How do we help them? It is important that we all, including them, look at the long and short-term impacts of behaviours around technology use.
I have attached a copy for the TGS Boarding Technology Procedures for you to read. We will be revisiting these procedures with the boys.
It is important that boys only have their permitted devices at School, one mobile phone and their School laptop. If a student wants to bring another device to School, including but not limited game consoles, tablets / iPad, VR sets, they need approval to bring them and then they may only be used on weekend and in common areas. Additional technology needs to be locked away from Sunday evenings until Friday afternoon each week.
What's coming up
Thursday, 7 November 2024 – Years 7 to 11 Prize Reading
Tuesday, 12 November 2024 – Year 12 Final Roll Call and Assembly
Wednesday, 13 November 2024 – Year 12 Fathers Breakfast
Wednesday, 13 November 2024 – TGS Year 12 Formal
Saturday, 16 November 2024 – Milne Bay Inflatable Aquatics Activity
Saturday, 23 November 2024 – Theme Park Boarders Activity at Wet'n'Wild
Wednesday, 27 November 2024 – TGS Speech Day and Prize Giving
Thursday, 28 November 2024 – House Touch Football Competition
Thursday, 28 November 2024 – Holidays Commence at 3:10pm
TGS Cadets - Cadet Bivouac: Ex Lighthorse - Kindilan Camp
Reflections from Dustin Allen - Year 9 Mackintosh Boarder
"Over the weekend, TGS Army Cadets held Exercise Lighthorse at camp Kindilan, the cadets kicked off strong and jumped straight into a raft-building activity. This really tested and promoted important skills such as teamwork, communication and planning. We were quickly split into four separate teams of six people each; after receiving instructions, we got to building. Our raft was made of four blue barrels as the main floating elements and we bound them together securely using ropes and logs to create a stable floating device. This experience was very fun to get stuck into with mates and even though ours fell apart, we had a lot of fun constructing and swimming around on our little raft.
One of my favourite activities that required teamwork to achieve a common goal was Jacob’s Ladder, a vertical structure made of various suspended pieces of large timber. As they go higher, they spread wider apart, creating an even greater challenge as you go on. Successfully reaching the top of the ladder required seamless teamwork and dedication from each individual climbing. Each step presents a challenge, as the climbers have nothing to lean against for support. The fact that everyone was involved in one way, or another personally made this activity very enjoyable and memorable, whether it be the climbers who went up or the teammates watching from the ground holding a pulley system to ensure your safety in case you lost balance.
In conclusion, the entire time spent at this camp was memorable and will be a core memory for the rest of my life. The delicious pavlovas and the amazing food they provided will forever be appreciated. In addition, the long and full conversations held at the dining tables as we enjoyed the delicious food were always entertaining. Whether it be at the table or during improvised stories before bed with mates, the fellow cadets that you are constantly surrounded by are so welcoming and great to be around that I couldn’t think of a moment I was unsatisfied or unentertained during the camp."
End of Term 4 and 2024 School Year
Amazingly, we are planning for 2025 and the end of Term 4, 2024. This is exciting but also scary. In preparation for the last week, the boys are currently organising our Secret Santa event, which they have always loved. The guidelines about these Secret Santa gifts are that they should be thoughtful personal gifts, not just chocolates, to the value of $10 to $20. The boys will generally be buying for another boy in their year group. Wrapping paper will be provided in the boarding house. We will hold the Secret Santa in the final week of term.
The final day of the school year is Thursday, 28 November 2024. On this day, the boys compete in the House Touch Football Competition, a significant event that kicks off the Headmaster Shield for 2025. All boys must be present and participate to set a positive tone for the upcoming competition.
All boarders are expected to take home all personal items for the summer break, including clothing, uniforms and bedding. Boys mustn't leave items in their cupboards during the break. The only items permitted to stay at School are the boys' bedside tables and fans, which can be stored in our ground-level storeroom. We will work closely with our boys who fly home for the holiday on how to manage their items.
TGS will communicate about the bus transfers and booking these on Parent Lounge. Please remember to communicate all the details of your son's flights in both REACH and the bus booking.
Please don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions about the end of the school year or travel arrangements. Remember if you must leave before the official end of term, please seek approval from Head of Senior School, Mr Mark Oliphant.
Brad Allen Head of Boarding - Mackintosh House
Stephens House
Stephens Sentinel
Welcome to the penultimate issue of the 2024 school year
Year 12 day and boarding students going hard at their external exam study
I hope all is well as we approach the final rush of assessment for 2024 and reports are written – documenting the end of the 149th year of TGS and our thoughts turn to the excitement of what next year will bring.
Towards the end of last week (Week 4) – Hamish Finlay travelled to the Aquathon State Trials at Dalby. For those of you who are unaware of the demands of this event, Hamish had to swim 200 metres and run two kilometres. I am delighted to write with the news that Hamish was the winner of his section age group and whilst he is entitled to move up to the State Championships, he has made a call to give this a miss on this occasion, citing that there is ‘too much on his plate’. A lovely problem to have.
In today’s episode, I am going to be writing about ‘work’ and screens - two issues that I am passionate about. Increasingly, many people see ‘work’ as something to be shirked until absolutely necessary. The right to ‘bludge’ is one of those creeping 21st
century threats to the natural order and I wanted to give over some space to those boys in the house who have a work story – why they do it, where they work and what, beyond a bit of extra spending money, they are getting from it.
Next episode will see formal photos, graduation updates and much excitement, however, please forgive me for a bit of a more serious Stephens Sentinel.
Men at Work in the Land Down Under
Mac Sanderson at Saddle World
I hope you noted and appreciate my first musical segue above in this publication!
Growing up in the 1980s in the United Kingdom was not a great time for work. Kids either took a newspaper delivery round – with a 6:15am start, or a better-paying milk delivery round, with a 5:00am kick-off. Suffice to say, yours truly was popping the Daily Mail, The London Times and The Sun through letter boxes before heading off to school.
Since arriving here, it has been interesting to see that a part-time job and boarding school are not necessarily natural bedfellows. The work ‘action’ tends to begin when the school term ends and, as is evidenced on a near-daily basis, your boys are set to task on your property. On the whole it appears most of our boarders are happy with that arrangement.
Bucking that trend here in the house, we have seen Gilbert and George heading home to the property every weekend to get on with the vital tasks that are going to keep Boolah as a benchmark for productivity. We have Ethan headed to Ipswich on a couple of days each week to work as an apprentice for a builder and lastly we have Year 9 boy Mac Sanderson heading up to Saddle World for two to three shifts per week as a store worker/customer services assistant. I will always support any of the boys in the house that want to try and get a few hours per week of paid employment – just this week, Xavier de Ceuster has had a chat about working on a horse property in return for riding lessons and Mitchell Birch has been making inquiries about work options up at Eastville.
In my experience, students who juggle work and sports commitments with their studies become creatures of good habits. Time management, focus and people-centred (being customer-facing or becoming a specialist) is a fantastic way to earn some money and a good deal of credibility. In these times of unprecedented vacancies, if you have a gap in your sporting schedule, have a think about a local part-time job.
Unplug 24 - The Need to Disconnect
I am and have been for some time, something of a ‘phone sheriff’ – I am also and I am not sure if this is a good thing – as a historian – a frequent proponent of anecdotal evidence over empirical data, however I see a need for both!
In the case of screens and phones, for a few years now, I have been increasingly concerned about the amount of time that we, as a society, spend with our necks cricked, our heads bent and our eyes squinting – at screens. Regrettably, I include myself in this statistic. As adults, it is incumbent upon us to model what 'good' and 'right' looks like.
We are storing up a whole world of pain, physical and emotional - damage that we are doing to our bodies and minds, however, the psychological and mental health damage can only be speculated on and we have to do everything in our capacity to support young people positively and appropriately.
The purpose of Unplug 24 was to ‘encourage’ young people to give social media a break for 24 hours, however I decided to amend the ‘rules’ and withdraw screens and devices – except televisions and laptops in prep. I think (anecdotal evidence incoming) that some of our boys may be addicted to their social media platforms and their devices and we, as a School, are always looking to advance and support policies that are both fair and balanced.
Unplug24 was, for me, a confirmation that we need to see screens differently - changing our relationships with anything, if we are addicts, is not easy but the rewards are massive. The boys talked to each other, played cards with each other and the board games came out for the first time in a long while.
The link that I have added here seeks to explain addiction and offers suggestions for all of us around how we can seek to regain a sense of balance. The ‘pacifier effect’ of devices as soon as school ends is interesting to observe and this is something that I am keen to address in 2025 through discussions with staff, boys and parents.
Much like the classic road trip question asked by my daughter Emilia every time we get in the car, “Are we there yet?”, perfectly captures the anticipation shared by both our boys and staff as we move toward the end of the year. While there’s still a bit of the journey left, this term has been full of progress and positivity.
A special mention goes to our Year 12 boys, who have tackled their final external exams with dedication. Not only have they been immersed in study and thoughtful discussions on philosophical concepts, but they have also continued to support their Taylor House mates. On behalf of all of us in Taylor House, we wish them the best of luck as they complete this milestone.
Many of our boys have also been hard at work outside of school, contributing to family harvests on weekends or even spending a week at home to ensure the grain from the strong yielding crops get in the bin. Congratulations on your effort, dedication and resilience, particularly to Lewis Anderson, Will Slack-Smith and Louis Brimblecombe.
As we look forward, we’re excited to welcome our younger Corfies as they prepare to join us in Taylor House. The transition may feel a bit daunting, but the upcoming weeks will be filled with opportunities for everyone to connect. This Sunday, we’re kicking off our first official transition event with a House BBQ, an ideal setting for new and existing members to get acquainted. By the end of the term, our new Corfies will spend a week with us, allowing them to get comfortable with their surroundings and their Taylor “big brothers.”
Looking ahead to next year, we’re introducing a new leadership opportunity for our Year 10 boys. They will lead a dorm of younger students (Years 8, 9, and 10) throughout Semester 1, fostering connections, setting standards and guiding their housemates through the transition period. It’s an exciting chance for our Year 10 boys to build leadership skills and deepen the bonds within our Taylor House community.
This term, all boarders participated in Unplugged 24—a challenge to spend a day free from phones and limit laptop use outside of class and study hours. Although some found it difficult, the experience was overwhelmingly positive, sparking conversation, games and quality time with staff. We look forward to incorporating similar initiatives next year to give everyone a break from the constant presence of technology.
The boys’ successes this term have been acknowledged in our weekly house meetings, but a few standout achievements are worth highlighting:
Will McKay – Excellent Performances at GPS Track & Field
Nick Denny & Adam Davis – Strong Efforts at GPS Track & Field
Goy Yous – Selected for Queensland U15 FUTSAL Team
Rupeni Baravilala – Selected for U16 Queensland Reds
Hayden Watts – Player of the Match in Touch
James Petersen – Completed a 20km run at Hike for Homeless
Nick Denny competing in the GPS Open Shot Put
As we prepare for the close of term, Taylor House will also be receiving some exciting upgrades! New chairs have already arrived and we’re awaiting new sofas, adding comfort and a fresh look for everyone to enjoy. As a reminder, please plan for the logistics of bringing all personal items home for the holidays. Only bedside tables and fans can be stored, so all other belongings need to go home.
Finally, House Touch is just around the corner—a key event and a crucial opportunity to work toward winning the Headmaster’s Shield for 2025. We came incredibly close this year, narrowly missing out to Boyce House by only three points. Let’s bring our best energy next year and aim to secure the Shield! For those arranging end-of-term travel, please ensure plans accommodate this important day, as full participation is essential. Remember to submit travel details as early as possible so we can assist with any arrangements. If you must leave earlier than the official end of term, please request leave from the day school through Mr Oliphant, Head of Senior School.
Term 4 Special Events
Thursday, 7 November 2024 – Year 7 to 11 Prize Reading
Tuesday, 12 November 2024 – Year 12 Final Roll Call and Assembly
Wednesday, 13 November 2024 – Year 12 Fathers Breakfast
Wednesday, 13 November 2024 – TGS Year 12 Formal
Saturday, 16 November 2024 – Milne Bay Inflatable Aquatics Activity
Saturday, 23 November 2024 – Theme Park Boarders' Activity at Wet'n'Wild
Wednesday, 27 November 2024 – TGS Speech Day and Prize Giving
Thursday, 28 November 2024 – House Touch Football Competition
Thursday, 28 November 2024 – Holidays Commence at 3:10pm
