I am honoured to be asked to write about my experience as a female teacher at TGS, having started here in 1988 teaching French, English and Social Studies.

My late husband was a teacher, and our four children are all teachers, which we encouraged them to do because it is the best job in the world.

It’s hard to believe I’ve been here for 36 years, working under four Headmasters: Mr Bill Dent, Mr Hugh Rose, Mr Peter Hauser and now Dr John Kinniburgh. I still drive into the School each day and smile, looking at the beautiful place it is — magnificent ovals, gracious trees and historically significant buildings. It is difficult to express the privilege I feel at being the longest-serving female teacher in the School’s 149-year history.

The real reason I have stayed here for so long is the boys. I do not teach many of them now but I have fond memories of many Old Boys.

“I love sharing my days with talented, thoughtful and down-to-earth young men who make me laugh and always show me kindness and respect.”
Mrs Lynnette Yeabsley, Teacher of French - Senior School

I have witnessed enormous changes, not only to the School’s infrastructure (the W.M. Dent Library, Heenan block, Dr J.M. Blaikie Health Centre, The Pavilion, Junior School, Hugh Rose Centre, P.B. Hauser Aquatic Centre and Glen McCracken Sports Centre did not exist when I started) but also to the make-up of the teaching staff. In 1988, there was only one other full-time female teacher out of 60.

I aspired to take up a range of promotional roles, not to be the first female in these positions, but because they were things I really wanted to do. It was not straightforward to get promoted in an all-boys school. When I first applied for Housemaster in 1993, my application was rejected because “the School was not ready for a female Housemaster, and there would be Old Boys rolling over in their graves at the thought.”

However, I was persistent. In 1996, Headmaster Mr Hugh Rose appointed me Housemaster of Freshney House. I loved being a Housemaster. My assistant, Mr Craig Harris, and I made a formidable team and our House often won the Headmaster’s Shield.

To have become the first female Head of Department (2001–2014) was just as important to me as I have always promoted Languages as a subject.

When Headmaster Mr Peter Hauser in 2006 appointed me as the inaugural Director of Pastoral Care and the first female on the School Executive, that truly was a great honour.

I am humbled to have been a pioneer in these roles for women at TGS. What was important was not how I saw myself but rather that if other women saw that I could do these roles, so could they. There are now many ladies in these roles, having mastered and perfected them.

Lynnette Yeabsley, Teacher of French - Senior School

I consider that we have a good balance at TGS, as it is essential at an all-boys’ school to have strong male and female role models if we are to achieve our purpose and vision as a School of promoting the values of honesty, kindness, collaboration, respect and integrity.


Latest Blog

Junior School
/
Tuesday, 19 Dec 2023

TGS Mates Program - Character Building Education

Current research into character education has shown that educators should not be focusing solely on preparing students for their Year 12 final exams but should be supporting them to become humans who exhibit good character and virtues to contribute to creating a healthier society (The Jubilee Centre, 2022). The Jubilee Centre, which is attached to the University of Birmingham in the UK, maintains that good character is the foundation for improved attainment, better behaviour, increased…

Read More
Old Boys
/
Tuesday, 19 Dec 2023

Our TGS Old Boys' Wall of Achievement

The next time you visit the School grounds, pause for a moment at the Toowoomba Grammar School Old Boys' Wall of Achievement. This concept was the initiative of the then Deputy Headmaster, Mr Roger Buttenshaw, and was supported by the Board of Trustees, Headmasters Mr Hugh Rose and Mr Peter Hauser, and the TGSOBA - Toowoomba Grammar School Old Boys' Association. The opening of the Wall of Achievement took place in 2003. Thousands of TGS Old Boys have gone on to lead productive and valuable…

Read More
The Arts
/
Tuesday, 19 Dec 2023

A Musical Reflection

As Director of Performing Arts, there is perhaps no bigger undertaking than a School musical. It requires an enormous effort from a huge team of teachers and students, and to get all these moving parts heading in the same direction is certainly no mean feat. The 2023 co-production of Footloose was my first time involved in a Toowoomba Grammar School and Fairholme College musical, and I found it to be a very rewarding, though exhausting, experience. The process began in Term 3, 2022, as my…

Read More
Sports & Activities
/
Tuesday, 19 Dec 2023

TGS Success in GPS Sport

In 2023, Toowoomba Grammar School witnessed a remarkable resurgence in several of our sports programs, marking a year of triumph and growth. Although an elusive GPS premiership did not fall our way, a number of our 1st teams competed to the final whistle in Round 9 of their respective competitions, vying for their premierships. The achievements of our boys on the field and court were nothing short of exceptional, reflecting the commitment, dedication and character development that participation…

Read More
Teaching & Learning
/
Wednesday, 13 Dec 2023

An Exceptional Learning Experience

As a member of the Junior School Leadership Team at Toowoomba Grammar School, my role involves ensuring that the Junior School’s Teaching and Learning programs are designed, implemented and managed effectively. This role is grounded in the vision, mission, and values of TGS and is crucial in supporting the Head of Junior School and the Director of Studies in providing an exceptional learning experience for our boys. At TGS Junior School, we prioritise the use of explicit teaching to ensure that…

Read More
Teaching & Learning
/
Wednesday, 06 Dec 2023

An Inclusive Education

Toowoomba Grammar School is proud to introduce the newest addition to our education team, Amanda Gibson. Amanda commenced in Term 4, 2023 in the pivotal role of Head of Diverse Learners and will bring new direction and focus to the position in alignment with our commitment to inclusive education, aligning seamlessly with our Strategic Plan 2022-2026 and the Inclusive Education Policy. “I am very excited about developing this role,” said Amanda. “I have a passion for fostering environments where…

Read More
Senior School
/
Friday, 01 Dec 2023

Get Involved in Everything

As Senior Prefect at Toowoomba Grammar School, I have had the opportunity to witness the benefits of being an all-rounder firsthand. With the various activities and programs the School offers, the ability to be involved in as many things as possible is not only enjoyable but brings about numerous benefits that extend far beyond the school years. Ranging from sports to drama and debating, participating in anything the School has to offer is an excellent way to make friends and build networks of…

Read More
Teaching & Learning
/
Wednesday, 22 Nov 2023

The Importance of Knowledge

For as long as I can remember, I’ve always enjoyed traveling great distances. As a child growing up in rural New South Wales, this was inevitable. The region was speckled with towns, some more vibrant than others, and diverse landscapes where hillside ruins whispered tales of bygone eras. Over time, these landscapes and towns transformed into familiar scenes, with even minor changes in the community and environment growing more noticeable during each visit. Education parallels this journey, as…

Read More
Senior School
/
Wednesday, 22 Nov 2023

Senior TGS Students' Advice for Starting Senior School

Starting at a new school can be a time of mixed feelings – very exciting, but also quite daunting and challenging. Here are some tips from some Year 7 Grammar boys who started Senior School in 2023. Get involved in different sports and activities Toowoomba Grammar School provides many sports and activities that any student can participate in. As a current Year 7 student, I highly recommend trying out as many different sports and activities as you can. Throughout my first year in high school, I…

Read More