You will often hear our TGS Old Boys say how important their TGS connections are.
They will tell tales of meeting someone on the other side of the world whom they spotted wearing a TGS cap. It led to an instant connection. Of getting their dream job by simply proudly sporting a TGS Old Boy tie at the interview. It led to an instant connection.
There is no denying that Toowoomba Grammar School students share a special bond. We celebrate it with our annual Old Boys’ Sons and Grandsons photo and our Old Boys’ Generations Gathering dinner. You see it in the playground at lunchtime, as the boys walk together, having a laugh and enjoying the day. You see it on the sporting field and the sidelines, when they cheer encouragement and celebrate the victories with the war cries that have been passed down from generation to generation, or when they support their mates so compassionately in defeat. You see it at assemblies when boys are applauded like rockstars for an amazing academic achievement.
This connection is like an unspoken code, where the boys of the Blue and Gold look out for one another well beyond the school gates. They are proud of where they have come from and of the history and traditions that they have shared. Watching the young boys on a daily basis and then listening to the stories of the Old Boys, it is true that the Blue and Gold runs through their veins.
It comes as no surprise then that the heritage and connections of Year 11 boarder, George Swanson rate a special mention. He is the great-great-great grandson of George “Pitty” Barbour, who was the longest serving Headmaster at TGS from 1910 to 1935. Mr Barbour was credited with making substantial new improvements to the School’s facilities, including a swimming pool, new ovals and science laboratories. TGS became part of the GPS Association in 1918, which started the School’s sporting achievement. The boys’ academic successes also improved under his leadership and he supported many of the boys and the local community through World War I.
Young George’s claim to fame doesn’t stop there. He’s also related by marriage to another one of the School’s most notable students, General Sir Henry (Harry) Chauvel (1880-82). Sir Henry is one of Australia’s most lauded military figures. He fought at Gallipoli and in the Middle East during World War I and was the
first Australian to attain the rank of Lieutenant General and later General. He was also the first Australian to lead a corps, the Desert Mounted Corps. They were responsible for the Battle of Beersheba, one of the most decisive victories in Australian military history. And what does George think of these special connections?
Well, like most typical 16-year-olds, he doesn’t have much to say except to grin humbly and say, “Yeah, it’s pretty cool.”
The Barbour/Chauvel Family Tree
Latest Blog
Filmmaker, Storyteller and Visionary
From his days as a boarding student at Toowoomba Grammar School, where he first dipped his toes into the world of filming GPS sporting events, to his current roles as sports documentarian and founder of the Outback Film Club, Clancy’s journey is a testament to the power of passion and perseverance. Establishing Outback Film Club has been a real triumph The echoes of school war cries reverberating around the Chandler Aquatic Centre in 2011 marked the start of Clancy’s cinematic journey.…
A Cut Shot Above The Rest
Ben’s sport takes him to the best beaches on the planet, but his love of volleyball began back at Toowoomba Grammar School, inspired after seeing his older brother play. As Ben explains, he was hooked:
Gummingurru Excursion - Deep Time History of Australia on our Doorstep
Gummingurru is unique in being the best-preserved initiation site in southeast Queensland, including bora rings and various stone arrangements that have ancient links to the totems and kinship practices of the Jarowair and Giabal people of Toowoomba and the Darling Downs, as well as the broader region within the highly significant cultural landscape of the Bunya Mountains. The boys were welcomed to, and guided through, the site and its learning centre by Mr Shannon Bauwens, a Western Wakka…
Responding to Negative Peer Interactions
As we approach the end of Term 3, we find it is typically a time when boys start to get tired and emotional and are most likely to make poor decisions that can lead to relationship challenges between peers. Comments and humour shared between mates that may have been received without concern in the first week of the term may change as boys start to tire and their tolerance levels decrease. This may lead to boys reacting with heightened and overly emotional responses. This is normal as boys are…
Boarding is who we are
Our boarders make up nearly one third of our student cohort from Years 5 to 12, which enables us to consider the boarding experience in all that we do at the School. Every boarding experience at TGS is about equipping boys with the skills to function as a student and preparing them for their future.
Making a Positive Impact with Homework Assistance
The Anglicare Homework Assistance Program (HAP), run in conjunction with Darling Heights State School, sees many of our boys volunteer their time on Wednesdays after class to help many young refugee and primary school students facing challenging times with their homework, or to chat and play games. Our boys thoroughly enjoy meeting, supporting and learning about the lives of the younger children. This forges community connections and fosters inclusion for the Darling Heights students; it also…
Fresh Faces Guide - TGS Sportsmen into the Fray
With their dedication to excellence and player development, TGS athletes are in good hands as they navigate the challenges and triumphs of competitive sports.
Honouring Tradition, Preparing for the Future
They will invariably be inspired by effective teaching and the satisfaction of personal achievement will always be motivating. At Toowoomba Grammar School, the power of high-quality instructional practices has resulted in the development of a strong academic culture that has endured for nearly 150 years. Preserving core principles provides stability and continuity. However, we must be open to continuously adapting our methods so that our students are well-prepared for the ever-changing world…
We See You - Mitchell Wilkes
That was the heart-wrenching diagnosis for Year 10 student, Mitchell Wilkes, right on Christmas in 2021. Mitchell’s mum noticed he wasn’t reading properly and had a gut feeling that there was something wrong with his eyesight. A trip to the optometrist revealed a thinning in the retina, and further tests showed that Mitchell had a genetic condition called Stargardt Disease, a juvenile macular degeneration illness that results in slow central vision loss.
