“I love just always keeping myself busy. I don’t really like sitting around.”Banjo Seaniger
Year 11 student Banjo Seaniger wears a bright, cheery smile. His eyes light up when he talks about cricket and his middle name, Yarra.
He explains that he’s named after Yarramundi, a respected and influential leader of the Richmond tribes of the Dharagnora (Hawkesbury-Nepean region of New South Wales) and a respected elder of the Boorooberongal clan of the Dharug people.
“I’m proud of my culture and excited to have just started learning Dharug Dalang as part of the language revitalisation with my family.”
During one week late last year he juggled exams, balanced representative cricket in Mackay with being the emcee of the culturally significant 2024 Battle of Meewah Commemoration Service. Earlier in the year, he was delighted when two of his passions combined; he got to play in the National Indigenous Cricket Championships as part of the Queensland Indigenous Men’s team in Alice Springs.
“We get to travel around and play some high-level cricket with some very high-level players. Some of those people play professionally.”
“I got to bowl to people playing in the BBL like Brock Larance and Clinton Hinchcliffe. I had to open the bowling against them and I bowled well. I didn’t get them out, but I bowled none for seven off four overs, which was pretty good.”
One thing is clear: Banjo is the type of student who rarely idles for long before he knocks it up a gear.
While cricket is certainly keeping him busy for now, Banjo does have one eye on the future, as he’s already considering his options for tertiary education. He has won a place in the University of Queensland’s InspireU program, which brings Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander high school students from across the state for a week-long camp on the St Lucia campus in Brisbane.
“It’ll be great to talk to students and learn more about the Bachelor of Laws to see if it’s something I want to pursue. Meeting the teachers and making connections will be helpful, so if I decide to go there, I’ll already have some links.”
In the short term, the spin bowler has study and sport high on his agenda.
It has been his aim to gain a place in the School’s coveted First XI (Cricket) team and this year he is in. After a successful Neil Dansie Cricket Festival at the start of the year, which the TGS First XI won, it has been a steady start to the season for our team.
Their latest victory was over the weekend against ACGS and it's Banjo's great hope that they continue on that upward trend for the rest of the GPS season.
Latest Blog
In memory of Light Horse Field Ambulances
Toowoomba Grammar School would like to acknowledge our admiration for the loyalty, service and bravery exhibited by TGS Old Boys who so valiantly served. We are all the beneficiaries of their sacrifice, and their selfless actions continue to inspire a spirit of service amongst our current students. Today we focus on the contribution of one TGS Old Boy who made a significant contribution to World War I. Here is some of the incredible story of Major Avery, DSO and if you visit the School Museum…
New Caledonia, new horizons and travel through an educational lens
The opportunity to travel not only opens doors to new experiences but also fosters an increased intercultural understanding and empathy, both essential qualities for navigating and existing within our diverse world. For a group of language students travelling to New Caledonia, our recent French Language and Cultural Tour was a unique opportunity for such experiential learning, where language acquisition went beyond just learning vocabulary and grammar - and instead became a gateway to connect…
Erik Sheppard - making TGS Army Cadet Unit history
The 2024 Dining in Night was made even more special with the appointment of the first Toowoomba Grammar School Army Cadet Unit (TGS ACU) Regimental Sergeant Major, Warrant Officer Class 1 (WO1) Erik Sheppard who was awarded his rank and pace stick by the 16th Battalion Commanding officer MAJ (AAC) Gary MacLachlan. WO1 Sheppard enlisted in the TGS ACU just before the COVID shutdown in 2020. Although this was not the ideal way to begin a cadet career, he was able to adapt and overcome the virtual…
The Big Six Reading Tips
Unlocking Literacy - The Big Six Elements for Your Child’s Reading Success Literacy skills are a core component of each day for our students, and parents often ask how they can support this from home. I am delighted to share with our parent community the essential components that underpin successful reading development. These elements, known as the Big Six, provide a solid foundation for your son’s literacy journey. These critical building blocks include: Oral Language: Communication skills are…
Boarding - Building Men of Good Character
Over the past five years, we have found one of the most valuable lessons that boarding can teach teenage boys is the ability to self-navigate and overcome challenges. Entering a boarding house is the first time many boarders have stepped away from the comfort and security of their parents and guardians. Although this can be a daunting experience, one of the things that this unfamiliarity creates is the ability to organise yourself. With a larger workload than previous years, a greater number…
The Learning Pit
Learning is at our core and covers all subject disciplines, co-curricular pursuits, personal development and interest areas. Helping our Toowoomba Grammar School boys view learning as a disposition that goes well beyond the classroom context is incredibly important. Learning has a life-long value in all we do. We also acknowledge that learning can be challenging at times, and it can be uncomfortable, but also wonderfully inspiring and fulfilling. Appreciating the full range of feelings and…
Leap Before You Look
The boarding journey offers students a plethora of opportunities to step outside of their comfort zone and take advantage of new environments, relationships, and opportunities during their time at Toowoomba Grammar School. We often talk about “character education” – a theory that originated in the US and has been increasingly embraced by leading schools globally. It is encouraging all students to develop new approaches to their learning, including aspects of morals and ethics, thinking,…
Literacy at TGS: A research-informed approach
A recent Grattan Institute report has shared that one-third of Australian students are failing to learn to read proficiently, referring to the situation as a ‘preventable tragedy’. In addition, the report identifies evidence-based approaches utilising structured literacy programs with phonics and explicit instruction as the most effective methods of teaching literacy. At Toowoomba Grammar School, we implement a structured synthetic phonics approach to teaching spelling and reading that…
Past Mothers, Present Supporters
Any Old Boy will tell you the Blue and Gold is part of their blood. They love the history, the traditions, the memories, and the lifelong friends they made during their time at Toowoomba Grammar School. Well, it seems the same can be said for many TGS mums. The Past Mothers’ Group was formed in 1979 by Mrs Mary Campbell who contacted as many past mothers as she could and invited them to meet at her home where the Past Mothers’ Group was officially formed with the intention of retaining links…
