The Toowoomba Grammar School Boarding community plays a pivotal role in shaping the young minds of our boarders and instilling values whilst creating a sense of mateship that can last a lifetime. The nurturing and supportive network of staff not only ensure a safe and structured environment but also cultivates a sense of belonging and camaraderie among the boys. ‘The staff supply the fuel to the ship but ultimately it is the boys who steer it and decide upon its final destination’.

Our TGS Health Centre staff share the responsibility for ensuring the wellbeing of our boys. Their role goes beyond administering medical care; they actively promote health and wellness through genuine and sincere support. In times of illness or injury, Health Centre staff provide immediate attention and care, reassuring the boys and reinforcing their trust in the School's support system.

Teachers are at the core of a boys' educational experience. At TGS, our educators go beyond their academic responsibilities to inspire and engage the students intellectually. The close teacher-student relationship that develops at TGS fosters open communication and creates a safe space for boys to explore their interests, ask questions, and seek guidance. This strong bond instils a love for learning that extends beyond the classroom.

Mentors, such as the older boys in each boarding house, play a crucial role in shaping the character and values of the boys. As experienced individuals who have excelled in various fields, mentors share their experiences, guiding the boys toward making informed decisions about their future.

The TGS kitchen staff are the beautiful people who start their day earlier than anyone else on campus and play an integral role in nurturing the boys' physical and social wellbeing. Mealtimes are an opportunity for students to bond, share experiences, and develop lifelong friendships, making the Dining Hall a centrepiece of the School's community spirit.

In this digital age, tech support staff play a critical role in enabling a smooth learning experience. Their expertise ensures that boys have access to the necessary technological tools and resources, facilitating academic progress and enhancing their digital literacy skills. Tech support personnel also contribute to maintaining a safe online environment, protecting the boys from potential cyber threats and guiding them on responsible internet usage.

In a boys' boarding environment, the value of community cannot be overstated. The cohesive efforts of the above mentioned successfully create an environment where boys can thrive academically, emotionally, and socially. Together, this supportive network of individuals fosters an inclusive and empowering community that shapes young boys into responsible and compassionate men, ready to make a positive impact on the world.

- by Michael Hall, Head of Boarding, Boyce House

Mr Michael Hall in class



Latest Blog

Character & Wellbeing
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Thursday, 03 Apr 2025

Outdoor Pursuits and Activities Week - Developing Good Character Beyond the Classroom

We offer a range of enrichment activities for our boys, but the last week of Term 1 is a very special opportunity for all of our Senior School students. It's Outdoor Pursuits and Activities Week, which provides age-appropriate physical challenges in a safe, well-supervised environment. Activities on the various camps may include ropes courses, rock climbing, bodyboarding, surfing, mountain biking and canoeing. The aim is to foster a love of the outdoors and an appreciation of the environment.…

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People
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Thursday, 27 Mar 2025

Stories behind key TGS staff helping shape our students

It was my great privilege to join TGS as Head of House - Boyce Boarding in 2024. The opportunity to lead these young men of character on their TGS journey carries great weight but is also enormously exciting. Embarking upon this project alongside my wife Meg as Boyce Boarding House Manager strengthens the team further. I am hopeful that we will demonstrate to the boys how positive relationships can foster a warm and supportive environment. I know that many of our boys are familiar with strong…

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Sports & Activities
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Thursday, 20 Mar 2025

More Than Just an Education and That Makes All the Difference

Toowoomba Grammar School excels in its extensive co-curricular programs, particularly in performing arts and sports. Our boys learn that success comes from hard work and dedication. This ethos is inspired by quotes like “You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great,” “The harder I work, the luckier I get” and the words emblazoned on our P.B. Hauser Aquatic Centre wall “Success is the celebration of preparation.” These opportunities allow students to excel in programs…

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Stewardship
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Thursday, 13 Mar 2025

Stewardship: Leading the Way in Safety, Sustainability and Security

However, the challenges facing the Director of Facilities, Mr Bengie Dickeson and the Director of Information Technology, Mr Ron Robinson certainly are. This month's weather has been nothing if not unpredictable and it's in those conditions that both these men's skills come to the fore. With Tropical Cyclone Alfred and its threat to our School campus and community - Mr Bengie Dickeson and Mr Ron Robinson played integral roles in keeping everyone and everything on our 150-year-old campus safe.…

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Old Boys
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Thursday, 06 Mar 2025

Pursuing New Horizons in Horticulture

Jake Moon is a sixth-generation primary producer. He is dedicated to agriculture and is currently working at his family’s St George farming enterprise, tackling some of the sector’s biggest challenges. The 28-year-old says his family moved to the St George irrigation precinct in 1978, initially growing rockmelons and watermelons, hence the business name Moonrocks. Seasonal and market changes led them to switch crops frequently, growing grapes, broccoli and even wax flowers over the years.…

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Sports & Activities
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Thursday, 27 Feb 2025

Crushing it at Cricket and Conveying Culture

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…

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Character & Wellbeing
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Thursday, 20 Feb 2025

Disappointment: A Necessary Part of School Life

Schools are inherently hopeful and happy places. Their natural focus on growth, connectedness and preparing youth for a better future creates an optimistic atmosphere in which ambitions are born. These positive emotions and experiences lay the foundation for our expectations and while these can be highly motivating, they come with a catch: the greater our expectations, the greater the disappointments, too. Disappointment is not a popular feeling. Rightly so, not many of us wish to feel sad,…

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Stewardship
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Thursday, 13 Feb 2025

Boys and Belonging at TGS

As a boarding master of adolescent boys, my role fundamentally concerns pastoral wellbeing and character development to support a successful academic journey. A positive sense of belonging — where boarders feel safe, supported and heard — is fundamental to an effective boarding environment. As such, I felt there was a distinct connection between the International Boys’ Schools Coalition’s (IBSC) theme for the 2024–25 Action Research Cohort, “Boys and Belonging” and what I believe is best…

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Character & Wellbeing
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Thursday, 06 Feb 2025

Fostering Growth and Resilience

This philosophy is vividly demonstrated through our Junior School MATES program, an initiative designed to equip boys from Prep to Year 6 with the skills they need to thrive both in and out of the classroom. Year 6 leader Hugo Seaby epitomises what the program is all about. As a leader in Stephens House, he explains its importance: “It’s about spending time with the younger boys and learning about honesty, respect, kindness and other attributes like that.” He said that it’s helpful for the…

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