It’s time we put this age-old rumour to rest once and for all…
The Toowoomba Grammar School ovals are not painted, dyed or manufactured grass; rather, the glorious green that greets passers-by as they drive into the Garden City comes from the sheer hard work and dedication of our TGS grounds team, led by Danny Beresford.
Danny has exceptional pride for his grounds and a strong family connection to TGS. He is an Old Boy (2002-04) who played for the 1st XV in 2004 and was in the Track and Field team. His mum, Debbie Wells worked at the School as the Head of Athletics from 2002-13. He currently has two boys here, Jack in Year 2 and Max in Prep, and his brothers-in-law are both Old Boys too, Brendan Long (2002-04) and Ryan Long (2002). Danny knows first-hand how much it means to the boys to have a state-of-the-art playing field and the difference it makes to both training and game day.
“I remember the feeling of running down the tunnel for the 1st XV,” recalled Danny.
“It’s special to be part of, particularly Grammar Downlands Day, just the hype around that event is huge. I have never experienced anything like it since I left school. Even with the Athletics team, you would have Year 8 boys coming up to you who just knew you from the sport, it was fantastic.”
Danny started his Greenkeeping apprenticeship at Middle Ridge Golf Club and was there for nine years, before taking up his role with TGS in 2011. He finds great satisfaction from preparing the grounds and ensuring they are always well-manicured.
“Our School is iconic and really, it is the gateway to Toowoomba. We are in public view every day of the year, so the entire grounds team wants to make sure it’s always looking the best possible,” stated Danny.
“I love what I do, it’s nice to get compliments from people both within and outside the School. Knowing what the boys need after playing on it myself makes me work harder, and I always want it tip top for the boys.”
The weather is Danny’s biggest challenge, and every year brings different conditions, from drought to frost and floods. He must consider different types of turf, diseases in the grass and the most suitable products for different fields, with the cricket wickets requiring different maintenance to the football and rugby ovals.
“There is only a three-week turnaround between the rugby and cricket seasons and grass doesn’t grow quickly at that time of year, so we need to put down a turf blanket to generate more heat and help the grass grow,” said Danny.
“It is actually very scientific; you don’t just throw some seed down, jump on a mower and cut the grass. Thankfully, over time you get a fair idea of how to manage it all and what is needed to make the ovals immaculate in time for the next sport.”
Football and rugby seasons are Danny’s preferred fields, as it takes five days to prepare the cricket pitches which are very demanding and finicky, sometimes pulling covers on and off as much as three times a day.
The highlight for him so far was leading up to Grammar Downlands Day in 2018.
“It had been a really dry season and then very frost affected, so all the surrounds were dull, but Old Boys’ Memorial Oval was just a glorious green patch in the middle,” reminisced Danny proudly.
“It looked like carpet; I didn’t want anyone to play on it!” he joked.
Kikuyu and couch turf is used on all the TGS ovals, with Old Boys’ Memorial Oval over-sown with rye grass, giving it that rich “fake” green. He credits his great team of groundsmen, Micah Mathewson, Cameron Ott, David Taggart and Dylan Anderson-Levande as making his job easier and ensuring the School always looks pristine; not just the ovals but the glorious garden beds, trees and hedges that are planted, pruned, mulched, hedged and budded year-round.
“It’s like maintaining a mini city, we’re flat out all the time especially as we hold more and more events and carnivals.
“And no, I don’t take my work home with me,” laughed Danny, “My yard at home looks nothing like this!”
Latest Blog
Exploring the Role of Neuroscience in Supporting Teenage Boys
Recent insights from neuroscience reveal that the teenage brain undergoes significant changes, particularly in the frontal lobe, which is essential for decision-making, impulse control and emotional regulation. By leveraging this knowledge, we can create supportive environments that guide our boys through the complexities of their teenage years.The Prefrontal Cortex The prefrontal cortex, located in the frontal lobe, is one of the last areas of the brain to mature, significantly impacting…
Wellbeing and Character Development Program — Benefiting Students and Staff Alike
In 2024, the School re-established the Head of Pastoral Care position. The role will be pivotal in supporting all staff to foster a supportive and nurturing environment at Toowoomba Grammar School. Integral to the role’s success is the parallel expansion of the Wellbeing and Character Development (WCD) program to yield multifaceted benefits for both staff and students. For staff, the Head of Pastoral Care provides guidance, support and resources, aiding in their efforts to address students’…
Nurturing the Seeds of Leadership
Early exposure to leadership roles helps children develop character traits such as responsibility, empathy, resilience and integrity. As a School, we provide the opportunity for the cultivation of leadership skills in our young boys. From the formative years in Prep through to the adolescent years of Year 6, the importance of fostering leadership qualities cannot be overstated. In our modern world, where adaptability, resilience and initiative are regarded as quality attributes, nurturing the…
Pedal Power: The TGS Mountain Bike Club
What started with 12 boys now has 90, with many of the riders racing in the Schools Academy Gravity Enduro Series and other events. We also have a tour of 20 boys going to Thredbo in December this year, where they will tackle some of the most exciting trails in Australia. We thank the wonderful group of parents who support the club. They can often be found driving vehicles up and down the range on a Sunday morning to support the boys. We would not have been as successful as we are without…
Beyond the Blue and Gold
Our focus is to work with each individual student to assist in creating awareness of the world of work, helping students to articulate their interests and identifying what is important to them and their values. We assist the boys in developing the skills to explore the different careers out there. We connect them with employers and industry professionals and help them navigate towards the job or career they are interested in. We work hard to individualise each student’s unique School journey to…
Character and Wellbeing – The Grammar Way
Legacy of Leadership: The Impact of John Mackintosh at Toowoomba Grammar School Toowoomba Grammar School’s first Headmaster, John Mackintosh (1876–1879) led the School with the demeanour of a typical Victorian father figure. His leadership was steadfast and nurturing, with decisions that were definitive and meticulously aimed at creating an environment that was conducive to a boy’s character and learning outcomes. Mackintosh introduced recreational activities such as chess and draughts…
2024 IBSC Conference
It is part of our Strategic Plan's People Pillar which is "build a high-performing culture that supports the wellbeing and development of staff, who exemplify the TGS values and share our commitment to the growth of our boys". In fact, that focus was acknowledged in our receiving The Educator’s 2024 5-Star Employer of Choice award. The Award acknowledges excellence in providing professional development opportunities and nurturing a culture of inclusion and respect. So it was with great pleasure…
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:
