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!”
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