Imagine being told that your world of colour was going to be dark in a few years, that you were slowly going blind.

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.

“It didn’t really have a big impact on me,” said Mitchell stoically. My parents were much more upset than me; I just rolled with it.”
— Mitchell Wilkes

Since then, Mitchell has lost a considerable amount of vision. He had 6/16 when he was first diagnosed and now sits at 6/60. There is a possibility that he could go completely blind by the age of 30, but if he’s lucky, he might retain some peripheral vision. He currently needs to look above a person’s head to see their face. He also adjusts the way he looks at everything to ensure objects are not in his blind spot. However, the details of objects tend to be blurry.

“The School and staff have been really supportive of my learning,” said Mitchell gratefully.

“Mr Ron Robinson and the IT department have put a lot of things into place to make it easier for me, providing me with a more powerful laptop, better access to devices and assistance with exams. I’ve also received great support from the Head of Department for Diverse Learners, Ms Amanda Gibson.”

“I have one classroom that has special equipment where the other students join me. All my classes except science and music are held in this room.”

Mitchell uses the default magnifier on his laptop and has a special iPad that zooms into the whiteboard at the front of the class. His teachers always check in to ensure he’s coping with the material. They also provide extra support when required, ensuring Mitchell has larger resized documents and worksheets. It’s these little things that have made the challenges at school much easier to cope with.

The default magnifier on Mitchell's laptop allows him to see material.

“The biggest challenge for me is mobility; crashing into things and not being able to recognise people until they’re really close to me, that’s really annoying,” said Mitchell.

“But I’ve got great friends here at TGS, and all the boys understand and work around my condition. They’re really good about it.”

Mitchell says his other senses have become heightened to compensate for the loss of his vision. His excellent hearing and exceptional memory are both particularly useful for his co-curricular activities. Mitchell is an avid musician, runner and mountain biker.

“I’m very slow and cautious on new mountain bike trails. I map them out carefully then memorise it so I can ride them normally next time,” said Mitchell confidently.

“My good hearing provides me with an alert system; I can hear other riders braking, which lets me know something is ahead. I love the challenge of mountain biking, going fast and free.”

Mitchell also loves running; he takes every opportunity to experience the sense of freedom it brings him. He trains five to six days a week for the TGS cross country team. He’ll walk the course beforehand, memorising the track to ensure he can confidently run it without tripping. Mitchell has also had huge success in aquathlon events thanks to the help of his guide runner, fellow TGS student, Alby Galbraith.

“I’m so grateful for his support,” said Mitchell.

“There is a 50cm tether between us. We run arm-in-arm, and Alby guides me. We won the multiclass division at both the state championship in Hervey Bay and the nationals in Perth in March,” Mitchell explained.

“It was a huge achievement, and I don’t think I could have done it without Alby.”

Mitchell and his guide Alby competing tethered together.

Mitchell’s great memory also serves him well in his musical endeavours. He plays the saxophone for the TGS Concert/ Show Band, sings in the Choir and the Grammarphones and also plays piano. The music staff have been extremely supportive of Mitchell’s challenges. They cut the music into very magnified chunks, which he scrolls through with a foot pedal when learning the track. After he has quickly memorised the music, he can play the piece without a score.

“I love to just sit and play music,” said Mitchell.

“I really enjoy it, and it just relaxes me. I’m so appreciative of the support and guidance of all the music staff at TGS.”

With only two years left at the School, Mitchell is already thinking about his future. He would like to be a drone pilot and study podiatry at university. With all his strength and determination, there is no doubt he’ll achieve his goals.

“My blindness is just part of me. I won’t let it stop me,” said the determined young man.

“From what I’ve dealt with, it’s way easier to take any challenges as they come and let them add to you rather than hinder your growth.”

Update:

Continuing with his great running form, Mitchell has won gold at the Queensland Cross Country State Championships in the Under 15 multiclass category at Bald Hills in Brisbane on Saturday, 13 July. It sees him now travel to the National titles at Yarra Glen near Melbourne where he'll compete from 20 to 23 August 2024. We continue to wish him all the very best!

Mitchell will race at Yarra Glen next month, carrying over his good form from this weekend.
Mitchell will represent Queensland after winning his multiclass race in Brisbane.

Latest Blog

Grammar 150
/
Wednesday, 24 May 2023

That Life-Changing Moment

His teacher, Mrs Rosemary Bishop saw his potential. She believed this young indigenous boy from Murgon had something special to offer the world and she fought to put him on the path to greatness. Mrs Bishop contacted the then Headmaster of Toowoomba Grammar School, Mr William Dent and asked if Waverley could be accepted into Toowoomba Grammar School on a scholarship. Mr Dent agreed and so changed the course of Waverley’s life. “I don’t like to think about where I would be now if that hadn’t…

Read More
Character & Wellbeing
/
Thursday, 18 May 2023

Senioritis - The way we think affects the way we feel and behave

As high school students approach their final year, they may experience a phenomenon known as "Senioritis". As described by educators, Senioritis is a decrease in motivation and productivity, often accompanied by procrastination, complacency, and negative risk-taking behaviours. While not a medical term, Senioritis is a widely recognized term used to describe a common set of observed behaviours. As Jessica Lahey notes, "Senioritis is a real phenomenon. It can be defined as a decline in…

Read More
Teaching Excellence
/
Wednesday, 10 May 2023

A Space for Learning

A core pillar of the Toowoomba Grammar School Strategic Plan is to provide an inspiring and broad curriculum for all boys, adopting technology and innovative pedagogy to transform learning outcomes. Over the last couple of years, the COVID-19 pandemic has prompted teachers to explore new frontiers of pedagogy, adapting to the difficult circumstances by launching interactive software, digitising trusty, tried and true resources, recording our lessons, flipping our classrooms, and cultivating an…

Read More
The Arts
/
Wednesday, 03 May 2023

When it comes to Music, Variety is the Spice of Life

In the Queensland Curriculum, the content of the music syllabus includes the study of the people, places and cultures involved in musical creation and performance. As our country becomes increasingly diverse, it is important for students in every school setting to study a wide variety of musical styles, cultures and genres. The Toowoomba Grammar School Music program of 2022 embraces this holistic approach to the study of music, encouraging teachers and students to explore a variety of musical…

Read More
Old Boys
/
Wednesday, 26 Apr 2023

A Trailblazer for Multicultural Australia

Wellington Lee has been described as a trailblazer for multicultural Australia. He was born in 1925 and attended TGS from 1940-42 before serving with the RAAF during WWII from 1943-46 and the Active Reserve of Officers from 1953-83. Mr Lee was a remarkable man of good character who lived in an exciting time of growth and change during Australia’s, and particularly Victoria’s history; the early days in Melbourne when 10% of their population was a thriving Asian community. It was also a…

Read More
Character & Wellbeing
/
Tuesday, 18 Apr 2023

REACH - Character Development in the Junior School

Being a kind person is fundamental to the growth of a successful person. Adults in our young men’s lives have a responsibility to model and teach the importance of respect, accepting and acknowledging our need to contribute to society in a positive and meaningful way. In 2016, the Junior School staff felt there was a need to create a program that allowed us to develop the character of the boys in the Junior School. Tailoring a program to meet our boys’ needs rather than a generic one allows…

Read More
People
/
Thursday, 13 Apr 2023

The Grass is Always Greener

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…

Read More
Character & Wellbeing
/
Wednesday, 05 Apr 2023

A life in Words - Reading Biographies

Biography; from the Greek Bios - Life & Graphia - Writing; are books that chronicle the lives of real people. The subject of a Biography can be a celebrity, athlete, politician, athlete, historical figure or ordinary person that has achieved something of note. Reading Biographies is a valuable and oftentimes rewarding experience, with many potential benefits to the reader. Inspirational Biographies often recount successes and struggles of those people who have, over the course of their…

Read More
People
/
Wednesday, 29 Mar 2023

Spielberg in the Making...

I first became aware of film making when my brother showed me the behind-the-scenes featurette on our Lord of the Rings DVD. From then on, the process intrigued me, and I eventually got my hands on my dad’s camera and simple editing software. I made a bunch of little movies with my friends which were all pretty bad but I loved doing them anyway. What I liked most was that it was an easy way to share stories and even when the movies were not good, it was still a way of telling stories in a…

Read More