“I love sharing my days with talented, thoughtful and down-to-earth young men who make me laugh and always show me kindness and respect.”Mrs Lynnette Yeabsley, Teacher of French - Senior School
I am honoured to be asked to write about my experience as a female teacher at TGS, having started here in 1988 teaching French, English and Social Studies.
My late husband was a teacher, and our four children are all teachers, which we encouraged them to do because it is the best job in the world.
It’s hard to believe I’ve been here for 36 years, working under four Headmasters: Mr Bill Dent, Mr Hugh Rose, Mr Peter Hauser and now Dr John Kinniburgh. I still drive into the School each day and smile, looking at the beautiful place it is — magnificent ovals, gracious trees and historically significant buildings. It is difficult to express the privilege I feel at being the longest-serving female teacher in the School’s 149-year history.
The real reason I have stayed here for so long is the boys. I do not teach many of them now but I have fond memories of many Old Boys.
I have witnessed enormous changes, not only to the School’s infrastructure (the W.M. Dent Library, Heenan block, Dr J.M. Blaikie Health Centre, The Pavilion, Junior School, Hugh Rose Centre, P.B. Hauser Aquatic Centre and Glen McCracken Sports Centre did not exist when I started) but also to the make-up of the teaching staff. In 1988, there was only one other full-time female teacher out of 60.
I aspired to take up a range of promotional roles, not to be the first female in these positions, but because they were things I really wanted to do. It was not straightforward to get promoted in an all-boys school. When I first applied for Housemaster in 1993, my application was rejected because “the School was not ready for a female Housemaster, and there would be Old Boys rolling over in their graves at the thought.”
However, I was persistent. In 1996, Headmaster Mr Hugh Rose appointed me Housemaster of Freshney House. I loved being a Housemaster. My assistant, Mr Craig Harris, and I made a formidable team and our House often won the Headmaster’s Shield.
To have become the first female Head of Department (2001–2014) was just as important to me as I have always promoted Languages as a subject.
When Headmaster Mr Peter Hauser in 2006 appointed me as the inaugural Director of Pastoral Care and the first female on the School Executive, that truly was a great honour.
I am humbled to have been a pioneer in these roles for women at TGS. What was important was not how I saw myself but rather that if other women saw that I could do these roles, so could they. There are now many ladies in these roles, having mastered and perfected them.
I consider that we have a good balance at TGS, as it is essential at an all-boys’ school to have strong male and female role models if we are to achieve our purpose and vision as a School of promoting the values of honesty, kindness, collaboration, respect and integrity.
Latest Blog
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The day was filled with reflection, celebration and a deep sense of connection to the generations who have shaped the School’s legacy. From the opening of a time capsule sealed in 1975, to a Sesquicentenary Assembly that honoured our roots and looked to the future, the occasion was a powerful reminder of what it means to be part of the TGS community. And of course there was cake! A Message Across Time: Opening the 1975 Time Capsule
Better Together - 2025 IBSC Conference
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Reliving the Past, Shaping the Future
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A Magical Collaboration - “Midnight: The Cinderella Musical”
A co-production between Toowoomba Grammar School and Fairholme College, this enchanting musical captivated audiences at the Empire Theatre for two nights in early June, leaving a lasting impression on all who attended. A Story Brought to Life “Midnight” is a fresh take on the Cinderella story, featuring music and lyrics by John Foreman and Anthony Costanzo, with orchestrations by Anthony Barnhill and additional contributions from Kate Miller-Heidke. The book, written by Dean Murphy and Pip…
Pioneering Excellence: Launching TGS's Athletic Development Program
Our Athletic Development Program represents a paradigm shift in how schools nurture sporting talent—combining cutting-edge technology, evidence-based practices and a whole-person philosophy that prepares young men for success beyond the scoreboard.
Reflecting on the Past, Walking Forward Together
This week is an important time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures and achievements, and to reflect on how we can each contribute to achieving reconciliation. The theme for NRW 2025, 'Bridging Now to Next,' calls on us to honour the past, acknowledge the present and actively build a better future. It reminds us that reconciliation is not a destination, it is a journey guided by reflection, respect and a shared commitment to walking together. As we look back on the…
A Bright Start to our Rising and Leading Series
More than 150 members of the Toowoomba and Darling Downs community joined us to hear from leading demographer and data commentator Simon Kuestenmacher, whose presentation sparked fresh thinking about the decade ahead.
Women of Grammar Luncheon
A Tribute to the Heart of the School Originally scheduled for International Women's Day but rescheduled (thanks, Cyclone Alfred!) to the eve of Mother's Day, the timing felt serendipitous. It was a day to honour the women—past and present—whose quiet strength, tireless support and enduring love have shaped the School's legacy and the lives of its boys for 150 years. The marquee was beautifully appointed for a day of merriment
