“Confronting, emotional and unforgettable, it was the moment the trip really shifted from being a tour to something that mattered.”— Jack Mowbray, Year 11
Travelling to Cambodia gave 32 boys from Toowoomba Grammar School an experience that was both challenging and transformative.
Across twelve days with RAW Impact, the group moved through moments of cultural immersion, physical work, reflection and genuine connection with local communities. Their words capture the impact more powerfully than any adult could.
Phnom Penh: Confronting history to understand the present
The tour began in Phnom Penh, where the group visited the Killing Fields and S21 before beginning their service work. For many boys, this was the moment they realised the tour would be life changing. As Year 12 student Jack Mowbray reflected, the experience was eye opening and provided the context they needed to approach the work with maturity and empathy.
Video and photography kindly supplied by Raw Impact.
Every Piece Matters Village: Building with purpose
From Phnom Penh the group travelled to the Every Piece Matters Village where the service component began in earnest. The boys worked long days digging, lifting, mixing and building a house for a local family who had never before lived in a structured home. It was an exercise in teamwork and perseverance.
The experience taught the boys humility and reinforced the power of service undertaken with respect and purpose.
“Building the house together was important but handing it over mattered more. There was no big moment or speech, only quiet gratitude and dignity and smiles that did not need words.”— Jack Mowbray, Year 11
Kratie: Working beside the Mekong
After three days of work the group travelled north to Kratie, a small village along the Mekong River.
“Eating from Australian expat owned cafes with views of the vast Mekong River while soaking up the difference in scenery and lifestyle from our home in Australia, then crossing the Mekong by barge and riding bicycles to the next worksite added to the sense of adventure as we worked on bricklaying for housing and bathroom facilities and dug trenches for water pipes.”— Henry Ballinger, Year 11
Siem Reap: Sunrise moments and cultural understanding
The final days of the tour were spent in Siem Reap, a city rich in culture and history. The group rose before dawn for a sunrise visit to Angkor Wat by tuk tuk and spent their evenings exploring the local night markets.
“Soaking up the culture and gaining further understanding of the rich history of Cambodia.”— Henry Ballinger, Year 11
A rite of passage that shapes young men
Across the trip, the boys demonstrated the character and care that sit at the heart of the Toowoomba Grammar School community.
For many, the tour was a pivotal experience.
“Language barriers did not matter. What mattered was effort, curiosity and connection.”— Jack Mowbray, Year 11
“A great opportunity to develop and strengthen leadership skills, learn and experience a new culture and see firsthand the huge impact that we can make in such little time.”— Henry Ballinger, Year 11
In their own words, the boys made clear that the Cambodia Cultural and Service Tour was far more than travel. It was a chance to grow as individuals and as a team, to understand the world in a deeper way and to appreciate the value of service that uplifts others with dignity and respect.
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