“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.
Latest Blog
Boarding is who we are
Our boarders make up nearly one third of our student cohort from Years 5 to 12, which enables us to consider the boarding experience in all that we do at the School. Every boarding experience at TGS is about equipping boys with the skills to function as a student and preparing them for their future.
Making a Positive Impact with Homework Assistance
The Anglicare Homework Assistance Program (HAP), run in conjunction with Darling Heights State School, sees many of our boys volunteer their time on Wednesdays after class to help many young refugee and primary school students facing challenging times with their homework, or to chat and play games. Our boys thoroughly enjoy meeting, supporting and learning about the lives of the younger children. This forges community connections and fosters inclusion for the Darling Heights students; it also…
Fresh Faces Guide - TGS Sportsmen into the Fray
With their dedication to excellence and player development, TGS athletes are in good hands as they navigate the challenges and triumphs of competitive sports.
Honouring Tradition, Preparing for the Future
They will invariably be inspired by effective teaching and the satisfaction of personal achievement will always be motivating. At Toowoomba Grammar School, the power of high-quality instructional practices has resulted in the development of a strong academic culture that has endured for nearly 150 years. Preserving core principles provides stability and continuity. However, we must be open to continuously adapting our methods so that our students are well-prepared for the ever-changing world…
We See You - Mitchell Wilkes
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.
Correcting our School's official record commemorating World War I and World War II
On the eve of our 150th year, we're calling on the School's alumni, parents, past parents and greater community to aid us in correcting the record of our involvement in two watershed geopolitical events of the 20th century. For the last four years Toowoomba Grammar School Museum Volunteers, Mrs Ann Hallam and Mrs Sue Palmer, have been updating the School records on Old Boys, staff and Trustees for the World War I and World War II theatres of war. Over the years several staff and volunteers have…
A Pioneering Woman of TGS
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…
NZ Rugby Tour success, more than winning matches across the Ditch
The teams were undefeated and it was a trip the players will never forget. This tour was years in the making and heralds a new era of touring and hosting different rugby schools to give our players opportunities for growth as athletes and as people. Head of Sport - Rugby, Mr Lincoln Clapham, explained they selected 46 students to take part in the ten-day tour and began training last year. From Term 1 onwards, the squad trained twice weekly on the oval plus two and sometimes three gym sessions…
Aussie Teen Reading Habits Revealed
I was recently sent an article, summarising some research from Deakin University around the reading habits of teens in 2024. Some of it was, as the title suggests, surprising. Some was not. However, all of it was built around the importance of reading, and supporting our teens to read, which is something that every one of us should do. While we tend to see our teens as digital natives, recent research from Deakin University suggests that the average Aussie teen reader would rather flick through…
