“Looking back, I truly believe that my time at Grammar with its highs and lows, shaped me into the man I am today.”— Jeremy Peacock
Jeremy Peacock (2005 – 09) currently represents Australia in Paratriathlon.
Jeremy Peacock is ranked third in the world in the PTS4 Para category and his sights are set on selection for the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. During Jeremy’s time at TGS he represented the School in numerous endeavours but was particularly known for his contributions to the Arts, particularly Music. On the sports field, Jeremy represented TGS in GPS Athletics, Cross Country, Cricket and Football.
After returning from a gap year in the UK teaching music at Port Regis School, Dorset, Jeremy attended Bond University completing a Bachelor of Commerce with further study to qualify as a Chartered Accountant (CA). He is currently an Associate Director at KPMG, one of Australia’s ‘Big 4’ accounting firms in Melbourne.
Jeremy was born three months premature and diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy which impairs the development of muscles and hinders co-ordination and neurological movements.
“This was probably not well known to the community during my time at TGS because I suppressed the diagnosis,” said Jeremy. “I did not consider myself to be impaired and I was determined to compete in all sports against my fellow able-bodied athletes.”
During his cross country days with Mr Mark Oliphant as his coach, Jeremy just wanted to beat everyone. “Yet in hindsight I was never on a level playing field,” he said. Jeremy’s time at TGS was constantly on the go, balancing schoolwork with music rehearsals and sport practice; there was never a dull moment in his very busy TGS life.
“I was not the best at everything; I wasn’t Dux nor a Prefect, but I was consistent and always put 100% into any challenge that came my way.”
It took several years for Jeremy to accept his impairment. However, with the support and literal badgering from his triathlon friends, in 2020 Jeremy was encouraged to approach the Australian Institute of Sport for classification.
“This was a defining moment. I was subsequently categorised as a Paratriathlete and from that moment a new doorway opened,” he stated.
Destined to compete overseas for the first time just as COVID struck taught him patience and belief to “trust the process”. In 2022, after relocating to Girona in Spain to train with the Australian team and race on the international circuit, Jeremy had his breakthrough, winning gold at the World Triathlon Para Series in Montreal, Canada. He also went on to place third at his first World Championships in Abu Dhabi, backing up two days later to anchor the Australian team to gold in the first ever mixed Paratriathlon relay.
To cap off an excellent initial season with a consistent string of results, Jeremy was awarded the Triathlon Australia Individual Paratriathlete Male Performance of the Year. He achieved all of this whilst working full-time. “Unfortunately, like many Para sports in Australia, Paratriathlon does not receive substantial funding nor prize money,” said Jeremy.
“Most of my funding is from my fulltime job whilst also training 25-30 hours a week.” Jeremy has continued his success into 2023, recently winning the PTS4 World Triathlon Para Series race in Devonport, Tasmania and is currently preparing for upcoming races in Europe and the United States, culminating in the World Championships to be held in Pontevedra, Spain this September.
His advice to current TGS boys:
“Become fully immersed in the TGS life as you will form some fond memories of your time at TGS.
“Do what makes you happy; it doesn’t have to make sense to anyone else. Set your sights high, you never know what you are capable of.”— Jeremy Peacock
You can follow Jeremy's blog for updates and insights into his experiences leading up to the biggest race of his life.
Jeremy's Road to Paris 2024
Despite the challenges Jeremy has faced, he remains committed to giving his all in the pursuit of his Paralympic dream and now his sights are set on competing in the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
Read the latestLatest Blog
The Journey of a Boarding Mother
When you look up mother in the dictionary it reads: female parent of a child. When you look up boarder, it simply reads: a child who lives away from home. So, put “boarder mother” together and we have: the female parent of a child who lives away from home – if only it were that simple. My definition of boarding mother is: a strong, dedicated unbelievably great female parent of a child who has the wisdom to put her son’s educational needs, wellbeing and lifelong endeavours before her own. A…
The Importance of Differentiation
As parents, we all want our children to have the best possible education, and one of the most effective ways for teachers to provide this is through differentiation. Differentiation means tailoring instruction to meet the unique needs and interests of each student, and it can take many forms. First, let's define differentiation. Differentiation is a teaching approach that recognises that students have different strengths, interests, and learning styles. By adjusting instruction to meet these…
Addressing Anger in Teenage Boys
As a community dedicated to the growth and well-being of our teenage boys, it is essential to address the complexities of emotions we experience during adolescence. Among these emotions, anger stands out as a powerful and intense feeling that can influence their behaviour, relationships and overall wellbeing. Untreated anger can lead to a myriad of problems and challenges for our young boys. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the dangers of untreated anger, ways to support healthy…
Study Skills Program
Just as teachers benefit from an understanding of the Learning Sciences in their lesson planning and preparation, so to do students when they are studying for major summative assessments. A survey of TGS students in Years 9 to 12 found that 70% of our boys felt that they knew how to study, with the biggest impediments to study being lack of motivation and too many distractions. The most highly preferred study technique was found to be rewriting notes. Cramming, rereading the text and rewriting…
Developing Teachers Worldwide
I recently had the pleasure of attending the 2023 International Boys’ Schools Coalition (IBSC) Annual Conference at Westlake Boys High School in Auckland, New Zealand, in my capacity as a Team Leader in the IBSC Action Research Program. Action research is a systematic inquiry conducted by teachers in their own classroom to better understand the impact that an aspect of their practice is having on their students. Each year, 40 teachers from IBSC member schools from around the world are accepted…
Developing a Sense of Belonging for our TGS Boarders
How do we adequately develop a teenager’s 'sense of belonging' in boarding? Head of Boyce House, Boarding, Mr Michael Hall has investigated how 'Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs' applies to boarding. It is a psychological theory that suggests human beings have a set of fundamental needs that must be fulfilled in a hierarchical order. The theory proposes that individuals must first satisfy their physiological needs before moving on to higher-level needs, such as the 'belongingness' that is so…
Kia Moemoeā – Dream Beyond Limits
A 12-year study has found that boys consistently perform better in an all boys’ school compared to boys in co-educational schools. This was one of several interesting topics presented at the recent International Boys’ Schools Coalition (IBSC) Conference in Auckland, New Zealand which I attended alongside three of my Toowoomba Grammar School colleagues – Mr Luke Rawle, Mr Dave Klan and Mrs Jessica Galbraith. We joined 600 leading educators from 15 countries around the world for the four-day…
Blue and Gold in the Blood
“I had such fond memories from the School and enjoyed all the opportunities available, particularly participating in sport and learning at such a high level; my sons were going to have the same great education,” said Chris adamantly. Chris was a boarder from Dalby and an “all-rounder” as a student. He was part of the 1st XV, a CUO in the Cadets, a member of the debating team, involved in drama (featuring in two plays during his time) and a good academic student. “I really enjoyed boarding,”…
The Benefits of Repeated Reading
An effective and evidence-based method that can significantly improve your child's reading abilities is repeated reading. Reading proficiency is a vital skill that sets the foundation for academic success and lifelong learning. Repeated reading, a simple yet powerful technique, has been proven to enhance reading fluency, comprehension, and overall confidence. Let's delve into why repeated reading is such a beneficial practice for your child. Research consistently supports the benefits of…
