The Interact Club successfully raised over $10,000 last year for charities and services on a local, statewide and international scale through the hard work and commitment of its members. With these funds, the Interact Club has donated Backpack Blankets to Toowoomba's homeless, helped AEIOU's efforts in supporting children with autism, contributed to the "Are You Bogged Mate?" campaign for rural mental health and raised funds for the Royal Flying Doctor Service. As well as many other individual initiatives, the Interact Club remains committed to supporting the education of our sponsor student, Sara, at The School of St Jude in Tanzania, with the aim of breaking the cycle of poverty in her community through education. The club's actions can also be seen on a local level such as supporting the 2023 Domestic and Family Violence Remembrance Day march and candlelight vigil. Interact Club members learn that small actions and simple conversations about important issues can not only have an impact on themselves but also positively impact the lives of others, ultimately improving the community we live in.
Students are eligible to join Interact Club from Year 10, and with over 100 boys on the club's roll, service is clearly at the heart of Toowoomba Grammar School's ethos. Senior members of the club commit to providing service opportunities for the whole School through our House system, which ensures boys of all ages are given a voice to propose and modify initiatives. In 2023 alone, this has taken the form of The Push-Up Challenge, World's Greatest Shave and volunteering to help run the LifeFlight Gala Dinner, as well as hosting after-school activities in the Junior School.
At its core, the Interact Club holds the belief that community service is profoundly important in our development as young men. Through service, students are given a sense of purpose and empathy that broadens their horizons and perspectives. Rather than focusing solely on fundraising, the Interact Club encourages boys to donate their time by giving back to the community and focusing on the why.
Despite the challenges presented when balancing academic, co-curricular and personal commitments, boys are actively encouraged to pursue action in matters they believe are important. Whether it simply be a visit to a nursing home to have a conversation with an elderly resident or spreading awareness of a particular charity at a TGS home game, these seemingly inconsequential acts can bring about immense change. Members should be happy with the great work done so far and rest assured that the club will continue to be in good hands in the future. Polio vaccine inventor Jonas Salk said, "The reward for work well done is the opportunity to do more." and the Interactors remain happy to help.
- by 2023 TGS Interact President, Sam Gladwin
The Interact Club successfully raised over $10,000 last year for charities and services on a local, statewide and international scale through the hard work and commitment of its members. With these funds, the Interact Club has donated Backpack Blankets to Toowoomba's homeless, helped AEIOU's efforts in supporting children with autism, contributed to the "Are You Bogged Mate?" campaign for rural mental health and raised funds for the Royal Flying Doctor Service. As well as many other individual initiatives, the Interact Club remains committed to supporting the education of our sponsor student, Sara, at The School of St Jude in Tanzania, with the aim of breaking the cycle of poverty in her community through education. The club's actions can also be seen on a local level such as supporting the 2023 Domestic and Family Violence Remembrance Day march and candlelight vigil. Interact Club members learn that small actions and simple conversations about important issues can not only have an impact on themselves but also positively impact the lives of others, ultimately improving the community we live in.
Students are eligible to join Interact Club from Year 10, and with over 100 boys on the club's roll, service is clearly at the heart of Toowoomba Grammar School's ethos. Senior members of the club commit to providing service opportunities for the whole School through our House system, which ensures boys of all ages are given a voice to propose and modify initiatives. In 2023 alone, this has taken the form of The Push-Up Challenge, World's Greatest Shave and volunteering to help run the LifeFlight Gala Dinner, as well as hosting after-school activities in the Junior School.
At its core, the Interact Club holds the belief that community service is profoundly important in our development as young men. Through service, students are given a sense of purpose and empathy that broadens their horizons and perspectives. Rather than focusing solely on fundraising, the Interact Club encourages boys to donate their time by giving back to the community and focusing on the why.
Despite the challenges presented when balancing academic, co-curricular and personal commitments, boys are actively encouraged to pursue action in matters they believe are important. Whether it simply be a visit to a nursing home to have a conversation with an elderly resident or spreading awareness of a particular charity at a TGS home game, these seemingly inconsequential acts can bring about immense change. Members should be happy with the great work done so far and rest assured that the club will continue to be in good hands in the future. Polio vaccine inventor Jonas Salk said, "The reward for work well done is the opportunity to do more." and the Interactors remain happy to help.
- by 2023 TGS Interact President, Sam Gladwin
Latest Blog
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…
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…
Now More Than Ever
The one-of-a-kind Indigenous artwork is emblazoned across the shirts for the First IV Tennis team, jerseys for the First XI Football team and First XV Rugby team and First V Basketball team's singlets. National Reconciliation Week is a significant date on the calendar for all Australians, running from Monday, 27 May to Monday, 3 June. The incorporation of this Indigenous design in our uniforms is a significant milestone for our School, especially for our 47 Aboriginal and Torres Strait…
It's a numbers game, making mathematics mainstream
Term 2 has been a busy one in the Mathematics department; from multiple year levels having extended assessment tasks to competitions run inside and outside the School. Using mathematical equations to recreate artwork The Year 11 Mathematical Methods students got a chance to be very creative with their assessment - using numbers to reproduce artwork. The boys visited the 2024 Grammar Art Show in Term 1 and were given the task to reproduce a chosen work using their knowledge of mathematical…
Bucolic beginnings, boarding and becoming a bowel surgeon
Coming from a cattle property near Injune I was in awe of the School’s ovals with lush, green grass and immaculate facilities. I found being able to throw yourself around and not risk skin cuts and grazes quite novel. Sharing the same field where many Old Boys and past heroes trotted was inspirational. I found the comradery among the boarders my most overwhelming memory. It was like having 60 brothers with similar interests all living under the same roof. There was always someone around to kick…
Our Other Mother
Meet Ms Janelle Fletcher, the House Mum of Corfe, whose journey at TGS began back in 1992 as an instrumental music teacher. Her story is one of deep connections, love for the arts and an unshakeable bond with the students of TGS. From the time that Janelle first stepped onto campus and shared her musical talents with young minds to now creating her own “mum moments” in Corfe — she has nurtured a profound sense of community and established connections that have lasted through generations. Her…
