Mateship, Growth and Unforgettable Memories

Yesterday’s Awards Assembly for our senior cohort saw lashings of pride, reflection and a time for parents and caregivers to savour the very nearness of graduation after years of growth and grit.

As the boys prepare for their final external exams and the much-anticipated Formal, this gathering marked the beginning of their final chapter at Toowoomba Grammar School.

The assembly featured a moving reel that traced their growth from wide-eyed Junior School boys to confident young men. There were tears, laughter and heartfelt applause, a fitting tribute to a cohort that has weathered challenges, embraced opportunity and grown up together.

Our Headmaster Dr John Kinniburgh, speaking at the Year 12 Awards Assembly, reminded students and families of the deeper values that define a Grammar education. In a moment of quiet reflection, he offered this insight:

From Prep to Year 12: Thirteen Years together

Among the many proud faces were a group of boys who’ve spent their entire schooling journey at TGS, from Prep through to Year 12. Thirteen years of learning, growing and belonging. Their reflections offer a glimpse into the depth of connection that comes from being truly known by your school.

A special group of 14 boys were enrolled in our Prep classes and have ended their secondary schooling together: Jack Brown, Darcy Templeman, Charles Lachmund, Matthew Jacob, Jett Heffernan, Ryan Williams, Zach Freer, Harrison Russell, Hugo Searle, Mackenzie Buckley, Frazer Wilkie, Lewis Bird, Hayden Fellenberg and Josh Hoepper.

A School That Knows Its Boys

Jett Heffernan, one of our Prefects who came to TGS as a Prep student, spoke warmly of his early years:

“I did love it here. I mean all the teachers were really great. I don’t think I ever had a bad teacher in my time at Grammar… I just loved the Junior School.”

For Jett, knowing familiar faces from the start made the transition to Senior School easier.

“It definitely made it easier knowing a few boys coming in… it set me up well.”

Another Prefect, Matthew Jacob described TGS as “sort of like my second family and my second home… where I’ve seen my friends and where I can connect.” After thirteen years, the School grounds feel instinctive - a place of comfort and belonging.

“It doesn’t feel like 13 years at all,” Jett added. “It’s all gone very quickly and it’s a great place to be.”

Also making the journey from Prep to become a 2025 Prefect, Charles Lachmund reflected on the friendships and opportunities that defined his time at TGS:

“Some of my best mates have come all the way through with me and the help you get from the support staff and teachers throughout the journey - it’s been unbelievable.”

Whether on the sporting field, in the classroom, or through leadership roles, these boys have grown into young men of character - resilient, grounded and ready to take on the world.

“If you were to want to send your kid here,” Charles said, “then it’s a worthy investment. It’s a great opportunity and you just meet heaps of people.”

Reflections from the Reunion Breakfast

At the Junior School Reunion Breakfast, Frazer Wilkie shared memories that captured the spirit of growing up at TGS - from Book Week costumes and billy cart building to the simpler worries of memorising times tables.

“I could not have asked for a better school to grow up in, and being at the Junior School made the move into Senior School so much easier,” Frazer said. “All of these moments helped shape who we are today and built the friendships that have carried us into Senior School.”

“It does not feel that long ago that I was in Prep with Mrs Morgan, farewelling the Year 12s of 2013 and now it is our turn.” he said.

Jett Heffernan also spoke at the breakfast, reflecting on the friendships and familiarity that made his journey so meaningful:

“I remember waiting years to win my first TimTam packet and I finally got it in Year 6 and had eaten the whole thing by dinner! That kind of joy sticks with you.”

Their speeches reminded us that the Junior School isn’t just a starting point; it’s a foundation for lifelong connection.

A Moment Shared by Family, Too

It wasn’t just the students who felt the weight of the moment, it was their families, their siblings but especially their parents.

Lining the edges of the tunnel and up onto Chavel Common in front of School House were mothers, fathers and caregivers who have walked their own long journey alongside these boys.

There was an unspoken understanding among them, a quiet familiarity with the significance of the occasion. They’ve seen things: the beauty and the messiness of teenage years, the effort and the setbacks, the triumphs on sporting fields, in boarding houses, through performing arts, cadets, languages and every academic challenge. It has all been a steady, sometimes chaotic, always hopeful push toward this culmination.

There were kind greetings exchanged between parents, some who’ve known each other since Prep, others who’ve met along the way. Just as the boys have forged deep friendships, so too have their families. Together, they’ve weathered the volatility of parenthood through the late-night study sessions, the quiet worries, the moments of conflict and the rare but golden delight when your child chooses to spend time with you.

It’s almost too emotional to name what this moment signals: your child, on the precipice of adulthood. But in the shared glances and soft smiles, there was pride, gratitude and a deep sense of community - one that will linger long after they’ve sold the uniforms on to other parents on their TGS journey.

Looking Ahead

As the Class of 2025 prepares for their final exams and Formal, we celebrate not just where they’ve come from, but where they’re headed. With strong foundations, enduring friendships and the support of their teachers and family behind them, they’re ready to tackle their future.

To graduate in Toowoomba Grammar School’s Sesquicentenary year is to be part of something truly special: a legacy 150 years in the making, built on tradition, character and community.

To our Year 12 boys, whether you joined us in Prep or later in your journey, thank you for letting us walk beside you. You’ve made your mark and we couldn’t be prouder.