“Our guests are the heart of this camp, and it is a privilege to welcome them each year and share in the joy that defines the Sony Camp experience.”John Anderson, Deputy Headmaster and Camp Coordinator
For two decades, the Toowoomba Grammar School Sony Foundation Children's Holiday Camp has been creating unforgettable experiences for children living with disability.
At the same time, it has shaped generations of young men through one of the School's most significant service learning opportunities.
This year marks the 20th anniversary of Sony Camp at Toowoomba Grammar School, a milestone that reflects far more than the longevity of a successful program. It represents 20 years of friendship, compassion and service that have enriched the lives of campers, families, students, staff and volunteers alike.
Introduced to the School in 2007 by former staff member Tim Kelly, Sony Camp has become one of the most meaningful traditions in the School calendar. More than 1,300 Year 11 students have volunteered as companions over that time, providing support, encouragement and friendship to young campers while sharing in a weekend filled with fun, laughter and adventure.
Current Sony Camp Coordinator John Anderson said the milestone provided an opportunity to reflect on the extraordinary relationships at the heart of the program.
"At its heart, the Sony Camp is about one simple but powerful goal: providing our guests with a fun, safe and memorable holiday experience," he said.
For Tim Kelly, seeing the camp reach its 20-year milestone is a source of immense pride.
"What makes this milestone so significant is that it represents far more than the longevity of a school program," he said.
“It reflects two decades of care, service and connection that have touched the lives of countless children, students, staff and volunteers.”— Tim Kelly, former Sony Camp Coordinator
Over the years, Sony Camp has fostered strong partnerships between Toowoomba Grammar School, The Glennie School and Fairholme College, with students and staff from all three schools working together to create an inclusive and welcoming environment for campers.
While the camp delivers enormous benefits for guests and their families, its influence on students is equally profound. Each companion is entrusted with the care of a young camper throughout the weekend, requiring maturity, patience, resilience and selflessness. Many students arrive unsure of what to expect, but leave with a broader perspective, deeper empathy and a greater understanding of the importance of serving others.
Former companions frequently describe Sony Camp as one of the defining experiences of their school years. Reflections collected as part of the 20-year anniversary project reveal the lasting influence the camp has had on former students, many of whom credit the experience with shaping their personal values, career paths and understanding of leadership. One Old Boy, now the principal of a school for students with moderate and severe intellectual disabilities, described Sony Camp as one of the most impactful initiatives of his time at Toowoomba Grammar School.
John Anderson believes the camp's greatest legacy lies in the relationships it creates.
"It is not the activities, costumes, discos, games or swimming sessions that define the camp," he said.
“Rather, it is the human connection that develops between guests, families, volunteers and staff that gives the experience its lasting significance.”— John Anderson, Deputy Headmaster and Camp Coordinator
The impact extends well beyond the students involved. For many families, Sony Camp provides a rare opportunity to rest and recharge, knowing their child is safe, supported and enjoying a memorable experience. Volunteers, community organisations and local supporters have also played an important role in creating special moments over the years, from visits by emergency services personnel to unique experiences made possible through the generosity of local businesses and community members.
As Toowoomba Grammar School celebrates this significant anniversary, the focus remains on the values that have sustained the camp for 20 years: kindness, inclusion, compassion and community. While campers may remember the activities, costumes, discos, games and adventures, those involved consistently point to the relationships formed during the weekend as the program's most enduring legacy.
Twenty years on, Sony Camp continues to demonstrate that some of life's most important lessons are learned through caring for others. For generations of Grammar boys, it has been a powerful reminder that leadership begins with service and that genuine human connection has the power to change lives.
Latest News
news
Read More
Prestigious Bell Scholarship award for TGS Graduate
Toowoomba Grammar School 2022 Year 12 graduate, Ryan Murphy is one of only four aspiring young actors who have been announced as the winners of a prestigious scholarship with renowned theatre company Bell Shakespeare. The 2022 John Bell Scholarship is a life-changing opportunity for young actors from regional Australia to learn from some of the country’s most accomplished actors, directors, and educators. Ryan was selected alongside Joe Appleton from Ballarat Grammar, Victoria; Lilliana…
news
Read More
TGS celebrates ATAR Achievements
Congratulations to our 2022 ATAR students for excellent results, highlighted by an improvement in the median ATAR. We would also like to acknowledge the dedication and efforts of all the teachers who have supported and guided these students throughout their education at Toowoomba Grammar School. Here are some of the key details from the 2022 TGS QCE results. The median ATAR is 87.6 (an improvement from 84.1 in 2021), whilst the mean ATAR is 82.8310.4% of students achieved an ATAR of 95 or…
news
Read More
TGS Graduate Accepted to NIDA
Congratulations TGS Old Boy (2014-21) Hamish Wells, selected for the prestigious National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) for 2023. Hamish will be studying Musical Theatre. He is the second TGS student in two years to be accepted into NIDA, joining Harrison Mills (2015-21) who commenced his studies there at the start of 2022 for a Bachelor in Performing Arts, Film and Television. TGS was also recognised as Toowoomba's Most Successful Drama school at the Toowoomba Eisteddfod this year.Hamish…
news
Read More
TGS Retains Tom Allen Trophy
A superb effort by the Toowoomba Grammar School 1st XI cricket team has seen them retain the Tom Allen Memorial Trophy on Tuesday, 22 November 2022. This was the 69th match between the two schools, with top players lining up for both 1st XI teams in the 50 over match. The final scoreboard: Downlands was all out for 57, TGS replied with 6 for 246 off 32 overs. TGS currently dominates the scorecard with 46 wins to Downlands 16 and seven draws/wash outs over the years. The Tom Allen Memorial…
news
Read More
New Program Showcases 'Cool' Career Opportunities for TGS students
On Wednesday, 26 October 2022 Toowoomba business NRG Services donated a mobile cold room valued at $17,000, proudly built by Toowoomba Grammar School students under close supervision of NRG tradespeople as part of a newly developed school-based training program. It’s part of a new forward-thinking school-based training program to address a trade skills shortage in the booming refrigeration industry, that also saw two students offered apprenticeships with NRG Services. NRG collaborated with…
news
Read More
Volleyballers Ace the Nationals
Toowoomba Grammar School volleyballers have come away with a swag of medals from the recent Australian Youth Volleyball Championships. Three TGS boys were selected to represent Queensland at the titles Beau Fowler (U18 White), Hussein Yusaf (U17 Maroon - captain) and Rory Webster (U15 Maroon) with Miss Jessica Russell-Croucher (U16 White) and Mr Eric Smith (U14 White) representing as coaching staff. Additionally, Old Boy, Mr Timothy Cottman-Fields was also a part of the 230 strong delegation,…
news
Read More
International Showjumping Champions
Toowoomba Grammar School is celebrating the achievements of Year 8 students Tom Sturgeon and Xavier De Ceuster who won the Royal Pacific Showjumping Challenge, along with their teammates Ellie Michel and Savannah De Ceuster from The Glennie School. The four equestrians, all from the Darling Downs, were selected to represent Australia for the Under 17 international competition held in New Caledonia on October 21, competing against Vanuatu, New Zealand, Tahiti and New Caledonia. Each competitor…
news
Read More
2022 GPS Basketball Premiers - TGS!
The Toowoomba Grammar School community is celebrating following a history-making win on the weekend. Our 1st V Basketball team has taken out the prestigious 2022 GPS Premiership, after a nail-biting victory over Gregory Terrace on Saturday. There are nine GPS Schools involved in the competition, regarded as the highest level high school basketball competition in Queensland, so this victory effectively rates TGS as one of the best basketball-schools in the State! The 2022 1st V is regarded as…
