The annual Canberra Grammar Fete is more than a very happy and successful fund and friend-raising family event. It's a wonderful celebration of our community and all it stands for.

Earlier this year, Mrs Anne Frisch volunteered to co-ordinate the 2008 Fete and I hope everyone will get behind Anne as she brings the Fete together.

I asked Anne what motivated her to come forward and about her vision for the Fete. She said:

We have been so pleased with the way my son has been supported and has thrived both academically and socially over the past two years at Canberra Grammar, I am very happy to be able to contribute back to the School Community. I am approaching the CGS Fete as one of those special events that enables the School Community to work together, not only to raise funds to be used to benefit all the boys, but by creating a day that is fun for everyone.

If I can ask parents and boys to consider volunteering a small amount of time towards the fete, supporting your House, your year, getting to meet those parents you may not have had a chance to connect with, then there will be opportunity to also be able to enjoy the day.

The spirit of volunteering thrives at Canberra Grammar and takes almost as many forms as there are volunteers. For many, the idea of 'giving back' is a strong motive, for others 'getting things done' or raising money or making a tangible difference are what motivates them to come forward and give of themselves. Literally thousands of mums and dads have given generously of their time and talent to be on the Board and the P&F, take an active role in the sports associations, help out in the Resource Centre or at weekend sports events. And this is to mention only a few of the ways that our community supports the School and each other.

Thank you to them all - and especially at this time to Anne Frisch for the outstanding example she sets.

Anne's commentary on Grammar Central is kept constantly up to date with all that is happening in the lead-up to the Fete. Please check in often.

I look forward to seeing you on Saturday 5 April.

A very special new year welcome to all members of the School family. After a long period of preparation the term has commenced well and it was terrific to welcome new students and staff at the opening assemblies across the School. I look forward to catching up with new parents at the official welcome on the afternoon of Wednesday 20 February.

This week Bishop Allan Ewing commissioned two new Chaplains for Canberra Grammar. Reverend Chris Welsh is our Chaplain and works across the School but mainly in the Senior School. Reverend Neal Roberts, Associate Chaplain, will be based in the Primary School. I look forward to our new Chaplains forging strong and important relationships with the boys, girls, parents, staff and the wider School Community. The first of our family services is to be held on Sunday, 17 February commencing at 9am in the Chapel of Christ the King.

I have seen and spoken to many happy boys this week, some new and some returning students. There is a nice feel about the School as staff and students interact and go about their business. Strong bonds and relationships are the most important asset in any community and it is clearly evident that these are in abundance at the School.

The opening assembly in the Senior School this week coincided with Foundation Day so I took the opportunity to present a brief pictorial history to the boys and staff.

Below are some extracts and photos taken from the presentation.

This is the eightieth year since the foundation of Canberra Grammar. We started here, at Red Hill, on Tuesday, 5 February, 1929. Our history of course goes back to a small house in Lambie Street, Cooma, which still stands today. There Mr Barnard established the Church of England Grammar School for boys and girls in 1906. In 1908 the equipment and goodwill were sold for 17 pounds to the Reverend Charles Burgess, Rector of St Paul's, Cooma, who embarked on a 'venture of faith'-the establishment of Manaro Grammar School. So in some important ways our beginnings grew out of the Manaro district some 100 years ago and 2008 marks the centenary of that foundation.

This is a picture of the original concept plans for Canberra Grammar as drawn by the Sydney architects Burcham, Clamp and sons. It shows the School when completed If you look carefully you can make out the Quad, Dining Hall and the main classroom blocks. The upstairs were to be dormitories for the Boarders.The front of the School was to have a cathedral-like chapel...In front of where we now have The Breezeway. The Headmaster's house was to be connected to the main school by cloisters. It was certainly a bold vision and was to be in the style of the great public schools of Britain. You can see evidence of that in the architecture and also in the stones from many of these schools which are laid into the walls of the Eastern Cloisters....outside the Board Room running down past the Hay Housemaster's office through to the Economics classrooms.

Canberra from Red Hill 1929

It was a bold vision because there was not much in Canberra at that time. You can see a few buildings, some roads and tracks and lots of farming country. You might be able to make out the Molonglo River. There was no lake. That was to come in the 1960s.

Foundation Day February 5 1929

There was plenty of activity in establishing the new School with the foundation stone being laid on 5 December 1928. This picture captures the ceremony and you might be able to make out the Prime Minister, the Rt Hon Stanley Bruce (left hand arrow) in the dark suit. The Rt Rev LB Radford, Bishop of Goulburn and the first Chairman of the Board is marked with the right hand arrow. There were many other dignitaries present for this was seen as a very important occasion for the National Capital.

Main entrance almost ready for the first students, January 1929

This photo shows that things were nearly ready for the first students. It's just a few weeks after the laying for the foundation stone and the roof is on but you can still see ladders and lots of rubble and no evidence of playing fields and lawns. They were to come later.

Headmaster's residence and Main School 1929

The main School building is finished and is on the right. The Headmaster's residence, the building on the left is unfinished and it stayed that way for a few years.

Franklin Street, Manuka, 1930

Cusack's store on the left (now Verve restaurant) , Manuka avenue, St Christopher's Convent at the end of the road and on the right the Capitol Theatre.

The School from Red Hill, 1935 and 1997

So here we are eighty years later and 100 years since the foundation of Manaro Grammar.

We are still about shaping and forming character and we continue nurturing all of the young men of Canberra Grammar. Indeed we hope that your years with us will be seen as a journey which is richly fulfilling in all the right ways. We want it to be an experience which allows everyone of you to thrive in an environment which is caring, stimulating, safe and fulfilling.

Cherish this school...for we are but the current custodians of Canberra Grammar.


February 5 2008

Headmaster's speech:

It is with great pleasure that I welcome you to this Speech Night, the culminating event of the School year in which we come together as a community to reflect, to recognise achievement, and to look ahead to the future.

I extend a warm welcome to all, our special guest Lieut Col Don Woodland, OAM, and Mrs Woodland, our Chairman, Mr Mark Baker, and Mrs Baker, Board members, ladies and gentlemen.

I begin by acknowledging the enormous contribution that Mr Bill Maude, has given to the School over the past 31 years. Bill stands down as Director of Curriculum at the end of the year and we are grateful for all Bill has done for us. Apart from his outstanding work in curriculum, Bill Maude has been Director of Studies, Housemaster of Sheaffe House, Head of Languages and a fantastic supporter of boys, parents and staff. His steadiness, wisdom and willingness to do all he could to help others has meant that Bill Maude is one of our very best. We thank Bill Maude for a job well done, we wish him well on his leave next year and we look forward to him returning to the classroom in 2009.

Amongst our ranks another long serving member of staff retires this year. Ms Chrissy Nyveld has worked in the AV area of the Resource Centre and after sixteen years will be retiring. Thank you Chrissy for your patience and kindness. You have done an excellent job and we know you will enjoy spending more time with family.

Mrs Glynis Bridle leaves us to take up the position of Team Leader in the English Department of Burgmann School. Mrs Bridle has been on the staff of Canberra Grammar for the past 20 years and over that time she has held, at different times, various positions including Editor of the Canberran, in charge of ESL and Assistant Head of English. We thank Mrs Bridle for the wonderful contribution she has made, her excellent English teaching and the care and nurture she has given to the boys.

Mrs Anni Bartlett joined the staff in 2000 as a Physics teacher and then moved to the position of Head of the Mathematics Department where she has taught for the past eight years. More recently Mrs Bartlett has been Assistant to the Director of Teaching & Learning. We thank Anni for her enthusiasm and the energy she has brought to her work at the School. She has been an outstanding educator and we wish her well as she embarks on a new career. Others who leave us include Mr Alex Nockles, teacher of Mathematics, Ms Kylie Robards, Ms Fiona Edwards and Mr Adrian Burgess. I thank you all for your significant contributions.

I thank all our staff for their commitment to the education of all students across the School. The staff has given much and I know I join with parents, boys and Board directors in thanking you for all you have done for Canberra Grammar this past year.

I thank our students too, for their enthusiasm, their love of learning, their willingness to support their peers and the wider community.

A good school such as ours is much more than the staff and students. Much of what we do is possible only through the voluntary efforts of so many across the School community. The Parents and Friends Association has worked tirelessly through the year, as have the Rugby, Rowing and Cricket Associations. Individual parents and families have also supported us and I thank you all.

Members of the Board have devoted much time and given deep consideration to a range of issues over the year, not least being the review of our strategic intent lead by the Chairman, Mr Mark Baker. I thank the Board for its leadership and support, and acknowledge particularly Mr Chris Chenoweth, who in June this year stood down as Chairman. Chris Chenoweth lead the Board superbly well and our thanks go to him for his service over so many years. Mr Ian Hansen and Mr Mark Harrison also retired from the Board during the year and I thank them both for all they have done for the School.

I also thank our Alumni, the many Old Boys who have supported us. Whether they are overseas, interstate or in Canberra, they are special supporters of Canberra Grammar and I look forward to their continued and long-lasting involvement with their alma mater.

The shaping of character is our most essential work. It is a shared responsibility and one where home and school must be working to a common agenda and with a preparedness to do the hard work. In many instances this happens and I am grateful for that.

Strong and healthy partnerships are important, particularly those between school and family. Parents make a significant decision when they decide to enrol their son at Canberra Grammar. We know it is much more than an academic education that is on their minds. The shaping of character and the reinforcement of values are clear expectations. Parents will want him to be happy, to enjoy his school, to be understood, to be respected and to be treasured. They want him to do well and to find his niche.

As teachers we take the responsibility you give to us very seriously and we set out to forge good and healthy partnerships with you and your son. The role of the Housemaster and Tutor is important but so to is that of the class teacher, coach, counsellor and chaplain. All have a vital role to play in character development. Many have a profound influence. One only needs to talk to these young men to know that the staff behind me here tonight do some wonderful work with your boys. Many of you are already aware of this.

It is worth pausing to consider the other influences in play that are also shaping these young men. Each spends about 20% of their time at school and sleeps for about 40% of the week. The remaining 40% of the time plays a crucial part in influencing values, attitudes and moral standards. Some of this time will be spent with family but on the whole it is most likely to be spent with friends, in person or online; listening to music, computer games, and important disengagement from the realities of life.

There will be considerable variation across families regarding the rich time these boys spend with their parents. In many families the dynamic is such that terrific things happen and the relationships are healthy and positive. This will be no accident. It is the result of parenting where this has been a priority from the early days. In other families it will be more difficult. No judgement is made here, simply the recognition that this is the reality for many of us.

Friends and music also influence character development. Some of us here tonight, and this clearly includes the boys, may well dismiss the influence of the contemporary music that is prevalent in youth culture. I can’t. The mode of listening, along with the lyrics, is of serious concern. Many of these boys are wired to their music and are impregnated with auditory stimuli that negatively influences attitudes, moods and values. It shapes a character very differently compared with listening to Mozart or Bach. Music has changed and we need to recognise the potential consequences of this.

Friendships are complicated. Boys will spend more time with friends, virtual or real, in person or online, than with parents or teachers. It’s worth considering the influence they will be having on development and the shaping of character, his character. Good friends are worth their weight in gold. They help you spiral up, to reach new heights and to overcome challenges.They help you to keep your true north, to make the difficult decisions and to be a decent citizen.

All of us must be concerned that in spite of our best efforts, societal pressures are such that some boys and girls will involve themselves in the unsafe risks of binge drinking and drug use. It is most likely a communal activity with friends who are reckless in their concern for themselves and others. It involves those teenagers who are prepared to ignore all advice and rewire their developing brains such that they shape their personality and character differently. It seems that some see this as a safe risk and yet it does have dire and lasting consequences. Whilst the School’s jurisdiction is contained to school activities, parents and school have a shared responsibility to educate our boys, your boys, and as such we must all be working together.

When boys have a set of values outside of school that are inconsistent with what Canberra Grammar stands for, and what the family stands for, then there is angst and all likelihood that opportunities will be lost and potential unrealised. Conversely, when boys live by values that are consistent with those of family and school then there is every likelihood of a wonderfully rewarding education. We are fortunate to have many young men like this.

The charge to us all, to staff, boys and parents, is that we commit to forging this strong and healthy partnership and my promise to you all is that I will do my utmost to ensure that this is so.

Ladies and gentlemen I wish you all a very restful and happy Christmas holiday and look forward to welcoming you back to a new school year in February 2008.