Grammar News November 2024

It has been another busy year on the Old Boy Calendar. Thank you to all of the Old Boys who supported our events throughout the year including the new TRL event and Grapes and Grazier Lunch. It has been a tremendous privilege to meet so many Old Boys at our Brisbane events and most recently in Sydney and Melbourne at our casual catch-ups. These catch-ups have proved popular so we are looking forward to providing more opportunities for Old Boys based outside of Brisbane to catch-up over the next year.

I have a couple of highlights from the year I would like to share with the BGS Community. Firstly in August we hosted our annual Sportsmans Lunch. Supported by nearly 400 members of the Old Boy Community we were entertained by Greg "Marto" Martin '80 who interviewed Powderfinger's John "JC" Collins AM '87 and Supercar Driver Lee Holdsworth '00. Not only was this a great day of catching up, but through the generosity of our sponsors and supporters we raised enough funds to financially support the tuition fees of two existing students through their final years at BGS. If not for the support of the Old Boy Community these boys may not have been able to continue to receive the benefits of a Grammar education. Thank you to everyone who supported this cause and if any Old Boys would like to contribute to our Old Boy Bursary program please contact me or our Community Relations office.

My other highlight was talking to the graduating Class of 2024, our most recent Old Boys, at their final assembly before departing through the school gates. The last day tradition of the final assembly in the Great Hall is one of the many rites of passage for a BGS student. I remember this final day, the mix of excitement of moving past school years and what lies ahead. As I remind the boys, they leave a cohort of 250 and join an Old Boy Community of over 15,000 scattered across the globe in every field of endeavour. They may not appreciate the benefits of being part of the Old Boy community as recent graduates but the Old Boys Association exists for their benefit and like any relationship if they put in the efforts to attend our events they will reap the rewards. Our professional networking nights allow University aged Old Boys to meet and mix with senior leaders in their field, many willing to mentor and help younger Old Boys find their pathway. What a remarkable opportunity and a terrific initiative by the Old Boys Committee.

This is my final year as President of the Old Boys Association, having served for 9 years on the committee, the final three as President. I joined the Committee during the time of the Royal Commission and felt that as an Old Boys Association we have a role to support the brave Old Boys who have come forward to share their stories of abuse and those who continue to suffer as a consequence of abuse during their years at BGS. Many years on, the scars are still evident and as a community we must continue to acknowledge and support our fellow Old Boys and encourage them to avail themselves of the assistance provided. I know this chapter in our school history weighs heavy in the hearts and minds of the current school leadership and I thank them for their continued role in addressing and acknowledging the pain felt by many of our Old Boy Community.

In closing, I would like to thank my fellow committee members for all of their hard work in supporting the OBA and our strategic endeavours to create a diverse, inclusive and active Old Boy Community. It is fantastic that through our strategic vision we have been able to strengthen our community and through this, our funds so as to provide support bursaries and younger Old Boys at our events. I would also like to congratulate Scott McLeod '84 and Stephen Moore '00 on joining Old Boys Stephen Bizzell '85 and Warren Traves on the Board of Trustees. The OBA looks forward to continuing to work together with the Board, the Senior Leadership and the P&F on delivering a brilliant future for Brisbane Grammar School.

Cameron Feltham '86 OBA President

Old Boys named: Cameron Feltham '86 (President, final year, 9 years on committee, final 3 as President). Sportsman's Lunch 2024: host Greg "Marto" Martin '80, interviewing John "JC" Collins AM '87 (Powderfinger) and Lee Holdsworth '00 (Supercars); raised funds to support two students' tuition. Board of Trustees (Old Boys): Scott McLeod '84/'85 and Stephen Moore '00 joining Stephen Bizzell '84 and Warren Traves '82. Reflection on the OBA's role supporting Old Boys affected by abuse (Royal Commission).