Grammar News Summer 2021

BGS Boarding continues to benefit from a US$500,000 donation over five years from Old Boy Matt McLennan '86. The significant gift kickstarted the redevelopment plans for boarding accommodation and contributed to the new Griffith House.

The new junior house, a dedicated facility for 18 Middle School boarders in Years 5 to 8, opened in May 2020. The high-quality accommodation complements the School's Academic, Wellbeing and Cocurricular programs in BGS Boarding.

Boys have a room that exists within a dorm, giving them both privacy and connectedness. The house is equipped with new bathrooms and showers. The common room facilities, with lounge and kitchenette, let the boys create a sense of community.

Advanced plans are underway to renovate the senior boarding house to provide accommodation for 81 boys in Years 9 to 12. Harlin House will provide an individual room for each boy and new spaces for study and social activities.

Mr McLennan, a New York-based fund manager considered one of the most influential Australian investors in the world, said he had enjoyed his time boarding at BGS and was thankful for the education he received and the values of hard work and self-betterment instilled at the School.

"Boarding at BGS was formative for me," he said. "Giving back to BGS enables me both to express my gratitude and contribute to the life experience of future boarders."

He hoped his donation would not only contribute to improving the boarding experience for students but also encourage others to contribute to the campaign to upgrade the overall boarding facilities.

Mr McLennan has a passion for supporting education and has also given to The University of Queensland.

"Learning has played a big role in what's given me joy over the years and I think to be a supporter of that is only natural," he said. "It is truly rewarding and a joy to give back, and I would encourage others to consider taking a similar step."

2020 proved to be a milestone year for the Board, with three long-serving Trustees retiring and three new members. The BGS community recognised the contribution of retiring Trustees Dr John Fenwick AM, Mr Chris Morton and Mrs Sue Palmer at a retirement dinner in the Great Hall in October.

Dr John Fenwick AM '61. Deputy Headmaster, Teaching and Learning Steve Uscinski spoke in tribute of John Fenwick '61, farewelling him as a "Grammar Great". Elected in 1999 and the Board's Deputy Chairman from 2003 to 2019, Fenwick contributed "expansive intellect and incisive analysis" to his role on the Board, Mr Uscinski said. An accomplished mathematician, rugby player and swimmer while at BGS, he studied engineering at UQ like his father, Old Boy Osborn Thomas Fenwick '24. Both were awarded a University Medal. In 1967, he was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship to the University of Oxford where he completed a Doctor of Philosophy in structural engineering in 1971. In 2006, he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Engineering from UQ and was instrumental in establishing a Main Roads Chair in Engineering. Fenwick has provided engineering expertise on the construction of three major buildings at BGS, the Middle School, Indoor Sports Centre and The Lilley Centre. He was also chairman of the Board's House and Grounds Committee from 2003.

Chris Morton '73. Old Boy Chris Morton, School Captain in 1973, joined the Board as an elected Trustee in 2003. As Chairman of the Board's Advancement and Community Relations Committee, he shone the spotlight on the valuable role of volunteers through the creation of the Betty Howell Awards in 2011. At the dinner, Deputy Headmaster, Staff Ed Roper spoke of Morton's vision of creating a "community hub providing connection and opportunities for members to build relationships with others." Morton was also a member of the Sesquicentenary History Committee, which provided advice in the production of the School's 150-year history book. He earned his stripes in law and commerce at UQ and then at the University of Cambridge where he studied for a Master of Law degree from 1982-83. These qualifications, coupled with his impressive track record working in the legal, financial and property sectors were pertinent to his membership of the House and Grounds Committee. Like Fenwick, Morton has been a significant philanthropic supporter of BGS. Both continue as ex-officio members of the STEAM Project Control Group.

(Retiring Trustee Sue Palmer is not an Old Boy and is recorded in the source; her tribute is not reproduced here.)

New Trustee: Stephen Bizzell '84. This year's new Trustees, Old Boy Stephen Bizzell '84, Claire Blake and Dr Angela Ryan, have strong BGS connections. Bizzell has one son currently at BGS and his father, brother and eldest son are BGS Old Boys. Bizzell, a chartered accountant, is executive chairman of a corporate advisory and funds management business, Bizzell Capital Partners. He has served as a director or chairman of 15 stock exchange-listed public companies and is a former director of Queensland Treasury Corporation.

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• Fraser McReight '16, selected to debut for the Wallabies against the All Blacks. The 21-year-old started from the bench in the Bledisloe Cup match. (Social post 29 October.)
• Ian Haug '88 and John 'JC' Collins '87 (Powderfinger), got the band back together for a virtual reunion concert on Saturday 23 May, the "One Night Lonely" gig, to benefit Beyond Blue and Support Act (a charity for musicians and artists out of work due to COVID-19). Powderfinger's five members each played from their own studios, Collins in his Fortitude Music Hall and Haug from his Brisbane home. (Social post 14 May.) [The source records Ian Haug as '88 and John Collins as '87; the President's Message and the 2019 edition record John Collins as '87.]
• BGS Cowboys, three BGS Old Boys played for the North Queensland Cowboys in the NRL this season: Tom Gilbert, Daejarn Asi and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow. The three former BGS boarders played together in several games, and played in the same First XV team for the light dark blue in 2017.
• Dylan Minniecon '16, BGS Old Boy and former boarder, volunteered his time to mentor Indigenous BGS boarders at a cultural retreat at Bitenbar (the new BGS Outdoor Education campsite at Moogerah) in October, sharing his story.
• Sean Parsons '97, chief executive and founder of Ellume, developed three COVID-19 tests that can be completed in less than 15 minutes for use at airports, stadiums and offices. Ellume received US$30M from the US Government to manufacture the tests and began shipments in October.