Canberra Grammar School

Canberra Grammar School (CGS)
Location
Red Hill , Australian Capital Territory Australia
Coordinates	35°19′51″S 149°7′31″E
Information
Type	independent, co-educational, day and boarding
Motto	Latin: Deo Ecclesiae Patriae (For God, for Church, for Country)
Denomination	Anglican
Established	1929
Chairman	James Willson[1]
Head of school	Justin Garrick
Chaplain	Andrew Robinson, Father James
Staff	554[2]
Teaching staff	191[3]
Enrolment	2,028 (ELC to 12)[2]
Campuses	Red Hill Campus (junior and senior), Northside Campus (PK to 2), Southside Campus (PK to 2)
Colour(s)	Navy blue, sky blue & gold
Slogan	Ready for the world
Revenue	A$57,200,000[2]
Affiliation	Associated Southern Colleges
Website	cgs.act.edu.au

Canberra Grammar School is a co-educational, independent, day and boarding school located in Red Hill, a suburb of Canberra, the capital of Australia.

The school is affiliated with the Anglican Church of Australia and provides an education from preschool to Year 12 for boys and girls. In October 2015, the school announced that it would extend co-education to all years, commencing in 2016 with an intake of girls in Years 3 and 4. By 2018, the school became fully co-educational.[4]

The school was founded in 1929 when the existing Monaro Grammar School was relocated to Canberra from Cooma.[5] The foundation stone was laid on 4 December 1928 by Prime Minister Stanley Bruce.[6] Initially, it was attended by only 63 students, but the school has grown considerably since the early 1950s to a total attendance of 1,749 students as of June 2015.[7]

The school has educated one Australian prime minister, Gough Whitlam, and has a long list of notable alumni.

The school consists of 5 main campuses: Red Hill Southside, Red Hill Primary, Red Hill Senior, the Early Learning Center (ELC) and Northside Campbell.

Curriculum

In the primary school, the Australian Curriculum and Early Years Learning Framework requirements are incorporated through International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme.[8]

In the senior school, from years 7 to 10, the school follows the Australia Curriculum and the ACT Every chance to learn curriculum framework.[9] Unlike other schools in the Australian Capital Territory, Canberra Grammar School does not follow the ACT Year 12 Curriculum. Instead, it is the only school in the ACT where students in years 11 and 12 have the option to study either the New South Wales Higher School Certificate (HSC) or the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme.[10] In 2012, Canberra Grammar became an International Baccalaureate World School.[11]

Co-curricular

Canberra Grammar School is a member of the Associated Southern Colleges (ASC). The school offers many activities outside school hours. These include sport, music and other activities.[12]

• Junior School: athletics, adventure club, ball games, basketball, chess, cricket, cross country running, drama, European handball, gardening, golf, indoor soccer, mini volleyball, multimedia, orienteering, rugby, art, swimming, tae kwon do, tennis and triathlon.
• Senior School: athletics club, alternate reality club (ARC), badminton, basketball, CGS Academy (Yr 11 & 12 tutoring for younger students), chess, Code Cadets,[13] community service, cricket, cross country, Cru (Christian Group), debating, dragon boating, drama, Duke of Edinburgh awards, Equestrian Club, football (soccer), golf, hockey, mountain biking, netball, orienteering, outdoor education, rowing, rugby, sailing, snowsports, strength and conditioning, STEM Club, Sustainable CGS,[14] swimming, tae kwon do, tennis, Thucydides club and water polo.
• Junior School Music: Junior School Chorale, Junior Choir, Senior Choir, String Orchestra, Concert Band and the Canberra Grammar School Stage Band.
• Senior School Music is made up of two streams of performance groups:
  • The Advanced Musicians Program consists of a senior (higher level) concert band, Chamber Orchestra, senior jazz band, senior percussion ensemble, brass ensemble and Motet. These students have high level performance opportunities.
  • The large ensemble program provides larger ensemble-based experiences, including two concert bands, junior (lower level) jazz band, two string ensembles, a choir, an electric guitar ensemble, junior percussion ensemble and a piano ensemble.

Many of the Senior School ensembles have done numerous tours overseas over the years.

The school also holds a major musical every two years. Previous productions have included: Grease (2021), Chess (2020-cancelled due to Covid), The Pirates of Penzance (2018) Barnum (2015) and Guys and Dolls (2013).

Houses

Grounds and buildings of Canberra Grammar School viewed from Red Hill

List of houses

As with most Australian schools, Canberra Grammar utilises a house system. The Senior School consists of ten houses:[15]

House	Colour(s)	Mascot
Burgmann		Lion rampant
Blaxland		Swan
Garran		Bull
Garnsey		Dove with olive branch
Eddison		Eagle
Hay		Murray cod
Jones		Dragon
Sheaffe		Pegasus
Edwards		Kookaburra
Middleton		Stag

The school also has three Year 7 houses:

House	Mascot
Clements	Agnus Dei (lamb)
Burgess	Kangaroo
Snow	Horse

The Junior School has six houses introduced in 2022. These houses were named after local flora and fauna using the traditional Indigenous language of the Ngunnawal people:

House	Colour	Flora / Fauna
Dhiriwiri		Ironbark
Buru		Kangaroo
Guginyal		Kookaburra
Namarang		Wattle
Mulleun		Wedge-tailed Eagle
Bariny		Stringybark

The Junior School's original four houses, in place till 2021:

House	Colour	Mascot
Edwards	Green	Dragon
Radford	Red	Lion
Garnsey	Blue	Eagle
CJ Shakespeare	Gold	Tiger

Most of these houses are in the upper years.

Inter-house competitions

Houses form the basis of much of the inter-school competition that occurs throughout the academic calendar. Currently, the three prizes ‘\awarded annually to houses are: the Manaro House Shield, the Captain's Cup, and the Sportsmaster's Cup.

Manaro House Shield

Events:

• Swimming
• Cross country
• Athletics
• Athletics Standards
• House music (shout, rock, 4–20 voices (a capella) and instrumental)
• Effort grades

The House Shield is currently held by Garnsey House.

Captains' Cup

The exact events of the Captains' Cup are at the discretion of the captains and vice-captains of the school, and thus vary on a year-to-year basis. The events for 2024/25 are, in no particular order:

• Soccer
• Netball (since 2018)
• MasterChef
• Basketball

Typically, a "CGS All Star" team is selected from players in the competition to compete against the champion house in each event.

The Captains' Cup is currently held by Jones House.

Sportsmaster's Cup

The Sportsmaster's Cup is determined by:

• Spirit
• Attendance
• Participation

The Sportsmaster's Cup is currently held by Garran House.

Heads of school

Name	Term
W.J. Edwards	1929–1946
A.E. Gardner	1947
David A. Garnsey	1948–1958
Paul J. McKeown, AM	1959–1985
Timothy C. Murray	1986–1998
A. Simon Murray, OAM	1998–2010
Christopher Welsh	2010
Justin Garrick	2011–present

Notable alumni

See also: Category:People educated at Canberra Grammar School

Academia

• Peter David Arthur Garnsey (1961)[16]

• Professor Geoffrey Garrett, political scientist[17]
• Professor Malcolm Gillies, vice-chancellor and president, City University, London; vice-chancellor, London Metropolitan University[18]
• Professor Jeffrey Grey, Australian military historian[19]
• Professor Toby Miller, sociologist[20]

Business

• Kerry Packer, publishing, media and gaming tycoon[21]
• Nectarios (Nicky) Efkarpidis, architect and property developer[22][23][24]
• Rowan Dean, advertising executive[25]
• Terry Snow, Executive Director of the Canberra Airport Group,[26] Australian businessman (trained accountant), entrepreneur, and philanthropist

Media, entertainment and the arts

• Richard Glover, author, journalist, ABC radio presenter[27]
• Alister Grierson, film director and scriptwriter
• Francis James, RAF pilot and POW during WWII, journalist[28] and publisher, activist against the Vietnam War
• Peter Leonard, former WIN News Canberra reader[29]
• James O'Loghlin, ABC Sydney presenter[30]
• Dan O'Malley, author of The Rook
• Fred Smith, musician, writer and diplomat
• Bill Birtles, ABC journalist[31]

Politics, public service and the law

• Henry Pike, Liberal National Party of Queensland Federal member for Bowman, Queensland
• Wal Fife, Liberal Party of Australia Federal member for Hume, New South Wales[32]
• Robert Piper, Deputy Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and the humanitarian coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory, with the rank of UN Assistant Secretary General
• Shane Rattenbury, Member of the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly, 2008–present and Speaker[33]
• Andrew Refshauge, deputy premier of New South Wales 1995–2005[34]
• Richard Refshauge, ACT Supreme Court Justice[35]
• Jon Richardson, former Australian High Commissioner to Ghana (2004–08) and Nigeria (2013–15)[36]
• Peter Webb, New South Wales State member for Monaro 1999–2003[37]
• Gough Whitlam (Dux three years running), Prime Minister of Australia, 1972–1975[38]
• Andrew Constance, New South Wales State member for Bega 2003-2021[39]

Sport

• Edward Bissaker, Junior World Champion cyclist[40]
• Bob Brown, former Wallabies rugby union player[41]
• Josh Bruce, St Kilda, Australian rules football player[42]
• Andy Friend, ACT Brumbies former head coach[43]
• David Gallop, former chairman of the National Rugby League (NRL)[44]
• Charlie Hancock, Western Force rugby union player[45]
• Rod Kafer, Wallabies rugby union player[43]
• Peter Kimlin, Wallabies rugby union player[43]
• Michael Milton, world and Australian record holder, Winter Paralympic gold medalist[46]
• Nick McDonald-Crowley, Olympic rower[47]
• Cody Meakin, Australian wheelchair rugby paralympian
• Fergus Pragnell, Australian representative rower[48]
• Guy Shepherdson, Wallabies rugby union player[43]
• Ben Treffers, Junior World Champion swimmer[49]
• Richard Freedman, Horse trainer and media personality[50][51]

Other

• David Eastman, former Dux found not guilty of murder on 22 November 2018, after a retrial on a quashed murder conviction[52][53]
• Dr James Muecke AM, Australian of the Year 2020[54] Class of 1981[55]

Scandals

During the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, the Australian government announced a $130 billion [56] subsidy to help employers to be able to keep paying their employees and to support the survival of businesses and jobs impacted by the pandemic. Canberra Grammar School took $7,108,500 [57] in JobKeeper funds. Dr Garrick, head of the school, responded by saying "that as a private school, Canberra Grammar has an obligation to their community to maintain an operating surplus to ensure their economic viability into the future."[58]

See also

• List of schools in the Australian Capital Territory
• List of boarding schools
• Associated Southern Colleges

References

1. "CGS: Governance". Canberra Grammar School. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
2. "CGS Annual Report 2018". issuu. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
3. "CGS Annual Report 2017". issuu. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
4. "CGS goes fully co-educational". Canberra Grammar School. October 2015.
5. "Canberra Boys' Grammar School and oval, Red Hill, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory". Australian National University photographs. 1948. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
6. "CANBERRA GRAMMAR SCHOOL - Origin and Progress - The Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995) - 3 Jul 1929". Trove. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
7. "CGS Annual Report 2015". issuu. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
8. "The IB Primary Years Programme & Australian Curriculum". cgs.act.edu.au. Archived from the original on 17 November 2015. Retrieved 17 November 2015.
9. "The Curriculum Year 7 to Year 10". cgs.act.edu.au. Retrieved 17 November 2015.
10. "The Curriculum Year 11 to Year 12". cgs.act.edu.au. Retrieved 16 December 2015.
11. "Canberra Grammar School - International Baccalaureate". IBO. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
12. "Co-Curricular". Canberra Grammar School. 13 March 2009. Archived from the original on 26 April 2009.
13. Code Cadets
14. Sustainable CGS
15. "Houses". Canberra Grammar School. 13 March 2009. Archived from the original on 17 February 2010.
16. "NSW Rhodes Scholars" Archived 2007-09-15 at the Wayback Machine — University of Sydney list, (retrieved 16 April 2007)
17. 1st XI and early entry ANU. The Canberran 1976; 44: 79 and 91
18. "City University website", (retrieved 1 January 2009).
19. Smarden Essay Prize 1976. Debating Team. The Canberran 1976: 44: 38-43, 166
20. Butler Prize for Modern History. Debating Team. The Canberran 1976; 44: 166
21. "Chip off the old block". Melbourne: Fairfax Digital. 31 December 2005.
22. "The Canberran No. 59". Trove. 1991. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
23. Rout, Milanda (5 June 2015). "New Acton gives Canberra some cool". The Australian.
24. "Tales of the city". Monocle. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
25. Diary Rowan Dean, spectator.com.au, 5 April 2014, accessed 20 November 2020
26. "Team | Canberra Airport". canberraairport.com.au. Archived from the original on 4 March 2015. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
27. Debating Team. The Canberran 1976: 44: 38-43.
28. "Francis James interviewed by Stewart Harris [sound recording] | National Library of Australia". catalogue.nla.gov.au. 1992. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
29. [1] Archived October 4, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
30. "Standup Comic Sits in for a While". Retrieved 28 March 2011.^[dead link‍]
31. "Mr Bill Birtles Class of 2002". CGS Alumni. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
32. "The Hon. Wallace Clyde Fife". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
33. Dodd, Mark (20 October 2008). "Eco-brawler unworried about front line". The Australian. Archived from the original on 15 December 2012.
34. "Passions kept Carr on track". The Sydney Morning Herald. 3 August 2005.
35. Capital Magazine Publishing (18 May 2008). "I love my Capital" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 March 2012. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
36. 1st X1 and 1st XV The Canberran 1976: 44: 88
37. "Mr Peter William Webb". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
38. National Museum of Australia: Gough Whitlam Archived 13 November 2011 at the Wayback Machine (accessed:02-08-2007)
39. "The Hon. Andrew James Constance MP". Members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
40. "Cycling Australia > Home | Edward Bissaker". cycling.org.au. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
41. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 1 September 2011. Retrieved 22 May 2011.
42. "ROMS | Crew listing for Canberra Grammar racing the Schoolboy Coxed Quad Scull at 2009 Hydro Tasmania Australian Rowing Championships and Interstate Regatta". Archived from the original on 20 March 2012. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
43. "Rugby — Canberra Grammar School". Archived from the original on 17 February 2011. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
44. "A man on top of his game". The Sydney Morning Herald. 10 March 2007.
45. Western Force. "Charlie Hancock Profile". Retrieved 19 May 2023.
46. "Michael Milton". michaelmilton.com. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
47. "1986 National Championships - Australian Rowing History". rowinghistory-aus.info. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
48. "Athlete profile: Fergus Pragnell". rowingaustralia.com.au. Archived from the original on 13 March 2014. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
49. "Swimming Australia". swimming.org.au. Archived from the original on 21 March 2012. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
50. "Richard Freedman returns to where it all began for Canberra Cup". 9 March 2018.
51. "Richard Freedman guest speaker for Autumn Lunch | Thoroughbred Park".
52. Inquiry into fitness to plead of David Harold Eastman, page 56
53. "David Eastman freed from jail as murder retrial ordered". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 22 August 2014.
54. "Australian of the Year Awards". www.australianoftheyear.org.au. Archived from the original on 26 April 2020. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
55. "Mr James Muecke Class of 1981". cgsalumni.org.au. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
56. "$130 billion JobKeeper payment to keep Australians in a job | Treasury Ministers". 31 March 2020.
57. "Millions in JobKeeper went to private schools that grew their surpluses". ABC News. 19 May 2022.
58. "Canberra Grammar says JobKeeper criticism an 'ongoing campaign' targeting private schools".

Further reading

• McKeown, P.J., ed. (1979). Deo, Ecclesiae, Patriae; Fifty Years of Canberra Grammar School. Australian National University Press. ISBN 0-7081-1591-8.

External links

• Canberra Grammar School website