Trinity Grammar School, Kew

For other institutions named Trinity School, see Trinity School (disambiguation).

Trinity Grammar School, Kew
Trinity Grammar School crest. Source: www.trinity.vic.edu.au (Trinity website)
Location
40 Charles Street Kew , Victoria 3101 Australia
Coordinates	37°48′33″S 145°2′4″E
Information
Type	Independent, single-sex, day and boarding
Motto	Template:Lang-la ("Act Manfully")
Denomination	Anglican Church of Australia
Established	1902
Chairperson	John Gillam
Headmaster	Phil De Young
Employees	300+
Key people	Rohan Brown (Deputy Headmaster) The Rev'd Matt Campbell (Senior Chaplain)
Enrolment	1,445 (ELC-12)
Colour(s)	Green and Gold
Slogan	"Growing Exceptional Young Men"
Publication	The Mitre The Trinity Grammarian
Website	trinity.vic.edu.au

Trinity Grammar School, Kew (abbreviated to TGS) is an independent Anglican day and boarding school for boys, located in Kew in Melbourne, Australia.

The school was founded at a meeting of several high-ranking church figures on 14 November 1902. It opened in 1903, operating out of a church hall. At one point, Trinity was the fourth largest school in terms of student population in Victoria.

Trinity is a founding member of the Associated Grammar Schools of Victoria (AGSV). It has over 1400 students and around 20 boarding students.

History

Trinity Grammar School, Kew was founded by members of the Holy Trinity parish in 1902 and opened the next year. The school originally opened in the parish hall of Holy Trinity Church with 23 boys. Edward Taffs was the first headmaster, although G. M. Long soon succeeded him.

In 1906, the school purchased a property, "Roxeth" (now Henty House), a small distance to the south of the church, on the corner of Wellington Street and Charles Street. Trinity quickly built Arnold Hall, the first classroom block, completing it the next year. In the same year, Trinity was registered as a public school of the Church of England. The school leased "Molina", a property on the other side of Charles Street and the site of the former Kew High School which is now further to the north, in 1908. In 1909, the school built a science laboratory beside Arnold Hall.

Two years later, Long left the school to become Bishop of Bathurst and the Reverend A. W. Tonge was appointed headmaster. A second classroom building was built, now demolished to make way for the Richard and Elizabeth Tudor Centre for Contemporary Learning. In 1917, Trinity again appointed a new headmaster, Mr Frank Shann, who would lead the school for the next two and a half decades. Under his tenure, the school grew to a total of 245 boys and many buildings were built, including the now demolished War Memorial Library, the junior school classroom building and the "Health Pavilion". "Molina" was bought from its owner, John Henning, as well as the neighbouring property, "Elsinore". The properties were subsequently renamed in 1925, "Molina" becoming Merritt House, "Elsinore" Roberts House and "Roxeth" Henty House. Frank Shann died in 1943.

Alfred Bright became headmaster upon Frank Shann's death. The school built a second storey for the Junior School in 1952, and in the following year, the Parents' and Friends' Hall, a multipurpose venue, was built between Merritt House and Xavier College. On Alfred Bright's retirement, John Leppitt was appointed Headmaster. The school advanced greatly during his time as headmaster, the number of students reaching 812. The Robertson Science and Administration Building was opened in 1959 and extended later on, and two years later, the junior school building was extended to almost meet Roberts House, providing art and music facilities. In 1968, the Shann Building was constructed between the Robertson Building and the old Arnold Hall, as well as a major sports facility, Cornell Gymnasium.

At the beginning of the 1970s, Trinity purchased land beside Lake Eppalock, near Bendigo, opening the Leppitt Outdoor Education Centre in 1973, named after the headmaster. In 1975, the boarding house, which had been run in Merritt House, closed after more than 60 years. The War Memorial Library was demolished in favour of a new classroom building, the three storey Tonge Building, and the library relocated to one floor of the Shann Building. Several years later, in 1979, John Leppitt retired. The new headmaster, Don Marles, continued the development of the school with a new swimming pool in 1980 and the renovation and renaming to the Bright Laboratories of the original science laboratories housed in the Shann Building. Merritt House, the former boarding house, was converted into a music school.

As a result of new buildings constructed over the previous two decades, the school sought further land for outdoor sports facilities. Trinity purchased land in Bulleen, near the Yarra River, and opened the Marles Playing Fields there. These facilities continue to be used today on a regular basis.

1989 saw the building of another classroom building, the now demolished Poynter Building. The tuckshop, the original canteen, was closed in 1990, and the cafeteria opened on the ground floor of the Shann Building. Two years later, the school finally built a dedicated chapel for weekly services (previously, students had to attend services at Holy Trinity Church, where the school began). Don Marles retired the same year, replaced by Peter Crawley.

The school was interested in the development of curriculum and saw the possibilities being opened up in business and industry by the use of computer technology. Nearby MLC had recently introduced Laptop Computers for the personal use by the students as an everyday part of their learning. Trinity, under the leadership of the new headmaster, Peter Crawley, decided to introduce a similar program at Trinity from the start of 1994. However, the new program did not use the computers in the same way as had been the MLC experience. Trinity decided to use a business model and became the first school in the world to adopt the use of Microsoft Office within an educational setting. This attracted the attention of Microsoft in the US and they sent a film crew to the school to record the way the school was using the Laptops. In 1995 the headmaster received a letter from Bill Gates, CEO of Microsoft, commending him for his influence on American educators in the area of the use of technology in education.

In 1993, Trinity and nearby sister school Ruyton Girls' School introduced the Coordinate Program, whereby co-educational classes for Years 11 and 12 are conducted across the two schools. In 1996, the school purchased the Kew Municipal Offices, after the City of Kew was amalgamated into the City of Boroondara, in order to further expand its facilities. Two years later, it opened as the Peter Crawley Centre for the Arts. Peter Crawley then resigned in the same year as he accepted the position as headmaster of Knox Grammar School in Sydney. In 1999, Richard Tudor was appointed as headmaster and the co-educational Early Learning Centre was opened.

21st Century

In 2000, the computers began using wireless technology and, in the following year, the school began the construction of the Science and Technology Building to replace the Bright Laboratories. This opened in 2003, the year in which Trinity celebrated its centenary year.

The school opened a new gymnasium, the Peter McIntyre Sports Centre, to complement the old Cornell Sports Gym, and another block of forested land was purchased at Licola, to complement the Outdoor Education Centre at Lake Eppalock. The school also purchased the Stillwell Showroom in 2005, on the corner of Charles Street and Cotham Road, which is currently used as a multipurpose venue, with impending development of the site in the future.

In recent years, the school was given money to further extend and renovate the old Kew Municipal Offices. This included a junior school hall (named the South Room) and a new facade to the building. This, as nearly all new buildings, were designed by Peter McIntyre. The building still has heritage features with some doors saying "Kew Town Hall" and "City of Kew".

In 2011, the Poynter Building and Tech Centre were demolished to make room for the Richard and Elizabeth Tudor Centre for Contemporary Learning. This was completed in 2013. It contains six Year 12 classrooms as well as a multi-level library. It crosses a basement, ground level with a mezzanine and an upper level. The mezzanine contains an art display gallery. The school has a ten-year plan which will include a new indoor pool and new auditorium.

Trinity has developed a reputation as a high-achieving school in the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) and is known for a well-balanced approach to single-sex education. In 2014, Michael Davies took the position as headmaster, succeeding the highly regarded Richard Tudor.

Towards the end of 2015 the school undertook two building projects: the demolition of Arnold Hall (to be replaced by the Centre for Business & Social Enterprise) and the renovation of the Tonge Building. The new Centre for Business & Social Enterprise includes 8 classrooms and a lecture hall. Trinity and Ruyton celebrated 25 years of the Coordinate Program in 2018.

Following the dismissal of Deputy Headmaster Rohan Brown in March 2018, many members of the school community – including current and past students, parents and teachers – expressed extreme discontentment with the structure of the School Council and demanded changes be made to the way the school operates, including the dismissal of Dr Davies and the school council. As a result of this incident, three members of the School Council – John Grover, Roderick Lyle (chairman) and David Waldren – tendered their resignations. Separately, a probe of Mr Brown's actions was initiated by the Victorian Institution of Teaching. There were several protests from parents, students and alumni regarding the dismissal of Rohan Brown. Rohan Brown was reinstated on Wednesday the 11th of April before the commencement of Term 2 after the school's independent review showed that he was unjustly removed from his role despite breaching the school's code of conduct.

Michael Davies announced his resignation on 15 May 2018, effective from the end of Term 2. The School Council announced that Phil De Young, former principal of Carey Baptist Grammar School, would be appointed interim headmaster whilst a search for a new headmaster took place. Mr De Young and the new School Council then commenced leading a process of healing across the community.

Headmasters

Years Served	Name
1903–1904	Edward Taffs
1904–1911	George Merrick Long
1911–1917	A.W. Tonge
1917–1943	Frank Shann
1943–1959	Alfred Bright
1959–1979	James Leppitt
1979–1993	Donald Marles
1993–1999	Peter Crawley
1999–2013	Richard Tudor O.A.M.
2014–2018*	Michael Davies
2018-	Phil De Young

* Finished serving at the conclusion of Semester 1

Co-curricular

Trinity is known for its extensive co-curricular program.

House system

A significant part of school life is that of the house system. Each house is named after a notable contributor to Trinity.

Name	Colour	Junior School
Arnold		Summers
Cowen		Summers
Henty		Friend
Hindley		Inglis
Kent Hughes		Henderson
Merritt		Inglis
Roberts		Henderson
Sutton		Friend

Outreach

Trinity is highly regarded for its extensive school outreach programs. In the local community, students and staff work in the Habitat Uniting Church's programs for people with mental illness. Senior school students have the opportunity to go on service and cultural trips to East Africa and the Philippines.

Outdoor education

The Leppitt Outdoor Education program, named after the sixth headmaster, includes participation in bushwalking, sailing, canoeing, kayaking, first Aid, navigation, cooking and rafting. The program is compulsory for students from Year 7 to Year 10. Camps are based around school properties at Lake Eppalock, Lake Nillahcootie, Licola and the Grampians.

Campuses

• Main campus, Kew
  • The main campus in Kew covers all sides of the intersection of Wellington and Charles Streets in Kew. The west side of Charles Street houses the Junior School, Peter McIntyre Sports Centre, and the Early Learning Centre.
• Marles Playing Fields, Bulleen (Sport grounds)
• Leppitt Outdoor Education Centre, Lake Eppalock (Outdoor education)
• Licola (Outdoor education)
• Nillahcootie (Outdoor education)

Old Trinity Grammarians

The Old Trinity Grammarians' Association (OTGA) was formed in 1909 and continues to remain a notable alumni community.

File:Old Trinity Grammarians SC Logo.jpg

Old Trinity Grammarians SC Club Logo

The aims of the OTGA are:

• to provide a network of communication for Old Boys
• to foster support for the School
• to provide an ongoing employment link within the Trinity Community
• to support OTGs in the participation of community service activities

Old Trinity Grammarians sporting clubs

One of the most popular network of communication for old boys is through the OTG sporting clubs. Currently, the following sporting clubs exist:

• Old Trinity Grammarians Soccer Club
• Old Trinity Grammarians Football Club
• Old Trinity Grammarians Cricket Club
• Old Trinity Grammarians Hockey
• Old Trinity Grammarians Theatre

Dadirri Programs

Trinity has become known for its work in the area of Indigenous Reconciliation as a result of the work of former headmaster Richard Tudor and former Senior Chaplain Chris Leadbeater. 'Dadirri' is an Indigenous word meaning deep listening and awareness.The school has an Indigenous scholarship program that has seen over 20 Indigenous students progress through the senior school. Senior school trips to the Maree-Arabunna area in South Australia take place each year, on which students have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the culture of the region and explore the Outback.

In 2007, the Federal Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Mal Brough, made a special visit to Trinity to talk to the school outreach group about their work. Trinity also received the 'Dare to Lead' award in recognition of the school's work in advancing Indigenous issues within the community. Dr Michael Davies appointed the school's first Indigenous staff member in 2015, and since then four other Indigenous staff members have joined the community.

In 2018, Trinity opened Dadirri House on Wellington Street, a boarding house for Indigenous students who come to the school in Year 8, before moving across to the main boarding house in Year 10. Trinity is a partner school of the Melbourne Indigenous Transition School (MITS), founded by Richard Tudor and his wife Elizabeth.

Controversies

In 2016, Mark Watson, a former employee of the school whose work involved caring for boarding school students, was committed to stand trial over 41 historical sex offences against five boys. The abuse is alleged to have taken place between 1975 and 1978, and is the present subject of a compensation claim.

In January 2017, the school was again brought to prominence over allegations that senior members of the school community – including Headmaster Michael Davies – knew of abuse allegations against former teacher Christopher Howell when it sent a tribute letter praising Mr Howell's "extraordinary legacy" to the school after his death in 2016. This action, which was described as "stupid and insensitive" by lawyers representing Mr Howell's victims, attracted a great deal of controversy to the school.

In November 2017, Old Trinity Grammarians' Association president David Baumgartner wrote to the school's leadership, accusing it of being too preoccupied with high ATARs, fundraising and building projects under Dr Michael Davies' leadership. Baumgartner said the school needed to return to its focus on the "holistic development" and wellbeing of students. He said that there was a "resurgent undercurrent of frustration and anger" among the school community. "There is too much inward focus on things like buildings, fundraising, marketing, ATAR excellence, Cambridge schooling program, etc," Baumgartner wrote in his open letter which made its way to hundreds of parents' inboxes. He said he was also disappointed by the school's treatment of many respected and revered teachers. "The constant change of staff and the disrespectful way in which it occurs seriously concerns me," he said (it was revealed in 2018 that 152 staff had left the school since Dr Davies had become headmaster). Baumgartner, who is also a former parent at the school, warned that the school should not be run like a business and suggested that its culture would start to break down.

2018

In March 2018, the School Council sacked Deputy Headmaster Rohan Brown following a disciplinary issue which the Council felt was "in contravention of school policy and was also inconsistent with community expectations in this day and age". Some members of the school community – including current and past students, teachers and parents – were outraged by this action and protests occurred on school grounds following Mr Brown's dismissal.

In a disastrous meeting held by the School Council to address the community (attended by in excess of 800 people), some members of the community expressed their lack of faith in the council, speculated that the circumstances regarding Mr Brown's dismissal had political motivations, and asked for the council to step down and be replaced by a democratically elected body. Others, who were intimidated by the rowdy and old school attitudes on display, did not support these requests and want the Council to improve governance but continue to focus on improving the school. A large portion of the school community – including a representative of the student involved in the disciplinary issue – demanded that Mr Brown be reinstated.

Both Mr Lyle and Michael Davies promised to consider the issue and reflect on the necessary actions, announcing an independent review by eminent Barrister Ray Finkelstein AO QC into the situation over the 2018 Victorian Labour Day weekend (10–12 March). A perception of lack of decisiveness and transparency on the part of Mr Lyle and Dr Davies angered some members of the school community.

Following a town hall meeting of 13 March, which organisers claim was attended by well over 1500 members of the school community, in addition to an online petition with over 6900 signatures, three members of the School Council – John Grover, Roderick Lyle and David Waldren – tendered their resignations. Previous council chairman Robert Utter was installed as chairman, and the independent review of Mr Brown's sacking was soon to be conducted.

However, the appointment of Mr Utter sparked only more controversy as it was viewed by many that Mr Utter was an unacceptable choice for chairman as he was an existing council member prior to the incident, that he was partially responsible for the "cultural shift" that the school had faced in recent years, and that – after 24 years on the council – he was no longer connected with the school community. The OTGA called for Mr Utter to resign, strongly urging an independent chairman be appointed.

Then, on 15 May, Michael Davies announced his resignation from the role of headmaster of the school, sending out a letter stating that it came 'after a great deal of thought and discussion with [his] family.' He left his job at the end of term, on 29 June. The School Council was almost entirely replaced on 5 June 2018. Former principal of Carey Baptist Grammar School Phil De Young was appointed interim headmaster until a permanent one can be found. Mr De Young and the new School Council then commenced leading a process of healing across the community.

Notable alumni

Notable alumni of Trinity Grammar School include:

• Phil Anderson (1969–1975), cyclist
• Harold Bolitho, Professor of Japanese history at Harvard University
• Martin Boyd, author, member of the prolific Boyd Family
• John Bunting, former Australian High Commissioner to the UK
• Robert Percival Cook (1906-1989), academic and expert on cholesterol
• Len Darling, Australian test cricketer
• Scott Ferrier, dual Olympian in the decathlon
• Josh Gibson, Australian Rules footballer listed at the Hawthorn Football Club
• Todd Goldstein, Australian Rules footballer listed at the North Melbourne Football Club
• Jim Higgs, Australian test cricketer and former Australian selector
• Clyde Holding, former Victorian State Opposition Leader
• Jay Kennedy Harris, Australian Rules footballer for Melbourne Football Club
• Wilfrid Kent Hughes, politician
• Michael Kidd, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences at Flinders University
• Ian Johnson, managing director of Channel Seven, Melbourne
• Jamshid "Jumps" Khadiwhala (1993–1998), musician (The Cat Empire)
• Gavin Long, academic, journalist, literary critic, military historian and war correspondent
• David Mackay, Australian Rules footballer listed at the Adelaide Football Club
• Thomas Mayne, inventor of Milo
• Peter McIntyre (1933–1943), architect
• Robert McIntyre, dual Olympian in alpine skiing
• Gerald Patterson Former World Number 1 in tennis; won four grand slams including Wimbledon
• John Perceval (1934–1939), painter, potter and sculptor
• Konrad Pesudovs, Foundation Chair of Optometry and Vision Science at Flinders University
• Luke Power, Australian Rules footballer and co-captain for the Brisbane Lions and Greater Western Sydney Giants
• Sam Power, Australian Rules footballer for the Western Bulldogs and North Melbourne football clubs
• Peter Rowsthorn, comedy actor
• Arthur Rylah (1917–1927), politician and attorney-general
• Wayne Schwass, Australian Rules footballer for the North Melbourne Football Club and Sydney Swans
• Andrew Smith, field hockey player, Olympic bronze medalist at the 2008 Summer Olympics
• Ross Stevenson, Melbourne radio presenter
• Robert Timms, businessman and founder of Robert Timms Coffee
• Adam Tomlinson, Australian Rules footballer Greater Western Sydney Football Club
• Dom Tyson, Australian Rules footballer Melbourne Football Club
• Stephen Wallis, former Australian Rules footballer for the Western Bulldogs Football Club
• Ray Weinberg (1940–1944), Olympic athlete, coach and broadcaster

External links

• Trinity Grammar School website