Brisbane State High School

Template:Infobox Aust school Brisbane State High School (BSHS) is a co-educational, state secondary school, located in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It was the first state secondary school established in Brisbane, as well as the first academic state high school to be founded in Queensland. The school employs a variety of selection criteria for prospective students, maintaining a quota for local area enrollments, however also using academic, sporting, cultural and artistic talents as a means of determining the annual intake.

The school was founded in 1921 as the 'Normal School', at the corner of Adelaide and Edward Streets, in the Brisbane CBD. It was relocated to its current campus next to Musgrave Park at South Brisbane in 1925 with the opening of the "Red Brick Building", later designated A Block, by William Forgan Smith, then Queensland Minister for Public Works and later Premier. Mr Isaac Waddle, the school's first Headmaster, served for 24 years and devised the school's motto "Scientia est Potestas" (Knowledge is Power) whilst overseeing the establishment of the house system in the patriotic days of the Second World War.

Brisbane State High School's first recorded School Captain was Graham Barr in 1940, with Grace Garlick becoming the first Girl's School Captain in 1948. The four male and female Captains and Vice-Captains are supported by a Prefect Body ranging in size from 15 to 30. The Captains are appointed by the Headmaster from amongst the student and staff elected Prefects. The Student Representative Council provides a voice for students irrespective of other positions of leadership, and undertakes considerable charity and fund-raising initiatives.

BSHS has been a member of the Great Public Schools Association of Queensland Inc (GPS), since 1930, with eight other (boys) private schools from the south-east region of Queensland. It is also a member of the Queensland Girls' Secondary Schools Sports Association (QGSSSA), with eight other (girls) private schools and one other co-educational school.

With an average year level cohort of slightly over 400 students, the school is the largest in Queensland.

Current and future projects

Current projects underway at State High include:

• Demolition of F block (Unused Home Economics Room) into new Sports Centre (Completed)
• Library being moved to top B block to make new classrooms in top of G block (Completed)
• New library being put in B block (Completed)

Future projects include:

• Demolition of P block (old indoor sports centre) into a new performing arts block
• Demolition of the existing tennis courts, to make more room for a permanent drop off zone.
• New multi-purpose tennis courts on land between the School & Musgrave Park Swimming Pool.
• The installation of double glazed windows and airconditioning in A, C and E block to compensate for the extra noise and harmful pollution from Cordelia Street, when the Hale St bridge is completed.
• Private bridge installed to allow only BSHS students and staff overpass access from the upper to the lower campus.
• Demolition of K block (performing arts block) after the completion of new performing arts block

Headmasters

The following headmasters have led the school since it was opened:

• Mr Isaac Waddle; 1920-1945
• Mr J.A. Barnes; 1945-1946
• Mr H.G. Watkin; 1947-1951
• Mr A.B. Copeman; 1952-1957
• Mr F.H.R. Cafferky; 1958-1960
• Mr G.W. Lockie; 1961-1971
• Mr R.F. Fitzgerald; 1972-1981
• Mr C.R. Mason; 1981-1997
• Mr D.F. Sutton; 1998-

School Captains

Holders of the office of School Captain are elected as Prefects before being appointed by the Headmaster. As the most senior representatives of the student and Prefect bodies, School Captains fulfill a range of leadership roles both within the school and in the wider community. School Captains meet regularly with the Headmasters and Deputies of Brisbane State High and other schools, as well as attend the annual meeting of the Great Public Schools Association of Queensland (GPS).

Prefects

Usually ranging in size from between 15-30, the Prefect Body assists the School Captains in representation and leadership. Prefects are easily distinguishable by their blue and cerise blazers as well as gold colored wreath around the school crest. Their diverse responsibilities range from taking an active interest in all school activities, to mentoring and welcoming first year students and welcoming guests to the school at ceremonial functions. Many manage enrollments for inter-house activities at swimming and athletics carnivals and organise events delegated them by the Captains.

House Structure

• Allenby House - Blue - Named after Viscount Edmund Allenby (1861-1936). British field marshal notable for commanding the "Egyptian Expeditionary Force" in the conquest of Palestine and Syria in 1917 and 1918.

• Monash House - Green - Named after General Sir John Monash (1865-1931). Australian soldier of the First World War. Served in the Gallipoli Campaign and later on in Flanders, commanding Australian forces at Messines Ridge, Passchendael and in the battles of the Hindenburg Line.

• Glasgow House - Yellow - Named after Major-General Sir William Glasgow (1876-1955), a senior Australian officer at Gallipoli in 1915 who went on to command the First A.I.F Division with distinction in battles on the Somme as well as the final offensive of August 1918.

• Birdwood House - Red - Named after Field Marshall William Riddle Birdwood (1865-1951). British soldier who served in the Boer War and was known later on for providing overall command of the "Australian and New Zealand Army Corps" (ANZAC) throughout the battles of the Gallipoli Peninsula in the First World War.

Notable alumni

Business

• Robin Gibson – Architect noted for designing QPAC, the QLD Art Gallery, the State Library and the Museum
• Andrew N. Liveris – CEO Dow Chemicals
• John Logan – Electrical Engineer
• Ed Tweddell – Pharmaceutical Company CEO

Entertainment, media and the arts

• Ray Barrett – Actor
• Paul Bishop – Actor
• Chris Bombolas – Labor MLA for Chatsworth and Former Channel 9 Sports Presenter/Reporter
• Carol Burns – Actor
• Brett Dean – Composer
• Diana Doherty – Oboist
• Nick Etchells – Journalist
• Heather Foord – Journalist
• William Robinson – Artist. Twice winner of the Archibald Prize
• Sandra Sully – Journalist and Channel 10 Presenter
• Patrick Thomas – Conductor
• Avra Velis – Singer-songwriter

Government and politics

• Chris Bombolas – Labor MLA for Chatsworth and Former Channel 9 Sports Presenter/Reporter
• Mal Colston – Australian politician
• Manfred Cross – Federal member for Brisbane in the House of Representatives (1961-75, 1980-90)
• George Georges – Labor senator
• Bill Hayden – 21st Governor-General of Australia
• Sir Leon Hielscher AC – Past Head of QLD Treasury, Head of QIC and QIDC
• Bill O'Chee – National Party Senator

Medicine

• David Chang – Neurologist
• Andrew Godfrey – Optometrist
• Professor Lawrie Powell – Director of QLD Institute of Medical Research
• Professor Gary Roubin – Developer of the Heart Stent
• Sir Sydney Sunderland – Founder of University of Melbourne Anatomy Department

Rhodes Scholars

• 1969 Andrew L Elek
• 1995 Mark Cassidy

Military

• General Eva Burrows AC – World leader of the Salvation Army for two terms
• Ray Funnel – Former Chief of the RAAF 1988-1992
• Geoff Shepherd – Former Chief of the RAAF 2005-2008

Sport

Athletics

• Norma Croker – Olympian

Cricket

• Ian Healy – Australian test cricketer
• Michael Kasprowicz – Australian test cricketer
• Stuart Law – Australian test cricketer
• John Maclean – Australian test cricketer
• Glenn Trimble – Australian ODI cricketer

Rowing

• Matthew Bode – Olympian
• Bo Hanson – Olympian

Rugby League

• Trevor Bailey – St. George Sydney
• Wally Lewis – Australian national team captain from 1984 to 1989
• Ryan McGoldrick – Cronulla, Castleford Tigers, USA RL Team
• John Plath – Brisbane Bronco

Rugby Union

• Mark Bartholomeusz – ACT Brumbies and Wallaby
• Paul Carozza – Wallaby 15 caps
• Charlie Fetoai – Queensland Reds
• Peter Hynes – Wallaby, Queensland Reds
• William McLean – Wallaby Captain
• David Paice – England, England Saxons, London Irish
• Peter Slattery – Queensland Reds and Wallaby
• Brian Smith – Wallaby and Ireland International
• Matt Toomua – ACT Brumbies
• Brando Va'aulu – Queensland Reds
• Nathan Williams – Queensland Reds
• David Wilson – Wallaby
• Peter Wilson – Rugby

Swimming

• Duncan Armstrong – Olympian
• Rosemary Brown – Olympian
• Brad Cooper – Olympian
• Justin Lemberg – Olympian
• Hayley Lewis – Olympian
• Lise Mackie – Olympian
• Jon Sieben – Olympian

Tennis

• Scott Draper

Triathlon

• Rina Hill – Olympian

See also

• Education in Australia
• Queensland Great Public Schools
• List of schools in Queensland

External links

• Brisbane State High School home page