Toowoomba Anglican College and Preparatory School

Toowoomba Anglican College and Preparatory School
Location
Toowoomba, QLD
Australia
Information
Type Independent
Motto Sola Nobilitas Virtus
Established 1911
Enrollment

Up to 650

 colours        = Gold, Navy and Maroon               
homepage = www.tacaps.qld.edu.au
Campus Toowoomba

Toowoomba Anglican College and Preparatory School (a.k.a TACAPS) is an independent co-educational primary and secondary school located in Toowoomba, Queensland.The school is an Anglican school, and a member of the Brisbane Anglican Diocese.

The school has a small village atmosphere at its 12-acre campus[1] on the edge of the Dividing Range, and has developed a variety of facilities on its East Toowoomba location. These include three sporting ovals, an outdoor 25m swimming pool, a multipurpose court, and the St Aidans School Chapel. It also has a large multi-purpose venue with bleacher seating called the Millennium Centre, where assemblies and other sporting events are held such as volleyball, basketball and netball.

History

The school was founded in 1911. Original enrolment comprised 17 boys. The school was founded and grew with a boarding focus to service the geographically isolated areas of Southern and Western Queensland. The focus on boarding has remained through the school's history.

In 1927 the campus was expanded with the purchase of the adjacent Stoneleigh House, which was used for boarding students. In 1942–43 the School grounds were commandeered by the Army as a result of World War II, and the school was evacuated to Southport on the Gold Coast. In 1972 the enrolment was expanded to become co-educational. In 1986 Stoneleigh House was demolished to make room for sporting facilities. The turret (known as the Bell Tower) was salvaged through the efforts of the Past Students Association, and to this day is sited between the sporting ovals that replaced Stoneleigh.

Heads of School

The Toowoomba Grammar Preparatory School / The Church of England Preparatory School

  • 1911–26 Mr Ernest Albert Gill

The Church of England Boys School

  • 1927–28 Rev Aldington Hunt
  • 1929–58 Mr Norman "Boss" Connal
  • 1959–73 Mr Edgar "Blue" White
  • 1973–79 Mr Robert "Bob" Smith

The Toowoomba Preparatory School

  • 1979–92 Mr Robert Brewster
  • 1993–95 Mr Tim Waley
  • 1995-09 Mr Bruce Howden
  • 2010–2013 Mrs Sandra Hawken[2]

Toowoomba Anglican College and Preparatory School

  • 2014–present Mr Simon Lees

Houses

The school has a day house system for internal competition, and a different house system for boarding.

There are three-day houses: Gill (Maroon), Connal (Gold) and Fairfax (Navy).

Sports

Sports offered at the school include

  • AFL
  • Athletics
  • Basketball
  • Cricket
  • Cross Country
  • Soccer
  • Rugby Union
  • Rugby League
  • Hockey
  • Netball
  • Softball
  • Swimming
  • Tennis
  • Touch Football
  • Volleyball

Sporting facilities at the school include three junior sized ovals, four tennis and netball courts, an outdoor pool and a gymnasium.

Music

TACAPS has an extensive music program. The program includes a music exposure system where all students undertake activities using musical instruments such as violin. The result is extensive participation in small music ensembles through all age groups. TACAPS enters the annual Toowoomba Eisteddfod amongst other regional competitions, and typically enjoys significant success. The Chapel Choir is noted for its consistently high performance standard.

The school also encourages participation in musical productions. The annual Preparatory Years musical is a large production with participation of all students from Years 3 to 6 in all aspects from staging, music and management. The College Musical and College Play take place in alternate years.

Alumni

All previous students are able to join the Past Students Association.

Notable alumni include:

  • Aeneas McDonnell [International art critic; recoverer of stolen artwork in post World War 2 Nazi Germany] (1911–16)
  • Air Vice Marshal Don Bennett CB, CBE, DSO, RAF (1919–20)
  • Charles Copeman AM, Rhodes Scholar 1953 [Mining industrialist] (1941–42)
  • Jon Stephenson [Geologist, Antarctic Explorer, Academic] (1943)[3]
  • Frank Haly AO [Business & Finance] (1944–47)
  • Bernie Pramberg [Rugby League Referee, Sports Journalist] (1952–60)
  • Steve Haddan [Sports Journalist] (1964–70)
  • Alex Smith [TV reporter & journalist] (1972–73)
  • Pippa Savage [National Rower] (1988–93)
  • Sally Kehoe [Olympic Rower] (1992–98)[4]

Associations

  • Toowoomba Anglican College and Preparatory School Council
  • TACAPS Foundation (funds scholarships, building programs, school benevolence through the Prep Fund)
  • Parents & Friends Association
  • Toowoomba Anglican College and Preparatory School Past Students Association

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://www.tacaps.qld.edu.au Archived 24 August 2006 at the Wayback Machine.
  2. ↑ The Toowoomba Preparatory School Centenary 1911–2011. 2011. ISBN 978-0-646-54782-4
  3. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 6 July 2012. Retrieved 17 September 2012.
  4. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 29 May 2014. Retrieved 17 September 2012.

27°33′28.15″S 151°58′36.5″E / 27.5578194°S 151.976806°E / -27.5578194; 151.976806

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