At Wavell State High School, a highly rated school for Years 7 to 12, the focus is not just on academics but on developing multi-faceted individuals.Check out this line-up of activities from May to June 2023 that will help its Years 7 to 12 students become just that.
Here are just some of the latest on-goings in the school community:
From 8 to 12 May 2023, Wavell State High School is running its annual Multicultural and House Spirit Week, where the students learn about different cultures, muster teamwork to earn house points, and have fun with the different activities lined up.
Photo Credit: WavellSHS/Facebook
Photo Credit: WavellSHS/Facebook
Open Day
The Open Day is where parents and kids can attend two sessions with Executive Principal Liz Foster on Friday, 19 May from 1:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. to learn about the school. Visitors may also check out the faculty displays and join a school tour to learn more about the school’s extensive opportunities.
Wavell Warriors Rugby League Program of Excellence
With a terrific training session in April 2023, the Wavell Warriors Rugby League Program of Excellence officially launched the 2023 Broncos Competitions season! Second-tier teams got the amazing opportunity to improve their talents by working with knowledgeable personnel from the Brisbane Broncos Elite Player Development Academy. The players had the perfect opportunity to engage in a match simulation environment against teams from various year levels because of the positive and uplifting atmosphere.
Photo Credit: WavellSHS/Facebook
Someone who embodies the spirit of the students and the Wavell Warriors is Karl Oloapu, who graduated in 2022 as the Player of the Year. Karl recently made his NRL debut for the Canterbury Bulldogs and won his first game! A committed player and teammate, Karl has been a shining example for young people who want to be athletes.
After the Bulldogs defeated the St. George Dragons, Dragons player Michael Molo (Wavell Warrior #876) went to see Karl (Wavell Warrior #867) to congratulate him on his debut game.
Photo Credit: WavellSHS/Facebook
The Push-Up Challenge
The Wavell SHS community will take part in the Push-Up Challenge in June 2023 to raise awareness for mental health and the lives lost to suicide. A community page has been set up for participants taking part in the challenge to complete 3144 push-ups.
Those in the Rugby League or Netball excellence programs have the option of joining their team or one of the school’s house groups to earn points. Parents and alumni, as well as the rest of the Wavell Heights neighbourhood may also join the challenge by creating their own community page or becoming part of the existing team.
The Wavell Heights community mourns the passing of former rugby league prodigy Jerome Joel Leedy. Leedy, who attended both Wavell Heights State School and Wavell State High School, was widely recognised as one of the best young talents in the sport.
On 13 April 2023, former rugby league phenom Jerome Joel Leedy passed away, plunging the Brisbane rugby league community into sadness. Family and friends of Leedy, paid heartfelt tributes to him, remembering him fondly as one of Brisbane’s top young talents.
Raised in the northern suburbs of Brisbane, Leedy’s educational journey began at Wavell Heights State School and later at Wavell State High School, where his passion for rugby league took root. He excelled as a player, earning the privilege of representing both Queensland and Australia.
He also had the chance to compete on the pitch in 2010 against the renowned James Tedesco. Throughout his career, he was a member of several clubs, such as Norths Devils, Aspley, Natives, the Stingers, and Brothers. He also had a stint with the Brisbane Broncos, where he played for their under-20s team.
Leedy was remembered by his niece, Ceferina Leedy-Villarin, as “the life of the party” and “a loving father, son, brother, uncle, nephew, cousin, and mate” who loved unconditionally. He was also a devoted father to his four children, Kanara-Lee, Nakkiyra, Taneisha, and Jermaine.
“I remember one game some years ago when Jerome was playing for Brisbane Natives (who took the field with only 11 players) vs Valley’s,” a post from Simo’s Rugby League Brisbane Wrap Up reads.
“Natives were getting a touch-up by the younger full-strength Diehards side; however, two players kept rallying their troops in captain Ricky Bird and Jerome. Natives were bruised and battered, but they never gave up.
“By the end of the game, Jerome was limping off the ground with not an inch of energy left, but he didn’t complain once.
“His loyalty to his teammates and his fun-loving outlook on life made him one of the more popular players in the local competition.
“But however you may remember Jerome, nothing can ever take away the invaluable service he gave to the greatest game of all. Rest in peace brother….🙏🏻❤️”
Leedy’s former coach, Tony Lopez, said that “Jerome was one most damaging runners and could whack as well.”
“Was lucky to have coached him over the past 5plus years,” he said.
The Brisbane rugby league community, as well as Leedy’s family and friends, are very saddened by his passing. He will be remembered as a talented athlete and a lovely person with a positive outlook on life.
Brett Dascombe from Wavell State High School bested other state nominees and received the QUT Showcase Award of Excellence in Teaching, during a Principals’ Conference Gala Dinner which saw South East Queensland win a majority of the awards categories.
Aside from winning the QUT Showcase Award of Excellence in Teaching for 2022, Mr Dascombe also won an innovation in teaching award at the Schoolzine Merline Muldoon Awards in 2021 for his use of geospatial technology in his classroom, something that he started in 2001 to enhance the teaching and learning experience of students.
Mr Dascombe is one of Queensland’s first teachers to include geospatial mapping in his teaching assessment, combining it with drone flying to help students create university-level assignments that tackle environmental and social issues.
He is currently a Senior Experienced Teacher at Wavell State High School.
South East Queensland was strongly represented at the 2022 Showcase Awards for Excellence in Schools where individual educators, schools and school clusters from the region won seven out of ten award categories.
Another individual award went to Mango Hill State School Principal Tracy Egan who was named Griffith University Jack Pizzey Awardee for Excellence in School Leadership.
Tracy Egan, Mango Hill SS – Griffith University Jack Pizzey Award for Excellence in School Leadership | Photo credit: Queensland Government / statements.qld.gov.au
Moreover, the Pine Rivers South Primary Cluster – Bray Park, Strathpine, Strathpine West and Lawnton State Schools – bagged the RemServ Showcase Award for Excellence in Parent and Community Engagement.
Pine Rivers South Primary cluster – RemServ Showcase Award for Excellence in Parent and Community Engagement | Photo credit: Queensland Government / statements.qld.gov.au
The North Coast Cluster, comprising Moreton Downs State School, Burpengary State School, Caboolture East State School, Elimbah State School, Jinibara State School, Mango Hill State School and Narangba Valley State School, on the other hand, took home the Network 10 Showcase Award for Excellence in the Early and Primary Years for their “Critical friends network” entry.
North Coast cluster – Network 10 Showcase Award for Excellence in the Early & Primary Years | Photo credit: Queensland Government / statements.qld.gov.au
Likewise, the Whites Hill State College Cluster, which includes Indooroopilly State High School, Kelvin Grove State College, Sunnybank State High School, Coolum State High School, Mount Gravatt State High School, Centenary Heights State High School, North Lakes State College and Springfield Central State High School, is the year’s The Education Queensland International Showcase Award for Excellence in Global Engagement thanks to their “Blended/hybrid virtual high school preparation”.
Whites Hill State College cluster – Education Qld International Showcase Award for Excellence in Global Engagement | Photo credit: Queensland Government / statements.qld.gov.au
Meanwhile, Moreton Bay Environmental Education Centre’s entry “Building cultural understanding and capabilities on Quandamooka Country” won them the QTU Showcase Award for Excellence in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education.
Moreton Bay EEC – QTU Showcase Award for Excellence in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education | Photo credit: Queensland Government / statements.qld.gov.au
Lastly, Lawnton State School shared honours with Western Cape College for the Bevan Brennan ‘Every Child Needs a Champion’ Award with their “We grow leaders” submission.
Lawnton SS – Bevan Brennan ‘Every Child Needs a Champion’ Award | Photo credit: Queensland Government / statements.qld.gov.au
“The Showcase Awards allow us to recognise and celebrate the great work our educators are doing every day to ensure that students in Queensland state schools are getting a world-class education,” Education Minister Grace Grace said.
“That there were so many high-quality entries to this year’s awards shows the hard work, dedication and expertise of Queensland school staff.
The Network 10 Showcase Award for Excellence in the Early and Primary Years
North Coast Cluster (Moreton Downs State School, Burpengary State School, Caboolture East State School, Elimbah State School, Jinibara State School, Mango Hill State School and Narangba Valley State School), Critical friends network
The QSuper Showcase Award for Excellence in the Secondary Years
Urangan State High School, CAPIP – time for the right work
The TUH Health Fund Showcase Award for Excellence in Inclusive Education
Tinana State School, Everyone’s welcome in the room – whatever it takes
The RemServ Showcase Award for Excellence in Parent and Community Engagement
Pine Rivers South Primary Cluster (Lawnton State School, Bray Park State School, Strathpine State School and Strathpine West State School), Engagement and attendance matters – The more you go the more you know
The Showcase Award for Excellence in Global Engagement
Whites Hill State College Cluster (Indooroopilly State High School, Kelvin Grove State College, Sunnybank State High School, Coolum State High School, Mount Gravatt State High School, Centenary Heights State High School, North Lakes State College and Springfield Central State High School), Blended/hybrid virtual high school preparation
The Queensland Teachers’ Union Showcase Award for Excellence in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education
Moreton Bay Environmental Education Centre, Building cultural understanding and capabilities on Quandamooka Country
The Showcase Award for Excellence in Rural and Remote Education
Happy Valley State School, Leading from the classroom: a model of distributive leadership
The QUT Showcase Award for Excellence in Teaching
Brett Dascombe, Wavell State High School
The Griffith University Jack Pizzey Award for Excellence in School Leadership
Tracy Egan, Mango Hill State School
The Bevan Brennan Every Child Needs a Champion Award
Lawnton State School, We grow leaders
The 2022 Showcase Awards for Excellence in Schools saw 86 submissions representing 220 state schools vying. Each state award group category winner will receive $10,000 development grants with two individuals to each receive a $5,000 development grant.
“Educators have benefitted from a total of $166,000 in grant support from this year’s Showcase Awards for Excellence in Schools, including regional winners who received $1,000 each and regional commendations receiving $500 each,” Ms Grace said.
The event was held at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre on the 11th of October 2022.
A student from Wavell State High School is among the winners of the Office of Fair Trading’s (OFT) Buy Smart 2021.
A total of $15,000 in prize money will be shared among this year’s winners that include students from Years 4 and above. The competition categories were divided into three: Years 4–6; Years 7–9 and Years 10–12.
Two students from Wavell State High School did their school proud this year as Zali Love, a Year 9 student took home the third prize in her category whilst Angelica Baltazar was recognised as “Highly Commended,” also for the Years 7-9 category.
The first prize winner in each category will receive $500 for the winning entry and $2,000 for their school. Whilst the second prize winner will receive $250 and $1,000 for their school and the third prize winner will receive $150 and $500 for their school. Also awarded are ten highly commended prizes, worth $50 per entry, across all categories .
Meanwhile, Mutdapilly State School in the Scenic Rim was awarded with the Fair Trading Commissioner’s School Champion prize of $1,500. Their cohort of Year 4, 5 and 6 students used their coding skills to make interactive games exploring refund rights and the importance of saving.
A creative, fun way of developing savvy consumer habits
Congratulating the students who participated in this year’s competition , Attorney-General, Minister Fentiman said that “making sure our young Queenslanders understand their consumer rights and can spot a scammer is so important.”
He added that last year alone, children under 18 in Australia lost almost half a million dollars to scammers with more than $100,000 from online shopping scams.
“Back in 2002, Buy Smart was started to help young Queenslanders learn about consumer issues and develop savvy consumer habits to carry with them throughout their lives,” he said.
“And with the growing demand for online shopping, Buy Smart is even more important today than it was 20 years ago.
“With more than 7,000 students participating in the program in 2021 and over 750 students submitting entries, this year saw plenty of impressive entries accepted into the competition.
“From boardgames to dioramas, music videos, Instagram posts and animations, the Buy Smart Competition had it all, but most importantly it shows us that students are excited and engaged in understanding consumer issues.”
The OFT Buy Smart Program is an initiative launched in 2002 which has seen Fair Trading officers visiting classrooms across the state to educate students and help them become savvy consumers. However, since last year, several visits were done via streaming into classrooms due to COVID-related restrictions.
The OFT Buy Smart competition allowed students to identify a consumer issue and to make a creative presentation of what they have learned through their research. Their project should identify an important issue related to shopping or money, explain the issue to a target audience of their choice, and give their audience some hints and tips that can help them with this issue.
Ultimately, the competition aims to help the students and their audience become smarter consumers by:
recognising and avoiding scams;
improving one’s financial capability; and
using one’s consumer rights when needed.
The OFT Buy Smart Competition 2021 winners
The Office of Fair Trading’s (OFT) Buy Smart Competition 2021 winners for each category are as follows:
Years 4 to 6
First place: Mitch Graeme, St Mary MacKillop Primary School, Birkdale. (Year 5)
Second place: Josie Dolan and Sasha Glockling, St Dympna’s Catholic Primary School, Aspley. (Year 6)
Third place: Kayden Ross, Forest Lake State School. (Year 4)
Highly commended:
Annabella Collins and Shayla O’Sullivan, Kurwongbah State School, Petrie. (Year 5)
Abigail Wilson, Alice Barr, Inara Mayes, Francesca O’Neil and Eva Wilkinson, Kedron State School. (Year 6)
Cooper Jayo, Mackay North State School. (Year 6)
Years 7 to 9
First place: Lindie van Tonder, Trinity College, Gladstone. (Year 9)
Second place: Ruby Kavanagh and Eliza Luhrs, Wavell State High School. (Year 9)
Third place: Zali Love, Wavell State High School. (Year 9)
Students from the Wavell State High School first set up the drive on the 20th of May 2021, striving to connect the homeless as well as those at risk of homelessness with support services. They provided homeless people across Brisbane with donated items gathered from their families, eager to give new or unused tools, clothing, food and other objects for those who really need them.
About Homeless Connect
Homeless Connect is a regular event hosted by the Council, created to improve the quality of life for all Brisbane residents by providing them with a wide range of benefits.
Some of these benefits include receiving free services from volunteer medical and allied health care professionals, or housing support and community support. Those without homes can even receive free haircuts from volunteer barbers, as well as immunisation from the Council’s immunisation team.
Other goods and services provided by the event include personal grooming items for self care such as toothbrushes, shampoo and deodorant, as well as clothing and shoes for both adults and children. Food and entertainment are also given to people without homes, or those at risk of losing their homes.
Homeless Connect has helped over 18,580 people since it first launched in November 2006.
School drop-offs in Wavell State High School have changed in recent years, according to the parents of the students or the residents living nearby. Frustration has been mounting as both children and adults display inconsiderate behaviour, making the regular drive to this area such a stressful experience.
The most dangerous time to be on the road is from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., according to an official from the Transport and Main Roads (TMR), because that’s when most school kids are out.
In Wavell Heights, concerned locals said that they’ve experienced a rise in speeding, congestion and other traffic inconveniences at busy intersections near the state high school.
Driver behaviour has gone downhill as well with more rude and entitled people at the wheel, prompting some to fear that they might be involved in a tiff.
To make matters worse, some school children do not seem to have the sense to exercise care and caution when walking on busy streets. It’s an accident waiting to happen, according to the locals.
Photo Credit: Pixabay
Brisbane has over 2,000 crossing supervisors at school zones but they, too, have had rude encounters with drivers. However, only serious incidents are reported to TMR.
An official said that they have relied on the help of the Queensland Police Service (QPS) for proper traffic enforcement, which regularly monitors speed camera trailers installed at school zones. In 2020, TMR have sent out 4,500 speeding fines within the school zones of suburbs like Wavell Heights, Eatons Hill, Mansfield, Mount Gravatt and Wishart.
The QPS reminded motorists to be mindful, attentive and patient, especially if they are near school zones.
Kim Marx, the chair of the Brisbane City Council Community Health and Safety, said that the incidents on the road can happen within a “split-second” and a small number of errant drivers or misguided students can cause unnecessary risks to the public.
Ms Marx encouraged locals to report what they deem unsafe either to the QPS or the Council as this will also help with enforcement and prevention.
Wavell Heights was initially known as West Nundah and mainly consisted of dairy farming and pineapple growing.
With its ideal location near the Nundah Railway Station, a portion of the farmland was subdivided into small lots in the 1920s for residential development and more houses were built in the area during the interwar period.
History of Wavell Heights
Waiting at the Railway Station, Nundah, ca. 1910 Photo credit: John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland Negative number: 99234
In the early 1940s locals recognised the need for the suburb to be officially defined and to have the name changed. Suggested names for the suburb included Beverley Heights, Avon Hill, Inala, and Wavell Heights.
Locals voted for their preferred name for the locality and Wavell Heights was the most popular choice. The name Wavell Heights was officially adopted in 1941.
Wavell Heights was named after British Field Marshal Archibald Percival Wavell. He was the Commander-in-Chief of British and Dominion Forces in the Middle East. Many Australians have served under his command during World War II, especially in North Africa, Greece, Crete and Syria.
Archibald Percival Wavell was born in Colchester, England in 1883. He had served in a number of battles in the early years of the twentieth century. It was, however, in June 1915 when he won a Military Cross during their fight against the German Army at Ypres in Flanders. The recognition was perhaps bittersweet since it was in that fight that he had the misfortune to lose an eye.
Wavell was a well-known officer within the army and outside it between the two World Wars. He was known for being an exceptional trainer of soldiers and a great commander.
Wavell’s Excellent Leadership
Portrait of the Viceroy of India, Field Marshal Sir Archibald Wavell at his desk. Photo credit: Imperial War Museums TR 842/Wikimedia Commons
Wavell became Commander-in-Chief in India in July 1941 and by 1943 he was promoted to Field Marshall, appointed Viceroy of India and earned the title Viscount Wavell. As its Viceroy, Wavell worked hard towards granting independence to India as well as improving the welfare of its people.
Upon his retirement from public office in 1947, Wavell became an Earl, with the additional title of Viscount Keren. After serving the army, he was committed in literature and became president of several societies including the Royal Society of Literature. He had published several works about military subjects as well as poetry.
One of the distinguishing characteristics of Wavell is, despite his misfortunes during the Second World War, he never complained of his circumstances. Instead, he retained the confidence of his troops and his reputation remained high.
Post-WWII Wavell Heights
Queensland Housing Commission streetscape, Webster Road, Stafford, September 1949.Photo credit: CC-BY/Queensland State Archives/Flickr
With the rapid population growth in Wavell Heights after WWII, there has been a need for delivering services and infrastructure, including schools. The housing project for Wavell Heights included features such as the development of a shopping centre, parks, sports ground, state school, and child welfare centre.
Photo credit: Wavell Heights State School/Facebook
The first school to open in the area was the Wavell Heights State School which opened by 1950. This was followed by the opening of a Catholic primary school.
Governments were slow to establish state secondary education in Queensland before because it was considered non-essential in an industry-based economy.
After WWII, however, secondary education was generally accepted as essential and was more supported by the government.
Establishment of Wavell State High School
In September 1958, the Director-General of Education announced the construction of six new high schools for Queensland which includes Wavell State High School.
The Department of Public Works was responsible for producing the master plan for Wavell State High School. The plan involved the development of a central core of buildings and playing field.
Photo credit: wavellshs.eq.edu.au
Furthermore, the plan consisted of a central administration building with four classroom buildings radiating out from it. The buildings had north facing verandahs and south facing classrooms. These are also connected to the administration building via covered links.
Construction work began on the first building on site which was the Manual Training Building (Block B) in November 1958. Although the school is set to receive its first student in 1959, Block B was not complete by then.
Because of this, a timber school building was moved from Oakleigh State School to Wavell State High School. The temporary building consisted of three classrooms and an office.
Wavell State High School opened under the leadership of its founding Principal, Mr C.E. Anstey. Photo credit: environment.ehp.qld.gov.au
Wavell State High School officially opened on 27 January 1959. Initially, there were 122 students and five teachers. Due to the lack of facilities at this time, science classes were held in the principal’s home garage located beside the school in Childers Street.
By May 1959 classes were already held in the completed Manual Training Block. Other buildings in the school were subsequently built thereafter.
Wavell State High School Expansion
Block F WSHS Photo credit: environment.ehp.qld.gov.au
Following the completion of its buildings, the new school was officially opened on the 14 May 1960. The opening ceremony was well attended by the school community and dignitaries, including the Minister for Education, Jack Pizzey.
Moreover, several building work was done in 1960 and 1961, with the construction of two general classroom buildings (Block H and Block J).
The demand for more classrooms increased in the 1960s as enrolment numbers grew. With this, construction for more buildings was done and a new Science wing (Block E) and another General Classroom wing (Block F) were completed by 1966. Works on the school’s playing field were also completed by the late 1960s.
Photo credit: Wavell Heights State School/Facebook
Furthermore, a 25-metre swimming pool, located between the school buildings and the playing field was also added to the school in 1969. Other sporting facilities have been added to the site over time, including basketball courts.
Other buildings have been constructed on the school site, including the library building, the music block, and the assembly hall. The former Oakleigh State School timber building was then removed from the school in 1966.
The state high school has and continues to play a major role in Wavell Heights and the local community. Apart from teaching generations of students since its opening, the school has also hosted many social events ever since. The school continues to serve as a centre for social, sporting and community events.
Heritage Listing
Wavell State High School is listed in the Queensland Heritage Register as a significant structure that shows the evolution of state education in Queensland.
The heritage-listed institution is important for its contribution to the educational development of Wavell Heights and is a prominent community focal point. The school also helps in describing the need for secondary education in booming suburbs across Queensland in the 1950s. Such is a time of pronounced population growth.
First published as Discover the Rich History of Wavell State High School
Wavell State High School is listed in the Queensland Heritage Register as a significant structure that shows the evolution of state education in Queensland.
The heritage-listed institution is important for its contribution to the educational development of Wavell Heights and is a prominent community focal point. The school also helps in describing the need for secondary education in booming suburbs across Queensland in the 1950s. Such is a time of pronounced population growth.
History of Wavell Heights
Waiting at the Railway Station, Nundah, ca. 1910 Photo credit: John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland Negative number: 99234
Wavell Heights was initially known as West Nundah and mainly consisted of dairy farming and pineapple growing.
With its ideal location near the Nundah Railway Station, a portion of the farmland was subdivided into small lots in the 1920s for residential development and more houses were built in the area during the interwar period.
In the early 1940s locals recognised the need for the suburb to be officially defined and to have the name changed. Suggested names for the suburb included Beverley Heights, Avon Hill, Inala, and Wavell Heights.
Locals voted for their preferred name for the locality and Wavell Heights was the most popular choice. The name Wavell Heights was officially adopted in 1941.
Wavell Heights was named after British Field Marshal Archibald Percival Wavell. He was the Commander-in-Chief of British and Dominion Forces in the Middle East. Many Australians have served under his command during World War II, especially in North Africa, Greece, Crete and Syria.
Archibald Percival Wavell was born in Colchester, England in 1883. He had served in a number of battles in the early years of the twentieth century. It was, however, in June 1915 when he won a Military Cross during their fight against the German Army at Ypres in Flanders. The recognition was perhaps bittersweet since it was in that fight that he had the misfortune to lose an eye.
Wavell was a well-known officer within the army and outside it between the two World Wars. He was known for being an exceptional trainer of soldiers and a great commander.
Wavell’s Excellent Leadership
Portrait of the Viceroy of India, Field Marshal Sir Archibald Wavell at his desk. Photo credit: Imperial War Museums TR 842/Wikimedia Commons
Wavell became Commander-in-Chief in India in July 1941 and by 1943 he was promoted to Field Marshall, appointed Viceroy of India and earned the title Viscount Wavell. As its Viceroy, Wavell worked hard towards granting independence to India as well as improving the welfare of its people.
Upon his retirement from public office in 1947, Wavell became an Earl, with the additional title of Viscount Keren. After serving the army, he was committed in literature and became president of several societies including the Royal Society of Literature. He had published several works about military subjects as well as poetry.
One of the distinguishing characteristics of Wavell is, despite his misfortunes during the Second World War, he never complained of his circumstances. Instead, he retained the confidence of his troops and his reputation remained high.
Post-WWII Wavell Heights
Queensland Housing Commission streetscape, Webster Road, Stafford, September 1949.Photo credit: CC-BY/Queensland State Archives/Flickr
With the rapid population growth in Wavell Heights after WWII, there has been a need for delivering services and infrastructure, including schools. The housing project for Wavell Heights included features such as the development of a shopping centre, parks, sports ground, state school, and child welfare centre.
Photo credit: Wavell Heights State School/Facebook
The first school to open in the area was the Wavell Heights State School which opened by 1950. This was followed by the opening of a Catholic primary school.
Governments were slow to establish state secondary education in Queensland before because it was considered non-essential in an industry-based economy.
After WWII, however, secondary education was generally accepted as essential and was more supported by the government.
Establishment of Wavell State High School
In September 1958, the Director-General of Education announced the construction of six new high schools for Queensland which includes Wavell State High School.
The Department of Public Works was responsible for producing the master plan for Wavell State High School. The plan involved the development of a central core of buildings and playing field.
Photo credit: wavellshs.eq.edu.au
Furthermore, the plan consisted of a central administration building with four classroom buildings radiating out from it. The buildings had north facing verandahs and south facing classrooms. These are also connected to the administration building via covered links.
Construction work began on the first building on site which was the Manual Training Building (Block B) in November 1958. Although the school is set to receive its first student in 1959, Block B was not complete by then.
Because of this, a timber school building was moved from Oakleigh State School to Wavell State High School. The temporary building consisted of three classrooms and an office.
Wavell State High School opened under the leadership of its founding Principal, Mr C.E. Anstey. Photo credit: environment.ehp.qld.gov.au
Wavell State High School officially opened on 27 January 1959. Initially, there were 122 students and five teachers. Due to the lack of facilities at this time, science classes were held in the principal’s home garage located beside the school in Childers Street.
By May 1959 classes were already held in the completed Manual Training Block. Other buildings in the school were subsequently built thereafter.
Wavell State High School Expansion
Block F WSHS Photo credit: environment.ehp.qld.gov.au
Following the completion of its buildings, the new school was officially opened on the 14 May 1960. The opening ceremony was well attended by the school community and dignitaries, including the Minister for Education, Jack Pizzey.
Moreover, several building work was done in 1960 and 1961, with the construction of two general classroom buildings (Block H and Block J).
The demand for more classrooms increased in the 1960s as enrolment numbers grew. With this, construction for more buildings was done and a new Science wing (Block E) and another General Classroom wing (Block F) were completed by 1966. Works on the school’s playing field were also completed by the late 1960s.
Photo credit: Wavell Heights State School/Facebook
Furthermore, a 25-metre swimming pool, located between the school buildings and the playing field was also added to the school in 1969. Other sporting facilities have been added to the site over time, including basketball courts.
Other buildings have been constructed on the school site, including the library building, the music block, and the assembly hall. The former Oakleigh State School timber building was then removed from the school in 1966.
The state high school has and continues to play a major role in Wavell Heights and the local community. Apart from teaching generations of students since its opening, the school has also hosted many social events ever since. The school continues to serve as a centre for social, sporting and community events.
The 16-year-old national open water swimming squad member from the Albany Creek Swim Club has been undergoing her 32 weeks of channel training before taking on what is considered by many as the ultimate long-distance swim challenge.
An English Channel swim is extra challenging for many swimmers because aside from the >32-kilometre distance, there are several variable conditions that face any swimmer attempting to complete it.
First, the distance may vary depending on the movement of the current. The water moves swimmers for a few kilometres from side to side as the tide ebbs and flows. The fastest recorded swim across the English Channel is a little over seven hours and the slowest took nearly 27 hours to finish.
Photo credit: www.channelswimmingassociation.com
Aside from the changing distance which depends on the conditions of the current, the water itself is cold with temperatures ranging from 14-18 degrees Celsius.
Despite knowing the challenges that she may encounter in the English Channel, the teenager is set to conquer the treacherous waters.
She had been training hard these days, swimming six to eight hours as she prepares to swim for the Channel. No big waves can stop this determined teenager from swimming in the open water.
Credit: Facebook/Brianna’s English Channel Swim 2018
While others take a year or two to prepare for the swim, the teen swimmer has little over four months more to train and prepare for her most awaited open-water swim.
Thompson is set to swim the Channel between the 15th and 24th of September 2018. She will be swimming beside the boat named the Viking Princess which will be piloted by Ray and Reg Brickell.
Wavell State High School (SHS) students are rejoicing as the construction of the new Performing Arts Centre was announced. For the year 2017-2018, Queensland Government already released its $4.8 million budget for the construction. This is just a part of the $6 million proposed investment of the government for “Advancing Queensland Schools”.
“The Palaszczuk Government will invest $6 million to build a new performing arts hall at Wavell State High as part of our $200 million Advancing Queensland Schools funding package …Our government is determined to give every student in every school the best possible education. That means delivering the teachers, curriculum and school facilities we need to give students the best chance at success,” State MP for Nudgee Leanne Linard said.
The Anticipated Upgrade
Photo credit: Wavell SHS/Twitter
Wavell SHS already issued two formal calls in 2013 and 2015 for a new facility. Arts Head of Department Kate Battams also indicated that the old hall could not cater the school’s more than 1,200 arts students and 14 extra-curricular performance clubs and groups.
Now that the budget has been approved and the tender closed earlier this month, Principal Jeff Major hopes that the construction will soon commence. He is hoping for an early July kick-off, with a scheduled completion by mid-2018. To view the draft plans that the school has already prepared for the Performing Arts Centre, click here.
Importance of Performing Arts
Photo credit: Wavell State High School/Facebook
Involvement in the performing arts allows students’ multiple intelligences to be acknowledged and developed. The benefit to students embraces all subject disciplines, improves their communication skills, and develop self-esteem.
Aside from these benefits, students can also improve their self-expression and interpersonal skills.
“The school needs a fit-for-purpose venue to support their excellent music and performing arts programs …I’m looking forward to seeing the difference this performance hall makes to education at Wavell State High School,” Ms. Linard said.
Wavell SHS deserves this upgrade in performing arts facility to continue nurturing the students’ real talents in drama, singing, and dancing. Check out their website and Facebook page for updates.
