Student Profiles
As a parent or future student, one of the best ways to obtain information about
a school is to talk to current students and to hear their views on their
experience.
Find out more about our current students by reading the following student
profiles. These students are of various year levels and they provide
insights into the TSS school community from both a boarding and day student
perspective.
Please enjoy learning about our holistic approach to boys’ education and how our
students have experienced the wonderful culture at TSS.
Tom Paxton-Hall
School Captain
Year 12
How long have you been at the school?
Since Grade 8 in 2005 as a member of Radcliffe house.
Did you come to TSS on a scholarship?
No, but I was rewarded a sporting scholarship for Years 11 and 12.
What activities are you involved in?
Been a member of Round Square and the cadet program as well as playing the
saxophone and piano in the concert band, big band, jazz ensemble, jazz sextet
and saxophone quartet. Represented the school in rugby, swimming, cricket,
cross country, athletics and touch football all in the A teams. Been
captain of the rugby sides since Under 13A’s and represented Queensland in
rugby. Been a constant member of the Dean’s List achieving Dux twice.
What subjects are you studying?
English, biology, chemistry, physics, geography and maths B.
How has your experience been at an all boys’ school?
Really like it. Being around mates all the time and being able to be a
‘bloke’ is great. The school spirit and pride in all the boys is truly
exceptional and we always stand up for one other no matter who we are.
What are your highlights of your time at TSS?
Too many to mention but if there is a select few, they would be watching the
First XV beating BSHS in 2006 to win the GPS premiership and also watching the
swim team claim victory in 2007 after a controversial loss by one point the year
before.
What are your future career plans?
My future career plans include going on to study medicine at university and to
travel before heading into the workplace.
What advice do you have for future students?
My advice for future students of The Southport School is simple. Try
everything, work hard and always maintain a balance. Be mindful of how
lucky you are that your parents have made sacrifices for you to attend TSS.
You are only here at this amazing school for a short time so you have to make
the most of every opportunity you get. Bear the palm of victory with pride
and always have the navy, white and maroon running through your veins.
Jake Carter
Year 12
Biddle House
How long have you been at the school?
I arrived to TSS in Year 9, so I have been at the school for nearly two years.
Where do you live when you’re not on campus?
Randwick, NSW.
What have been your achievements and what activities are you involved in?
Activities and achievements over the last two years are:
- Traineeship at Century 21 Real Estate
- Winner of the 2007 10.2 Debating Premiership
- Speech Variety Club
- Sailing
- Tennis
- Navy Cadets
- TSS Junior Excellence Award for Biddle House
What subjects are you studying?
Legal Studies, Political Studies, Leadership, Modern History, Business
Organisation & Management, English, Maths & RE.
How has your experience been at an all boys’ school?
I’m more focused on my studies, plus it is an easier environment to learn.
How do you like boarding at TSS?
I’ve had a fantastic experience. There is always someone there when we
need to talk, I have formed great friendships and we have a great Housemaster.
What are your highlights of your time at TSS?
Winning the TSS junior excellence award for Biddle House, Year 9 camp, climbing
Mt Warning and the opportunities of getting involved in various activities.
What are your future career plans?
I hope to continue with Real Estate or Law. I also hope to one day open my own
business.
What advice do you have for future students?
Make the most of it and get involved in all the activities the School has to
offer.
Simon Morahan
Year 12
Kaiser House
How long have you been at the school?
I have been at the School for seven years. I arrived in 2003 as a member
of Dixon House in the Prep School and I’m currently in Kaiser House.
What activities are you involved in?
During my time at TSS I have participated in activities such as speech and
drama, speech variety club, rugby, swimming, rowing, cross country, athletics,
basketball and touch. My only regret is not doing more, especially
cultural activities.
What subjects are you studying?
Business Organisation and Management, Accounting, Economics, Health & Physical
Education, Maths B, English and Religious Education.
How has your experience been at an all boys’ school?
Attending an all boys’ school has allowed me to develop without the distraction
of girls and the peer pressure associated with being in a mixed environment.
I also think the teachers are able to alter their teaching style so that it is
more suited to boys.
What are your highlights of your time at TSS?
My highlight would be winning the 1st XV GPS rugby premiership in Year 10
playing alongside my brother.
What are your future career plans?
I plan to study at university in either Brisbane or Sydney and live on campus.
What advice do you have for future students?
My advice would be to fully embrace all the opportunities the School has to
offer over a wide range of activities. Be prepared to be totally involved
with the community and I guarantee that you will have lifelong mates and
memories.
Jack Fox
Year 12
Turnock House
How long have you been at the school?
I have been at TSS since Semester Two, Year 7.
What activities are you involved in?
Music, three bands/ensembles, sport, golf, basketball, cross country and
cricket.
What subjects are you studying?
Maths B, Maths C, Chemistry, English, Physical Education, Religious Education
and QCS (Queensland Core Skills).
How has your experience been at an all boys’ school?
It’s just been fantastic. Totally being yourself. Learning more
efficiently whilst having fun with your good friends. Level of sport at
TSS encourages me to strive for greater heights, reaching the next level in a
sporting career.
What are your highlights of your time at TSS?
Prefect, House Vice Captain, Golf Captain, Dean’s List and competing for the
school in sport and music competitions.
What are your future career plans?
I would like to be a professional golfer or study engineering/psychology at a
first class university.
What advice do you have for future students?
The time you spend whilst at this school will be the best of your life.
Enjoy yourself, get involved, make friends and build a strong academic base for
future career plans. Make goals and work towards them, the help TSS
provides for you to achieve these goals is unbelievable.
Cato Perrin
Year 9
Radcliffe House
How long have you been at the school?
Since the start of Year 6.
What activities are you involved in?
Rowing, rugby, musical ensemble and the gifted and talented program.
What subjects are you studying?
I have chosen Music and Japanese with all of the core subjects.
How has your experience been at an all boys’ school?
I was previously at a coeducational school and enjoy TSS more, because classes
are directed at boys. Teachers can speak more openly about things without
girls. It has been a great experience.
What are your highlights of your time at TSS?
Undefeated two years running in the Year 8 and 9 1st quads for rowing.
Making the Dean’s List. The Canberra and South Straddie Camp.
What are your future career plans?
At this stage, I’m uncertain about my career plans, but now I would like to be
involved in music, rugby or rowing.
What advice do you have for future students?
If you are lucky enough to be educated at TSS, then make the most of every
opportunity and become involved in as many aspects of the School. This
will certainly guarantee a fulfilling and memorable 12 years.
Dom Buckland
Year 11
Kaiser House
How long have you been at the school?
I came to TSS in Reception 1998 and was placed in Mitre House. That makes
it 12 years that I have been at the School.
Did you come to TSS on a scholarship?
Not originally, but I gained a scholarship in the Senior School for academics
and music.
What activities are you involved in?
At the moment I am involved in cricket, soccer, tennis, music and the School
musical band.
What subjects are you studying?
This year I am studying Maths B, English, Religion, Art, Music, Biology and
Physical Education.
How has your experience been at an all boys’ school?
TSS has provided me with everything I need and much, much more. Miss
Foulds-Cook taught us the peculiar workings of a boys mind during the G&T
program. An expert of the brain, Miss Foulds-Cook has aided the school’s
mission to create an ideal learning environment for us.
What are your highlights of your time at TSS?
There are so many memories from Prep and Senior School that will always stay
with me. From the sporting field, to the music theatre to the classroom,
all these facets of the school have greatly helped me to enjoy my education.
But there is something deep within the TSS community that can be found at TSS
and TSS only. Sure every school has school spirit, but there is nothing
compared to TSS school spirit. Sharing my most memorable moments with
friends as close as brothers makes all of the hard work in the classroom so
worthwhile. TSS is not a school, it is a family.
Two of my most memorable moments at the School were strangely events that I was
not even competing in. The first time I went to GPS swimming and my first
time cheering for the 1st XV. I was in Year 8 and considerably smaller
than most other students bustling around me in the grandstand, but you didn’t
need to be tall to understand exactly what was going on. It was at each of
these events that I realised TSS was so special. Countless individuals
lined the grandstands. But these 600 individuals soon turn to a sea of
raging blue. One force of almighty noise and energy that fuelled through
my veins and sent shivers down my spine. To think I wasn’t even on the
field or in the pool. These moments just can’t be found at any other
school on the coast or even in the entire state for that matter.
Another of these moments was in Year 10 when I got my hands on something that I
had dreamt about since Year 5 when I first started playing cricket; a first
eleven baggy. The red, white and blue cap meant so much more than a
uniform or sun protection.
Similarly, being part of the Big Band in Year 10 was an exciting experience
shared with all of my mates. Travelling all around the coast, performing
at the Eisteddfod and at the Big Band lunch was great fun especially when it was
shared with all of the boys. It is this kind of thing that I may not get
the chance to do when I leave school and is therefore something that is
especially memorable.
What are your future career plans?
At the moment I am thinking either sports medicine or some form of journalism.
For the most part though I’m just enjoying the present and I’m sure things will
all work themselves out by the end of Year 12. I trust the fact that I
enjoy the subjects I’m doing and I’m sure they will lead me down the right path.
What advice do you have for future students?
Whatever you do at TSS, get involved. There really isn’t anything else I
could say. There are countless activities on offer that can cater for
everyone’s passion and ability. So use them. If you come to the
School and simply go to class without getting involved you will miss out on the
very thing that makes TSS so unique. If you get involved, you will
definitely go places in the School community. And if you go places in the
TSS community, you are definitely leaving yourself in a prime position to tackle
everything else that life throws at you.