Ferny Grove State High School

Ferny Grove State High School is a public secondary school in the suburb of Ferny Grove, in Brisbane, Australia.

The school has a total enrolment of more than 1900 students, with an official count of 1961 students in 2023. In 2007, the school won the award for the most innovative music program in Queensland. Ferny Grove also won the award for the cleanest school for 8 years, with the latest Green and Healthy Schools award being won in 2010.

History 

The school was opened in 1980 on its current site at McGinn Road, Ferny Grove, near the Ferny Grove Railway Station and primary school; the Primary school is located in Finvoy Street Ferny Grove.

Principals 
 Keith Tabulo (1980–1982)
 Tony Marsland (1982–1985)
 Ralph Took (1985–2000)
 Russell Burguez (Acting) (2000)
 Chris Rider (2000–2007)
 Kaye Gardner (2007–2010)
 David Sutton (Acting) (2010)
 Mark Breckenridge (2010–2017)
 John Schuh (2018–2021)
 Joseba Larrazabal (Acting) (2021)
 Janelle Amos (Acting) (2021)
 Kiah Lanham (Acting) (2022–present)

Teachers 

Notable teachers at the school include John Howard Amundsen who taught the subjects of manual arts, media and business. Amundsen gained notoriety in May 2006, after a stockpile of explosives and detonators were found in his home which caused the school to be evacuated and searched. On 10 May 2006, the school was closed for most of the morning as police with sniffer dogs checked classrooms, before they declared it safe for students and staff to resume lessons. In a Brisbane court on 11 May 2006, he was charged with fraudulently obtaining 53 kg of the explosive substance Powergel. He was subsequently charged with preparing a terrorist act, as well as two counts of making a threat and making a hoax threat. In February 2007, the charges of terrorism and making a hoax threat were dropped but replaced with new charges of possessing incendiary devices and having dangerous goods in a vehicle.

Campus

Location 

The school is located in the suburb of Ferny Grove in Queensland's capital city, Brisbane. It is situated on McGinn Road, neighbouring Ferny Grove State School and the Ferny Grove Railway Station.

Grounds and facilities 

The grounds of the school are known for their landscaping and aesthetically pleasing gardens. The school occupies a large area of land, and this allows the school have a feel of space, openness and tranquillity. There are only two buildings that are not single story, and this demonstrates the contrast of Ferny Grove SHS from the typical hospital-style campuses of other Brisbane Secondary Schools such as St Laurence's College and Brisbane State High School.

 3-storey learning excellence centre
 Sports and performing arts centre  
 Hall
 350 seat Auditorium with rehearsal rooms, foyer and amenities
 4 multi-purpose courts
 Library
 Oval
 Agricultural Farm
 Woodwork and Metalwork workshops
 Separate faculty blocks
 Performing Arts rooms

Uniform

Uniform Set 1: Formal Uniform 

 Peppermint green blouse with bottle green collar and matching bottle green buttons and piping.
 Bottle green skirt or Bottle green tailored shorts.
 School Bike pants (under the uniform, optional).
 Bottle green tie is encouraged and required for formal occasions.
 Light Brown socks.
 Brown lace-up hard leather standard school shoes and short light-brown socks.

Uniform Set 2: Formal Uniform 

 Peppermint green polyester cotton shirt with matching buttons and bottle green piping.
 Belted bottle green shorts with belt loops in school uniform fabric.
 Belt – Brown.
 Bottle green tie is encouraged and required for formal occasions.
 Light Brown socks.
 Brown lace-up hard leather standard school shoes and short light-brown socks.

Uniform Set 3: Sports Uniform 

 School sports polo shirt with emblem.
 School sports shorts with emblem.
 White sports socks and lace up joggers.
 Bottle green school hat or cap.
 School bike pants (under the Sports uniform, optional).

Winter Additions 

 School jumper, jacket or blazer.
 School tracksuit pants (Sports Uniform only).
 Tailored bottle green trousers.
 Green school scarf (Optional).
 Dark brown stockings/tights (Formal Set 1 only).

Accessories 

 Tie – bottle green to match trims on shirt (optional).
 Green or Brown Hair accessories.
 Students may be permitted to wear a “awareness wristband” on special days like “Bullying, No Way Day.”

School houses 

On enrolment, students are allocated at random to the four houses of Itchika (red), Kara Kara (yellow), Ourapilla (black), and Wookarin (blue). In 2024, a new house system will be introduced, consisting of six houses. These will be Djurgun (Platypus - Black), Brolgun (Curlew - Yellow), Geewer (Sand Goanna - Red), Kubul (Carpet Snake - Green), Cangungan (Kookaburra - White), Tagun (Eel - Blue).

Alumni 

Andrew Letherby, long-distance runner. Bronze medallist at the 2002 Commonwealth Games.
Anthony Lister, artist.
 Barry Berrigan, rugby league player.
 Jharal Yow Yeh, rugby league player. Represented Queensland and Australia. 
Julia Robinson, NRLW player
Justin Hodges, rugby league player. Represented Queensland and Australia. Won premierships in 2002 and 2006. Captain of the Brisbane Broncos from 2014-15. Dally M Centre of the Year in 2007. 
 Lisa and Jessica Origliasso of The Veronicas. The sisters sang together in the 1998 Ferny High school talent quest and placed second.
 Lochlan Watt
 Kenny Dougall, Australian football player, competed in the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifying Matches.
 Melina Vidler, actress. Won Most Outstanding Newcomer – Actress at the 2016 Logie Awards. 
 Remy Hii, actor. Won Most Outstanding Newcomer at the 2014 Logie Awards. 
 Rohan Bail, Australian rules footballer.
 Ryan Williams, former German teacher at the school before leaving to pursue a medical career. Winner of the TJ Ryan award.
 Sharon Cripps, sprinter. Gold medallist at the 1998 Commonwealth Games. Competed at the 1996 and 2000 Olympics. 
Shaun Berrigan, rugby league player. Represented Queensland and Australia. Won premierships in 2000 and 2006. Clive Churchill medallist in 2006. 
Stephen Eaton, OAM, athlete. Gold medallist at the 2000 Summer Paralympics.
Tamara Nowitzki, swimmer. Silver medallist at the 2000 Summer Paralympics.

Notes and references 

Public high schools in Brisbane
Rock Eisteddfod Challenge participants
Educational institutions established in 1980
1980 establishments in Australia