A Legacy of Learning: Peninsula Grammar Marks 65 Inspiring Years

Foundation Day is not simply a date on our calendar. It is a moment when we pause together — to remember where we began, to honour those who came before us, and to recognise that we are all part of a story far bigger than ourselves.

Sixty-five years ago, this School began not as a finished institution, but as an idea — a vision held by a group of people who believed deeply that the young people of the Mornington Peninsula deserved something extraordinary. They began not with certainty, but with courage. Not with guarantees, but with hope.

Many Foundation Day reflections speak of foundations — and rightly so. Our Peninsula Grammar Foundation Day is also brought to life through traditions that connect every generation of our community — traditions that remind us that history is not only something we remember, but something we actively carry forward.

One of these traditions is the House Flag Relay — a powerful symbol of our School’s heartbeat and the deep pride we hold for our House communities. As the flags pass from our youngest Prep students through each year level, we witness a living expression of belonging, growth, and shared spirit. Each student becomes part of something larger than themselves, contributing to a tradition that has endured across generations. The journey culminates with our founding and early years students, representing the very beginning of our story. This final handover is deeply symbolic — reminding us that whether a student joined this year or walked through our gates in 1961, each remains a vital part of our shared history. While students continue their journeys beyond Peninsula Grammar, their legacy lives on through the traditions they help shape and the connection that unites every generation of our School.

Equally significant is the Founders’ Book, one of the most precious treasures held within our Archives. This remarkable record documents the earliest chapters of our story — from the first conversations in 1957 through to the official opening in 1961 — preserving the names of those whose vision and dedication brought this school into existence: the Foundation Committee, benefactors, the first School Council, the inaugural staff, and the first students who stepped forward into something entirely new. While the book now rests carefully protected within the Archives, it is brought out each year during our Foundation Day celebrations as a powerful reminder that schools are built not only through ideas, but through people. Each name inscribed within its pages represents courage, belief, and commitment — values that continue to shape who we are today.

To our students — you are not simply attending this School; you are shaping its story. The way you learn, the way you treat one another, the way you choose to grow — these become part of the legacy future generations will inherit.

To our staff and colleagues — your dedication continues the work begun by those early pioneers. Every lesson prepared, every word of encouragement, every quiet moment of care builds upon the foundation laid decades ago.

And to our Board members, alumni and special guests — your presence today reflects the enduring strength of our community and reminds us that Peninsula Grammar is not just a place we attend; it is a community we belong to for life.

As I embark on my second year as Principal, I feel both humbled and deeply grateful to be part of this ongoing story. Leadership here is not about starting anew — it is about honouring what has been entrusted to us, while guiding our School forward with courage, compassion, and hope.

Foundation Day will always be a hallowed day on our school calendar. It is a celebration of our founders and their visions and aspirations for our School. I look forward to more Foundation Day assemblies with our community as we celebrate our past and look forward to our future.

Today, I acknowledge each of you — because history is not only something we remember; it is something we create together. Every student, every teacher, every family, and every supporter contributes to the living story of Peninsula Grammar.

May we honour the past with gratitude, embrace the present with purpose, and step into the future with confidence — moving forward as one and continuing the remarkable story begun 65 years ago.

Mrs Leandra Turner
Principal

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