2026 Anzac Day Dawn Service Invitation
Anzac Day Dawn Service
Canberra Grammar School invites the Canberra community to its annual Anzac Day Dawn Service, held in the School’s historic Main Quad.
The service is a proud School community tradition, made more meaningful by the many students and families with personal connections to the Australian and New Zealand defence forces.
Date: Saturday 25 April 2026
Time: 6:00am
Location: CGS Main Quad, access via Monaro Crescent, Gate 1
Cost: Free, no registration required
It’s a time of countdowns. While some students are counting down until the summer holidays, others are counting down until new sporting seasons start this weekend. And of course, there are our Year 12 students who are counting down until their exams finish (and begin too!). The HSC kicked off today, and the IB exams start on Friday 23 October. Let’s wish all Year 12’ers everywhere ‘good luck’, and may the coming weeks be stepping stones to happy and fulfilled lives beyond school. Onwards you go as we all work our way through the start of the fourth and final term for the year. May it be a great one for all of us. ...
We are thrilled to introduce Mark Prater, our new Head Coach of Rowing.
Mark arrives with 25 years on the water and a record that speaks for itself. He has been Head Coach at Sydney High, Director of Rowing at Sydney University and a Senior Coach at the Australian Rowing’s - National Training Centre.
He has coached at three Olympic Games, steering the Australian Men’s Quad to bronze in Tokyo. His athletes have taken silver and bronze at World Championships across a decade and gold on the World Cup circuit.
Yet ask Mark about his proudest moment and he will not speak of himself. He will tell you instead about an athlete he guided for twelve years, who in Tokyo stepped onto an Olympic podium. It is a telling answer and precisely the sort of coach we are delighted to welcome.
He’s on the water before most of us rise and holds a genuine fondness for a good sunrise. After 25 years the appeal has not dimmed. “I love being out on the water helping people figure out how to row fast.”
Mark’s philosophy is a simple one. “A great rowing programme is built on teamwork.” He hopes CGS students will relish the challenge, forge lasting friendships and take from the boat a set of stills for life. ...
They say it’s the fast lane once you leave school.
For CGS alumni Zach Bates, it has led straight to the top of Mount Panorama.
We are enormously proud to see Zach’s historic Bathurst qualifying performance celebrated by his family and the wider motorsport community.
Mr Smart sends a special shout-out: “Congratulations, Zach. What an extraordinary achievement, the whole CGS community is incredibly proud of you and will be cheering you on.” ...
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When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people, changed who can see it or it's been deleted.School is out! In the blink of an eye (more than a few teary eyes, actually), at the end of Term 3, our 209 Year 12 students celebrated the end of their CGS journeys. From the powerful bonding of a First Nations smoking ceremony to the frenetic water fights, assemblies and a valedictory dinner students basked in moment after moment of memory-making. It all led to the traditional ‘walk-out’ through corridors of younger students, staff, and glowing parents. Amidst the backslaps, handshakes, hugs, bouquets of flowers, balloons, and yes, some sobbing too, came the realisation that new lives were dawning. Exams, anxious waits for results and acceptances lie ahead. So do gap years, and uncertainties of not knowing what to do next. Let’s pause for a moment and wish everyone the best of luck for exams and beyond. Thank you to every single student for what you brought to Canberra Grammar School. Be proud of what you have achieved. May the roads ahead be full of joy, good health and learning. Onwards! Forever onwards! ...