TSS announce Andrew Hawkins will take over as headmaster from Greg Wain

A prestigious Gold Coast school has confirmed the appointment of a new headmaster, who will take over the role at the end of the year.

ONE OF the Gold Coast’s most prestigious schools will see a changing of the guard, with the announcement of a new headmaster this week.

The Southport School Headmaster Greg Wain, who is set to retire at the end of the year, will hand over the reigns to the current deputy headmaster Andrew Hawkins.

The announcement follows a four month selection process involving a national executive search firm, the school council, the Anglican bishops and senior members of the diocese.

Mr Wain will remain involved in the handover process at the all boys school until the end of the year.

The retiring principal was first appointed the Headmaster of TSS in 2004.

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Greg Wain, Headmaster of The Southport School.

He served as Principal of Cannon Hill Anglican College in Brisbane for four years before taking up his appointment as Headmaster at The Southport School, and held senior leadership positions in a number of private schools including The Scots College in Sydney.

Born in Perth, Western Australia, Mr Wain worked as a Jackaroo before beginning his career as a mathematics and science teacher.

Mr Wain rated introducing new concepts of emotional intelligence and positive psychology into programs at the school as one of the highlights of his career.

“Using this research to work with the staff and boys to get young men to understand themselves better; understand others; and to be able to talk about their vulnerabilities and mental health,” Mr Wain said.

“This helps them to be better men, better fathers and better husbands.”

He also oversaw the introduction of the use of the latest brain research, including Myers-Briggs personality tests to help boys and teachers understand each other, and their preferred learning styles.

Wilson Statham (school captain), Greg Wain (Headmaster), Max Fuhrmann, Vishaak Gangasandra and Michael van der Schyff pose for a portrait at The Southport School. Picture: Glenn Hunt/The Australian.

In 2012 under the leadership of Mr Wain the school made headlines for the introduction of mandatory drug testing, a policy which has since been widely seen as a success in teen drug use prevention.

“Our boys support their system, it gives them a strong reason to say ‘no’ to drugs, and keeps the anti-drug conversations regular and alive at TSS,” he said.

“TSS was, as far as I can find, the first school in the world where the students voted in favour of random drug testing.”

In 2016 Mr Wain was named on The Educators Hot List of teachers for his innovative work.

“Good Headmasters listen to their students, respect their views and engage them as key participants in the school’s future,” he said.

In a letter to parents from the Council Chairman Fraser Perrin, Mr Wain was described as a ‘leading light.’

“He (Mr Hawkins) shall follow in the footsteps of an exceptional man in Greg Wain who has been a leading light in boys’ education in our country over the 17 years that Greg has led our School Community,” he said.

“This will be a very strong challenge for our new Headmaster, but one I am personally confident that Andrew has the ability and desire to rise up and meet.”