Grammar headmaster to retire

Ipswich Grammar School headmaster Denis Frederiksen is retiring after 10 years in the job.

Rob Williams

DENIS Frederiksen is philosophical about life after Ipswich Grammar School (IGS).

The IGS headmaster will retire this year after 10 years in the top job and 50 years in the Queensland education system.

Mr Frederiksen started his career in 1961 as an 18-year-old teacher at Maryborough Central State School.

He went on to enjoy stints at Mt Isa, Mackay and Goondiwindi before becoming John Paul College head of senior school in 1992 and St Laurence’s College headmaster in 1995.

The 67-year-old grandfather of four boys joined IGS in 2001 and told the school board about his retirement plans last year.

“It’s hard to let go and I have pondered (retirement) for two years. I don’t know how I will go with it, but I feel like I’m going out on top,” Mr Frederiksen said.

“Working at Ipswich Grammar is the jewel in the crown for me. You won’t find any better and I mean that very sincerely. This is a school for the people.

“The tone of the school and the sense of atmosphere and condition is something very sacred.”

Mr Frederiksen said he had seen IGS grow and evolve in a decade of great change.

“The biggest change was the introduction of prep and early childhood and the buildings associated with them,” he said.

“To see older boys caring for and interacting with the younger ones is something that inspires me. I feel like I was made to be at school.

“We have seen our enrolment hit 1200 students this year and we were looking at about 700 10 years ago. That’s something I’m very proud of. We have lifted our school to a specialisation level in educating boys and helping parents raise their sons.”

Mr Frederiksen said he was looking forward to retirement and spending more time with his wife Valerie and their five children.

He said he would continue to take a keen interest in the future development of Ipswich Grammar.

“I’d like to see the momentum for improvement continue. There is a need for a bigger gym for basketball and indoor sports and I’d like to see an increased connection to universities and other tertiary institutions,” the Wishart resident said.

“I’d love to do consultancy stuff somewhere. I want to do it for my own interests, rather than making a financial career out of it.

“My time here has been rewarding on so many levels and I feel like Ipswich Grammar makes a real difference in the community. I’d like the boys to look back one day and say, ‘Fredo was good for us’.”