Ferny GroveState 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 1700 students, with an official count of 1741 students in 2017. In 2007, the school won the award for the most innovative music program in Queensland. Ferny Grove has 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.
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 May2006, 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'scapital city, Brisbane. It is situated on McGinn Road, which is quite close to Ferny Grove State Primary 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 tranquility. There is only one building that is 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 Lawrence's and Brisbane State High.
The summer uniform consists of mint green buttoned shirt, bottle green shorts, brown leather belt, brown leather shoes, brown socks and an optional bottle green tie. The winter uniform is the same, with the inclusion of a dark green sweater with school emblem or school jacket. For formal occasions and senior leaders, a blazer is worn, with school emblem and appropriate gold insignia.
Female
Bottle green skirt and pale green blouse. Brown Leather lace up Shoes with brown socks. Tie not compulsory.
School houses
On enrolment, students are allocated at random to the four houses of Itchika, Kara Kara, Ourapilla, and Wookarin. The houses take their names from the language of the original indigenous inhabitants of the land on which the school is situated.
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.
