Ferny Grove State School

Description

Ferny Grove State High School is an independent public secondary school in the suburb of Ferny Grove, in Brisbane, Australia.The school has 1700 students enrolled as of the end of 2015. 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.HistoryThe 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.Principals Keith Tabulo (1980-1982) Tony Marsland (1982-1985) Ralph Took (1985-2000) Russell Burguez (Acting) (2000) Chris Rider (2000-2007) Kaye Gardner (2007 - 2010) David Sutton (Acting) (2010) Mark Breckenridge (2010-present)TeachersNotable 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 May 2006, 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 53kg 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.