Churchie is one of the founding schools of the Great Public Schools’ Association of Queensland.
It participated in the 1918 All Schools’ Athletics Carnivals and did so until it became the GPS Athletics Carnival in 1949. Participation in Rowing, Rugby and Swimming also first occurred in 1918. In 1922, Churchie won its first ever GPS title with a win in the Head of the River, which was a four-oar coxed race. The school has won the Head of the River on 16 occasions and The Old Boys’ Cup for overall achievement in the regatta on six occasions.
Churchie entered its first competitive team in the B grade All Schools’ Competition in 1920. At the time, rugby league was played, and it was not until 1928 that the GPS schools played rugby union. The school won its first rugby union championship in 1938 and has won 18 titles overall with back-to-back wins in 1950 to 1951, 1962 to 1963 and 2014 to 2015.
While swimming had commenced as a GPS sport in 1918, Churchie did not enter its first squad until 1920. Its first championship success came in 1930 and has won 21 championships over the years. During the 1940s, Churchie won nine championships and a further six consecutive titles from 1960 to 1965, then again in 2014 after a long wait.
Churchie played many cricket matches before entering the GPS Cricket competition in 1922. It won its first championship in 1929 and has done so 19 times since, winning back-to-back in 1934 to 1935, 1940 to 1941, 1962 to 1963 and 1996 to 1997.
Tennis had become a very popular sport at the school well before a team was entered in the GPS competition in1938. The tennis championship has been won by Churchie 11 times with a golden era during 1957 to 1962.
Participation in gymnastics commenced in the same year as tennis, and 16 titles were won over the years until 2006 when the school ceased participation. Churchie won successively from 1952 to 1956, 1964 and 1965, 1988 to 1991 and 2002 to 2003.
In 1986, basketball became the first sport to be added to the GPS since 1919. Churchie has won six titles with consecutive premierships in in 1988 to 1990 and 2013 to 2014.
Cross country running was included in 1971 and Churchie won the first GPS carnival. It went on to win eight championships between 1971 and 1980, and consecutively from 1985 to 1989 and again in 2012 to win 15 times overall.
Football (soccer) became a GPS sport in 1991 and has grown in popularity and participation but no premierships have yet been won by Churchie.
Volleyball was included as a GPS sport in 1994 and the school has gradually increased its participation, winning premierships in 1998, 2016 and 2017 – and this year collecting the GPS Centenary Championship honours.
While already well established at Churchie, chess did not become a GPS activity until 1996. Since then, Churchie has won 11 Premierships with six in successive years from 1997 to 2002. Collecting the Centenary Chess Premiership was a particular honour in 2018.
Sailing became a GPS sport in 2000 and Churchie achieved Championship success four times between 2001 and 2010.
Debating has won two premierships in 2007 and 2012 and began in 1991.
The GPS music program has provided a wonderful opportunity for students from Churchie to pursue excellence in the field and enjoy the spirit of fellowship with GPS member schools. The GPS Centenary Music Showcase was hosted by Churchie and was a wonderful example of the spirit of fellowship in action.
The school’s long history in the GPS has seen many extraordinary achievements in GPS sports and activities and its association with the GPS will no doubt be celebrated for the next one hundred years, and beyond.
