Yarra Valley Grammar (YVG) is an independent, co-educational grammar school, located in Ringwood, a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
The school was established in 1966 as Yarra Valley Church of England School for boys.
In 1973, Yarra Valley Anglican School established a Hearing Unit for the Deaf under the tutelage of Bill Robinson. Its premise was that deaf children should receive the opportunity to grow and develop with their "hearing" peers in normal classroom settings. Hearing impaired students were encouraged to participate in all extracurricular activities, such as school sports. It has since grown to encompass every year level. The Hearing Unit also has its own classroom facilities where students receive assistance with speech therapy and classwork.
Girls were admitted to the two senior levels in 1978, and the school progressively became fully co-educational from 1993 through 1995.
In 2006, Yarra Valley Grammar celebrated its 40th birthday with many special events, including a whole-school photo and an aerial photo of the students positioned to create the number 40. The school celebrated its birthday in a service at St Paul's Cathedral, Melbourne in September 2006. And is approaching its 50th birthday in 2016.
1963, School Founded - at the time of the opening ceremony, surrounding the school were orchards which were progressively replaced with housing estates. By retaining the forest the school has preserved a slice of the area's history.
1966, Mr John Pascoe Headmaster. First assembly takes place - 135 boys attend
1970, School invited to become a member of the AGSV
1971, Headmaster invited to be a member of the Headmaster's Conference of Independent Schools Australia
1973, Hearing Unit for the Deaf established with Deaf students fully integrated as part of the school community.
1976, Mr George Wood Headmaster
1978, The first girl students are admitted into the school
1991, Opening of the George Wood Performing Arts Centre
1994, Mrs Margaret Peters Principal
1997, Mr Neville Lyngcoln Principal
1999, The school officially changed its name to Yarra Valley Grammar School
2000, Opening of the John King Sports Complex by Sir Charles Gobbo Governor of Victoria
2003, Opening of the Neville J. Lyngcoln Senior Students' Centre
2006, School celebrates its 40th birthday and the opening of the John Hempel Year 7 Centre by Prof David de Kretser, Governor of Victoria
2008, Opening of the Hockey and Tennis Centre
2009, Dr Mark Merry Principal and the Opening of the new Early Learning Centre
2011, Opening of the new Upper Primary Building and Foundation Hall
2012, Opening of the Brooke Nicholas Pavilion. An electrical fault causes a fire which destroys the school's science wing
2015, Opening of the Science and Mathematics Faculty by the Governor-General of Australia, Sir Peter Cosgrove and Lady Cosgrove
Yarra Valley Grammar provides Senior Primary and Middle School students iPads and operates a number of computer and multi media laboratories.
There are four houses, named after important figures during the school's history, each with a specific house color - these are Hughes (Yellow), Arnott (Maroon), Annells (Blue) and Plummer (Green).
A number of students have gone on to success in corporate and public life. The Past Students Association offers the opportunity for alumni to stay in touch with one another.
Mr David Robb (1971) - Managing Director of Iluka Resources
Justice Peter Almond (1972) – Judge of the Supreme Court of Victoria
Prof David Jamieson (1975) – Head of the School of Physics, University of Melbourne
Mr Andy Griffiths (1979) - Author
Dr Michael Grace (1979) – Associate Professor, Monash University
Prof David Maggs (1980) – Prof of Comparative Ophthalmology, University of California, Davis California
Mr Tim Reed (1987) - CEO of MYOB
Ms Natalie Wood (1990) - Founder and Director of "Something Else" fashion label
David Lyons (1993) - Actor
Mr Peter Russell-Clarke (1986) Industrial designer, Apple
Andrew Lawton (1995) - Film Director & Actor
Mr Paul Singer (1995) – Director of Operations to the Governor-General, Government House, Canberra
Mr Lincoln Younes (2009) - Actor
Sporting Careers
Stephanie Puopolo - Captain of the Australian Under 21 Netball Team
Grant Nel - Commonwealth Games Medalist and 2016 Olympian in Diving
Richard McQuire - Olympic Kayaking
Luke Campbell - Australian Men's Volleyball Team
David Culbert - Olympic Long Jump
Nadine Jones - Australian Women's Swim Team
Sam Harper Victorian Sheffield Shield team (2015)
Several Yarra Valley Grammar students have had AFL careers. Drafted players include.:
Travis Cloke - Collingwood
Jason Cloke - Collingwood
Cameron Cloke - Collingwood, Carlton, Port Adelaide
Sam Blease - Melbourne
Shane Biggs- Sydney Swans
Jordan Gysberts - Melbourne
Kelvin Moore - Richmond
Andrew Moore - Port Adelaide
Aaron Young - Port Adelaide
Brad Harvey - Brisbane Lions
Kieran Harper - North Melbourne
Matthew Scott - North Melbourne
Jordan Gallucci - Adelaide Football Club (2016)
Sam McLarty - Collingwood Football Club (2016)
