Connor’s Run 2024

A celebration of community

With Connor’s Run 2024 less than a month away, I thought it might be helpful to give you some background on the School’s connection and importance to our much-loved event.

Connor started at Prep at BGS in early Feb 2000. He ran into the classroom on his first day, I willed him to turn around and wave one more goodbye to me, but he never looked back. 

BGS became his second home and as an Americans, far from our loved ones, our second family. His brother Nick joined the School two years later.

For the next 11 years, Connor embraced all Brighton Grammar had to offer. He adored learning: reading, spelling, and maths.  Through the years, he enjoyed chess, Borwick House choir, playing saxophone and languages, including Latin. He swam, played rugby and water polo but found a real connection to rowing.

In September 2011, Connor ran to the boatsheds at the Yarra River, training for rowing from our home in Sandringham and keen to make the coveted First VIII crew.

Two months later Connor was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer and he died 15 months later in April 2013.

BGS showed its true colours (warmth and compassion) supporting Connor and our family and enthusiastically supported our first Connor’s Run a few months later in 2013 (the idea came from a teacher and his brother Nick) and every year since.

It’s a celebration of community doing something positive that IS changing lives. BGS has made this possible.

Thank you to the 140 of you taking part in this year’s Connor’s Run, including Headmaster Ross Featherston for his 12th year. Thanks also to Anna Ladas, Director of Service, for her exceptional leadership.

We welcome the entire BGS family to join us on 15 September. Register here 

Liz Dawes
Mother of Connor Dawes (OB 2012)
Founder/CEO of the Robert Connor Dawes Foundation