1974 Annual Report

Australia at the International Guide Camp in Japan. Lisa Cantamessawon a twoyear scholarship, given byUnited World Colleges, to the International School at Singapore. AvrylFaragher, who was reserve memberin the QueenslandDebating Team which represented the State at the Australian Debating Contest in Melbourne in July. ClareBremnerwhowonthe MaryAlexisMacmillanMemorialPrize awarded by tle Queensland Association of Independent Schools for a short story. Helen Rose came second in another section of the Q.A'T.I.S. Competition for a poem. Gale Tyson was placed second and Jennifer Cross third in another section for their short stories. Sandra Hogan was the winner of the Senior Division of the Dickens Reading, which has been organised for many years by the Dickens Fellowship. All the entrants from B.G.G.S. were awarded prizes in the Science Projec't Contest organised by the Science Teachers'Association: Senior Section: Jillian Inglis and Jennifer Robson. Angela Pugh, Barbara lrggett, Diane Claybourne, Michele Lihou Jennifer Cross. Elizabeth Pillow and Fiona Campbell had the best Chemistry entry in the entire competition. Jennifer Cross, besides winning two prizes in the contest, $'on a further award later given by the A'M.P. Society when her project, "When is Dew Due"n was recognised as having particular application to fire prevention. In the Geography Teachers' Association Contest these four girls won awards: Robin Bryant, Margaret Matthews, Jeannette Kelly and Gale Tlson. Penny Hill and Helen Phillips were chosen to go on a Biolog5r- Geography and General Exploration Adventure, Project Arcadia, organised in the August holiday by Mr. R. Simson, of Mt' Gravatt High School, and open to selected students ttrroughout the State. In the Goethe Society's Annual Verse Speaking Competition- Linda Wilson and Daniela Gerber won second prizes in their respective sections; Kay Nicol won a third prize. These girls received Honourable Mention-Avryl Faragher, Kristina Tiegler, Helen Harper and Diane Harvey. Htstory Conference: These girls were chosen to attend ttre Rev. H. Baker Memorial Conference at Chevalier College, Bowral: Clare Bremner, Linda Black, Janice Borgert, Sandra Hogan, Lisa Mathers, Andrea Mackay, Susan Nelson, Penny Hill, Leanne Wilson. It is always pleasing to note the number of girls who have followed their interest in Guiding to the highest award, that of Queen's Guide, for we value the inlluence of these girls in the school. Girls who have gained this recognition since the last report include: Susan Crane, Elizabeth Gehrmann, Jacqueline Lonergan, Kirsten Milligan, Donna Perrin, Helen Reed, Susan Thompson, Janet Torney, Annette Tyson. Oneof ouractivities thisyearhasprovidedforgirlstrainingunderthe Duke of Edinburgh Scheme, encouraged by Mrs. Torney and Mr' Bell. This is the first group who have actually been sponsored by the school. Four girls will be receiving their Bronze Award tonight: Janet Torney, Annette Tlson, Elizabeth Gehrmann and Sandra Pollock. We should also like to congratulate one of our "Old Girls"' Mary Martin, who graduated as a nurse at tle Mater Hospital in April. Mary wis the frrst girl of aboriginal descent to whom the school awarded a scholarship ( 1!)66). She was also the first aboriginal girl to complete the five year course. This year Gwen Williams, another scholarship holder, will leave from the Sixth Form. Gwen has worked extremely hard in the hope that she may be able to help her own people either as a teacher or in some form of social service. She assisted regularly at the Saturday morning aboriginal coaching classes until they were disbanded. Inter-Form Competitions At the end of lastyear I referred, regrefftrlly perhaps, to the fact that the House System was not achieving what had been hoped for it and that we should suspend it for a year to test the efficacy of returning to Inter-Form Competition, at least in sport and perhaps in other areas if a need arose. There is no doubt that the smaller groups have generated far more interest and better spirit, and any fear that the older girls might have dominated the freld was dispelled early in the year when Form 28 proved the best at the Swimming Carnival, and later in the year won the Inter-Form Trophy at the Athletics as well. Therewasnolackof enterpriseand good organisation onSchoolDay and the Forms netted $2,6(X), of which $2,500 will go to the Centenary Building Fund. Leedership: In these restless, critical and rapidly changing times our and Liane Lockwood. Intermediate Section: Elizabeth Pillow and Fiona Campbell. Julie Austin and Elizabeth de Chastel. Junior Sec'tion:

emanating from the Schools' Commission, advertising material to be sifted, surveys to be undertaken, and lengthy questionnaires imposes an ever-increasing burden on school administration, as well as on the teaching staff. The day to day management of the school is made more complic-ated by absence of staff at seminars, moderation meetings,.sub- comirittees-all of which are necessary not merely for tle professional development of teachers, but to keep the school ab-reast of educational change. There are also the usual absences thro-ugh illness, partly dueto seasolal ailments, but partly and perhaps increasingly induc'ed by frustration and anxiety arising from additional demands, and the greater responsibility each individual teacher must now take in assessment procedures, It is of course easy to make a list of complaints. What positive steps within eul ps\r'sr have we taken to cope with tie situation? We had early appointed additional clerical staff-though fiqding adequate- and c6irfortable work areas is another problem again' This year Mr. L. Bourke has taken over ttre supervision of all recording and checking of Fifth and Sixth Form assessments. The appointment from the beginning of tlird term of Mr. A. Feregher rs Director of Studies has taken much of the detailed planning from myself and the Second Mstress. This should result inlmoother organisation, fairer work allocation among teaching staff, and a more effective control of our classroom use' Experlmentel Programnes: Devoting Friday afternoons to a series ofrecreational activitiei has continued for the greaterpart ofthe year on a fortnightly basis; alternating with ordinary lessong in the younger Forms, and with General Studies in the Fifth and Sixth Forms. In July and September we blocked the General Studies on successive Fridays to complete the programme and the Activities Committee prepared a new Friday series io complete the year and to enable them to draw on the resources ofseveral groups for a newventure, a "Musical" which is being written, composed, and presented by the girls themselves. By the time you read this-the musical "happening", "Alice in Wonderland" will have occurred; at least in dress rehearsal form, and with all due apology to Lewis Carroll. At this point, after two years, it has been time to look critically at orrr ttActlvitles'i. Many of them have been worthwhile. Certainly many gtrls would not otherwise have had the experience of sailing, kayaking or scuba diving; or trying their hand at spinning and weaving, of learning something of interior decorating or yoga. Other girls have had little satisfaction because they have had to make do with their fourth or lifth choice. Lack ofspace at school this year has forced us to send some groups ranging far afield for activities that the school might well be expected to provide. Expense has debarred some from taking part in the things tiat interested them. The educationalobjectives ofthe scheme mightbe open to question. Some parents have commented on time devoted to activities which families might prefer to do together at week-ends. Keeping over 7ffi girls usefully and happily occupied, even in recreational pursuits, is a tremendous undertakiag. The committees of staffand girls responsible have gone to no end of trouble to devise interesting programmes and to procureleaders, andnearlyallmembersof staff havecontributed. Forthe girls to regard the scheme merely as entertainment which it is the duty of the stalf to provide grossly distorts the aims. The aim of the Genetd Studies Courre, planned on a two year basis, was to give greater breadth to the studies of Fifth and Sixth Formers, to fill in some of the gaps and, hopefully, to show the inter-relationship of all their studies. The concept was a fine one, ifperhaps a little academic, but it suffered at the outset from its mode of implementation. WorlofstudentCounsellon One of themostvaluable appointments we have so far made was that of a Student Counsellor. We look forward tothe daywhen both ourbudget andMrs. Lynch's availabilitywillenable this to be a full-time position. Not only has she carried out the routine aptitude tests, where required, but she has made more specialised investigations in cases referred to her by myself or class teachers. Fifth or Sixth Form girls of their own initiative may seek help with special problems in study or personal matters and advice on careers' This year Mrs, Lynch undertook a tremendous piece of organisation to enable all Skth Form girls, on two days set apart at the end of first semester, either to have active work experience in the field of their choice, or to have special interviews with experts, or have a series of visits to various iastitutions to assist them in making decisions about their future. Her work also, with Mrs. L. Fairlie, in arranging and co-ordinating the series of talks and films on various aspects of sex education as part of the General Studies Programme proved most valuable to the Sixth Form girls. . Spedd Awerdr end Prlze* C;ongratulations to the following girls who have won various awards or distinctions: Robyn Torney, Miss Study Girl Internationalfor 1974, following her sister Heather, who won the same Rotary Scholarship in 193. Robyn has also had the early offer of a place at the Australian National University, based on school recommendation. Amanda Hawkins and Helen Story, who have also been awarded Rotary Exchange Scholarships for study abroad in 195. Janet Torney was one of twoQueensland Guides (the other, Susan Keidge, being a former Grammar girl) to be selected to represent