1993 School Magazine

the Ukraine, Polish and Russian territories and she ofter described herself as "a child of the winds of war". Early in her life she began to excel academically and on coin PIeting her education at a state high school for girls, she wen on to study chemistry, which she really did not like, and theI law. in reality, she had wanted to study architecture, but hel father refused 10 let her do so because he thought it was more appropriate that she studied the arts. She was a child of a gen Granon who believed that certain studies were for women anc others were for men. in 1935 she completed a Doctorate it Law at F10rence University and when the authorities realizec that she was "a foreigner" and also "a mere woman", the> were shocked. At the beginning of World War 11, she returned to Polan( where she became a translator for the Polish Government After Warsaw was bombed in September 1939, she left witl the help of the Underground and moved to England where she found work with the Polish Department of the Army. Shi spoke seven languages and at the end of the war, she movec to Australia and settled in Brisbane where she set up a transla lion service, a migration agency and a Teal estate agency. Sh< became a Justice of the Peace, a Court Interpreter and I Consular General and helped many new European migrant: who were arriving in Queensland. The most important thing in her life was her education anc she cherished academic achievement. This strong, indepen dent, intelligent, no nonsense woman has now provided tht means by which other young women will be able to go on ant cherish education in a similar way to which she did. Tht school accepts the challenge of the legacy that she left it ant we look forward to welcoming the first Maria SUIimi Scholars

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Three generations of Old Girls: Miss F11ena Papas (back left), Mrs Meryl Papas (back right), Mrs Dorothy Hughes (centre front), and cur- rent student PhDebe Papas Your wonderful response for this evening reflects the enor- mous support within the school community and as Principal for the last 17 years it now gives me great pleasure to formal- Iy launch the Friends of Girls' Grammar

THE MARIA SLLIMA BEQUEST

Maria SUIima had nothing to do with Brisbane Girls' Grammar School other than through her association with a number of past and present students of the school.

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THE FRIENDS OF GIRLS' GRAMMAR

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On the twenty-second of April this year, an invited group o school supporters including trustees, parents and staff cam! together to consider a proposal to establish a new associatioi to be known as "The Friends of Girls' Grammar". Dr Grassie, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, stressed tha such an association would not primarily be a means o fundraising, but "rather a means of bettering one's under standing of, and befriending the school"

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Dr SUIima

She had always been impressed by these young women and earlier this year visited the school to talk with both the Principal and Chairman of the Board about her vision for the education of young women. On 16 April 1993, Dr Sunma died and in her will left a very large bequest to the school to provide bursaries for young women whose parents are unable to or would have financial difficulty in paying school fees and whose character, talent, academic ability and intelligence sug- gest that they will take full advantage of the opportunities which the bursary offers Maria SUIima was born on 14 August 1911 in what is now Poland. She was born into a wealthy and well educated family and was the eldest of three children. Her father was a barnster and her mother was a doctor of philosophy. Her early child- hood was affected by political upheavals and revolutions in

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Lady Schubert speaking at the launch of the Friends of Girls' Grammai

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