1993 School Magazine

what I do every day is political. On the farm, it is our goal to create an Income through commercial dairy farming but stop land degradation and regenerate the land. So too at Greenpeace we work with Governments, the business sector and the community to change the agenda by using political processes. And if after all other attempts that means challeng- ing the law, then so be it. My goal is quite straighiforward - I want clean air, fresh water, healthy land and happy confident people. I know from reading and talking with our scientists and campaigners that it is possible, not just preferable. it is quite hard to imagine that we could live in a society that produced no waste, or which had factories from which no smoke was emitted. Political yes - preferable yes! I don't want my children to live in a society where at lunchtime they go into a telephone booth and get a $2 shot of fresh air as is now happening in some cities in Brazil! Now that is radical! And in my capacity as an educator, I believe that the formal education system must give all students and teachers a basic understanding of ecology, economics, and sociology as well as some sciences and arts to acquire knowledge and skills to express oneself. But most of all I am working to encourage the inclusion of thinking skills - we will never create a clean- er world if we tell young people what 10 think - rather we have 10 teach them how to think and give them the experience and confidence 10 participate now and iaier on. One of the things I am most excited about at the moment is that we have the Rainbow Warrior coming to Australia for Ihi'ee In on Ihs next yeai', doing a tour around the coast So at Easter next year we will be in Brisbane when you will be able to come on board and be amazed at the sophistication of this ship and pariicipaie in seminars for gills about theii roles as decision makers in the fuiui'e Just as Girls' Granimar encouraged debate and discussion so 100 at Greenpeace we allraci debate and discussion - an excit- ing and active way 10 live and more useful 10 society than passive lonely powerless people! And we must be doing something right at Greenpeace - with 5 million members worldwide, an annual budget of $150 million and no funding itom the Government or business! So what is the Girls' Clammar of the future going 10 be like? Will it be the first school in Australia 10 adopt a no waste pol- icy, will it have coinposiable toilets before 1995, will it be saving money by the end of Ihe next year by do Ina a paper indit and using less papei' o1' by having worm boxes at 111e uckshop 10 decompose the lunch scraps 10 latei' use as fer- 11isei' lather than pay for it? As the school continues to PIO- ince I'esponsible, successful young women, will you as teach- :rs and parents have given them all you can to learn now 10 Ive in a modern clean world'! Will you support ilie teachei's if hey Inake a group decision 10 put more ecological issues into he cull'ICUlurn? and if the school runs a camp for Year 9's ind invites Greenpeace to do some decision making and envi- oninenial activities with our Japanese office? Witai aboui if I guarantee that you can have a clean world and still have the obs and work hard and be happy? Nell, that is what I am going for and I believe it is and must re possible. is it radical? Yes. is it responsible? Yes. .. 11 lakes :our age, knowledge and honest debate and it is challenging

and best of all it is fun. Have you heard the saying - Boys will be boys, Girls will be women. .. Welcome young women to the world. Be brave, be bold, be involved and have fun - but most of all be something you really want to be Thank you for listening 10 me I hope we meet again Sheena Boughen, National Education Co- ordinalor, Greenpeace Australia

PARENTS AND FRIENDS' ASSOCIATIONINC.

The performance measures for a successful school involve several factors, but one important aspect concerns the rich- ness of the school family, not in the dollar sense but from the point of view of commitment, dedication, friendship, breadth of representation of the supportive bodies, their quality and class when it counts, and so on

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Mothers working at the tuckshop

Over the last twelve months I have seen these chai'acteristics very evident in the school and in particular within 111e urnbrel- Ia of the Parents & Friends' Association. Under its Articles of Association, tile P & F's objeciives include the promotion of fellowship amongst parents and friends, the raising of funds for' amenities and facilities, and the establishment and support of trusts and conveniences cal- CUIaied to benefit education at the school. Evel'y year the Association achieves these objectives This year as in the past we have played a significani role in the fellowship amongst parents and friends. We had a major contribution in the "Welcome 10 new Yeai' Eights" and Denei'- ally stepped into the breach when the school soughi assis- lance. We ran a successful open nieeiing at whicli noted speakers delivered interesting addresses: Dr Iudy Somerville on eating disorders in young people, and Mi' BriaiT Fitzoerald. Inspector of Schools (U. K. ) on bullying in secondary schools. Separately in this repori the achievements of our associaied bodies, the Music Committee, the Old Girls' Association, Pops. , the Mothers' and Fathers' Groups are outlined. My congraiulations go 10 all 1110se willing workers Under the banner of P & F Business Enterprises we have the highly successful Tuckshop, SIaiionery Store, Clotliing Shop,

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