1994 School Magazine

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Girls' Otaniinat School 3Brisbaiie 1994

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Student Achievers

BIOLOGY OLYMPIAD

seeing. We visited the Austrian Royal Palace, Mozart's House, the Famous SI Sieven's Do in and even the Austrian equivalent of the Ekka From Vienna we set off for. \/ama in Buloaria for. the aim of This time was for acclimatisation and final preparation. A week in Vienna - we \\, eren'I complaining! Each day we studied during themorning and evening with the afternoon off for. SIoht-

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unng the Christmas Ilo1idays, three Year Twelve airls, Dena Dinon, Margaret Robin and AltTy Warren were

c11o5.11 10 Elite rid the Australian Biology Olympiad Training Scliool in Canberra. Sixteen students were chosen from around Our trip - The international Biology Olympiad. This is a world- AUSlr;11ia. The aim of the camp was to train and select four Wide Competition of the standard of TITe Sporting Olympics,

though in At1stTalla it <10es not receive anywlTere near the recognition. Each coun- try is allowed to enter foul students who must be un- der the age of nineteen, not yet at University and the winners of their. ^espective National BiologyOlympiad

silldcnis to represent ALis- 11:11i;I in the international Biology Olympiad Tile experience was ex- ticmcly intense with Lip to 1111/1eeiT ITours of Iecttires, studying and tutorials a day We covei'ed most parts of Biology froiTT the produc-

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Iioi, of Okazakifra merits to - ':'- - ' -- - ^' ~:- We arrived in Varna on i i i fragments to - ...- - ' -,-- . I I i i the iris an <1 outs of C , c and ' .\* ' ,,;*;,. . I I. The second of July with the CAM plants. - : - . .: - Olympiacl beginning on the Two weeks during the '*- ... ,- TIT O ItI y. Te act\Ia Christmas ITolidays learnino ' .\I \ , ,. ^ .. coinpe i ion consiste o two Biolo^, Ina^ seei}} like a ' ':: I 41 I, *.'--,-..**-~' ' I ' ' , P' ' sentence in purgatory, but ' -: i' " ' ; ' ' ' ~ the exj>ei'ience was made I .; I, '.' t ^ , our o wonderful I>y the people. '.' . ' ^ I- g cov- Most of us formed life-long ('~R)-' lumeniv!-Rob!11, Allii, IV, 11'1vii. Delltr Diffo, I ered every possible facet of incncishjps and the general atmosphere was relaxed and "' ' P incndly, WillT the sixteen of us \, ery close by the end of the two '"' '' ' ''' ' '11 inb On I Te tent l o ItI y wit T I re C OSing WCCl{s. , y. r I, on Tee Tonze . ;

medals - woit by Inyself, Katie Ber-gainaschi and Lachlan Molony. The winning countiy was RLissia with China coinino second. At1stralia did veiy well, topping the Western countries Being able 10 attend a competition of this standard as well as \, ISIting suclT an interesting countiy as Bulgaria was an extremely rewarding and thought-provoking experience. Bul- garia, not being veiy rich, showed me a totally different side of life, one which I have never seen before. 11 really nlade me realize and appreciate ITow lucky we are to live in such a beautiful and amuent country as Australia. Being one of only about fifteen females out of 111ore than 100 competitors was also an Interesting experience The actual competition tatight ITTe a 101, not only about Biology but also about 11Tany other countries, as it is not often yoti get to I}leei people at the same stage in life from all around the world. 11 is amazing ITow similar we are ! Overallthe experience was extremely rewarding, enlighten- ing and ItIn, one which, if the opportunity arises, all should embrace

Ovci the two weeks we all sal for' three selection exams, c;ICli o1 jibout Three 10 four 110ui's in length. TITe two weeks, 1111/11gli cxti'Ginely inlense were veiy rewarding, boilT mentally tintl social 11y, and we gamecl Biological knowledoe which lielpec1 115 gi'eatly in oui' Senior Studies. Maruaret Robin ICcci\, ccl a Bronze Medal for' her efforts and AllTy Warren a Gold Mc(1:11. SITU was also forttinate enouolT to be selected as one of the 10Lii' to represent Australia in the International Biology 01yiiipiad INTERNA'1'10NAL BIOLOGY OLYMPIAD o110wing the Training Camp in JanLiary and a second Training Camp at Sydney University at Easter' the four students comprising the At1st Tallan Biology Olympiad Tealn - Amy Warten, Kale Bergamaschi, Sieven Rose and Lachlan Molony - set off for Europe Our first week was in the beautiful city of Vienna, Austria

AMY WARREN

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