1995 School Magazine

@irls' @l'ammar Srtlool lGrtsbant 1995

every standard and level. This explains why, in 1995, under the roof of the McCrae Grassie Sports Complex, the Club's popula- tion continues to grow, welcoming gymnasts of all ages (from 3 to 21, years) including some from interstate. A closely interrelated network of club supporters, including parents and returned Old Girls is tirelessly promoting the ongoing success of the club. It is anticipated that in the years to come, many of our schoolJeaving gymnasts will return to the club in the capacity of coaches and judges strengthening this supportive atmosphere. The future looks very bright indeed, with seventeen of our school gymnasts attending a Level 1 Coaching Course during April this year, and a great majorily of these girls have also expressed interest in judging. They will undoubtedly follow in the lootsteps of such Old Giris as Rachel Boldery, Alison Manvell (199 4 Captains), Kate Baxter (1992 Captain), and Ellena Papas (1990 Captain) who are now coaching gids whom they once performed with. FENCING rn 1,995 produced many individual and team successes but unfortunately suffered a disappointing end to the year with the Gids' Grammar Team having to withdraw from the Judges'Trophy. This competition is held between four Brisbane girls' schools and in the past has been well within Grammar's grasp. However, due to organisation problems within the fencing association, and a conflict with other BGGS commit- ments, the team of Harriette Lawson, YvetteVincent, Mlrlanda Siu and Sarah Gauvin were unable to compete despite the weeks of training preceding the final decision not to pafiicipate. The team's efforts, with the addition of Tashen Dromey, were not in vain as Girls' Grammar entered a team and individual fencers in the 1995 National Under 15 and Under 17 Champion- ships. This competition was held in Brisbane at the end of the June/Ju1y school holidays and brought both male and female fencers from around Australia and New Zealand together for a week of hard competition. The School's team, the only one entered by Queensland schools, consisted of Tashen Dromey' Miranda Sui, Sarah Gauvin and Yvette Vincent as reselve. This team placed third behind Geelong Grammar School and Methodist Ladies College. The Queensland state team, consisting of the same girls, was also very successful and placed third. These team achievements were also replicated in the individual events. Harriette Lawson and Yvette Vincent com- peted in the Under 17 Foil competition and whilst not finalists, they represented Queensland with pride. Miranda Sui, Sarah Gauvin and Tashen Dromey were a1l finalists with Tashen placing second overall for the Under 17 Foil division. In the Epee competition, she and Miranda were also finalists with them placing second and eighth respectively. As Tashen is only in Grade 10, she was eligible to enter the Under 15 divisions as well. Here, her success continued with her gaining first place in the Under 15 Foil and first in the Under 15 Epee competition. Tashen's commitment and great skill see her now in training for next year's Atlanta Olympic Games in what is a developing sporl within many schools, and increasingly within girls' schools. It is gratifying to acknowledge Gids' Grammar as one of the girls' schools that recognised the merits of fencing and nurtured it, so the sport now has an established club with the School. t62

The competition provided an opportunity for many friend- ships to be made with gymnasts from other clubs in Australia. Girls from the ch-rbs have kept in contact and their lriendships will no doubt flourish when the gymnasts retllrn to Brisbane for next year's National Competition. On Friday, 4 August, the Senior State Gymnastics Titles were held at Chandler, a competition that saw a vision become a reality. For the first time ever in the history of our spol't, rlvo members of our club, Phoebe Papas and Tania Hobson, became Level 10 gymnasts at a classic level in Queensland. Phoebe Papas was crowned the Queensland A11 Round Level 10 State Champion, winning gold medals in the rope, ball and ribbon sections and bronze in the clubs section. Tania Hobson ieceived gold lor her clubs routine, silver medals for ball and ribbon, and bronze for rope. In Level 8. outstanding routines were performed by Andrea Noon, receiving silver medals for rope, clr,rbs, ball and hoop. Our Club's dominance prevailed during the September holidays with six of our gymnasts being selected to represent Queensland at the National Senior RSG Championships, also held at Chandler, from 21 to 23 September. Intensive training began durlng the first week of the September holidays with preparation for both group and individual events occurring. In the Individr-ral Level 10 event, Phoebe Papas placed third all round, as well as gaining silver medals for ball and rope in the Apparatus finals. Teammate Tania Hobson also placed in two finals, with a gold for ball and bronze for clubs.

Andrea Noon, as a member of the State Level 8 team, gained silver in the Teams event and abronz,e in the Apparatus finals. Our Elite Senior Group gained the gold medal for Queens- land, performing their Combination Ball and Ribbon event, and a silver medal for their hoop routine. The group team members were Cada Robertson, Caitlin Hunter, Phoebe Papas, Isobel Davies and Tatia Hobson. The Club's 1995 achievements have certainly not merely been on the gym floor. Since lts establishment in 1987, the BGGS RSG Club has undergone astronomical developments, especially in more recent times under the guidance of Mery1 Papas, to become one of the largest and finest RSG Clubs in Australia. Or-rr club currently boasts a nation-wide reputation for encouraging a training environment which nurtures talent of