1995 School Magazine

6irls' @rammnr Srl1oo[ tGndbanp 1995

Grammar Remembers SPORTING REFLECTIONS OF THE FORTIES

1\ ecember lq4 I . whar impacl l) aia the war have on rhese enthusiastic Grammar girls and their sporting experiences? How different were their spofiing and physical ex- periences to those of their 1995 "sisters"? In the early 40s, their sole weekly lesson of Physical Education was supplemented with a very serious interform sporting competition in athletics, always held in August in Exhibition week, and normally on the B.G.S. lower oval; swim- ming, held at the end of the year at the Spring Hill Baths; and tennis and netball held during -&r. the year. These competitions were considered most impor- ff ranr with a rangc of trophies to .l# \ be won. the Form's honour to tN, be upheld. and the Fortn's '{\ colours carried. as so elo- quently put by our proud Fifth lormer in the above poem. The Physical Culture Challenge Shield, Upper, Middle and

V The time has come, The Fifth Form said,

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To talk of many things; Of Tennis and Athletics, And what the future brings.

We've done quite well Throughout the year, In sport as well as work; And shortly when the Sixth Form leave, Our duties we'll not shirk. With royal-blue wool, And yellow too - We made a cosy rug, 'We sent it to the Red Cross Home To keep the soldiers snug.

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In golden caps W'ith royal blue V's

On Sports daywe did run; Assisted by our barrackers, The shining cup we won.

With faces red, And feet so sofe, At net-ball we did play; And now we have the Net-ball Shield, To remind us of that day. At tennis too, We won the cup; And now we rightly know That if we win the swimming We'll have four cups to show. In tunics short We spent the day, At Redcliffe by the sea; We ran arrd ate and played around Under a shady tree. The time has come, We now agfee, For us to say adieu; We wish the Sixth the best of luck, And all theJuniors, too.

Lower School gymnastic prizes, the Netball Shield and a range of cups for tennis, swimming and athletics were "up for grabs". As in 1995, the interform (for us, interhouse) competition was an important preparation for interschool competition with each form congratulating their representatives on their inter- school performances and achievements. The interschool com- petitions included netball, A and B grades; tennis, A and B grades; swimming; and athletics including ballgames. For a school which during the 1940s averaged a population of 400, many Grammar girls would have been disappointed when trying to represent their school. Inf942, there was the introduc-- tion of a social C grade netball team against Ipswich Girls' Grammar School, and it appears that the picnic after the competitions was as important as the games themselves. The athletics events included 50,75 and 100 yards dash, a senior and junior relay and hurdles! However, ]n 1942, hurdles were omitted and distances shortened to allow for the late decision to hold the competition on September 7 and hence, to compensate for the lack of preparation the seven competing schools would have had. 'While athletes prepared for their various events, the school experienced the "diversion" of air-raid alarms, the knitting of many comfort items, the making of rugs for "the soldiers' comfort", fundraising for hospital cots, support of the Prisoner of \Var Fund, and other patriotic activities.

(BGGS Scrool Mece.zrNR, DrcrMenn 1941)

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