2000 School Magazine

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On 31 March the Chair of the Board of Trustees, Dr Cherrell Hirst AO, presented the Lilley Oration to honour Charles Lilley, the founding father of BGGS. This inspiring oration served to revisit Lilley's vision and leadership in implementing social change, most particularly in the field of education for girls, and to recreate the impact of his life in the Year 2000. Dr Hirst paid tribute to Lilley as the driving force behind the establishment of this School. The uriassuming beginnings of BGGS marked an important social change which has gathered momentum over the years; that is, the belief that girls warranted the same opportunities for learning and potentially for personal and career development as boys. Without the leadership of Charles Lilley, others would not have followed and the change would not have been as significant as it was. Dr Hirst went on to consider the repercussions of Lilley's actions 125 years later. Those who strive to carry on his work in the present and future are each contributing in their own small way to keeping the vision and the spirit alive to bring his dream to fruition. "Every girl who has been, is now, or will be a student in this school, ........ every staff member who has ever been committed t developing and transmitting the curriculum, ........... every parent who considered it worthwhile to send their daughters to this school and ......... every member of the community who has ever supported the concept of an equal education for girls" is engaged in the process of change begun by Charles Lilley. This change is echoed in the wider world in the lives of educated women as they contribute in political, social and economic arenas. "This world is 50% women - women are the greatest untopped natural resource in the world - Lilleyl like to think recognized the potential of the enormous additional benefit to mankind which women could contribute if educated. As his legacy we must make that potential reality. "

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