2005 School Magazine

Co-curriculum

Co-curriculum

Art Café

Amani

Art Café, an initiative this year from the Visual Arts Department, is an informal evening that provides the opportunity to meet guest speakers from the art world and engage in discussions about art. It is open to all members of the School community – past, present and future parents, alumni and students. Our inaugural meeting showcased the talents of Queensland artist Madeleine Kelly who spoke at length about her artistic practice and career as an artist. Paintings were displayed in the Beanland Memorial Library and a PowerPoint presentation

visually traced her work. A group of Year 12 Art students contributed to a lively discussion about the nature of being a practising artist. The speaker for the second Café in August was Mr Bruce Heiser, Director of Heiser Gallery in Fortitude Valley, who talked about collecting art works and gave practical advice on how to start a private collection. Informal discussion about collecting art and the differences between art in public and private galleries followed. Mr D Pincott CO-ORDINATOR

Amani, the School’s peace group, has taken a broad approach this year in helping Grammar girls Be the Difference . With international enthusiasm behind the Make Poverty History campaign and immense pressure on world leaders to fulfill their commitments under the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals, there has never been a better time to reach out and support the billions of our fellow humans suffering in poverty, disease and warfare worldwide. During 2005 Amani has raised funds for two charities and continued our involvement with Amnesty International’s letter-writing campaigns. The Oaktree Foundation is a non-government organisation focused on promoting education in the two-thirds of the world living in poverty, particularly Africa. Oaktree builds schools for impoverished children and vocational education centres for adults, encouraging families to gain the skills that will allow them to support themselves. Amani has enthusiastically supported Oaktree, which is administered entirely by people under twenty-five years of age, all of whom believe in the power of youth. This mirrors one of Amani’s most

Athene

important goals this year: to help spread the message that our youth should not wait to Be the Difference ! Through continued fundraising and activism, Amani has also supported World Vision by raising money to help impoverished communities in Africa. In supporting these two charities, Amani members have been the very real difference and demonstrated their ongoing commitment to their fellow human beings. Jemima Cowderoy (12E) GROUP LEADER

censorship of the media and the nature and necessity of happiness, to the hotly contested merits and faults of ‘bandwaggoning’. Despite some initial timidity at the intensity of the previously initiated Year 12s, the Year 11s should be commended for their enthusiastic participation and thoughtful contributions. Congratulations must go to the Year 12 members of Athene from both Schools on the high standard of their presentations this year. We wish the Year 11s all the best for another fascinating year as they assume the reins of Athene in 2006. Shona Gray (12O) PRESIDENT

Pallas Athene is the Greek goddess of wisdom, said to represent the thoughtful union of dualisms. This is the image that those of us in the Athene Club attempt to emulate: that is, intelligently analysed presentations that lead to fervent, often heated, debate, only interrupted by the sounding of the supper bell. Senior students from both Brisbane Girls Grammar School and Brisbane Grammar School gather on certain evenings with our ever-tolerant Dr Colwill and Mr Betts to discuss a broad range of contemporary philosophical and ethical issues. Year 12 students deliver papers on a topic of their choice as stimulus for a session of free-flowing debate during which mutual respect for differing viewpoints is the hallmark. Papers this year have displayed diverse and deeply considered views on topics ranging from the

Animal Protection Society

The Animal Protection Society (APS) began its exciting and productive year by selling lollies at the Interhouse Swimming Competition to raise money for the RSPCA, an organisation with which the APS has a strong affiliation. During Term II students also participated in the RSPCA annual “A Million Paws Walk.” Girls joined other members of the community and their canine companions for a fun-filled day at the University of Queensland. Another APS fundraiser was the very popular pancake stall which enabled the sponsorship of a meerkat, lion and giraffe through

the Taronga Foundation. Donations help to ensure that animals receive the highest quality of care, while permitting the zoo to spend more money on much needed breeding and conservation programmes. Most recently, the APS raised money for the World Society for the Protection of Animals by selling popcorn on Open Day. In addition to fundraising for these praiseworthy animal protection organisations, the girls have also been actively raising awareness of animal welfare issues within the School community. Each girl has had fun while experiencing the satisfaction which only comes from contributing to something we all feel passionate about. Angela Leggett (12H) DIRECTOR

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