2014 School Magazine

BRISBANE GIRLS GRAMMAR SCHOOL 2014

BRISBANE GIRLS GRAMMAR SCHOOL 2014

Contents

EDITORIAL JESSICA CASTLES (12H) PUBLICATIONS CAPTAIN

From the Principal

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With the introduction of Year 7 in 2015, and the new Research Learning Centre scheduled for completion in just a few short months, Brisbane Girls Grammar School is undergoing a period of significant change. As we turn to this exciting new chapter in the School’s history, the annual School Magazine plays an important role in celebrating and preserving the accomplishments and memories the girls have made thus far.

From the Head Girls

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Community

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Service

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Houses

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Seniors

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Creations

56

Curriculum

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Back row from left: Zoe Keck (11M), Joanna Kay (12R), Paris Hammonds (12L), Isobelle Peat (11G), Gabi Elgood (11O), Shiye Su (11R) Second row from left: Amanda Chen(12H), Chelsea Clark (11E) Front row from left: Elizabeth Kong (11E, crouching), Jessica Castles (12H, sitting) Absent: Verena Zeng (11O) and Fiona Huq (11E) Embracing this era of change, the Publications Committee welcomed this year — for the first time — the Year 11 cohort to participate in the laborious yet rewarding process of putting together the Magazine . This was a seamless transition, and not only did the extra helping hands collecting articles, proposing themes and assisting in the creative and administrative process help the committee run smoothly, but also the added insight of the Year 11s helped us to create a magazine that will hopefully appeal to every student from Years 8 to 12. The Magazine this year aims to reflect the Student Council’s chosen motto: Above and beyond with the Grammar bond . The motif of balloons seeks to embody the relentless ambition and positive curiosity at the heart of every Grammar girl. It is this same motivation and eagerness to learn that underpins the outstanding accomplishments of the girls this year, and this is precisely what the Magazine aims to celebrate. Whether in the sports, service, arts, or academic realms, Grammar girls certainly do go above and beyond . With a vast array of events filling the calendar from day one, this year has been — like any other — rich in opportunities to excite, challenge, inspire and contribute to both the School and wider communities. With a school so rich in creativity, compassion, intellect and athleticism, it seems opportunistic to encompass Brisbane Girls Grammar in a single magazine. Yet, the combined efforts of both staff and students this year have helped us to create a memorable document that when revisited, will hopefully remind us all of the sense of community and sisterhood we enjoy as Grammar girls. ■

Co-Curriculum

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Sport

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FROM THE PRINCIPAL MS JACINDA EULER, PRINCIPAL

The highlights of 2014 featured in the pages of our School Magazine remind us of the incredible experiences, the spirit and colour and the passion for learning that define Brisbane Girls Grammar School. Each and every page of this Magazine is testament to the well-rounded, liberal education we provide. The faces and places captured in the photographs so beautifully exude the joyful way in which our girls embrace their learning experiences. Girls Grammar is proud to be a leader in exceptional scholarship and the academic efforts and achievements of our girls this year have been outstanding. As an internationally-minded School that values and encourages curiosity and academic rigour we are strengthened by the diverse backgrounds and experiences of our staff, girls and families. As you flip through the pages of this Magazine , it is impossible to deny we are an outstanding school for the arts, for sport, for service, for languages, for friendship and for fun. During 2014 our School has been united by the Year 12 motto Above and beyond with the Grammar bond. It encapsulated the aspirations of our student leaders at the start of the year,

and was lived and breathed by the wider School population during it. The girls were inspired through the power of teamwork and school spirit. They gave of themselves to others, and in return, received motivation and support to achieve the goals they had set. So many times throughout the year, we continued to be impressed by the achievements of our girls — academic, sporting, musical, creative — and inspired by their generosity and contribution to service. It has, however, often been in the quiet, unheralded moments of gentle conversation and in small acts of kindness and support for one another that I have been most proud of them. As leaders, teachers and role models, it is a great responsibility and rare privilege to educate and nurture our girls to become confident young women ready for the world beyond Girls Grammar. I am proud of the graduating Class of 2014 and am confident of the bright futures ahead for these exceptional young women. We wish them well and look forward to hearing of their adventures beyond our white picket fence. ■

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ABOVE AND BEYOND WITH THE GRAMMAR BOND CLAUDIA GULBRANSEN-DIAZ (12L) AND SARVASHREE SINGH (12G)

FROM THE HEAD GIRLS

This year, BGGS truly embraced the motto: Above and beyond with the Grammar bond . We encouraged every girl to challenge herself and approach all facets of school life with dedication and enthusiasm, whether it be in sport, the arts, scholarship or service. We sought to instil the confidence to go beyond , an objective, when supported by the unique Grammar bond , that epitomises the strong sense of unity within the School. This bond creates an open and harmonious environment, one buzzing with activity. In our eyes, this connectedness sets Girls Grammar apart and thus, we aimed to foster cohesion between year levels and Houses and promote a stronger School community. Valentine’s Day saw girls from Years 8 to 12 decorating both themselves and the School in red and embracing the opportunity to fundraise as well as have fun on the dance floor. This first major event of the year was a testament to the togetherness and enthusiasm of the girls and it served as a tangible representation of the strength of the bond between Grammar girls. In addition, we were able to raise $661. Preceding the commencement of a fixtures season or a QGSSSA Core Sports event, or both, we celebrate Blue Days. These days involve fundraising, dressing up in blue and, of course, the dance floor. They serve the purpose of allowing the School to show their support for our athletes, fostering school spirit, and reinforcing a sense of unity and pride. These themed days not only epitomise the Grammar bond , but also function as significant fundraisers. This year, proceeds went to the School charity, which was focused on Indigenous health and education through a partnership with Carinity Education Southside. This partnership was particularly meaningful as it is an independent girls’ school aiming to nurture the intellectual, physical, social, emotional and ethical development of young women. These values resonate deeply with our School philosophy. As our funds support a Brisbane-based school, we are able to see our efforts making a tangible difference to the lives of these students. Our formal was one such opportunity, where $470 was donated to Carinity by the Year 12 cohort to fund a catered evening event for their senior class, something many of the students had not previously experienced. The Student Council’s third goal, along with integration and promotion of all things Girls Grammar, was to motivate the girls to become involved in the exciting opportunities a Girls Grammar education offers. We sought not only to encourage girls to try a new sport, but also to venture out and support their sisters on significant sporting days throughout the year. This year, the Student Council re-introduced Good Luck cards for major interschool sporting events, with a new twist of displaying the card so that all girls could contribute a personal message of support. These proved to be extremely successful in creating a united front and sending a strong

message of school support. For QGSSSA Swimming and Athletics, as well as Head of the River, the entire School’s involvement and excitement supported our athletes. Personally, we were able to experience the adrenaline rush brought on by the cheers of a record number of supporters during QGSSSA Cross Country, and their encouragement truly helped us through what seemed like a never-ending race! Another initiative of the Student Council in 2014 was the establishment of SAS events, led by the Sports, Arts and Service captains. Beginning in Term I for the Year 12s after a strenuous standdown, these events aimed to integrate these three components of co-curricular activities, through dramatic games followed by a sports-oriented film, all to raise money for the School charity. This unique occasion was so successful that various other year levels requested it, and we hope to see it become a long-lasting tradition. To all our Grammar sisters, we hope that the Student Council’s vision has inspired you to become the best person you can be and to face all situations with confidence, courage and resilience. We hope that this year has been one of new experiences, stronger friendships and personal success. Of course, to our fellow Year 12s, we sincerely thank you for trusting us with the privilege of being your Head Girls this year, for believing in us in the difficult times, and for celebrating our successes. We are beyond grateful for all the experiences and opportunities this role has afforded us and we have created precious memories. We hope you have had the best year of your lives, one you can look back upon with great fondness in the years to come. We know that we shall all make our unique contributions to the world, secure in the knowledge of our common Girls Grammar bond and the support of our sisters! ■

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BRISBANE GIRLS GRAMMAR SCHOOL 2014

Community

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BIGRAMMAR LUCY MOWER (12B)

On a warm summer afternoon in Term I this year, the Girls Grammar touch cohort donned the light/dark blue rugby jerseys of the boys next door and prepared for war. The friendly touch game between the two schools was the start of the three-part series. With their paint, sunglasses and chants prepared, the girls were ready for any challenges the boys had to throw at them. The girls fought hard until the end, but sadly came away with a loss. While the scoreboard reflected defeat, Girls Grammar came away with their dignity and pride, which is more than the boys wearing girls swimmers can say. Although we did not come away from round one successful, we came away with determination and heads held high ready for round two. Shout out to Sadie MacDonald (12M) for scoring a sneaky try in the second half. ■

JUNIOR EXECUTIVE FORCE (JEF) ABIGAIL ASHFORD (9R)

At the beginning of the year, the elected captains from each House group met for the first time as the inaugural members of the Junior Executive Force (JEF). The primary aim of the group was to introduce a leadership programme into the junior section of the School to help create further bonds in the younger grades. Assisted by Mrs Lowry and Mrs Mungomery, the group met once a week and discussed what goals should be set for the future, as opportunities for Year 9 leadership become more prominent with the introduction of Year 7 in 2015.

JEF also considered current initiatives to try and bring together the year level. The first semester presented many challenges in decision making and teamwork, however by overcoming these together there were many achievements. JEF’s own interhouse, Year 9 dodgeball competition was the first of these, organised by the group as a way to bring together the entire year in a friendly competition, and proving itself a great success. I personally see JEF as something that will grow immensely over years to come. The importance of bonding the junior and senior section of the School is something JEF both recognises and strives to achieve and will hopefully continue to do so in a creative and active manner. ■

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY BREAKFAST MADELINE GANDHI (11B) I really enjoyed the International Women’s Day Breakfast and really appreciated the chance to go. The topic I found most interesting was the male champions — powerful male businessmen who, for different reasons, have pledged to protest and advocate for increased female visibility at conferences, going as far as to refuse to speak unless there was sufficient female representation. I found this strategy very innovative and the discussion made me realise that men and women standing side-by-side working for gender equality is the best solution. ■

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FOUNDATION DAY JESSICA CASTLES (12H)

has reflected a commitment to providing an environment that cultivates positive female leaders and role models. The continual tradition of achievement and school spirit is what was celebrated this year on the 139th anniversary of the School’s opening. While many students will say they were grateful for the cake they received on the day, there was also time for reflection and discussion about the history of the School and the need to appreciate how privileged we are to attend a school that provides us with a world of opportunity each day. ■

On 15 March 1875, Brisbane Girls Grammar School opened for lessons in a two-storey house in George Street, with just fifty students. One hundred and thirty-nine years later, we celebrated the anniversary of the School’s founding at our far more developed campus on Gregory Terrace. Sir Charles Lilley, the founding father of Girls Grammar, challenged the educational barriers placed on women during the time, and since then a long record of strong, passionate women have successfully led our School. Since the appointment of the first Lady Principal, Mrs Janet O’Connor, the history of BGGS

DIVERSITY DAY EUGENIE SMITH (12M) AND AMY HANCELL (12B) SERVICE CAPTAINS 2014

It has been great to see the commitment by so many different areas of the School to this year’s School mission. We have seen keen involvement from Service clubs, the Year 10 History curriculum, the sporting community, International Studies and the Year 9 and 10 Ethics programmes, to name but a few. It has been encouraging to see the effort and commitment behind your volunteering spirit, and the enthusiasm with which we joined together for Diversity Day celebrations. As we embark on an exciting new chapter in Girls Grammar’s Service history, promoting a culture of unity and togetherness under the flags that embody the Australian spirit, we look to the future with excitement and bright hope that one day the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians will truly be closed. ■

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OPEN DAY CLAUDIA GULBRANSEN-DIAZ (12L) AND SARVASHREE SINGH (12G), HEAD GIRLS 2014 EXCERPT FROM GRAMMAR GAZETTE SPRING 2014.

Open Day is the one event that focuses every participant’s attention on the myriad of educational opportunities at the School. It is the vibrant atmosphere that inspires us all to engage in the opportunities on offer. Simply walking through the grounds on Open Day is a testament to our life-wide love of learning. Whether it is the water polo girls displaying their absolute love for their sport, the dancers mesmerising the audience with their performances, the girls from Years 8 to 12 working together to sell the famous Gibson strawberries and ice cream or the Antipodeans Abroad girls preparing for their community service adventure, Open Day is the one occasion where the wider-community bears witness to everything that a Grammar girl loves and learns. It is the one occasion where it is truly evident that there is something for everyone to love at Girls Grammar. The breathtaking art displays, drama performances, service initiatives and of course, a taste of our academic endeavours, paints a very intricate picture of each girl’s love of learning.

This event perfectly exemplifies the 2014 motto: Above and beyond with the Grammar bond . The countless stalls scattered around the campus, the unmistakable scent of the Fathers Group sausage sizzle, the twinkling fairy lights in the gardens and the buzz of both current and prospective students are just some of the things that have come to define Open Day. However, what truly makes this evening extraordinary is that it is a showcase of the collective efforts of all members of the Girls Grammar community. Whether that means sharing their knowledge and enthusiasm with future Grammar girls, conducting tours, staffing a stall or, for us, speaking to prospective parents and daughters, the night is a representation of the girls’ effort to provide insights into the essence of the Girls Grammar experience. The commitment, excitement, and curiosity that our future Grammar girls demonstrated on Open Day was truly heart-warming. During a Questions and Answers forum, experiencing their sense of wonder with our world was particularly moving, as they questioned whether they, too, would be allowed to wear the ‘pretty skirts’ — what a lovely way to describe our School uniform! Open Day is certainly a reflection of the School’s endeavour to foster a love of learning in the students. ■

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YEAR 11 CHARITY SOCIAL EMMA COCKBURN (11M) The Charity Social themed Midnight in Paris was a beautiful night for the Year 11 cohort. The collaborative committee of BGGS and BGS students worked meticulously together to ensure a thoroughly organised night. Mrs Chakravorty and Mrs Dabelstein were absolutely amazing in their roles. The cohort is collectively so grateful for their hard work. We were so privileged to have such a magical night and it was a huge success. The food was superb and one of the highlights was the photo booth. The venue was also fantastic, despite an unexpected downpour it still looked phenomenal. It was also a good chance for the two schools to socialise and many students have formed great bonds. Ultimately, everyone looked absolutely outstanding and it was definitely an unforgettable evening. ■

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YEAR 12 FORMAL JULIA SADLER (12M) AND ASHLEY MCGREGOR (12L)

The journey to 3 May began early in Term I, when the Formal committee, comprised of nine eager girls alongside Mrs Harvey-Short and Ms Stark, were selected. The intense process of creating the Year 12 Formal night started straight away, and included establishing the theme, sourcing décor, planning table arrangements, scoping the venue, designing invitations and ultimately acting as beautiful examples on the night. The preparation time flew by and before we knew it, we were the first girls to walk into a rooftop garden in Manhattan; once there, it was hard to forget that we were really in the Brisbane Exhibition and Convention Centre.

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Many girls would normally wear heels to the formal, however, Head Girl Claudia ‘practical’ Gulbransen-Diaz — in an effort to fundraise — wore Heelys. This was only one of the many highlights of the night. Perhaps the biggest highlight of the night — apart from our electrifying speech — was the room itself. Covered in fairy lights and greenery, the girls and their dates felt that it was a night to remember. The 2014 Girls Grammar Formal was truly an amazing way to kick off the string of ‘last moments’ that we will cherish with our Year 12 cohort. ■

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VALENTINE’S DAY ALEXANDRA PERRY (12H)

14 February marked Valentine’s Day, and was celebrated in typical Girls Grammar style. The whole School was decorated from head to toe in pink and red to raise funds for the School’s charity for Indigenous health and education. Love actually was all around, with the spirit of the School going above and beyond, showing especially on the much loved dance floor. As one of the first and biggest events on the Girls Grammar calendar, a lot of effort was put in from the Student Council to organise it. Red ribbons and red ice cordial cups were sold by the Student Council, and were a huge hit with the girls. Great enthusiasm and energy was displayed by all, and it was a memorable day. ■

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MOTHER DAUGHTER DINNER DEBATE GABRIELLE BAILEY (12H) AND ANNA COYNE (12H)

The annual highly anticipated Mother Daughter Dinner Debate was held in May at Victoria Park Golf Course. This year’s debate looked at whether pop divas should be considered the new face of feminism. The affirmative team were members of the current Senior A Debating Team, consisting of Sarvashree Singh (12G), Sadie MacDonald (12W) and Harriet Lonergan (12M), competing against previous BGGS debaters. The comperes were Rene Arunakumaren (12B) and Claudia Gulbransen-Diaz (12L), who provided insightful background on each debater. Both sides put up very clever arguments, and as a result, the debate was highly entertaining and thought provoking. It was great to meet some of the future students, and to give them a taste of life as a Grammar girl. Overall a great night was had by all. ■

FATHER DAUGHTER DINNER ELLEN O’CONNOR (12M) August saw the annual Father Daughter Dinner, an evening that brings together Girls Grammar fathers and their daughters for a night of entertainment. The Victoria Park Golf Complex provided a perfect setting for a collective celebration of the special relationship shared between father and daughter. Led by Director of Outdoor Education Mr James McIntosh, the night’s speakers were a past Girls Grammar father-daughter duo who gave an enlightening insight into the life of the School and the special and valuable role played by fathers throughout its history. The Father Daughter Dinner provided an opportunity for girls starting at Girls Grammar in 2015 to meet both newcomers and current students within a lively and welcoming atmosphere. ■

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BLUE DAY ISABEL HARDY (12H)

2014’s first Blue Day certainly set the Girls Grammar sporting season off to a great start. The festivities began at 7 am, with the Student Council’s handmade blueberry pancake stall providing much needed energy for an especially big day. Before classes started, a cloud of blue balloons, streamers and banners settled on the Year 12 tables and all the girls donned a little something blue, whether it be a ribbon, a badge or a full-body onesie. By lunch time, we were all ready to cheer on our swimmers on the dance

floor, and we even had a special appearance from some French exchange students. The day was finished with a war cry, before we quickly dashed up to the bathrooms and rubbed off our war paint for the day’s final lessons. Not only was this day a chance to support our swimmers and have some fun, but it was also a great fundraising opportunity with the Student Council raising almost $300 for our School charity, which this year focuses on Indigenous health and literacy. The fantastic support from everyone passed on to the following night, when our QGSSSA swim team came an amazing sixth place. ■

BOOKS2DEVOUR ISABEL HARDY (12H)

The Books2Devour competition provides a fantastic opportunity for us to relax in a completely ‘novel’ way in the middle of the term. It gives us a really fun way to show off our creativity in a friendly environment. Books2Devour also brings a lot of joy to everyone as the library fills with students admiring everyone’s hard efforts. The Libellum Society and the library staff always do such an amazing job at organising the competition, and the cakes are becoming more and more amazing each year! ■

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BRISBANE GIRLS GRAMMAR SCHOOL 2014

Service

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FROM THE SERVICE CAPTAINS AMY HANCELL (12B) AND EUGENIE SMITH (12M) There is a saying that ‘to lead is to serve’. As Service Captains at Girls Grammar, we have had the privilege this year to do both these things as we have worked with wonderful and compassionate students to enrich the lives of others. We have laughed, we have cried, we have worked and we have given. Most of all, we have been blessed, as we discovered that giving is truly the greatest gift. Service at Girls Grammar is both tangible and intangible, big and small, and, whether consciously or not, has affected every member of the School community this year. In reviewing the year as Service Captains, we couldn’t be more proud of the efforts and thoughtfulness of the girls. We have built upon a tradition of well-supported Service initiatives such as the World Vision fundraising for Years 8 and 9, and community service for Year 10, by implementing our agenda of new ideas. One such initiative saw a special collaboration between Sport, Arts and Service dubbed the SAS events. As the title suggests, they were indeed SASsy and made a significant contribution to the School charity and the atmosphere of giving amongst the students. The role of House Service Leader this year has been reconfigured from a pastoral role to one of great significance within the House. House Service Leaders helped raise the awareness and status of the nine respective House charities, as well as provide an extra fundraising event involving the whole House. The Heelys fundraiser, a quirky idea involving a formal dare and a pair of hideous hybrid roller-blade-joggers, was very successful providing not only hilarious formal photos but also an unprecedented $755 for mental health. It just goes to show we can have fun while helping our community. Pink Day was again successful, as the compassion and generosity of the girls and their parents made the day poignant and memorable, particularly to those touched by breast cancer. This year we attempted to shine a spotlight on specific projects that would highlight to girls that Service isn’t just about donating money. Instead it is about showing empathy and care and using your skills and passion to assist others. The Good on Ya’s (kind acts) were a way of creating opportunities for us to do something kind for someone to understand that a generous act in itself is rewarding. Ranging from ‘line up for the tuckshop with another girl’ to ‘give someone in another grade a high five’, the Good on Ya’s was another small but successful Service initiative, reminding us all that Service is an attitude, not just an obligation. The Steptember project, raising money for Cerebral Palsy, has been one with broad appeal and an easy entry point for girls to really be gripped by the heart of Service — not just by raising money, but also improving their own fitness as they step out with friends. This year we were overwhelmed by the more than $11,700 raised by our eighty-five teams of students, staff and parents.

Finally, the School charity project raising funds and awareness for Indigenous health and education, has forged a new partnership between Girls Grammar, and the students at Carinity Southside Education. This is an important step for Girls Grammar as we acknowledge the importance and legacy of our Indigenous community. Although we have raised a great deal of money, more significantly we feel we have really embraced the opportunities provided at this School to make a difference to the futures of other students in our community. We feel strongly that active involvement in Service can help grow an individual’s sense of justice, compassion, humility and grace. We feel truly privileged to have led the Service effort in 2014 at BGGS. We sincerely thank Mrs Mungomery for her patient, kind and wise stewardship and importantly thank all the BGGS girls who so generously baked, roller-skated, decorated, spruiked and gave of their hearts for the benefit others. ■

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THE URALLA CLUB ANNA MCARTHUR-DOWTY (11R) AND JOSEFINE GANKO (11R)

This has been a big year of events for the new Service group, The Uralla Club. From our Club’s first official meeting in Week 4 of Term I, we have come so far and gained the support from the wider School community. We are a club focused primarily on raising awareness about Indigenous issues, and occasionally on fundraising. In our meetings, we aim to not only organise events, but also to teach and educate our members on Indigenous culture and the need to close the gap between the lifestyles of our Australian people. Our first event this year was commemorating National Close the Gap Day, where we asked girls to place their hand prints as leaves on our tree mural, symbolising their place in closing the gap. Our major event for the year was Diversity Day on 7 May. We took the opportunity to celebrate not only Australia’s diversity, but also the First Nation’s People. We had a Q&A style forum, with various esteemed Indigenous community leaders, and student representatives, where we discussed important issues faced by Indigenous and non- Indigenous Australians. In conjunction with this, we had a

flag competition, where students were asked to create their own flag to represent Australia’s diversity. We also served multicultural meals at the tuckshop, and had an afternoon tea with guest speakers to discuss their varied backgrounds. Due to a timing clash with our school holidays, we celebrated our own NAIDOC week. This consisted of a Utopia viewing, a library display and a meeting with Indigenous community members Aunty Denise Proud, Monique Proud and Marnee Shay. Finally, in August we visited QPAC to view Bangarra’s Dance Theatre’s Patyegarang . It was a very memorable and moving performance, key in demonstrating modern Indigenous culture. In the future, we are hoping to establish a Reconciliation Action Plan, where we will aim to set a goal for closing the gap within the School. This year has been a very successful start for The Uralla Club, and we are proud of the support and success we have achieved. Thank you to all members and those who have helped us out; the Club wouldn’t exist without your support. ■

HEALTH PROMOTING SCHOOLS (HPS) MACKENZIE GEEVES (12M)

Health Promoting Schools (HPS) aims to promote healthy eating and living while encouraging girls to get involved in initiatives within the School and to participate in activities provided by the club. HPS has put on a number of fun events such as the pool lawn party, where students gave a gold coin donation to swim in the School pool or use skipping ropes, tennis balls and frisbees on the grass. Students could also purchase healthy snacks such as fruit and yoghurt cups from the HPS club members. It is through events like these, along with the healthy breakfast stalls, student versus teacher dodgeball games and the popular handball lunch times that HPS is able to inspire and encourage girls to participate in aerobic activity or munch on some healthy treats, as opposed to sitting down for an entire lunchtime, consuming unhealthy foods. All proceeds from fundraising activities go directly to the Australia Cervical Cancer Foundation, a charity that lies close to all young and old girls’ hearts due to its support for woman who are affected by cervical cancer and research into possible cures.

Our most recent initiative was a Service stall at BGGS Open Day. We sold low-fat Greek yoghurt cups with fresh strawberries and distributed brochures to advertise our club. The strawberry yoghurt cups were extremely popular and we hope to continue this tradition in the coming years. ■

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KIRSTEN JACK MEMORIAL LEUKAEMIA COMMITTEE (KJMLC) MARGARET SCHUBERT (12G), KAITLIN WHITAKER (12G) AND SHAN (SHELLEY) XING (12B) CO-CAPTAINS

For Mother’s Day, members created beautiful hand-crafted cards. Making origami shirt cards for Father’s Day also kept us busy. On Open Day, our face painting, rocky road and amazing raffle drew a constant stream of customers. Our Daffodil Day bathed the School in golden daffodils, generously donated by Mrs Hanlon, and raised over $1000 for leukaemia research. A final bake stall and the colourful Bandana Day drew our year’s activity to a close. Thanks to our members for their commitment and our many supporters for making 2014 a great year for KJMLC. ■

The Kirsten Jack Memorial Leukaemia Committee (KJMLC), formed over forty years ago in memory of Kirsten who passed away from the disease, has had a successful fundraising and awareness-raising year for leukaemia research. The club’s first events for the year were a tasty bake stall and a raffle. George, an enormous toy bear, raised over $800 and inspired our creation of colouring and picture books about George’s school ‘adventures’ for children in oncology wards. In Term II, we hosted the annual formal fashion parade starring our Year 12 models in their beautiful gowns. This popular event drew a large audience for the seniors reliving their Formal magic.

SECOND CHANCE SARA BURKE (12E) AND SANGTEAN GOLLAGHER (12L)

Second Chance is a Service group for students in Years 11 and 12, which aims to raise awareness of women’s homelessness and help support local women’s homeless shelters. Second Chance supports a variety of different projects to help homeless women secure a home and return to independent living. As more than one in fifty-seven females in the fifteen to nineteen age group in Australia are homeless, Second Chance focuses on the issues directly impacting our community. We meet once a week with other like-minded senior students to discuss ideas for raising awareness and fundraising. We held several fundraisers this year, including bake stalls, clothing drives, lunchtime movies, selling cards, a teacher fashion parade and our christmas tree gift donations. Second Chance provides girls with the opportunity to have a greater understanding of the issues facing young women in our local area. Students have experienced this first-hand through their visit to the Bahloo Women’s Youth Shelter. Also, by participating in Second Chance, students have been able to attend empowering events, such as the International Women’s Day Breakfast and Lunch. ■

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GECO HARRIET LOMAS (12O)

The main role of GECO (Grammar Environmental Conservation Organisation) is to raise awareness through practical activities and fundraisers for environmental issues on both a local and global scale. With the help of families, teachers and groundsmen, GECO girls and other students set off to Fig Tree Pocket on two occasions: for Clean Up Australia Day and National Tree Day, where we cleaned up our sports grounds and planted native tree species. We aimed to raise awareness of the dangers of excessive energy consumption through our Earth Hour photo competition, where girls sent in photographs of themselves participating in and celebrating the evening. Our main fundraiser for this year, however, was for World Environment Day. While the Story Bridge turned green, GECO conducted a tree fundraiser with all proceeds going towards tree planting in the North Queensland Daintree Rainforest. Every girl who donated a gold coin tied a ribbon onto our faux tree to symbolise all the trees that would be planted. To further contribute to this fundraiser we sold chilled elderflower cordial on Open Day. 2014 has been a very green, productive and fun year for GECO. ■ GRAMMAR GOES GREEN Four Grammar Goes Green events were held this year at our Fig Tree Pocket Sports Campus. A total of 720 native trees and shrubs have now been planted along the north eastern side of the lower oval at the Fig Tree Pocket Sports Campus. Staff and student volunteers from Brisbane Girls Grammar School and Brisbane Grammar School have all volunteered their time to help plant and water these trees purchased from Greening Australia. Volunteering at Grammar Goes Green is a very productive and social way to give your time to an activity that will benefit the environment and the outlook of our Sport Campus now and in the future.

We look forward to continuing our association with the Cubberla-Witton Catchment Network into 2015 and contributing to the natural flora and fauna of the area. At this point, a little rain will go a long way to the growth of our butterfly trail. ■

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PINK STUMPS DAY BELLA BUSBY (10M) AND ELIZABETH SIMMERS (10W)

BGGS Cricket is a very enthusiastic squad of girls who had the pleasure and responsibility of hosting Pink Stumps Day. This day included a pink-themed afternoon tea and round of matches in support of the McGrath Foundation, a very worthy and appropriate cause for the occasion. Some highlights of the day included pink equipment, boundary lines, balls and zinc-streaked Grammar Girls. It was also a good occasion to help gain support for the very dedicated cricket girls and it was fantastic to see so many Grammar sisters come and cheer them on. The day was a great opportunity for the cricket girls to really get in the spirit and it helped us to bond as a team and let our hair down in a more spirited match than usual. All the cricket girls want to thank the

tireless efforts of our fantastic coordinator Mr Lanning for his organisation and enthusiasm. It was especially great to be able to host Pink Stumps Day at our very own sports field at Fig Tree Pocket and we all hope that our spirit lived up to Girls Grammar standards. ■

WONDER FACTORY TANVI SIKKA (12L)

This year a group of Girls Grammar seniors volunteered at the Royal Children’s Hospital as part of the Wonder Factory programme. Wonder Factory is an entertainment room in the hospital, which provides ill children with a plethora of fun activities and games. These include arts and crafts, face painting, table soccer, pool, video games, giant building blocks and board games, among a range of other toys and gadgets. This programme allows the children to enjoy themselves and just have fun — serving as a break from the often mundane surrounds of the hospital. In my experience, the best thing about volunteering at Wonder Factory has been the numerous smiles I received when I played with the children, if only for a few hours a week. Whether it was playing hide and seek, face painting or simply playing board games in the wards, I could see I was making an impact on the children’s lives by brightening their day — and mine. Participating in Wonder Factory was a memorable and rewarding experience, which made a lasting impression on the final years of many Grammar girls. ■

INTERACT CERI ATHERTON (12L) AND FIONA ZENG (12R) Interact is a Service club for Year 11s and 12s who join together to tackle the issues in their community that they care most about. The Interact Club gives students the chance to make a real difference while also having fun. This year the BGGS Interact Club chose to support the Cerebral Palsy League by raising money through various fundraisers, including raffles and our Open Day stall. Cerebral Palsy is a permanent condition affecting a person’s ability to move. In 2014 the BGGS Interact Club had four committee members:

Ceri Atherton (President 12L), Fiona Zeng (Vice President 12R), Gabrielle Barsha (Treasurer 12B) and Sophie O’Meara (Secretary 12R). This year, club members have all been very co-operative and we have had a number of informative group interactions and discussions, with meetings taking place on alternate Tuesdays. We would like to express our sincere thanks to everyone who has supported this wonderful cause, the Interact girls and our coordinator, Mrs Belich. Good luck next year! ■

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SAVE THE CHILDREN CLUB MARGOT BLIGH (12R)

We held a stall on Open Day, which offered information on our activities and the chance to play quoits, and were delighted by the School community’s interest in the Club. This was also a great way for members to work together to display the results of their efforts during the year so far. After a meeting with our Brisbane Save the Children contact, the Club decided we wanted to organise a stationery drive. Students were asked to bring in stationery items to be donated to disadvantaged Australian primary school children. We liked this initiative as an alternative approach to simply fundraising and hope it helps students think more deeply about the meaning behind our work. ■

Save the Children is the world’s foremost independent charity for children. Through their projects focused on education, emergency response, health and nutrition, HIV/AIDS, as well as protection from neglect, exploitation, abuse and violence, Save the Children works to ensure all children can get the healthy start to life they deserve. Our BGGS Save the Children Club works with the Australian Save the Children Branch to raise funds for local or current campaigns. We are a small, friendly group of girls from all years. In Term I we continued our ‘Stand-down Survival Kits’ initiative from 2013. Members made small packages of items such as pens, tea bags and meditation instructions (and lots of chocolate of course) to provide students relief from the stress of their studies. We were excited by the School’s enthusiastic reception of them, and even struggled to meet demand. All proceeds go towards improving the health and education of Australian school children.

WORLD VISION GRACE MITCHELL (9G) AND MIA THURECHT (9G) Service is a big part of Girls Grammar life from day one. All House groups in Years 8 and 9 organise a fundraiser to raise money for a World Vision sponsor child. Year 9 sponsors fourteen-year-old Njeri Mercy Muigai who lives in Kenya and now has the opportunity for a proper education thanks to our fundraising. Year 8 supports eight-year-old Gainshy Madaudi, and because he is very young, the money will make a real difference in his development. While bakestalls continue to be a popular and successful fundraiser for many groups, this year has also seen some more original ideas, including 9 Mackay’s Ekka stall, which sold show bags and strawberry and cream ice-creams. There was also a ‘Guess how many lollies in the jar’ competition by 8 Griffith. While the first fifty dollars raised by each class goes to support their sponsor child, any additional funds raised are put towards the World Vision gifts programme which allows us to choose a gift that will really make a difference to a family under World Vision’s care. These gifts range from

small things like school supplies or gardening tools through to livestock or even a well to supply clean water for a whole community. Thanks to the help and advice of our Service Coordinators and all our House group teachers, we have had the opportunity to raise money and support others from less fortunate countries. ■

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ECUMENICAL COFFEE BRIGADE CATHERINE CHAN (12R)

The Ecumenical Coffee Brigade (ECB) is a voluntary organisation dedicated to aiding Brisbane’s homeless men and women. At BGGS, girls in their senior year can volunteer to aid this worthwhile organisation. The girls assist in making all varieties of sandwiches — from vegemite to ham and cheese. Every girl who volunteers not only betters their buttering skills, but more importantly, also makes an intangible difference to our wider community. In Term I, a food drive was held to collect basic food items such as milo and packaged soup. The generosity of the entire School community was overwhelming; we managed to donate over seventy boxes of muesli bars alone! Everyone who contributed must be congratulated; your efforts have made the lives of these men and women just that little bit brighter and easier. I hope that with the School’s continued support of ECB, we can keep on advocating for this wonderful organisation, whilst helping to both raise attention and combat the issue of homelessness. ■

JUMP ROPE FOR HEART ISABELLA BERLESE (8O) AND HELENA GANDHI (8O)

On June 19 all Year 8s participated in Jump Rope for Heart. It was a great afternoon full of music, fun, ropes, sweat and one big giant heart for skipping. Two weeks prior to this activity we started getting sponsors to help raise money for children with heart problems. To start the afternoon we were teamed up with a partner and started skipping, swapping every couple of minutes, showing off our skills to everyone, learning how to do new tricks and dancing with our class mates. It was a great afternoon and to finish it off we had a skip off between one girl from each House. It was a fantastic way to bond with our classmates, show off our skipping and get our hearts pumping. ■

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BRISBANE GIRLS GRAMMAR SCHOOL 2014

BEANLAND’S ‘PAWSOME’ YEAR SOPHIE HUR AND ANNABELLE VAN DER JAGT, HOUSE CAPTAINS Beanland

our bite, yet the Beanland enthusiasm was unsurpassed. Some bears on the track and field were beaten by a hare, but one bear, Isabella Franks, did manage to pass all others and became School Athletics Champion. Open Day was a huge success and people came from far and wide to get a taste of the famous fairy floss, raising money for Beanland’s 2014 House charity, Jeans for Genes. Being at the top of the food chain, Beanland bears were very generous and excited to give back to the ecosystem outside of the School, raising $1500. Each Friday the bears gathered as a pack and eagerly quarrelled with each other, displaying their knowledge on crucial topics like celebrity trivia. If we weren’t exercising our brains, we were practising our survival skills with activities like basketball and preparing for the storm of exams by partaking in the chocolate game. An immense thank you to all of the House group teachers and contributors to our successful year. To the leader of the bears, Ms Chakravorty: thank you for all of the help and support that we continue to appreciate so much. ■

The Year 8 Beanland Cubs climbed out of their dens and enthusiastically trailed the paw prints of their fellow Beanland pack. The House party was far from pawthetic, with the pack dressed in all shades of pink including magenta, rose, fuchsia and the bears’ favourite, salmon. The Beanland Cubs proved their power and began evolving into Beanland Bears as they battled it out on the volleyball courts in Term I. Then the bears tested the water at Interhouse Swimming, displaying their inner polar bear skills and placing a pawsome third. This event was followed up by the much-anticipated Cross Country competition, with Beanland placing sixth. The final chance for Beanland Bears to pull out their most shocking shades of pink was Interhouse Athletics. Unfortunately our roar was bigger than

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England ENGLAND SOARS TO NEW HEIGHTS GRACE DUNN AND MEG O’CONNOR, HOUSE CAPTAINS

Another big highlight on the England calendar was the Swimming Carnival. We had a record number of girls participating, cheering and helping out, making the day so memorable. There was an abundance of roaring war cries, sugar highs and high fives all around. Following swimming, cross country was an equally memorable event that will be sure to go down in the England history books. We managed to get every girl in the House either helping or running. Several high placings within the House led to us placing first. This success was even more meaningful for the seniors who could not be prouder of the House’s achievement. Lastly, the Athletics Carnival saw us again soaring to the top. Due to a lot of hard work and teamwork, dedication and determination, we placed an awesome second. Blue ribbons, tongues and lollies all contributed to the joyous atmosphere. It was incredible to be surrounded by such high House spirit throughout the day. It has been an amazing year for House spirit, friends and success. Through trying our best in swimming, running, throwing and jumping, we have seen great results. Overall it has been amazing to both watch, and be a part of, the relationships formed within the England House. The sense of spirit throughout the year was infectious and the opportunity to see the girls really come together in House assembly and events was irreplaceable. England has such a rich family vibe; we consider each England girl as not only a friend, but also a sister. ■

It was day three of Term I and the England Eagles were bustling and chatting excitedly as they walked into Gehrmann Theatre. There was music playing and people dancing and we knew it was going to be a great year. Miss Stark was organising the Year 8s, and as seniors we were so excited to run our first House assembly. In an instant, Years 9 to 11 were all standing either side of the stairs making a tunnel for the Year 8s and 12s to run through to welcome the Year 8s to the School. It was then that we knew our motto spread your wings and rise above was really going to ring true this year. Our goal was to have every girl get involved in all areas of the School, particularly in the House related events. This enthusiasm was encapsulated in our House party in Term III. In our ‘undersea’ party we each dressed up to fit the theme. There were crustaceans and pirates, little fish and big fish, as well as Hawaiians and mermaids. It was an afternoon to remember, filled with dancing and games, such as the donut game and egg and spoon races, not to mention delicious pizza and cake.

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Gibson GIBSONITES UNITE ALEXANDRA KNIGHT AND HELENA MCCARTHY, HOUSE CAPTAINS

stage lawn with a sea of purple. We played the custard game, the donut game, the jelly game and the traditional Knights, Mounts and Cavaliers, and everyone cheered (or rather screamed) for their House group representative. Open Day was an opportunity to meet the future Gibonsites and to sell our Open Day favourites, strawberries and ice cream, which sold out in record time thanks to the fantastic organisation of our Year 11s. The proceeds from this stall went to our House charity, NAPCAN. Our unity was displayed in our success in the interhouse competitions, which relies on the involvement of every member of the House. At the Interhouse Swimming competition Gibson put in 100 per cent in the pool and in supporting on the side-lines, earning Gibson first place overall. Interhouse Cross Country was an enjoyable morning filled with team spirit, as streaks of purple flew around the Victoria Park track. We demonstrated our prowess in running, jumping and throwing on Athletics Day, and took home a well-earned first place trophy. Congratulations on this year’s achievements Gibson, we are so proud of your hard work and the support you showed each other. This year would not have been so successful without the help of Mrs Boltman and the House group teachers who generously gave their time. We have had a wonderful year leading the House and wish the new leaders for next year every luck. ■

We have had a busy and exciting year full of sports carnivals, House celebrations and assemblies and Open Day fun. This year was the last year of the phantom mascot as next year (due to copyright reasons) we will transition from the Gibson Phantoms to the Gibson Gladiators. We began the year by welcoming the Year 8s and knighting them in gladiator fashion, ready to embrace the purple. Our theme for this year was Gibsonites Unite as our aim was to integrate the different year levels and ensure everyone was involved and enthusiastic. Every Tuesday we have a House assembly in which we gather together to play games, share stories and come together as a group. One afternoon in Term I, we celebrated Gibson House by dressing up in our crazy purple outfits and decorating the

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