2015 School Magazine

ATHLETICS JOSEPHINE AUER (12B) AND HARRIET GLEED (12E), CAPTAINS

of seven University of Queensland lead-up meets and, of course, the Interhouse Athletics Carnival held at QEII stadium. The high attendance levels at training sessions and meets, paired with a strong team ethos of tenacity and perseverance resulted in many girls achieving personal bests. As captains, whether the girls were at the front or the back of the field, we were truly impressed and inspired by the efforts of every member of the squad. The Met North Athletics Championships was a clear display of these improvements — of the sixty girls competing, twenty qualified for the State Championships, an outstanding effort. The culmination of the athletics season was the QGSSSA Championships. There was not a single performance on the day that we were not proud of; each and every girl reaped the benefits of the commitment and perseverance they had shown over the twelve-week season to run, jump or throw to the very best of their ability. Our overall finish in third place, a goal set at the start of the season, was a further exceptional achievement. This well-earned improvement from our previous season was a huge credit to the girls’ hard work. As captains this year, we strived to create a tight- knit team who, through a strong sense of cohesion and spirit across the different events, supported and believed in their athletic sisters. The enormous enthusiasm, dedication and persistence displayed by all girls made this easy. Captaining such a hardworking and enthusiastic squad this year has been a sincere honour and one we will always cherish. We wish the squad the best of luck in future years and can’t wait to follow their success.

BADMINTON KIMBERLEY HUANG (12H) AND DAVINA LO (12G), CAPTAINS From the start of Term III, the girls’ love of athletics was plain to see; whether they were new to athletics or an experienced athlete, each member showed outstanding determination and commitment. The tremendous depth of the squad this season became apparent at the first This was the mentality embraced by the badminton girls throughout this year’s season. 2015 has been an especially eventful year for the badminton team, with many new experiences and breakthroughs. Early in Term III, we welcomed a record 120 girls, both old and new. Although training commenced slightly later this season compared to previous years, everyone started determined and diligent, immediately launching into individual year group training instead of the usual whole team training. We were fortunate enough to have three additional courts this year, which brought much efficiency, allowing more people to train at once. Each week, it was amazing to see everyone’s dedication as they fine-tuned their skills, aiming to be light-footed in their movements around the court and sharp in their hits. This year, we also hosted an inaugural badminton meet with Somerville House. This was an invaluable opportunity because the girls were able to practise with their partners and experience the level of competition from other schools. We did especially well in the three With a record number of 128 girls in the Athletics Team, including the inaugural Year 7 age group, this year’s BGGS team stood out as a strong, fast and fierce competitor. Adopting the motto of ‘Bolt from the Blue’ — a title recognising the world’s fastest man, Usain Bolt — the girls were encouraged to strive for their best and wear their blue uniforms with pride. Fly like a butterfly, sting like a bee.

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meets held for the different year level groups, winning more than half of our games. Hopefully, this initiative will continue in the coming years. The QGSSSA competition was held over two weekends, 24 October and 31 October. This year was one of best seasons yet with both the Open and Senior C teams placing a close second. It has been a delight to lead such a dedicated, cooperative and talented team this year. We have gained immensely from this experience and are extremely proud of everyone’s efforts and especially grateful to Mrs Fukushima, Mr Greatorex and our talented coaches.

SPORT