2020 School Magazine

SERVICE REPORT

I n 2020, due to the pandemic we have been encouraged to think outside the box when it comes to raising awareness and fundraising activities. We strongly believe in the value of service and what it can do for others, and this was kept in mind when creating our 2020 Service motto; ‘All in blue, we’re here for you’. This year, when selecting a School Charity to support we considered the tough season experienced by our Australian farmers and decided to put our energy into supporting Rural Aid. Although we were not able to hold as many fundraising events as we would have liked, we were able to foster a very creative approach to our Service activities. One of Rural Aid’s initiatives, the Gift of Music Program, usually involves volunteers travelling to rural schools to teach music to students. Throughout our time at BGGS, we have both been extensively involved in the Instrumental Music Program and understand the positive impact music can have on an individual’s wellbeing. Due to COVID-19, the Gift of Music Program had to be put on hold, so we came up with a plan to take music to rural students virtually. We compiled music performances from some of our most talented BGGS musicians in a virtual concert and shared it with Rural Aid, a number of nursing homes, and the BGGS community.

Continuing our support for Rural Aid, we planted native Australian flower seeds during GECO’s Eco Day activities, and throughout Mental Health Awareness Week, we constructed an installation inspired by the Blue Tree Project. We invited all students to add a blue bottle cap to a tree and organised wellbeing activities that focused on maintaining positive mental health. The House Service Captains have played an integral role in organising, planning and promoting the service activities undertaken this year and we greatly appreciate their efforts. Our gratitude is also extended to all of the teachers who coordinate service and charity groups, as well as the Service Group student leaders for their commitment. Finally, we thank our Director of Service, Mrs Mungomery, for her unwavering support and her incredible organisational skills throughout the year. It is incredibly heart-warming to see everyone in the BGGS community come together to support worthy causes and we could not have been happier with how the year turned out! All in blue, we’re here for you. Gia Cayas (12G) and Eva Seet (12B) SERVICE CAPTAINS

Taking inspiration from Rural Aid’s ‘Dear Farmer’ initiative, we also created our own initiative to connect with three groups we felt needed extra support during the pandemic—farmers, residents in aged care homes, and frontline medical workers. At the beginning of Term 2 students across all Year levels submitted sketches, paintings, and digital art from which we created a series of cards that Year 10 and 12 students added messages of hope to the cards. More than 150 BGGS students were involved in the project and we sent out approximately 500 cards. Midway through the year, several service groups created a series of videos featuring BGGS students reading picture books. We called it the ‘All in Blue Activity Videos’. The BGGS service groups also sent some short craft and origami video tutorials to hospitals, primary schools, and homeless shelters. This year we also held an ‘All in Blue Donation Drive’ to fulfil specific requests for help from service groups supporting vulnerable members of our community. We collected clothing and hygiene items for the Queensland Children’s Hospital Indigenous Unit, non-perishable food items for Gibson’s House Charity, the Romero Centre, and clothing and art items for women’s shelters around Brisbane.

56 | BRISBANE GIRLS GRAMMAR SCHOOL 2020