2022 Annual Review

Chair’s Address Thursday 17 November 2022

MS JULIE McKAY CHAIR OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Ms Julie McKay, Chair of the Board of Trustees, delivered the following address at the School’s Annual Speech Day and Distribution of Prizes 2022.

I remember as a little girl hearing my grandma say ‘the years just go so fast’ and thinking: that must be something old people say because as a young kid, every day seemed to stretch on and summer holidays always felt like they went on forever. But as I stand here today, I genuinely feel that this past year has disappeared in the blink of an eye. 2022 has been another year of COVID disruption, escalating geopolitical tensions, the invasion of Ukraine, the complete unravelling of women’s rights in Afghanistan. Rising inflation globally. The loss of the Queen—when we are unlikely to see another Queen in our lifetimes. Our very own city flooded—again. 2022 was also the year that world leaders agreed to draw up a legally binding treaty against plastic waste. The first black woman was appointed to the US Supreme Court. Marvel comics introduced their first Muslim superhero. Dylan Allcott OAM is Australian of the Year. Soccer equalised pay between men and women. Scotland became the first country to provide free pads and tampons. Taylor Swift has a new album. We still couldn’t hold Open Day—but we didn’t send half of Brisbane into lockdown. In the blink of an eye, so many things we took for granted came undone. In the blink of an eye, we see visible symbols of a world that is more inclusive. Last month, the Trustees had the privilege to spend time with some of our student leaders from Years 9, 11, and 12, as well as our dedicated parent volunteers, as part of our strategic design process. At the end of the session, each participant was asked to imagine themselves at BGGS in 2040 and to write to an incoming student. These letters are a window into our hopes for the future—what we want the School to be, what we want the experience of our girls to be. As I read each of the letters written by the girls, I heard strong themes, which I wanted to share today.

1. Time passes quickly. Be intentional and practice gratitude. 2. A fulfilling life is not built on individual achievement, it is defined by experiences and relationships. 3. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

48

Brisbane Girls Grammar School Annual Review 2022