2023 Annual Review

CHAIR’S ADDRESS THURSDAY 16 NOVEMBER 2023

MS JULIE McKAY CHAIR, BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Ms Julie McKay, Chair, Board of Trustees, delivered the following address at the School’s Annual Speech Day and Distribution of Prizes 2023.

education. Over 148 years, BGGS has given girls a platform from which they can confidently take their place in the world and hopefully, continue to contribute as leaders in their chosen fields, and to gender equality. While we are enormously proud of the legacy of this School, it is like all things, imperfect, and we continue to seek to understand, learn from and where possible, make right, our failings. When I thought about what 2023 would be remembered for, the launch of Chat GPT—technology that fundamentally changed the way our society sources information—cannot be overlooked. So, I decided to see what it would say, if asked it to write a ‘three to five-minute graduation address for Brisbane Girls Grammar School.’ I am not going to lie—the outcome wasn’t bad, and I was tempted to use it today to see if anyone noticed. But I thought you might see through the proposed closing line of ‘wherever life plants you, bloom with grace.’ But then like all good Girls Grammar students, I went down a bit of a rabbit hole. Procrastination, after all, is a key life skill. What happens if you type in ‘graduation address for Brisbane Boys Grammar School.’ Turns out, the key messages are different.

Her Excellency, the Honourable Dr Jeanette Young AC PSM, Governor of Queensland. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk. The Honourable Dame Quentin Bryce. Councillor Vicki Howard. My fellow Trustees—current and past. Principal, Jacinda Euler Welsh.

Our incredible staff team. Parents, family and friends. Most importantly, girls.

I was at university 20 years ago when Dame Quentin Bryce was named Governor of Queensland; our first female Governor. Today, in the presence of our female Governor, female Premier and our former Governor General, I worry that it is easy to forget just how hard fought women’s access to leadership roles continues to be. Our role as Trustees is to steward the School so that it can continue to offer the very best, well-rounded,

Principal, Ms Jacinda Euler Wesh, The Honourable Dame Quentin Bryce AD CVO, former Governor of Australia and Chair, Board of Trustees, Ms Julie McKay

Chair, Board of Trustees, Ms Julie McKay

BRISBANE GIRLS GRAMMAR SCHOOL ANNUAL REVIEW 2023

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