2023 School Magazine

BGGS Embody the Blue, Blaze it Through

BGGS School Magazine 2023

Embody the Blue, Blaze it Through

Embody the Blue, Blaze it Through

Houses

06

Curriculum

70

Seniors

26

Co-curriculum

88

Community

40

Creations

116

Service

58

Sport

132

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EDIT ORIAL On behalf of the Publications Committee,

Our inspiring 2023 motto— Embody the Blue, Blaze it Through —truly sets the proud blue flame in every Grammar girl’s heart alight, and we have continued to blaze even brighter with Girls Grammar spirit this year. The valuable and meaningful idea of sisterhood embedded in this motto presented unlimited opportunities for the creation of our vivacious retrospective this year. While the blue flame is the core of our motto, the Publications Committee sought to innovate the BGGS spirit through elements including sparklers, lanterns, and light. With sparklers as the main element for the magazine cover, we have sought to embrace the concepts of warmth, celebration, and enlightenment, conveying the traditions of Girls Grammar sisterhood. It is no doubt true that Girls Grammar’s blue flame of celebration has been

embraced by all staff and students this year, unifying our community and tradition to its greatest extent. Only with the persistent work and valuable contributions of all Grammar staff and students has the committee been able to capture this delightful and exceptional year in the magazine you now hold in your hands. A special thank you to Miss Talbot and Ms Nealon, as well as Miss Davies in Communications, for being the ultimate foundation of the magazine; the School Magazine would not have been possible without the unwavering effort of these staff members. I hope the pages that follow will act as a joyful reminder of an amazing 2023 at Brisbane Girls Grammar School. Yasi (Selina) Li (12H)

welcome to the 2023 Brisbane Girls Grammar School School Magazine . Without a doubt, 2023 Grammar life has left remarkable memories in our hearts, and our Girls Grammar spirit has shone brighter than ever. This year, I have had the privilege of leading a wonderful group of committee members as we delved into the creation of the School Magazine . Throughout the year, the Publications Committee has had the honour of witnessing and collecting retrospectives for countless events, and then memorialising the experiences that have strengthened our bonds of sisterhood. The Publications Committee’s job is not limited to facilitating the articles that bind the magazine together, but is also to realise the inspirational design ideas for the magazine that capture the spirit of 2023.

(Left to right): Sophia Kondos (12W), Annabel Wang (11R), Jessica Dinh (12E), Yasmin Salih (11G), Amy Guo (12L), Vaishnavi Arvapalli (12M), Shreeya Patel (12M), Leah Elms (11R), Serena Pang (12B), Ayisha del Rosario (12W), Jasmin Burgess (12E), Yasi (Selina) Li (12H), Elsie Butler (11B), Jacqueline Hii (12R), Charlotte Clayton (11B), Emma Wong (11W), Angela Hu (11B), Kashvi Kothari (11B), Man-Ling Wu (11O), Bridget Ng (11L), Olivia Stanton (11H), Adeline Tan (11O), Danika Fisher (11L)

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PRINCIPAL Ms Jacinda Euler Welsh From the

one and you have managed it all with aplomb. In these pages, you will find the words of our students, curated so adeptly by our Publications Committee. Every article, heading, font, and full stop has been thoughtfully chosen to honour the hard work of each and every student. As you have learned from our teachers and professional staff, we have learned from you. Your curiosity, kindness and constant pursuit of excellence are the qualities that sustain the School and lay the foundation for your future—whatever it may hold. Ms Jacinda Euler Welsh PRINCIPAL

And for our eldest cohort, Year 12, their year begins with excitement for what lies ahead; from their final Open Day and the Year 12 Formal to Interhouse Carnivals, Service activities, musical and artistic performances, and many academic pursuits. To our 2023 graduating class, you have embraced the opportunities and challenges of the year with tenacity and enthusiasm, and I hope this School Magazine provides a memento of all you have achieved and been a part of at BGGS. It is not an easy feat enduring your final year of schooling, with all of life’s twists and turns that come alongside it, but it is a rewarding

Each year, the School Magazine helps us to savour the most memorable moments of the school year. With so many academic and co-curricular activities in our students’ busy calendars, it can be difficult to find time to really reflect on all that has been achieved. Publications like this ensure big celebrations and special moments can be cherished and tucked away for years to come. parties. It is an opportunity for our newest Grammar girls–Year 7 students–to come together with girls who begin as strangers, but soon turn into lifelong friends as they bond over their shared House colours, traditions, and spirit. The year began with some of our students’ favourite events—House

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Head

Our School is special; it provides us with an exemplary education and boundless opportunities. Central to this is the burning passion displayed by all members of the School— students, staff, teachers, and our Girls Grammar community— for all that we do. In creating a motto, and therefore determining our goals for 2023, the Student Council proposed to harness this energy. We wanted a motto that would manifest itself in a School community in which every student knew that her contribution was valued and respected. Our motto, Embody the Blue, Blaze it Through , dually honours 148 years of Girls Grammar tradition and fuels our passion for the future. It calls upon students to embody the culture of our iconic royal blue, and to inspire others as well. As part of our efforts to Embody the Blue this year, we began many of our assembly speeches with a ‘fun fact’ concerning the vibrant history of our School. We explored the origins and significance of Foundation Day, the School song, the McCrae Grassie Sports Centre, and the introduction of the School uniform—particularly important as we celebrated the 100th anniversary of the iconic Grammar hat! We believe a rich understanding of our history unites students and grounds us in the proud tradition of Grammar Women. As we look back in time, we hope that all students may appreciate how they are, in fact, shaping the future of BGGS. While defining our shared identity as Grammar girls, we have aimed to approach all our activities with the energy to ‘Blaze it Through’ . We came together for Blue Days to inspire each other to achieve our very best in major sporting and cultural events. The 2023 Blue Day themes—Blue Blaze, Blue Blast from the Past, and BCF—served to encourage the student body to gather

on the Pool Lawn, link arms in whole-School war cries, and partake in various fun activities … all while decked out in blue attire. A very exact embodiment of the Blue! We were also excited to have created our own special tradition this year. As Head Girls, with the cooperation of Student Council, we wanted to acknowledge the importance of conscious participation through the introduction of the ‘True Blue’ initiative. We believe that sparking School spirit is not just about cheering, but instead the significance of showing up. Although we strive for our own personal success, being a True Blue Grammar girl means you are also present to support each other. This year, girls who attended three ‘True Blue-Verified’ events each term were awarded a badge. The number of awardees increased each term and the girls reflected on how much they gained from their involvement. The success of True Blue is all thanks to the generosity of our Grammar girls and their genuine desire to support one another. We hope 2023 at BGGS will be remembered as a year when spirit was valued over self-interest, and enthusiasm was just as important as the outcome. We are wholly indebted to the great leadership and comradery of the 2023 Student Council, and the wider friendship, support and love of our wonderful Year 12 cohort—the heart of this year's legacy. Also, the year’s success was only possible with the support of our tireless staff who made such achievements, and adventures, possible. The passion and dedication exhibited by all members of our Girls Grammar community has shown us the great things that can be achieved when we Embody the Blue, Blaze it Through . Louise Campbell (12O) and Anna McAuley (12R)

I

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BEANLAND ENGLAND GIBSON GRIFFITH HIRSCHFELD LILLEY MACKAY O’CONNOR WOOLCOCK HOUSES

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We were extremely proud to see all girls enthusiastically contributing to our choir performance, with girls of different year levels working together to practice harmonies and craft new dance moves. For 2023, Beanland chose an important, pink-related charity to support, the Breast Cancer Foundation. Throughout the year, Beanland raised a substantial amount of funds by selling pink fairy floss alongside ribbons on Open Day. 2023 has definitely been a pink year to remember, and we look forward to seeing Beanland continue to thrive next year. An integral part of our success this year has been due to our incredible Head of House, Mrs Cross. Her passion for Beanland and dedication have guided us throughout the year and we could not be more grateful. Isobel Ainscough (12B) and Erin McNab (12B) Beanland House Captains

B EANLAND As we entered the year of the ‘revival of the pink’, embracing Beanland House’s 2023 motto, ‘Growl Louder Pink Power ’, a magnificent year filled with promising pink highlights began. Throughout 2023, Beanlanders have participated in all of the domains that Girls Grammar has to offer, giving it their all. Our year started off with a roar with our Beanland House Party—Barbie themed—which was filled with fun. It was an awesome opportunity for the new Year 7s to get a sense of our enormous Beanland spirit and for all the year levels to spend time together. The theme of Barbie encapsulated what we as Beanlanders strive to be and set a fantastic tone for the rest of the year, empowering our fellow Beanqueens. In interhouse sports events this year, Beanlanders really showed their spirit. At Cross Country, Interhouse Athletics, and the Interhouse Swimming Carnival we saw girls competing, enjoying this

year’s new participation events, and enthusiastically cheering each other on with pom-poms alongside the Beanland Bear mascot. The girls’ efforts during and beyond races at these events helped to strengthen camaraderie in Beanland. However, Beanland’s greatest Interhouse success this year was in the Interhouse Choir Competition. Beanland definitely had that ‘One Thing,’ placing second after an incredible rendition of One Direction’s One Thing .

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with an epic rendition of One Republic's I Lived , led to glory by our Choir Captains, Freya and Emily. Our smashing moves, blue ribbons, and stunning harmonies left everyone in awe on the big day. We persevered in the sporting realm, demonstrating unity in our support for all Eagles, both great and small. Whether it was running, swimming, or even crawling, we all enthusiastically cheered each other on to secure a solid third place at Interhouse Athletics, fourth place at the Interhouse Swimming Carnival, and seventh in Cross Country—achievements of which we should all be proud. At times though, we traded our fierce competitive spirit for a more compassionate one, fundraising for our House charity, YoungCare. YoungCare’s remarkable work revolutionises the way young people with high-care disabilities live, and it was a privilege to raise over $1500 for them from our infamous Churros stall at Open Day. This year has certainly flown by, and every Eagle should be immensely proud of all we've achieved along the way. We are deeply grateful to have had the opportunity to lead the flock, and to witness it soar high above the rest. We'll miss it, but we know we're leaving it in the capable hands—or wings—of our mother Eagle, Ms Stark, and the rest of the flock. But we are confident that we will always be England Eagles, no matter where the wind may take us. So, see you later, and #shakeyourtailfeather! Vicki Chuang (12E) and Elise Ridoutt (12E) England House Captains

‘Whatever the Weather, Shake your Tail Feather’ ; in 2023, England House took this motto and went above and beyond with it. But let’s start at the beginning. In preparation for this year, 12 England came together to determine our three most defining House values: unity; resilience; and optimism. And we couldn’t have been more accurate, as Eagles enthusiastically volunteered for interhouse events, were optimistic ‘whatever the weather’, and united as a flock to cheer each other on. Box. Eagles participated in the annual doughnut-eating competition, ‘Pin the Beak on the Eagle’, and of course, a blue carpet runway. Our Eaglets (Year 7s) were officially initiated into the England spirit, and the flock was ready to rumble. Friday quickly became our favourite day of the week, as House Assemblies saw the whole House come together for some great times. There really is nothing like wrapping up each week with pancake and pastry breakfasts, Easter egg hunts, Kahoot! , and even Just Dance competitions. Interhouse competitions spotlighted our unity, optimism and resilience. After being awarded the most True Blue badges in Terms 1 and 2 across all nine Houses, it's safe to say England is indeed the Bluest of the Blue. To top it off, we secured the number one spot in the annual Interhouse Choir competition

ENGLAND Starting the year off with a bang, our ‘Best of the Blue’ themed House Party saw girls dressed in a sea of blue icons, from Sonic the Hedgehog to Thomas the Tank Engine, and even a Juice

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stories, our Gibson girls got creative, dressing up as superheroes, fairies, mythical creatures, princesses, pyjamas, and villains. From doughnut-eating to breakdancing, all Gibson students participated in this memorable event. Also, our creative House Service Captains set to work brainstorming a completely new Service stall idea: a joint Year 7 and 12 bake stall! The Year 7s had lots of fun learning the ropes of charity fundraising at BGGS with the guidance of their buddies. Overall, with soaring participation rates at all interhouse events this year, Gibson’s purple pride went through the roof. Gibson girls gave it their all from running to swimming, singing, and relays, and our House spirit, teamwork, and encouragement made participating in

This year has been an exciting journey for Gibson with the core goal of uniting all students in Gibson. The Gibson House motto in 2023 was ‘ Gladiators Unite, Back the Gibson Fight, #gibbyglory’ . Year 12 Gibson came up with this motto to emphasise the strong bond and support that Gibson holds for each student. This year, we have aimed to become connected as a House, with students from all year levels getting to know each other. With this goal in mind, we came up with an idea for a friendly intrahouse

GIBSON competition. In Term 1, we set each House Group the challenge of creating a lip-sync music video to a song of their choice. From brainstorming ideas to starring in the videos, Gibson came together to produce a series of very entertaining videos that were displayed on House Assembly in Term 3.

every event so much fun. Ruby Hindman (12G) and Ginger McKeddie (12G) Gibson House Captains

The Gibson House Party gave each year level the opportunity to let their purple run wild. With a theme of bedtime

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Throughout the year, Thursday became our favourite day as we began the morning with House Assemblies. From pancake breakfasts to Just Dance and singing competitions, we saw our Spiders grow closer as individual House Groups, as well as a House. We continued the tradition of the ‘Griffith Games’ which promoted teamwork, physical activity, and healthy rivalry. Well done to Year 9 for taking home the cup this year. As House Captains, we focused on promoting happiness and ensuring every Griffith Spider felt supported and welcome. This goal came to fruition when we saw Year 8 and Year 11 organising the much-anticipated Lob-A-Choc stall on Open Day with funds raised going to Eat Up, a non-profit charity that we supported this year. It was a privilege to work with Eat Up to host sandwich-making afternoons, which saw thousands of sandwiches made and packed for those in need. We extend our gratitude to our House Group teachers for their steadfast support, unbridled enthusiasm, and a touch of (friendly) competitiveness. This year’s success is truly owed to Mrs Thomas. As we embark upon our new chapter in life and leave Girls Grammar behind, it is our hope that our red sisters continue to foster the pride of the Griffith Spider and make the most of every opportunity to Raise The Red wherever they go. Lillian Blanshard (12R) and Adeti Pradish (12R) Griffith House Captains

This year has been like no other, and it is safe to say the ‘Griffith-hood’ is still unrivalled. The Griffith seniors wanted to build on this and strengthen the web by encouraging girls to embrace their individuality and support each other. With this goal in mind, we developed our motto, ‘Raise the Red ’, and our successes throughout the year showcase how well we have lived up to it. Our motto encapsulates what it means to be part of Griffith House— proudly donning the red, participating with enthusiasm, and supporting our Griffith Spiders every day. repped the red carpet, battling it out for the Miss Griffith crown, while also participating in friendly competitions throughout the afternoon. Griffith’s competitiveness and spirit were put on display at the interhouse events this year, and boy did we do well! We showcased our red support system through face paint, costumes, and our famous red pom-poms. We swam with determination and ran until our legs gave way at the Interhouse Swimming and Cross Country carnivals, where we placed second in each. Term 2 brought Interhouse Choir, where we sang our hearts out and were noted as the ‘loudest’ House with our performance of I Will Survive/Survivo r from Glee . Term 3 was nothing short of extraordinary as we took out first place at the Athletics Carnival! Our hashtag, #RedUp, carried us through every challenge and triumph.

GRIFFITH In Term 1 we kicked off the year with a House Party, with the theme, ‘What you want to be when you grow up’. Girls

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showcasing their unwavering dedication. Their substantial contributions have truly made a significant impact in giving back and bringing about tangible positive change to our House charities. Our six years at BGGS would not have been as special without the wholehearted support of not only the whole Hirschfeld House, but our beloved Year 12 House Group and our incredibly supportive Head of House, Mrs Dabelstein. We will be forever grateful to have been a part of this orange legacy and will cherish all the connections and memories we have fostered for years to come. Trish Chow (12H) and Chloe Burke (12H) Hirschfeld House Captains

This year, we were beyond excited to once again rekindle the Hirschfeld House spirit. We were so eager to cultivate a stronger sense of belonging within the House and create new life-long memories, especially for the younger students who were yet to experience the complete essence of House spirit. We accomplished this through our ‘Orange through the decades’ House Party, our lively performance of I’ve Got the Music in Me at Interhouse Choir, and the re-opening of our iconic Hirschfeld Hot Potato Stall on Open Day.

HIRSCHFELD This year we embraced our chosen Hirschfeld House motto, ‘Strengthen Your Stripes’ , with the purpose to unite and foster stronger connections within the House. We aimed to promote an atmosphere of inclusivity, ensuring each individual felt supported and encouraged by their peers. In conjunction with this,

and to bridge the gaps between year groups, we implemented new and exciting games in our weekly House Assemblies. We were so happy to see how much closer Hirschfeld became and the genuine cheers and laughter that were kindled on Friday mornings. Thanks to each individual’s consistent efforts, whether through volunteering, fundraising, or actively participating in Service endeavours, Hirshfeld managed to raise over $6000 for our House charities, the World Wildlife Fund and The Pyjama Foundation. Everybody’s hard work and support have definitely not gone unnoticed and we are so proud of each individual in Hirschfeld for

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need of childcare assistance. To support such a worthy cause, all earnings from our Fudge Stall on Open Day were donated to Lily House. An overwhelming atmosphere of spirit from every Lilley Legend enhanced our excitement at the Interhouse Cross Country and Athletics Carnival, as well as Interhouse Choir. At the Interhouse Swimming Carnival, Lilley dominated the pool, securing a clean sweep of points won by participation races, individual events, and relays. A huge thank you must go to our House Sports Captains, Emma Readdy (12L) and Charlotte Parker (12L), for their organisation and spirit so that these days ran smoothly. Another huge thank you must go to Mrs Edwards, for making everything possible with her dedication and support for Lilley House. But most importantly, thank you to all the Legends who made 2023 the ‘Greenest of All Time ’! Claudia Kelso (12L) and Emily Clayton (12L) Lilley House Captains

At the start of the year, we hoped that Lilley House was going to amplify all of its already outstanding qualities. With spirit, teamwork, and excitement evident in 2022, the motto for 2023 was immediately born. This year, Lilley House would be the ‘Greenest of All Time’ . We started the year with the annual Lilley House Party, and it was incredible to see so many legends unleash their true green spirit! The afternoon was packed with games, competitions and prizes, including Junior and Senior Miss Lilley winners for those with the best costumes. It was a memorable afternoon for all Lilley girls to unite and celebrate what makes us so special— our passion and spirit. In 2023, Lilley House supported the Lily House Foundation. When selecting a charity, we considered the unfortunate hardships and injustices that many women face today. Lily House works to house and support women who may be fleeing from domestic violence or in

LILLEY

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Activities such as face painting, egg and spoon races, a water game, and doughnut games made it truly a memorable afternoon filled with fun. Since 2019, Mackay has chosen Miracles for Melanoma as our House Charity, in support of one of our past Mackay sisters, Gina Savage (2012). Gina was sadly diagnosed with melanoma at only 20 years old, and in the years following, passionately worked to raise awareness of the importance of sun safety and regular skin checks. Her positivity and resilience touched the lives of us all and sadly, halfway through this year, we lost Gina to this long and tough battle. In her memory, Mackay rallied together and baked our traditional cupcakes for Open Day, with every donation going towards Gina’s cause. Gina will always be a Mackay angel. The brilliant sparkle of our Mackay community is thanks to every individual student and also our House Group teachers. We thank all the Year 12 leaders, be they Sports Captains, Prefects, or Captains of Choir, Service, Media and Spirit; you have all been excellent role models, and you have given your House Captains unwavering support throughout the year. Harriet Morton (12M) and Kaitlyn Le (12M) Mackay House Captains

One of the best things about the House system at Girls Grammar is that it brings together a diverse group of students under a shared love for their House. This is something about Mackay that we’ve always cherished, as despite our different interests and attributes, Mackay is always able to unite and come together to support one another. This was showcased during the Interhouse Choir competition when

MACKAY Mackay sang our hearts out to Take on the World . Then, Mackay showcased our spirit and determination at Interhouse Cross Country which helped us secure a joint win with Woolcock House. For our 2023 motto, the quote, ‘The strength of the pack is the wolf, and the strength of the wolf is the pack’, stuck out to us as we liked the idea of envisioning Mackay as a ‘wolf pack’. Wolves are often a symbol of loyal support, companionship,

and teamwork—all elements we see in Mackay. So together, we decided on ‘Unite the pack #BacktheMack’ . Our House Party created the opportunity to form connections and friendships within and across the year levels to strengthen our bond as a House. Under the theme of ‘Winter Wonderland’, our House Party was a sea of white, filled with snowflakes and snowmen costumes.

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This year at our Thursday House Assemblies, we introduced a new activity, the ‘O’Connorlympics’, in which House Groups competed to win the inaugural mini-series. Congratulations to our youngest Octopi, the Year 7s, for taking home the inaugural ‘O’Connorlympics’ prize. This year O’Connor supported the Cherish Women’s Cancer Foundation, a Brisbane based not-for-profit organisation that aims to research treatments for women with gynaecological cancer. For White Blouse Day, the Octopi successfully baked and sold blondies, and organised for the whole School to write meaningful ideas about health inside the outlines of women drawn with chalk around the campus. For Open Day, our Year 11 O’Connor students got busy baking our ‘O’Conic Brownies’. As we leave Girls Grammar behind, we hope our Octopi sisters continue to channel their inner O’Connor spirit and ‘MAR-OWN IT’ with

It has been an incredible year for the ‘Mighty Maroons’. The 2023 O’Connor seniors wanted to build strength within the House and embrace challenges with Mighty Maroon spirit, knowing they have the full support of the House each step of the way. With this goal in mind, we developed our motto, ‘MAR-OWN IT’ , and our successes this year prove how well each and every one of the Octopi lived out this motto.

O'CONNOR Our annual House Party was truly a ‘sea of maroon’, and we were amazed at the massive energy and enthusiasm from all. We had a blast cheering everyone on who dressed up for the O’Connor catwalk; with outfits ranging from tentacle umbrellas to our very own walking O’Connor Brownie, the creativity was through the roof! Pinata busting, a surprise brownie wall, and a maroon sea on the dance floor made the afternoon one to remember. At Interhouse Swimming, Cross Country, and Athletics, the O’Connor stands were filled with loud cheers for all our talented fellow Octopi who ignited the pool, track, and field. We carried

every opportunity they get. Isabelle Bamber (12O) and Grace Paschkewitz (12O) O’Connor House Captains

this energy through to Interhouse Choir, performing The Vamps’ Somebody to You , earning an impressive third place.

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Interhouse Cross Country on the final day of Term 2, where, thanks to each golden stride, the Woolcock-atoos finished in first place. Finally, the year ended in a shower of golden medals at the Athletics Carnival, where the House jumped, hurdled, ran, and tossed their way to many victories. The year also saw the Year 11s selling cheese toasties at our Open Day stall, which raised over $1500 for our 2023 House Charity, Ocean Conservancy, which creates evidence-based solutions to combat global challenges and reduce the amount of pollution in the ocean. 2023 was a special one, and Woolcock really brought back the golden shine that makes our House so special. Go for gold! Erin Appleyard (12W) and Lucy Williamson (12W) Woolcock House Captains

At the beginning of 2023, Woolcock House’s motto was chosen for the year as ‘Go for Gold’ . With gold thought to be the best form of yellow, this motto set the goal to be the best form of ourselves. Be it through winning gold, trying our absolute hardest for the good of the House, or simply having a go, our motto embodied the year’s goal perfectly. And so did Woolcock! The year began with a bang, starting the annual House rivalry with the Interhouse

WOOLCOCK Swimming Carnival. While Woolcock performed amazingly, lighting up the pool, the most positive note was seen in the participation races. Swarms of yellow caps were seen giving it a go, with full House Groups of ‘Woolcock atoos’ swimming together to get one point each for the House.

Later in the Semester, we warmed up our golden voices during Woolcock’s rendition of Adele’s Rolling in the Deep at the Interhouse Choir competition. However, we truly struck gold at

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SENIO

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IORS

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BEANLAND

Jessica Atme

Lily Cavallin

Kiara Chang

Harriet Dann

Isobel Ainscough

Claudia Dargie

Sophie Lillyman

Claire Ellem

Coco Garton

Caitlin Huf

Amreen Kahlon

Ruby Kerrigan

Hannah Milner

Piper Nelson

Fionnuala Lingard

Annie Liu

Meg McAllister

Erin McNab

Serena Pang

Elizabeth Shoebridge

Zara Pearson

Eloise Rawlinson

Aryana Samarakkody

Emmerson Parsons-Pope

Scarlett Walters

Chalani Welgama

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ENGLAND

Yi-Shiuan Chuang

Jaime Coleman

Leah Diamond

Jessica Dinh

Avalon Blundell

Naomi Dooley

Phoebe McCluskey

Eden Douglas

Hema Gobindnarain

Claudia Heath

Emma Jarrett

Isabel Lutton

Elise Ridoutt

Violet Miall

Carmen O'Connell

Georgia Petersen

Luella Prenzler

Katie Reid

Janet Su

Emily Ryan

Grace Scammells

Madeleine Shaw

Freya Smith

Alyse Stewart

Lillie Turkovic

Ella Valery

Jessica Wacker

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GIBSON

Marina Abu Shamaleh

Pippa Dixon

Ashleigh Docherty

Elle Evans

Georgia Feros

Isabel Goodwin

Ruby Hindman

Eliza Hinton

Eliza Horsley

Angeline Hsu

Ayesha Khagram

Siena Knobloch

Hannah Marks

Sophie Marschner

Ginger McKeddie

Amelie Mitchell

Anika Nair

Tiena Packard

Josephine Richards

Charlotte Russell

Irene Shim

Lily Smith

Cynthia Su

Anna Vujovic

Mathilde Wernham

Alice Zhu

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GRIFFITH

Sujin Ahn

Lillian Blanshard

Meenakshi Boban

Mathilda Chapman Genevieve Clatworthy

Ella Coltzau

Ryleigh Dangerfield

Naomi Gay

Pia Hedges

Tabatha Henley

Jacqueline Hii

Isabelle Jakupovic

Grace Kimmins

Charlotte King

Zaya Lee

Nora Li

Airlie Liu

Katelyn Logan

Evelyn Ma

Anna McAuley

Victoria Morrison

Zoe Paton

Adeti Pradish

Ruby Prance

Mia Sutton

Brooke Tolhurst

Chloe Wang

Eleanor Wild

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HIRSCHFELD

Thenuri Basnayake

Trish Chow

Cara Battaglia

Rose Baumgart

Chloe Burke

Sophia Caposecco

Grace Freeman

Giselle Hamra

Ruby Haug

Vinuki Herath

Araliya Dahanayake

Minna Hogarth Howes

Yasi (Selina) Li

Tung-Hi Ma

Allegra Matthews

Esther McDade

Isabella Labagnara

Olivia Mitchell

Charlotte Sultana

Sophie Morrison

Genevieve Playford

Jemima Saddler

Sienna Skinner

May Wu

Sarah Young

Lauren Zillmann

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LILLEY

Amishi Ahlawat

Chloe Chambers

Taylor Antel

Sarah Beckingsale

Madison Beltrame

Miranda Carter

Malee Ellis

Josephine Davis

Ellen Dwyer

Emily Clayton

Diya Chandy

Eliza French

Claudia Kelso

Patricia Howard

Ariel Hundloe

Ruby Harvey

Yuchen (Amy) Guo

Annabel McCarthy

Kate Redmond

Marley Seipel-Hong

Emma Readdy

Charlotte Parker

Isabel Skarott

Evangelina Stutz

Vivian Tran

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MACKAY

Janudi Abeysinghe

Sienna Anderson

Vaishnavi Arvapalli

Chloe Brady

Emily Grace Brentnall

Ameera Bukhsh

Sophie Coleman

Sophia Eliadis

Josephine Fenech

Harper Hammer

Zoe Harding-Smith

Madeline Hignett

Sherry Jiang

Kaitlyn Le

Renee Liang

Harriet Morton

Emma Murphy

Tayla Nell

Bianca Nicol

Shreeya Patel

Amelia Schulz

Lily Seymour

Veeral Shekhawatia

Rose Sinnamon-Fisher

Gabriella Stephens

Paige Vidler

Cara Vu

Caroline Vujovic

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O'CONNOR

Isabelle Bamber

Emma Forbes

Georgia Buddee

Louise Campbell

Cara Dang

Piper Dean

Vivian Lee

Calliope Hyde

Kate Ireland

Lilly Horsburgh

Elizabeth Fox

Natasha Miric

Aria Retimana

Pollyanna Pearson

Hana Phua

Grace Paschkewitz

Gabrielle North

Milena Saina

Jenete Thottunkal

Jacqueline Trappett

Luna Telecican

Susie Shen

Lucy Vaughan

Sophie Wells

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WOOLCOCK

Erin Appleyard

Siddhi Bhandarker

Melissa Bucknill

Anne Butler

Sarah Catchpole

Ayisha del Rosario

Elise Gianduzzo

Georgina Gothard

Lauren Hirst

Chiamaka Ekeocha

Matilda Fennon

Catherine Jeong

Mia Ludlow

Zaine Mackellar

Chloe Martin

Melody Khoo

Sophia Kondos

Maegan Morris

Lillian Sperling

Emma Spork

Eve Thomas

Grace Thompson

Lucinda Richardson

Tayla Wakefield

Dunya Yelesich

Rainbow Yu

Lucy Williamson

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STUDENT COUNCIL

Avalon Blundell

Lillian Blanshard

Siddhi Bhandarker

Isobel Ainscough

Erin Appleyard

Isabelle Bamber

Chloe Burke

Ella Coltzau

Emily Clayton

Louise Campbell

Trish Chow

Yi-Shiuan (Vicki) Chuang

Naomi Dooley

Ruby Hindman

Claudia Kelso

Kaitlyn Le

Anna McAuley

Tung-Hi Ma

Erin McNab

Sophie Morrison

Harriet Morton

Grace Paschkewitz

Ginger McKeddie

Adeti Pradish

Lucy Williamson

Elise Ridoutt

CAPTAINS OF SPORT

Siddhi Bhandarker

Ella Coltzau

Marina Abu Shamaleh

Sienna Anderson

Sarah Catchpole

Mathilda Chapman

Claudia Dargie

Eden Douglas

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CAPTAINS OF SPORT (CONTINUED)

Coco Garton

Georgina Gothard

Ellen (Ellie) Dwyer

Chiamaka (Amaka) Ekeocha

Claire Ellem

Matilda Fennon

Yuchen (Amy) Guo

Harper Hammer

Lilly Horsburgh

Ruby Harvey

Vinuki Herath

Jacqueline Hii

Amreen Kahlon

Zaine Mackellar

Chloe Martin

Phoebe McCluskey

Violet Miall

Olivia A Mitchell

Katie Reid

Emily Ryan

Tiena Packard

Eloise Rawlinson

Grace Scammells

Isabel Skarott

Brooke Tolhurst

Lucy Vaughan

Mathilde Wernham

Lauren Zillmann

CAPTAINS OF CULTURAL ACTIVITIES

Claudia Heath

Sophia Kondos

Melissa Bucknill

Kiara Chang

Naomi Dooley

Madison Beltrame

Lily Smith

Jacqueline Trappett

Yasi (Selina) Li

Sophie Morrison

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SERVICE AND CHARITY GROUP STUDENT LEADERS

SERVICE CAPTAINS

Avalon Blundell

Tung-Hi Ma

Iha Agrawal

Darcy Basford

Cara Battaglia

LEADERS OF CLUBS AND ACTIVITIES

Ameera Bukhsh

Isabella Byrne

Alyssa Godinho

Elise Gianduzzo

Ayisha del Rosario

Lauren Hirst

Ellie Kendall

Evie Kolff van Oosterwijk

Yolanda Huang

Zoe Harding-Smith

Freya Lennon

Sophie Lillyman

Molly Miller

Yasi (Selina) Li

Remy Kalinin

Hana Phua

Vani Ranjan

Katie Reid

Emma Readdy

Natasha Miric

Yasmin Salih

Elizabeth Shoebridge

Emily Wells

Charmaine Wong

Charlotte Wilson

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COMM UNITY

FOUNDATION DAY • BLUE DAYS • YEAR 7 PREFECTS • YEAR 8 PREFECTS • YEAR 9 PREFECTS • BI-GRAMMAR • GALENTINE'S DAY • ARTS FEST • PINK STUMPS DAY • INTERHOUSE CHOIR COMPETITION • INTERHOUSE CROSS COUNTRY • INTERHOUSE SWIMMING CARNIVAL • FATHER AND DAUGHTER DINNER • MOTHER AND DAUGHTER DINNER • YEAR 12 50 DAYS CELEBRATION • YEAR 7 50 DAYS CELEBRATION • 50 YEARS OF WATER POLO • RECONCILIATION ACTION PLAN • OPEN DAY • YEAR 11 CHARITY SOCIAL • YEAR 12 FORMAL

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FOUNDATION DAY

Monday 15 March marked BGGS' 148th Foundation Day—a day that celebrates the excellent education received by generations of Grammar Women, and the invaluable impact such an education has had on facilitating local, national, and global change.

This year’s Foundation Day Address was delivered by Queensland’s 2023 Rhodes Scholar and BGGS alumna, Ms Josephine Auer (2015). An avid advocate of the School motto, Nil Sine Labore , and dedicated student, Ms Auer shared an insightful reflection on her own Girls Grammar experience, emphasising gratitude for her exceptional past teachers, and the plethora of opportunities that have arisen since graduation.

As she enlightened us with her academic aspirations, Ms Auer highlighted the importance of ‘(using) one’s talents to the full’. Qualities of determination, passion, and hard work were referenced as an integral part of the ‘Grammar magic’. Through equating the Rhodes Scholarship selection criteria to the very principles of a Girls Grammar education—academic excellence, co-curricular accomplishments, leadership, and commitment to service, Ms Auer enthused us all with a sense of drive and optimism for our own future endeavours. We were all reminded that through the changing cohorts, the ‘Grammar magic’ and values have always stayed true. It is truly inspiring that trailblazers for women’s education—not only Ms Auer, but other Girls Grammar Rhodes recipients, Elizabeth Woods (1977), Elsina Wainwright (1994), Caitlin Goss (2009)—have walked the very paths we traverse daily. Natasha Miric (12O) and Tung-Hi Ma (12H)

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BLUE DAYS Blue Day is a long-standing tradition celebrating everything Girls Grammar! It encompasses everything from prepping our QGSSSA Cross Country, Athletics, Swimming and Gymnastic girls, to coming together and uniting the sisterhood in a themed and spirit-filled day. From themes like ‘Blue Blaze’ and ‘Barnyard Bash’ to ‘Under the Sea’ and ‘Blast from the Past’, our School has supported the importance of spirit and unity in myriad ways! Off the back of COVID-19 and online learning, BGGS was challenged with remote connection. However, in 2023, the sisterhood was reignited and is bluer than ever. Face paint, iconic and limited-edition badges, games, and food throughout lunch breaks all worked to raise money for the 2023 School Charity, Hummingbird House. With three Blue Days each year, this proud BGGS tradition is something we won’t ever forget. Erin Appleyard (12W) and Claudia Kelso (12L)

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YEAR 7 PREFECTS Prefects can create powerful and enduring bonds with the incoming Year 7 girls as they start their journey at BGGS. As Prefects, we visit the Year 7 House Groups weekly, organising activities, question sessions, or helping them with schoolwork, organisational skills, or upcoming events, such as their Open Day stall. We understand starting at a new school can be very daunting, so as prefects, we prioritise helping them settle into life at BGGS. We are familiar faces they can say ‘hello’ to around School, and people they feel comfortable coming to with any problems or questions. Getting to know and connecting with the Year 7 students personally has been an absolute highlight. This year we also had the opportunity to assist in the organisation of the Year 7 50 Days celebration. This was a day filled with laughter, food, and fun as the Year 7 girls and their buddies shared a picnic on the Pool Lawn to celebrate their first 50 days at BGGS. Additionally, the Year 7 Prefects were also involved in the ‘Play at Lunch’ initiative. It is quite a change from primary school—where the students often had ovals and handball courts during lunch breaks—to coming to BGGS. As prefects, we ran activities, such as beachball and Just Dance , every Wednesday lunch to encourage the students to be active and have fun with their peers across all Houses. Madeleine Shaw (12E) and Hema Gobindnarain (12E) YEAR 8 PREFECTS Throughout the year, we have enjoyed undertaking the role of Year 8 Prefects for Woolcock. Prefects play a crucial role in fostering a sense of unity and pride among students, while also contributing to the overall wellbeing and success of the School. As Year 8 Prefects, we aim to create meaningful relationships with the Year 8s and foster a supportive and inclusive environment. Our goal this year was to strengthen the unity and leadership skills within the House Group. Through a series of planned activities and collaborative initiatives on Thursday mornings in House Group, such as Kahoots! and Blooket , we aimed to create an environment where every member felt valued and respected. Organising interhouse dodgeball games with other Year 8 House Groups fostered new friendships and House spirit. It is a privilege to have had the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on the School community and develop valuable leadership skills while passing on advice during our time at Girls Grammar. Ayisha del Rosario (12W) and Lauren Hirst (12W) YEAR 9 PREFECTS We cherished every moment of serving as Year 9 Prefects throughout 2023, as it provided us with a truly rewarding and unforgettable experience. Our primary goal was to make a positive impact on the younger students, fostering a supportive environment for everyone. The journey as prefects was filled with growth, learning, and teamwork, and we are grateful for the trust and responsibility bestowed upon us, allowing us to cultivate and refine our leadership skills, and most importantly, enjoy our time with our Girls Grammar sisters. We look back on this chapter with pride and look forward to continuing our journeys as leaders with our Year 9 House Group for the rest of the year. We have done activities such as dodgeball, Kahoot! , and Just Dance while having lessons in between to chat and hang out. We aimed to foster a closer bond among the House Group and create a calm learning environment to help girls unwind and prepare for the day. It's been wonderful to see everyone making genuine connections as well as sharing the knowledge we've gained throughout our secondary school experience. Georgia Buddee (12O) and Susie Shen (12O)

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BI-GRAMMAR The Bi-Grammar rivalry was in full swing this year, with Year 12 students from Brisbane Grammar School and Brisbane Girls Grammar School battling it out for the coveted spoils of interschool competition—bragging rights. Organised by student committees from both schools, Bi-Grammar this year comprised three rounds with four keystone events: touch football; battle of the bands; trivia; and netball. With school war cries and sausage sizzles accompanying the fierce and dedicated competition, Bi-Grammar provides Year 12 students the opportunity to connect with each other and form friendships that cross the border of Kalinga Avenue. Whilst each event aimed to celebrate the excellence of our greatest athletes, musicians, and minds, Bi-Grammar places participation and enthusiasm above all else, allowing Year 12 students to enjoy their last year of School by displaying their School spirit through healthy competition. Eliza Horsley (12G), Emma Readdy (12L) and Madeleine Shaw (12E) Bi-Grammar Committee

GALENTINE'S DAY

Galentine's Day is a wonderful, inclusive day for every Grammar Girl to celebrate; a day of spreading love, showing love, and celebrating sisterhood. This year we sang our hearts out and danced ‘till we dropped at the spectacular dance party on the Teal Floor—all decked out in spectacular pink and red ensembles, of course. Years 11 and 12 decorated their tables, merging celebration with eco-friendliness in their battle to be awarded ‘Best Decorated' and 'Most Sustainable'.

Galentine's Day is also about our bonds beyond our immediate friendship group, with Year 12s spending time with their Year 7 buddies, and all of us telling our teachers just how much we appreciate them. But our love and generosity weren't only shared within the BGGS sisterhood. Thanks to Second Chance's delicious bake stall and the House Service Captains’ spider stall, we were able to share the love beyond the white picket fence with those in need. This year, the love at Galentine's Day was off the c-hearts! Vicki Chuang (12E)

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ARTS FEST

In Week 4 of Term 2, the School community united to celebrate Arts Fest. The theme for 2023 was ‘Life in Blue’. Without the natural beauty of our world, art would not exist. During Arts Fest, we strove to spotlight the inspiration we draw from the world around us and highlight how our coexistence with nature creates beauty. This message seemed pertinent as BGGS strives to improve its sustainability—and what better way to share this message than through the arts? Musical performances, the famous annual student-teacher debate, art displays, and the Senior Drama Production were all packed into a five-day comprehensive showcase of the incredible work of all BGGS Arts students which highlighted their dedication to their craft. Sharing our passions and creations with the wider School community is a goal of BGGS Creative Arts, and being able to achieve this in such a widespread and collaborative event enriches the School's students and staff alike. We are so proud of everyone who contributed and grateful for the support of our amazing Arts Council and the Arts Staff for their unwavering support of this incredible event. We will never forget the impactful week, when so many people came together

to celebrate the arts in such a beautiful way! Naomi Dooley (12E) and Sophie Morrison (12H)

PINK STUMPS DAY

Each year, BGGS’ cricketers and community celebrate Pink Stumps Day in support of the McGrath Foundation. The McGrath Foundation is a breast cancer support and education charity in Australia that raises money to place breast care nurses in communities across Australia and increase breast health awareness. This year, Pink Stumps Day was held at Rangakarra, with a pink themed afternoon tea generously supplied by the cricketers and their parents. In addition, limited-edition Pink Stumps Day badges and ribbons were sold at School, raising $1006.55 for the McGrath Foundation.

With large supporter numbers—all decked out in pink—the cricketers took on St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School, with all teams winning their respective games. Thank you must go to Cricket Coordinator, Ms Levett, for organising the biggest event on the cricketing calendar and enabling it to run so smoothly.

Siddhi Bhandarker (12W) Sports and Cricket Captain

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INTERHOUSE CHOIR COMPETITION

In May, the whole School community participated in the annual R.T. Jeffries Interhouse Choral Competition. Interhouse Choir provides a special opportunity for every Grammar girl to sing and celebrate the arts. The competition showcases an impressive display of harmonies, choreography, and of course, House Spirit, confidently led by the Year 12 Interhouse Choir Captains. This year, the competition was won by England House with their rendition of I Lived by One Republic. All Houses should be commended for their excellent performances. This year, it is fair to say that we definitely ‘Fired up the Arts’.

Emily Ryan (12E) and Freya Smith (12E) England Interhouse Choir Captains

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