2024 School Magazine

Lord Mayor’s Youth Environmental Leadership Network The Lord Mayor's Youth Environmental Leadership Network (LMYELN) is a part of the Green Heart Schools program, which is run by the Brisbane City Council to encourage schools to be cleaner and greener. Five workshops are hosted by Green Heart Schools each year, where representatives gather and brainstorm a sustainability project to work on during the year. This year, after considering the significant amount of textile waste which ends up in landfill, we created a second-hand uniform drive, where students bring in a piece of old uniform in exchange for another. Our coordinator, Mrs Sacha Cross, helped organise and give advice on how to run the drive. Our aim is to reduce textile waste, starting with school uniforms. At the last workshop, Green Heart Schools hosted a graduation showcase in City Hall to allow students to display their sustainability projects and achievements. We highly recommend taking part in this incredible program, as it has given us opportunities to hone our leadership and

communication skills and make a positive impact on the planet. Elizabeth Burke (10O), Angel Li (10G) and Holly Pryor (10O) LMYELN Representatives

Lord Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council

Push-Up Challenge This year BGGS participated in The Push-Up Challenge for the second time, and it was great to see so many girls take part. The Challenge took place from 5 June to 28 June and aimed to improve our physical and mental fitness while raising funds to make a difference to mental health in Australia. With the help of our coordinator, Dr Juliette Stone, we were able to nearly double the number of participants from last year, while raising awareness about mental health through conversations, connections, and education. This year we had 626 staff and students participate in the Challenge across 56 teams, raising an astounding $8464.50. Each participant had the option of completing the half challenge (1625 push-ups) or the full challenge (3249 push-ups), and alternative exercises such as squats and lunges could also be completed each day. At the completion of the Challenge, BGGS had completed more than 425 000 push-ups with 8 Lilley taking out the most push-ups and 8 Mackay raising the most money. Congratulations to all staff and students who participated in The Push-Up Challenge, we are looking forward to completing the Challenge next year. Through the Council, I am currently working with other LMYAC members and councillors to create a program that provides support to high school aged immigrants and international students that have recently moved to Brisbane. I consider myself so lucky and grateful to have been given this invaluable opportunity that has provided me with lifelong connections, friendships and lessons. It feels great to know that LMYAC has helped make a difference in the community, and that I proudly represented Girls Grammar whilst doing so. I want to thank the Year 10 coordinators, Ms Alysia Stark and Mrs Hazel Boltman, for their unwavering support and for granting me this incredible opportunity. Milla Blanco (10G) LMYAC Representative This year, I was honoured to be selected as the BGGS representative for The Lord Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council (LMYAC). Year 10 LMYAC delegates from schools across Brisbane meet once a term at City Hall. The meetings typically consist of liaising with local councillors, giving feedback to MPs for legislation regarding Brisbane youth, hearing from local charities, and talking with The Right Honourable, the Lord Mayor of Brisbane, Councillor Adrian Schrinner. LMYAC has opened doors to countless opportunities for me, such as helping plan a youth speaking event for the 2032 Olympics and receiving an invitation to the 123rd Australian Flag Ceremony later in the year.

Olivia Knauer (11M) and Sophie Hunt (11O) The Push-Up Challenge Ambassadors 2024

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