Grammar Gazette- Issue 1, 2008

ALUMNI

REUNIONS AND EVENTS

Old Girls Association

5 Year Reunion — Class of 2003 Cocktail party hosted by Brisbane Girls Grammar School Date: Thursday 1 May 2008 Venue: Brisbane Girls Grammar School

Indigenous Art Presentation

Time: 6.00 pm – 8.00 pm Contact: Ms Carle Rutledge Email: reunions@bggs.qld.edu.au

Recollections of the 1942 Sixth Form Dance Owing to clothes rationing, our mothers saved coupons to buy us our first long evening frock, or to buy material to make one. The latter is what my mother did, and I finished up with an apricot taffeta long frock with a pale apricot net cover, a ‘sweetheart’ neckline and puffed sleeves. ‘What are you going to wear?’ was the main conversation topic at lunch breaks. Finally the Saturday night arrived. The dress looked great, I had a little artificial flower as a corsage on my shoulder, and Dad had made a dance card with a tiny pencil for me. This was the correct thing to do—then potential partners could book a particular dance ahead if you wished by writing their name against it. We had been given the Dance Programme previously at School. My brother’s friend, Ted, arranged to meet me outside the School and Dad used some of our precious petrol to drive me there. It was no pleasure driving at night with those special hoods on the headlights. We were on time and, sure enough, there was Ted waiting for me. So with a ‘Thanks Dad, I’ll see you at ten’, I turned, took Ted’s arm, and went through the front gate and up the main steps to the Assembly Hall. Miss Lilley, the Head Mistress, Miss McMillan, the Deputy Head, and about three other mistresses entered and walked up the dais steps to take their seats. Miss Lilley nodded to the musicians who commenced to play. We had been told that we must introduce our partner to Miss Lilley and then could dance, so of course we lined up at the foot of the dais. Suppertime came with a good spread in the Boarder’s Dining Room, then more dancing followed. The final waltz ‘Now is the hour’ played and we knew the Sixth Form Dance was over. It had been a wonderful night of gaiety, colour and music. I was wearing my first long frock and I was walking on air. This is how life should be. Mrs Cecily Fearnley

10 Year Reunion — Class of 1998 Date: Saturday 16 August 2008 Venue: Brisbane Girls Grammar School Time: 2.30 pm Contact: Ms Emma Prior Email: Emma.Prior@riotinto.com or reunions@bggs.qld.edu.au 20 Year Reunion — Class of 1988 Date: Saturday 19 July 2008 Venue 1: Brisbane Girls Grammar School Time: 2.30 pm Venue 2: Merthyr Bowls Club Contact: Mrs Alice Clarke (Thomsett) Telephone: +61 7 3114 2880 Email: bggs1988reunion@yahoo.com.au 30 Year Reunion — Class of 1978 Date: Saturday 18 October 2008 Venue 1: Brisbane Girls Grammar School 40 Year Reunion — Class of 1968 Date: Saturday 9 August 2008 Venue 1: Brisbane Girls Grammar School Time: 2.30 pm Venue 2: Victoria Park Golf Club Time: 5.30 pm Contact: Mrs Jane Marriott (Sellars) Telephone: +61 7 3341 7974 Contact: Mrs Lesley Kernaghan (Mugglestone) Telephone: +61 7 419 698 763 Email: bggs40@live.com.au If you are planning a reunion and would like some assistance please contact the Communications and Community Relations Department on + 61 7 3332 1300 or email reunions@bggs.qld.edu.au Old Girls General Reunion Afternoon Tea Date: Saturday 13 September 2008 Venue: Barbara Fielding Room, Brisbane Girls Grammar School Time: 2.30 pm Venue 2: TBA Contact: Mrs Sally Harper (Jenkins) Email: sjenkins@qldbar.asn.au or reunions@bggs.qld.edu.au

Pam Purvis, Amanda Bell, Robin Purvis

In February, more than sixty guests enjoyed an indigenous art presentation by Old Girl, Robin Purvis. Robin shared her knowledge and passion for the cultural and interpretative aspects of art works of the people of the desert of Central Australia. In a generous gesture, Pam Purvis and her daughter Alannah Irvine, both Old Girls of the School, donated an early 1990s work by Peggy Purvis Mpetyane. This painting features the wild conkleberry tree.

Cecily Fearnley (nee Sandercock, 1942)

After leaving Brisbane Girls Grammar School in 1942, Cecily enrolled in art school and later worked as a tracer and cartographer for the Allied Forces and Brisbane City Council. She was the first museum artist employed by Queensland Museum. Cecily’s two daughters also attended Girls Grammar. As a keen conservationist Celicy has published articles and drawings in several newspapers and nature books and received numerous awards including the Queensland Natural History Award in 2001 and the 2004 Noosa Shire Council’s Australia Day Award for Service to the Community.

Old Girls Association Wollemi Pine Planting Date: Saturday 18 October 2008

grammar gazette autumn 2008 19 Venue: Marrapatta Memorial Outdoor Education Centre Contact: Mrs Christine Purvis, President of the Old Girls Association Telephone: +61 7 3254 1600 Email: christine.purvis@bigpond.com