2017 School Magazine

CROSS COUNTRY

Cross Country this year was about consolidating an appreciation throughout the school for the challenging individual sport that possesses an inspiring team atmosphere. Although an individual sport, Cross Country is a team effort and the girls who participate all have something in common, aiming towards uniting as a Girls Grammar team in 2017. With consideration to the overall Girls Grammar motto, ‘Out of the Blue,’ and sporting theme, ‘All Blue, All In,’ a Star Wars theme was adopted for the 2017 Cross Country season, ‘May the course be with you.’ It was ensured that the Cross Country girls and the entire school knew the ‘Out of The Blue,’ Star Wars adaptation, which could not be fully achieved unless the entire Grammar community showed their support, truly allowing the Cross Country runners to be ‘All Blue, All in.’ In Star Wars, the force is an energy field that connects all living things in the galaxy. This year at Girls Grammar the force was found on the Cross Country course where the shooting stars of our galaxy ran in royal blue. This connective energy of the Cross Country girls was then embraced by the entire school when numerous supporters attended QGSSSA Cross Country.

Girls Grammar Cross Country is well-known for its achievement of placing first overall for twenty consecutive years. This season embodied high hopes and hard work, which ultimately overruled the tough competition from all the other QGSSSA schools. Although we didn’t achieve first place, Girls Grammar placed second overall, with our spirit shining through more than ever. This confirmed to us that the Cross Country runners will continue to strive towards Grammar’s amazing Cross Country legacy in the years to come. We have both participated in Cross Country since Year 8 and loved every minute of it. This made it even more special for us to be awarded the opportunity to lead a fantastic group of girls who were willing to put in the hard work and embrace the unity of the sport. Unfortunately, the season has come to an end and we are so proud of all the girls who have participated. Every challenge this season was faced head on together, as a force and we came out the other side feeling rewarded and more united than before. As captains, we have been inspired by all the commitment and energy of the girls towards the sport we both love so much. The success of Brisbane Girls Grammar School Cross Country this year must be attributed to our cherished Cross Country Co-ordinator, Mrs Joanne Nisbett. Her consistent care and involvement this season has benefitted and been admired by all of the girls. A single injury, sickness or organisational concern and it would have been taken care of and resolved before it had even arisen as an issue. Her guidance and enthusiasm, but most importantly her genuine belief in our ability to succeed was more than what we and the Cross Country girls could ever have asked for. Best of luck to the Cross Country girls for next year. We hope that our theme of the course stays with them throughout their future years. This year was a special season for Girls Grammar Cross Country and we know the girls’ spirit and determination can definitely be built upon. All we can ask of the girls now is that they embrace the force, be inspired by it and come back in 2018 with their lightsabers flaring and capes ready to take flight. May the course be with you now and forever. EUGENIE MACMILLAN (12G) AND PHILIPPA TAYLOR (12O) CAPTAINS

136 | SPORT | BRISBANE GIRLS GRAMMAR SCHOOL 2017