2017 School Magazine

FOOTBALL The 2017 Football season has been an outstanding success with all teams achieving great results in their games. Some of the highlights of the season include the expansion of the programme with a total of eighty-six girls signing up for Football this year. We are very happy to see this gain in popularity and we hope that BGGS Football continues to grow over the upcoming years.

FENCING

For five weeks in Term II, fifteen teams of three or four girls competed in the 2017 Brisbane School Fencing fixtures. Being a unique sport, it can be challenging to understand the rules and skills needed for fencing. However, that doesn’t stop the enthusiasm of both girls and parents as they develop their knowledge of fencing. As a fairly small sport, everyone has developed strong connections with each other, right from Year 7 through to Year 12. The support from other Girls Grammar fencers makes a huge difference for fencers on the piste. Throughout the fixtures, the girls developed friendships because of the support given to each other, whether that be helping each other onto the piste or shouting words of encouragement from the side. Fencing also provides the opportunity for developing social skills and inter-school relationships with schools such as Brisbane Grammar School, All Hallows’ and Brisbane State High School. After fencing for four years, we have made so many friends from other schools and even from other states.

One of the most rewarding experiences was helping the Year 7 fencers to learn about this new sport. It was truly enjoyable to watch as they grew from timid girls to confident fencers. We are sure fencing has played an important role in their first experience of Brisbane Girls Grammar School and hope that they continue the sport. The Girls Grammar spirit was seen throughout the competition. One memorable moment was early in the fixtures when we spontaneously did the school war cry in response to an intense bout. The excitement and adrenaline was amazing. Every single girl played a huge role in contributing to their team and the school. Although we were excited for the last round of fixtures, we are both saddened by the thought that this was the last time we would be representing Brisbane Girls Grammar School in the Brisbane School fixtures. Fencing has been such an integral of both of our lives for four years and we wouldn’t have the same Girls Grammar experience without it. We hope that all fencers have thoroughly enjoyed the season as much as we have, no matter the results. We are proud to be the captains of the 2017 fencers who truly embody the Girls Grammar sisterhood. All Blue, All In. KIMBERLEY LIN (12E) AND NATALIE KONG (12W) CAPTAINS

A very exciting development this year has also been our new partnership with the Brisbane Roar Women’s Football Club as they share the fields at Girls Grammar’s Rangakarra Recreational and Environmental Education Centre for training sessions. This unique opportunity has given the girls a chance to watch professional soccer players train and learn new skills. Throughout this season, we have also been incredibly proud to see how bonded each team has become, forming a positive environment that embraces women in sport. This unification has meant that each footballer truly embodies the school sporting motto, All Blue, All In. Overall, the entire 2017 Brisbane Girls Grammar School Football cohort has shown an amazing improvement in their skills and teamwork compared to the beginning of the year and we are incredibly proud of all they have achieved. MEG CHARLTON (12R) AND ANNABEL CHARLTON (12R) CAPTAINS

BRISBANE GIRLS GRAMMAR SCHOOL 2017 | SPORT | 137