December 1954 School Magazine

December, 1954

December, 1954

J!risbane Girls' Grammar School Magazine

Brisbane Girls' Grammar School Magazine

THE BLUE LAGOON COUNTRY The Australian countryside is widely renowned for its. fascinating beauty, yet there are null]erous places whose charm remains unknown to many of the Australians them- selves . One of these places is the Blue Lagoon country of North Stradbroke Island . Here one may find nature almost unmarred by man and modern civilisation , despite the fact that it is only a few hours. journey from the city of Brisbane. The Blue Lagoon lies in a quiet valley in the hills and its clear blue water is always fresh and cool. It is the largest of a myriad of lagoons which teem with wild bird life . Strongly contrasted to this are the almost impenetrable swamps and marshes which surround the foothills , guarding them and their beauty from man and destruction . Many forms of bird life make these regions their sanc- tuary, undisturbed in the quiet beauty of the hills . The laughing of the kookaburras rings through the hills, mingled with the happy call of magpies, rosella p_arrots and many other wild birds. Every evening flights of wild ducks, swans and ibises make the lagoons their night camp. In the foothills bullocks and wild horses roam in their natural state while the drier parts of the island are inhabited by numerous kangaroos, wallabies and bandicoots . For many years settlers from the south coast built stockyards on the island and captured the bullocks and horses for sale on the mainland. This practice was very dangerous as the swamps are infested by numerous snakes, especially the dreaded death adder , and all was changed one night when the island was shaken by earth tremors and the stockyard full of cattle stam- peded. From that night all that remains is the dilapidated stockyards , now almost hidden by the bush . Perhaps one of the prettiest spots on this island is Sweet- water Creek, so named because of the freshness of the water at the beginning of its course. It rises in the Blue Lagoon , winds towards the coast and enters the sea at Swan Bay. Lin- ing its banks in some places are acres of wild ferns , tree· ferns, orchids and many species of wild flowers . The only people who have ever dwelt in this country are the aborigines. However , it is several years now since the last of their tribe disappeared. To mark their ex istence they leave only their corroboree rings , stone axes and other implements as well as a host of legends . The Blue Lagoon held great fears for them for they believed the bunyip Iived there. 31

A ZOOLOGY TRIP TO CALOUNDRA

The Fifth Form zoology students spent a very interest- ing day at Caloundra on Saturday , 11th September. The trip was arranged by Miss Crooks and Mrs. Hiscock so that our studies in the subject would ben-efit by the excursion, and we believe that they have . A bulging bus left Brisbane about 9 a .m. and arrived at Caloundra near 11 a.m., the trip up being very enjoyable as everyone sang. The scenery of the North Coast District was admired by all , especially those who had never travelled on the Highway before and who found particular interest in the Glasshouse Mountains , Beerwah, Croockneck and Tibro- g':rgan and the Beerwah Forestry plots . Arriving at our destination , we changed into gym-cl othes , shorts or bathers and then had a picnic lunch . Finishing our lunch, we set out in groups of six equipped with test tubes , scalpels , nets, tweezers, bottles, pocket knives and sunburn cream, looking like the inhabitants of Mars, prepared for battle . We began our search in and out, on and over rocks and crevices , intent on seeking new animal life . A rocky headland like that of Caloundra can be divided into a series of horizontal zones, each zone with its characteristic organ- ism present. Our specimens, essential for study, ranged from snails , limpets to ascidian konjevoi) ; little did we realize the extent of this aspect of zoology. After 1.30 p.m., which was when the tide was at its lowest, we returned to the bus where a second lunch awaited us. Although a cold breeze was blowing, some brave ice- bergs ventured into the water for a short swim while the other girls went sightseeing . As 3 o 'clock approached, we reluctantly began changing back into our uniforms and packing our cases. The day's collection was examined, from which were selected some unfortunate animals to accompany us back to school to be preserved for further examination . The other more fortunate ones were returned to their respective habitats . W reached Brisbane about 5 .30 p.m. and with many goodbyes , we dispersed to our homes. The trip was very educational and appreciated by all pupils who thank Miss Crooks and Mrs . Hiscock for making the day possible. We hope that we can combine pleasure and studies in such a succes·sful way as this again. Mary Grundon , Thea Wilson , V. 30

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