December 1957 School Magazine

Brisbane Girls' Grammar School Magaz ine

December, 1957

Decembe r, 1957

8risbane Girls' Grammar School Magaz:ine

Round about New Year bands of " Coons " dance around the streets jangling boxes under people 's noses , getting in the way of traffic, and making a terrific din . Coons are coloured men and boys who dress up in beautiful , brightly coloured, silk suits and sing , dance , and strum on various instruments . The different bands of coons compete to see who can attract the most attention by pulling funny faces , making a noise, and getting up to amazing anti-cs. " Penny for the .Guy? Penny for the Guy?" ca II the groups of coloured children who wheel enormous, home - made guys around the streets on the fourth and fifth of November . The guys are made of stuffed sacks dressed in any o ld clothes and their faces are funny masks . None of these -can be seen or heard in Brisbane and are things which we miss. -ELSE BUDTZ-OLSEN, IIID

8riginal eontribution~ CALLS OF THE CAPE "Maa - - - sbankersl Ha - - - rdersl" " There goes the fish cart!"

The fish ca rt is a ho rse -drawn , Cape cart on two enormous , wobbl y whee ls and is dri ven by a co lou red man. As hi s cart lurches a round the su burbs, he attracts people's attention by blowing on a horn made from the hollow s tem of seaweed. The noise sounds rather li ke a tug boat on the Brisbane Ri ver. At su n·rise and sunset one may hear the cry of the Malay Hadji , or p riest , calling the Muezzin to prayer . He stands at the t op of a minaret and makes a sound like a eat's wail whi c h carr ies a long way in the st il l air. "Wa - - - t erme loen 1 Ar - - - pp les I " is what the co loured boy ye ll s outs ide your gate when he wa nts to self fruit and vegetab les. He brings baskets of fruit from his ca rt , w hich is a little bigger than the fish ca rt , to your door. The top laye r of fruit may look beautiful but many of the rest a re probabl y bad . Watch him out of the gate or he may add to hi s fruit suppl y from your f ig tree.

BLOSSOMS

Jacaranda and coral tree, Side by side in glorious bloom O'erhang the pond and watch Their clear reflections in the sheltered water . The scor-ching wind sighs thro ' the reeds, Sucking thirstily at the moist green shoots Of young water grass , and as it passes The blossoms flutter down, the smoky blue, The brill iant red become small ships That bravely dare The dangers of the wild, rough ocean . A childish treble calls in the sleepy silence, A dog barks , So they pass and leave the pool Unstirred .

-JANICE JOHNSTON, VA

Deirdre Wood, Ill E.

D.F., IV F.

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