December 1957 School Magazine

December, 1957

December, 1957

Brisbane Girls ' Grammar School Magazine

Brisbane Girls ' Grammar School Maga%ine

THE BRISBANE GIRLS' GRAMMAR SCHOOL SEVENTY YEARS AGO We are grateful to Miss C. J. England, an Old Girl of the B.G.G.S., for reco.rding ~hese memories for us. In the year 1888 the Brisbane Girls' Grammar School consisted of the now familiar two-storied, stone building, with its wide balconies, many windows and eight chimneys . It stood alone on that side of Gregory Terrace. It is still there, but on each side are many modern brick buildings to accommodate its many pupils. In 1888 the number on the Roll was about 130 ; perhaps fewer. On the town side was the pupils ' entrance, a wide gate opening on to a bare gravelled piece of ground leading to a wide side verandah. On the other side were the tennis courts; at the back an asphalted covered path led to the various outhouses , including laundry. The large stone house was built round a central Hall with surrounding gallery on first floor , on to which many inside rooms opened, and which was Iighted by a huge skylight . On entering by the front door , there was, on one's right , the Principal 's room; on the left, the Form II room, with further on , the door to the large Assembly Room, while in front of one was the main staircase and entrance to central Hal l. Form I was taught at the Iight end of the Assembly room, while Form IV had the larg-e and airy square room .at corner of building , and facing Gregory Terrace . Upstairs, Form Ill had the large room above Form IV, and Form V ·was housed in a room with balcony, adjoining the small Art Room at side of building. The Library at this time and for many years later was kept in two presses in a corner of the upsta irs corridor outside the room used by Form Ill. That was in 1888, but changes were near . At that time there were five Forms only-Form V, with approximately seven pupi Is; Form IV with perhaps twenty-five; Form Ill , nearly forty-Form II with about twenty, and Form I with 47

learn in What a ramshackle thing it was with no hood , no spare tyre, as a , matter of fact, it had not much of any- thing but noise . Father and I felt ashamed every time we took it out; all the neighbours would come out and smile. Mother 's face, however, was a picture , serene and happy in the fact that she was learning to drive. They always took me along too, for, father said if we were to die , we must all die together . The lessons progressed slowly, and after what seemed like weeks of bumps, jolts, jerks, "don't do this ," and "don't do that, " father felt that, with a little luck on her side, she might pass the test. At last the great day came . We wished for open road and open skies, but that was impossible, the heart of the city was the place . My father, being a dental technician, worked opposite the police station and would be able to see the start. When they left me that morning it was pouring rain. Imagine the Model T without a hood, mother and father wrapped in plastic, and the br ight spot about it being mother's face and her air of confidence. They parted at the Police Station, father kissed her good-bye and wished her luck. She tripped gaily up the steps and announced to a constable that she wished to try for her driving Iicence. "Where 's your car::>" he asked. "That 's it, " she replied, pointing to the Model T. The policeman looked at the sky, then at mother, and then back at the car . He grunted and disappeared . In a few minutes he was back, wrapped in his rain coat and weatherproof cap . Mother knew he was only a constable, but she called him sergeant; she thought that might put him in a good mood . He followed her down to the car, but he had to wait while she scooped the water out of his seat as it was still pouring rain . At last they were seated, mother still happy, the policeman 's face, however , a real dead pan. But , try as she might, there was no response from the engine, it just wouldn't start . Quite undaunted, mother calmly asked the policeman to hold the choke out while she cranked it. It finally started, and, with much smoke from the exhaust , a jerk , and a leap , they were off . Mother was still smiling , father perspiring with worry at the window across the road . Everything comes to those who wait, so it is said , and in an hour, mother was back with a scrap of paper, her driving licence , carefully folded in her bag. She had won the day , but oh, what an endurance test for her family . -P.Y., IVF 46