December 1958 School Magazine

Brisbane Gh·ls' Grammar School Magazine

Dece·mber, 1958

Brisbane Gil'ls' G1·ammar School Magazine

December, 1958

A COMMENT ON A NEWSPAPER It was published recently in the paper that Salvador Dali found flies were fairies of inspiration for his paintings. THE FLY OF DALI "Inspired by a fly." I shall inquire, How c fly can inspire

Clouds of dust swirled round the many stamping feet, whose owners seemed to be in a half-hypnotised state. I, watching from the sidelines, had never seen such a sight and I was dazzled with whatever wonder had turned the everyday native people to whom I was quite used into this strange colourful throng . The Bird of Paradise plumes flashed and shone with the most glorious colours imaginable which would find no equal in any part of the world. "Bird of Paradise" is an apt name for a creature which could surely have come from nowhere but Paradise. As the natives whirled past, we could distinguish the streaks and daubs adorning faces and bodies. This effect was obtained by applying clay from the beds of the swift flowing mountain streams, but I had to smile inwardly as I recognised the household blue, adroitly removed from our laundry that morning for this purpose, liberally daubed on the persons of our personal house boys. As each native, in an exhausted and frenzied state, would drop out to refresh himself with food and rest, a fresh dancer, bedecked w ith rippling grass skirts, feathers and shells and perhaps with wild boar's tusks piercing his nose, would replace him in the heaving throng . Standing by in case of emergency were a number of police boys, armed with rifles, for when natives of different tribes congregate and excitement runs high, as it did then, there is bound to be trouble. This "sing-sing" proved to be no exception, for, about half way through, a disagreement arose, a fight broke out and arrows started whistling through the air. No harm was done, however, as the fight was broken up and the troublemakers were hauled off to "calaboose" or goal, where they had plenty of time to repent. The festivities lasted for three days, till, in the pale dawn light the merrymakers, too exhausted to continue literally "dropped in their tracks" one by one and slept soundly where they lay. Though. it is some time now since I parted with everything these "sing-sings" represent the New Guinea Highlander with his great sense of justice, his willingness to help and, above all, his ability to laugh where we would sigh, will always remain very close to my heart. -janet Hilton, IIIG. 53

As a fairy squire. Paint how they fly, Do as they die, Paint for every eye, The fly can inspire. How can a fly, As the papers say

Inspire a painter like Dali, Esquire? I can't understand but I shall inquire.

-Indignant Fly, IIID.

THE WEST The dry creek beds, the overhanging trees, The track that weaves across the endless plain, The distant mob, the railhead far beyond, The lovely smell of country after rain; The barren wastes, the tracks of long past jeeps, The mailman's truck, the sand hills rising high To greet the lonely wanderer as he goes; There are the things which please the bush bred eye. The sunset in the west, the wind swept scene Which spreads before the stockman standing :there, The billy boiling on the well built fire; This is the land made far beyond compare. Guyapandil Guyapandil The cry was flung simultaneously from hundreds of brown throats and its rich tone echoed round the native compound. Glistening copper bodies swayed and twisted to the rhythmical thumpings of the kundus or native drums, while the clapping of hands 0_:1 t~iQ!ts _made a monotonous, though not unpleas- ant, acc;;c;ll:If·P9.n.iJ!ie.ot to the full-throated . .chants of the New Guinea "Hkili{Cfnd'"ndtfves who were throwing their wiry souls into their annual festiyities. i:'" •" '" 52 -Christine Lucas, IIIF. "SING-SING BILONG NEW GUINEA"