December 1966 School Magazine

Brisbane Girls' Grammar School Magazine

December, 1966

December, 1966

Brisbane Girls' Grammar School Magazine

Thirty girls from the Upper School, accompanied by Miss Neil, Miss H. Tuckett and Miss D. Tuckett, enjoyed a Safari Coach Tour to Central Australia during the August vacation. The trip took them through Mt. Isa, Darwin, Alice Springs, Ayers Rock, Port Augusta and Canberra. Highlights included a tour through the Mt. Isa Mines Plant, conquering Ayers Rock and visiting Parliament House in Canberra. The girls in the Inter-School Gymnastics Competition again acquitted themselves admirably; the A team gained first place and the B team second in their respective sections. Rivalry was' keen in the Inter-House Competition but England, proving more agile than their opponents, emerged victorious by a narrow margin. The School gained recognition in Debating and Public Speak- ing this year. Elizabeth Kennedy gained third place in a Public Speaking Competition conducted by the Jaycees. We congratulate Elizabeth on her ·outstanding performance. Elizabeth was also a member of the School Debating Team with Peggy Kratka and Frances Davies. In the competition they did very well, losing only three of five debates, one of which was the semi-final lost to Lourdes Hill by a small margin. Congratu- lations to the team who worked very hard preparing for these debates. The finals of our own Inter-House Debating Competition will be held on 28th November (Junior) and 29th November (Senior) . The School Public Speaking prize will be competed for by Senior girls on 25th November. With Speech Night on Thursday 1st December we conclude another successful year in the life of the Brisbane Girls' Grammar School. MISS BERYL BLANCHE STEEDMAN It was with deep regret that we heard at the end of 1965 of the death after a long period of declining health of Miss Beryl Steedman of Green Trees, Birkdale. Miss Steedman, .a Bachelor of Arts of the University of Queensland, was appointed in April 1914 to teach Commercial Subjects at the Brisbane Girls' Gram- mar School during the absence abroad of Miss Edith Swanwick. From 1916 to 1929 she taught English and History, at first to Junior, later to Senior standard. In 1929 she was appointed Acting Second Mistress and resigned from the staff as from December of that year. For some years Miss Steedman with Miss Mabel Ballantine conducted a Coaching School in Brisbane and then enjoyed retirement at her pleasant country home at Birkdale. 11

CURRENT EVENTS 1966 The second half of the year has been a busy yet interesting time with various activities in all sections of the School. The Choral Competition was an important event in Second Term. Up to sixty girls comprised the choirs of each House . The result was a win for Griffith House, now the proud owner of a fine painting. After examinations, all eyes were focused on the Inter- School Athletics on 29th July, when excitement always runs high. This year was no exception for the girls in both running and ball games teams had been practising hard. The result was that we gained a creditable second place. Our congratulations go to the Brisbane State High School who succeeded in winning all three divisions. The Inter-House Athletics on 4th August this year was won by Lilley House . "King Lear", the Senior play, was given an interesting inter- pretation by Peter O'Shaugnessy at the Albert Hall on August 9th. Careers Evening on 10th August was again a great success. Fourth and Sixth Form girls who attended appreciated the fact that it was held in our own School and also that most of the con- sultants were Old Girls . This is another occasion when our thanks go to the Parents and Friends Association for the work they do for us . On 19th August in the Boys' Grammar School Great Hall, the Sixth Form attended an interesting and informative lecture on Space developments. That night, Science pupils from Sixth, Fifth and Fourth Forms attended a Physics lecture at the Festival Hall. The School Dance was a very happy beginning to Third Term for Senior girls. We thank Mrs . McDonald and Staff members and the Parents and Friends Association for the work that made it a great success. In the same week, all the Sixth, some Fifth Formers and the School Orchestra were privileged to attend a concert given by a Woodwind quintet from the Adelaide University. As well as presenting some delightful music, the members of the quintet ex- plained to us the instruments and their functions. School Day this year was one to remember. Grouping in forms proved to be a great deal more successful than in Houses . The work of preparation, and more important the cleaning up, was done willingly. The money raised by the Forms is being used for school improvements and improving the running track, while other groups worked for O.P.A.L. and the Save the Child- ren Fund. 10

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