Grammar Gazette- Issue 1, 2023

MR CAMERON DEAN WATER POLO SUPPORT GROUP PRESIDENT

CELEBR A TING 50 years OF

BGGS Water Polo

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Grammar sisters. The Support Group also delivered Finals Fever on 6 March 2023— an end‑of‑season celebration event for more than 300 players and their families— and a fantastic way to finish the 50 th season. None of this could happen without our amazing committee members, the ongoing support of the School, and the leadership of Water Polo Captains Ella Coltzau (12R) and Eden Douglas (12E). It is also important to acknowledge the efforts of our parents who drive their daughters to training and pools all over Brisbane, who volunteer their time as managers, or help on the scoring table, and who cheer from the stands. It is this support that enables the girls to enjoy the sport of Water Polo, and gain lifelong benefits in and out of the pool, regardless of the level at which they play. Given this culture, it is not surprising that Water Polo has thrived at BGGS. With the achievement of the 50-year milestone, future generations of Grammar girls will continue to build on the BGGS Water Polo legacy, and we, as parents, eagerly look forward to continuing to support them in the same spirit for which the School has become famous. Go hard, go fair, go Grammar!

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However, national representation is not the only measure of success. Participation in Water Polo has gifted thousands of girls the opportunity to develop skills, build teamwork, keep fit, engage in an outlet away from the rigours of study, and to make enduring friendships. BGGS parents have been, unsurprisingly, strong supporters of their daughters playing Water Polo. Created under the guidance of Dr David Gordon, (father of Susan Lanham, (Gordon, Head Girl, 1978)) and then Principal, Mrs Judith Hancock, the Water Polo Support Group was established in the sport’s first season and continues to this day. The group’s earliest days saw parents providing practical support through sewing caps and constructing goals. In more recent times, the Support Group has provided post-training BBQ breakfasts and raised funds to purchase new lightweight goals for teams training at Centenary Pool. Commemorative merchandise, including 50-year anniversary pins have also been organised and been proudly worn by the girls on their uniforms during the season. In 2023 we returned to the School’s Water Polo roots and, through the efforts of Water Polo Coordinator, Ms Mel Rippon, arranged the ‘Blue Round’ at Musgrave Park pool on 18 February 2023. This event saw ten BGGS teams in action at the same venue, turning the pool deck into a sea of blue as girls supported their

I n the 1972/73 Water Polo season, Brisbane Girls Grammar School competed in the inaugural U16 competition at Musgrave Park pool against another founding QGSSSA school, Somerville House. The sport has enjoyed tremendous growth and popularity at BGGS since then. This season we celebrated 50 years of BGGS Water Polo, with 271 BGGS girls in 25 teams in the Brisbane Water Polo Incorporated (BWPI) competition from U12s through to Opens. I’m pleased to report that teams in the U12s, U14s, U15s and U17s each managed to bring home the season’s winning trophy. Water Polo has been a pathway to success for many BGGS alumnae. To date there have been 16 capped players from BGGS in the Australian Water Polo team—the most Open Australian representatives of any of the School’s sports. The most famous of these is Debbie Handley, who was the Australian captain for 13 years in the 1970s and 1980s and was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame. Three former BGGS players, Bridget Leeson-Smith (2014), Gabi Palm (2015) and Abby Andrews (2017), are in the current Aussie Stingers squad, and Gabi and Abby represented Australia in the recent 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

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CAPTIONS 1 STUDENTS CELEBRATING AT THE 50 YEARS EVENT 2 THE 1976 BGGS WATER POLO TEAM 3 2000 AUSTRALIA YOUTH TEAM MEMBERS, SUSIE CASE (FRASER, 2000), ANNA CORBIN (MOORE, 2000) AND JESSICA HILEY (MOLES, 2000)

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GAZETTE • ISSUE 1, 2023 ISSUE 1, 2023

BRISBANE GIRLS GRAMMAR SCHOOL