Grammar Gazette- Issue 2, 2017

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BADMINTON: THE SCHOOL’S FASTEST GROWING SPORT

Brisbane Girls Grammar School 2017 Senior Badminton players (from Years 11 and 12) with Mr Barry Greatorex and Ms Jen Fukushima, proudly displaying the six Championship Pennants won by the School during the 2017 season

A positive response ensued, fortifying the girls’ resolve to secure a fourth player to form an inaugural Girls Grammar Badminton competition team. Much to the delight of everyone involved, a team was completed with the inclusion of a Year 9 girl and that team went on to be undefeated in its first year of competition — winning the 2006 QGSSSA 10A Pennant. A member of that foundational team, Dr Leona Chun, has each year continued to be an avid supporter of Girls Grammar Badminton as either a coach or a referee since her graduation in 2008. At the close of the 2017 season, I am very pleased to report it was our most successful Badminton year ever. We received six Championship Pennants and three very close second places across sixteen teams. The 122-student strong squad proved that we are a dominant force in Badminton at the QGSSSA level. A special congratulations is directed at 2017 Years 11 and 12 Badminton players for their outstanding performance winning all Senior divisions and placing a very close second in the Open division.

AUTHOR Ms Jennifer Fukushima Head of Japanese and Badminton Co-ordinator

Reflecting its rank as the second most played sport in the world today, Badminton at Brisbane Girls Grammar School has during the past five years been the fastest growing sport both at the School as well as within the Queensland Girls Secondary Schools Sports Association (QGSSSA). The Girls Grammar Badminton story started in 2006 when three Year 10 girls appeared in the McCrae Grassie Sports Centre almost every lunch hour to play badminton. Sports Manager, Mr Barry Greatorex, saw an opportunity to ‘formalise’ the sport and for the girls to potentially represent the School. The trio formed an ‘observational team’ to consider and ascertain the sport’s viability at Girls Grammar and for the School to participate in the QGSSSA Badminton competition.

SUMMER ISSUE / 2017