July 1954 School Magazine

Bris·bane Girls' Grammar School Magazine

July, 1954

July. 1954

Bris·bane Girls' Grammar School Magazine

"YARRABAH." At last the long-awaited day dawned-a beautiful cloud- less day-when we were to visit "Yarrabah Mission Station" outside the far northern city of Cairns. We were living at Cairns when we were told that it was the last time tourists would have a chance to go to the mission, so we decided to visit it. At nine o'clock we were on the boat as it headed across Trinity Bay. As we rounded the headland, the mission came into sight, a great number of small huts sil- houetted against the numerous coconut trees. The trip took about two hours. As there was no wharf the boat anchored about fifty feet off shore, where small rowing boats, skilfully rowed by strong natives, come out to take us in. After wading through a few inches of water we were on dry land. We walked some distance along the beach, the white sand of which was covered with shells of every kind-shells we had never seen before. We reached the main building and, after light refreshment, we were taken on a tour of the mission by one of the few white men. We saw the timber mill which is now being remodelled and the clear crystal streams from whence their water supply comes. At the school, the native children were having lessons and they recited poetry, speaking English fluently, with their pearly white teeth shining against their dark complexions. At first the children were shy but soon they became accustomed to us and liked to be with us. Outside, native boys scaled the coconut trees which were about fifty feet high and threw down coconuts. Then, to show us how they husked them, three boys and a girl took the coconuts in their hands and, with their teeth, tore the husk from the nut. Their method intrigued us, never having seen it done like this before. In six seconds the girl had finished. The four children were given a penny each for their demonstration, and, with beaming faces, they clutched their pennies and ran off to show their friends. We saw the church next, built entirely by native labour , the men doing the building while the women wove reed mats to cover the whole floor. The natives are very proud of their church. All too soon it was time to leave and, after signing the visitors' book and buying many articles tha t the natives had made such as fans and baskets, we enjoyed a very pleasant trip back to Cairns with the glorious colours of a tropical sunset before us. June Catchpoole, V. B. 32

A SIXTH FORMER'S ORATION. (With apologies to Shakespeat·e).

Friends, girls, schoolmates, pay me attention; I write to tell of Sixth Form, not to praise it. The evil that girls do lives after them; The good is oft forgotten when they leave; So let it be with Sixth Form. The noble Fourths Have told you that Sixth Fcrm girls are bossy; If it is so, it is a grievous fault, And grievously do the thirds answer for it. Here, under leave of the Editor and the rest- For the Editor is an honourable g irl; So are they alL all honourable girls- Write I to speak in Sixth Form's favour. They are my friends, faithful and just to me; But some say that Sixth gets everything; And they are honourable girls. Sixth Form does many duties for the school, Which help to keep the standard that we hold; Does this in Sixth Form seem so arrogant? When the Thirds run riot, Sixth bewails it; A Sixth Form should be made of sterner stuff; Yet some girls say that Sixth Form likes itself, Although they do not really mind us.

Helen Statham, VI.

BEN RAFYK. He lives in a vale of sparkling, sunlit grass, Far from the burning sands his fathers knew. His strength and courage no horse can surpass, His head, the gentlest Nature ever drew. He comes from proud yet gentle Arab stock, His colour, gleaming chestnut almost brown; A glowing star is white and one slim fe tlock Merrily twinkles cante ring o'er the down. In show or field he moves wi th rippling grace, His flowing tail in the wind a flaming banner. Strong·muscled neck arched with his pride of race, He yields to man with gentle, patient ma nner. This horse, Ben Rafyk, son of a famous line, Will always live in spirit, proud and fine .

D.M.B., V. B.

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