July 1957 School Magazine

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MAGAZINE of the

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BRISBANE GIRLS' GRAMMAR SCHOOL

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JULY, 1957

"~egistered at the G.P.O., Brisbane, fo• transmission by post as a Periodical

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Published by Miss L. W. Crooks, Brisbane Girls' Grammar School and printed by Allan William Cramb, Fuller Street, Windsor, for The Read Press Pty. Ltd•. 610..616 Ann Street, Valley, Brisbane.

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All coaching under the expert and personcrl atte ntion of the Principal, Miss S. R. Halstead. Personal interviews invited - day and even- ing classes . Shorthand, Typing, Commercial English, Commercial Arithmetic and Book- keeping .

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" The House of the People'

'Che CJnagazine of ~he ':Bri~bane Girl~' Grammar School EDITORIAL JT was once said of the French landscape painter Corot, that his pictures were hardly more than photographs·. Photography, when it made its appear- ance about 1840, indeed fascinated Corot, who was at that time already a great master of ·riatural land- scape painting as well as of delicate portraiture. What is a photograph, and what a true work of art? The camera does no interpreting for us. It merely reproduces exactly the forms, lights, shades and shadows of the scene before it at the moment when the shutter opens. The photo is· a correct ver- sion of the original. Corot's pictures, then, are not mere photographs. The image recorded in the mind of a painter awakes memories, tnoughts and half- forgotten impressions which flickered across that mind and were kept imprisoned there, to be enriched and moulded into form, to find expression a t a later time. So the real work of art is alive; it is the photograph adapted to the hand of a genius·, seen through his eyes, interpreted by the greater maturity of his mind. In our twentieth century, there are places for both · means of expression. While we cannot all be Corots, .neither would life be more than just an existence if we were all cameras. Let us resolve to incorporate the precision and perfection of the photograph and the beauty and originality of the painting, in the things we do.

-IT. c. BEIRNE'SI-

Give your daughter the advantages of this SMART, WELL-TAILORED SCHOOL-WEAR

Bring your daughter to our specialised Girl's College Wear de- partment, and outfit her with everything she needs in the way of College wear. You will find each garment is correctly and expertly cut from the highest-quality materials. She benefits from its enduring smartness. You benefit from the quality which spells a true economy both now, and in the long run. Girl's College Wear Dept., IN THE YOUTH CENTRE - SECOND FLOOR T. C. BEIRNE'S, THE VALLEY, BRISBANE-L0151 SCHOOL BOOKS== Q. B. D. Choose all your school text books, prize and library books from the Queensland Book Depot's huge and comprehensive range. This range is equal to any in the State, and new supplies arrive with every mail. Write for lists and prices. Q. B. D. also service and repair all Fountain Pens, and all the best makes are on sale. Queensland Book Depot 61-63 Adelaide Street (Opp. City Hall}, Brisbane Established 1872

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Brisbane Girls' Grammar School Maqazine

July. 1957

July, 1957

::Brisbane Girls' Grammar School Maqazine

SCHOOL NOTES.

Thursday, 18th April.-Miss· Crooks' last day at School before her leave began. She entrusted the care of the School to Miss Macmillan. The girls of the School presented Miss Crooks with a token of appreciation. Mid-day saw the beginning .of the Easter break from School until the following Tuesday. Saturday, 20th April.- Miss Crooks sailed for England. She was finally farewelled by the School with a bouquet sent to her earlier on the "Iberia." Monday, 29th April.-Mis·s Maclean sailed for England on ihe "Orion" with a farewell bouquet from Sixth Form. Friday, 3rd May.- Term I ended. Monday, 20th May.-Term II began. Wednesday, 22nd May.-Fifth and Sixth Form science girls went to the Science Display at the University. Among the many interesting things ·shown us were demonstration models of in- dustrial processes. Tuesday, 29th May.- Practice basketball matches against Univers·ity teams were played. The School won the "A" team match, and the University the "B" teem match. Friday, 31st May.-Sixth Form presented "Blanche Neige", ·dramatised by Mrs. Stenders, and produced by Miss Munro, at "La Soiree des Ecoles". Many girls from the School attended the evening. Excellent plays were presented by other schools, which we thoroughly enjoyed. Saturday, 1st June.-Friendly matches in basketball and tennis with St. Aidan' s· were played. Our teams were all .successfuL

Tuesday, 29th January.-The School year of 1957 began. Miss Crooks welcomed Mrs. Mulherin, Mis·s Popple and new girls to the schooL Miss Brophy and Miss Cormack rejoined us after being absent overseas last year. Tuesday, 19th February.-The first of a series of English broadcasts was heard from the radio given by the Parents' and Friends' Association. These the Sixth Form found most in- teresting and enjoyable. Tuesday, 26th February.-The twelve Prefects of the School took their pledge and were presented with their badges by Miss· Crooks. Tuesday, 7th March.-A Road Safety lecture was given to the whole school by an officer of the Traffic Branch, during which many traffic regulations were made clearer to us. Monday, 11th March.- The Inter-form Swimming Carnival was held at the Boys' Pool after having been postponed from Friday, 8th, owing to rain. The morning was enjoyed by all, and our congratulations to VA, the winning form. Saturday, 16th March.-The Inter-school Swimming Car- nival was held at the Valley Baths and the whole School attended to support our team. The afternoon was made more exciting by the close competition, and we gained places in nearly all events. B. Bell, R. Johns·on and R. Mathers were awarded Blues for their outstanding performances. Tuesday, 19th March.-The Inter-form Lifesaving Competi- tion was held at the Boys' PooL This was the first Inter-form Competition and proved a great success. It was won by the Sixth Form with the other three teams coming very close. Wednesday, 3rd April.-The Inter-school Lifesaving Com- petition, for the McWhirter Cup, was held at the Valley Baths. This was won by Somerville House with 87.2 points, while our team gained fifth place with 80 points. Friday, 5th Apri1.-Examinations began for Fourths and Sixths, whilst Thirds and Fifths had theirs to look forward to after the holidays.

Saturday, 8th June.-Scbool fixtures begin.

Wednesday, 26th June, and Thursday, 27th June.-The School Concert will be held on these dates. Preparations are being made now, and we look forward to successful performances.

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Brisbane Girls' Grammar School Maqazine

Brisbane Girls' Grammar School Maqazine

July. 1957

July, 1957

BETTY WOOLCOCK ESSAY-1956. "Ah! that a man's reach should exceed his g rasp Or wha t' s a heaven for?"

Middle and Lower School Lyric Competition, 1956.

CITY SYMPHONY

-Browning.

I From this block of marble so white and pure I will carve a statue to the Glory of my God. It sha ll be in every detail the utmost in perfection,

A changing, restless, eager song Of pulsing life; A dragging, toiling, weary tune Of ceaseless strife; The prolonged accompaniment of the monotone murmur of voices Is broken sharply By the shrill treble of a news-boy's shout Ringing clearly.

For my God is He not perfection in itself? So shall my Piela be a symbol of the One Who being perfect died for our transgressions . Then with colours rare I'll tint that symbol dear That my statue may live and touch all men To deep and lasting love for One so pure and true. II So I carved and hewed and shaped; I chiselled a nd rubbed and formed; Yet that statue wasn't the same a s the one I had in my mind. But disconsolate tho' I was, I started out anew To sculpt a gain a Piela to the Glory of my God . III Again I tried and again I failed to make a perfect thing. My friends they came to stand and look To see once more it cast aside. They went away and talked of me and how I was wasting my time, Then suddenly they came no more and I was all alone Excep t for the love of one true friend who brought me all the news. He told me how they la ughed and scoffed; ·They said to him, "His reach exceeds h is grasp." But I toiled on unheeding still! IV Seeking for perfection, that I hoped would come one day. And then I started thinking, "My reach exceeds my g rasp; Perhaps I never should have tried to equal what was God's !" My tools, they lay untouched as I pondered on this thought. Then one day came this thought to me, "Wha t's a heaven for?" I found the answer in the words of those who scorned me . It is for us to strive for in our life upon this earth. We may reach for it bu t never can we grasp it. While we dwell upon this earth, our reach exceeds our grasp. But still we hope to reach and still we s trive for that Which is the Crown of life-a Heaven, a God to dwell with evermore. v So straightway I took my tools to carve again my statue, Conviction ringing clearly in my ears and drowning a ll the sounds Here was some flaw, there another and yet another; In the fa ce of the Virgin was a cold stone glare And not the sorrow tha t should have been there . Imperfection was a ll I found in that statue to my God; For I believed that victory crowns the jus t , And so on and on I toiled far into the years

Ripples of light splash on the pavement- Flickering, failing; The gloom of night brings terror and tragedy- A siren wailing; A ponde rous step stirs the listening darkne ss. Steady and strong; The muted hours trail in his footsteps, Dreary and long.

Brazen beat of the noon-day sun On the copper sky; Echoing thud of a thousand feet Hurrying by: Slow, sluggish roll of the laden river- Clashing harmony; This is music I know and love- A city symphony.

-RHONDA VICKERS.

That threatened to disturb my toil as I carved on. It d id not matter now if my statue was not perfect, For I would strive a little more each time Towards perfection, with perfection as my goal. Men shou ld always strive towards what cannot be. To aim a little higher than the level we can reach, Is to justify our actions in the Eyes of our Great Maker. 12

-MERREL WILLIAMS.

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Brisbane Girls' Grammar School Maqazine

July, 1957

July, 1957

Brisbane Girls' Grammar School Maqazine

Kendall Broadbent Natural History Essay, 1956. LOOKING IN THE GLASS BOWL

splendens), and the Ange l Fish (Pteryphyllum eimekei). The Swordtails, which may be either red, green, black or albino, are curious· in that the male has a sword-like development of the bottom ray of the cordal fin. The Siamese Fighting Fish which, as the name suggests, comes from South-East Asia, may be dark blue with the body suffused with red or others may be red, lavender or green. The males have a passion for fighting and must be kept apart. In Siam contests are held between these fish. Differing greatly from these is the gentle Angel Flsh which, with its long sail-like fins and its bold black bands on a slver background and with an occasional fleck of metallic blue, must surely be the monarch of the aquarium. Being such beautiful and tender creatures it is impossible to neglect them and although many people believe that they can be left for a long period without food, it is as cruel to do this as to starve any other animal. The fish learn to know the hour of feeding and the person who feeds them, if this is done regularly, and they can be seen to swim towards the surface of the water if there is a possibility of food a t their regular hour of feeding. They love a change of diet and although such foods as Daphnia, the eggs and larvae of insects and prepared foods are eaten with relish, I have found that the mosi loved dish of all is an occasional scraping of scrambled egg. Fish are affected considerably by their environment. The size of the bowl in which they are kept has a considerable effect on their growth as I have noticed from an experiment I carried out this year. From a number of fish which were born .in February, two were separated and placed in bowls" of dif- ierent size. Whereas the one placed in a large bowl had reached its· adult size after about four months, the one placed in the smaller bowl had grown less than a quarter of an inch in this time. Fish are fully aware of happenings in their surroundings and remember these happenings. This may be seen very clearly if one visits a professional breeder. The fish, remem- bering what has happened to their companions on previous· occasions, may be seen to swim to the bottom of the pool or to hide amongst the weed when the breeder approaches with a net but were he to approach with food the same fish would swim to the surface. ' Thus the splendour and oddities within the magical bowl transport one's mind into a fairyland and while in this state one's nerves are completely relaxed and it is for this reason that many doctors and dentists have placed bowls of tropical fish in their waiting rooms. - MARJORIE NEIL 15

"Looking in the Glas·s Bowl" would immedia tely suggest to most people the use of magic in foretelling the future. How- ever, there is one glass bowl into which one may gaze and the magic of the beauty contained within that glass bowl will immediately transport one's mind to a fairyland. This magical glass bowl is, of course, one containing exotic tropical fish. If the fish are to be kept healthy and contented, much care must be taken in preparing their home. The size of the bowl must be taken into cons'ideration when deciding the number of fish to be put in it as fish require a certain amount of water each. As fish require oxygen the water must be well aerated and this is done by the planting of certain weeds and ferns which, as well as providing oxygen for the fish, remove carbon- dioxide from the water and beautify the bowl. Also necessary for the continued health of the bowl is the presence of snails, many of which, such as the Ramshorn snail (Planorbis Corneus) are very beautiful. The snails con- sume much of the unwanted food and Algae but their own excreta replaces this. Their eggs are a source of food for the fish. As part of the diet of snails includes fish ova, it has· been found necessary to remove snails from a bowl which is to be used for breeding. It has been stated that if the correct number of fish and snails and the exact amount of food were put in the bowl, it would never be necessary to change the water in the bowl, however, I have never attained this peak of perfection and find it neces·sary to clean the bowl regularly, The real enchantment of the bowl is undoubtedly the fish . Among the smaller fish , Neon Tetra (Hyphessobryeon innesi), with its almost electrically brilliant blue-green streak from head to tail and the blood-red colouring on parts of its body, is probably the most beautiful. Almost equalling this in beauty a re the White Cloud Mountain Minnows (Tanichthys albonubes) and the Guppies (Lebistes reticulatus). The White Cloud Mountain Minnows are similar to the Neon Tetras in that they, also, have a streak down their bodies but it is gold on this fish. The males of the Guppies are very beautiful and are best described by another of their names, "Opals." No two male Guppies have the same colouring or the same shaped fins. Among the larger fish the most beautiful are probably the Swordtails (Xiphorporus helleri), Siamese Fighting Fish (Bet-ta

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July, 1957

~risbane Girls' Grammar School MaQazine

July. 1957

Brisbane Girls' Grammar School Maqazine

Sea-products account for 80o/o of Iceland's exports and agriculture is the second largest occupation. Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland, is still a young city and has developed notably during the last few decades. The name Reykjavik means Bay of Smokes, so called from the hot springs in its neighbourhood. These hot springs are innumerable and are to be found at every altitude up to l ,500 metres above sea-level, among ice-fields as well as along the coast, where some of them are only visible at low tide. At some of them large sulphur deposits are to be found. The most famous of them, the Great Geyser, has given its name to hot springs all over the world. The unbroken column of boiling water and steam of this geyser rises 160 to 180 feet in the air. Recently the utilization of Iceland's natural hot water for various purposes has developed greatly. The hot springs are used for heating the green houses· in which vegetables, fruit and flowers are grown, and they are also used for heating public buildings . Whole towns are heated in this way and since 1943 most of Reykjavik has been heated by the hot water from the hot springs at Reykir, ten miles away. In this respect Reykjavik is unique; it has been called "the smokeles·s city at the gate of the Arctic Circle." Many schools throughout the country are ·heated by springs and have swimming-pools heated in the same way. These springs are so economically important in Iceland, where fuel has to be imported, that sites for new schools are usually chosen in accordance with the location of springs. Iceland is one of the most volcanic countries in the world and the most famous of these volcanoes is Mt. Hekla. There are aiso many glaciers, and under some of these are volcanic craters . The most famous of the beautiful waterfalls· in Iceland is the Gullfoss, the Golden Waterfall, which is a really lovely sight when the sun strikes the spray which rises from it, and causes a ll the colours of the rainbow to appear. Thingvellir, situated 35 miles from Reykjavik, is the most historic place in Iceland. Thingvellir means the Plain of the Parliament and it was there that the Althing used to assemble from the year 930 until the middle of the nineteenth century when it changed its site to Reykjavik. It is a wide lava plain bounded at one end by a big lake and at the other by huge mountains, and wild Icelandic ponies may i'be seeri grazing on the distant slopes. For the nature lover, Iceland has a charm all its own with its infinite variety in colour and form. - M. HAMON, VI A 17

ICELAND

Iceland is a land of frost and fire where the snow capped mountains conceal fires· beneath. It is a land of natural con- trasts, with glaciers and volcanoes, snow-bound areas as well as geysers and hot springs, where one can ba the out in the· open air in comfort even during the coldest part of the winter; a land where beautiful fjords and valleys alternate with lava deserts; a land of lakes, with rivers· winding through green meadows and hurtling over picturesque waterfalls. It is also a land of bright skies and fascinating colour, where summer means continual daylight on account of the midnight sun, and where during winter the nights are regularly broken by the famous Northern Lights. Iceland, with its 40,000 square miles·, is the fourth largest 1sland in the North Atlantic ; and, with its population of 133,000, it is one of the smallest nations. Though situated 800 miles north-west of the British Isles on the edge of the Arctic Circle, its climate is not as cold as its name suggests, owing to a branch of the Gulf Stream which almost encircles the island. The nearest land is Greenland, which was first explored and named by an Icelander, Eric the Red; and his son Leifr, in the year 1000, was the first white man to reach the Ameri- can mainland. In commemoration of this event, the Congress of the United States· presented Iceland with a statue of Leifr Ericson at the one-thousandth anniversary of the Icelandic Parliament in 1930. Iceland was colonised by Vikings and when the first settlers arrived there were no aborigines. There seems to be no record of any native people having lived there. Within a few decades the Vikings had established a code of laws, and their legislative ass·embly, the Althing, is the oldest existing parliament in the world. In the 13th and 14th centuries Iceland was united firstly with Norway and then with Denmark. In 1918 by a speciaL treaty, Iceland was acknowledged to be an independent and sovereign state with a personal union with Denmark through a common King. Since 1944 Iceland has been an independent republic. The language spoken to-day is similar to that spoken a thousand years ago, and Iceland posses·ses some of the finest literature in Europe, for example the Sagas written in the thirteenth century. There is no illiteracy in Iceland and more books are published per per:::on than anywhere else in the world. 16

l'lrisbane . Girls' Grammar School Macrazine

July, 1957

July, 1957

Brisbane Girls' Grammar School Magazine

THE "AVOCA" FORESTRY The "Avoca" forestry covers several thousand acres· of fer- tile land. Varieties of pines such as hoop and Norfolk have been planted as well as silky oaks, in the rich red or loamy scil. The country is mountainous with dense scrub covering the uncleared areas; not far distant the Brisbane River winds :through steep, rough gorges. At the nursery, the tiny seedlings are carefully tended until they are of sufficient size to be planted. Lattice enclosures cover the seedlings at the nursery. Each tree in the forestry is carefully watched and at various times the crooked and thin trees are cut down, having previously been marged with a painted ring. These are called thinnings. Low branches are pruned to allow the trees to grow without touching each other. . With the thinnings, these branches are sent to the mills and are usually made into packing cases. Draught horses are kept for hauling the thinnings from between the rows. As yet no trees· have been cut down for timber. Many years mus·t elapse before the trees are of sufficient size. Still the work of planting goes on and ec:ich year more scrub is burnt, cleared and planted with trees. A ·network of roads covers the area. They serve the double function of being fire breaks. At intervals along the roads are little shelter sheds, each with a water tank for the fores'try workers. Two look-out towers have been built on the two highest points of the range. They are fifty feet and seventy feet high. During the bush fire seasons a man is stationed there every minute of the time so that an outbreak of fire can be pinpointed immediately. Fire is an ever-present fear. The towers have telephones so word can soon be spread of the danger. · From the towers magnificent panoramas are obtained of the· country for miles around-hill upon hill-mountain upon mountain, fading into the distance-here and there the shining roof of a house on a cultivated paddock. The rows and rows of stately trees with the roads· between them stretch down and up on.every side, lik~ <::r patch-work quilt. In the scrub soil of the area plants grow profusely. The thick foliage is dark green with creeping vines, and wild goose- : J Hl

berries, purple inkweed, stinging nettles, red berries and yel- low daisies grow at random. It is a haven for wild life-scrub turkeys, pheasants, whip birds, dingoes, wallabies and even porcupines. However, no flora or fauna is allowed to be touched, and so the beauty of the forestry region is preserved. The forestry provides work for great numbers of men, but the amount varies with the season. Tourists find ceaseless plea- sure in driving through the winding roadways. In the years to come Avoca will yield valuable timber to replenish Queenslands' diminishing supply. - BETH LEE. VI A.

SCHOOLWORK

WENDY PHILBRICK, IV E.

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Brisbane Girls' Grammar Schoo] Macyazine

July. 1957

Brisbane Girls' Grammar School Magazine

July, 1957

once more we s·et out, this time accompanied by a th ird person and a torch . Again we crept across the resounding hall and hesi- ta tingly played the torch around the corner on to the shadow. Again it loomed before us-a mop standing upright against the wall! Reassured we showered the first room with light and continued our nightly task of checking the music room windows. ODE TO A DAY Oh, breat~ of day That issues from between the lips of hills, And sighs CIS dawning shadows Pass across the rising suni Oh, heat of noon That tempts ih<> earth to murky depths of sleep, And covers it with haze - ).C. and V.W., VI B. Which dares mere sound to penetrate; Oh, sign of night That silences the mournful cry of day, And slides rsmor£efully Below the shadow of the distant bay; Oh, fleeting seconds Tarry yet with me awhile, I pray, That vanish silently Within the passing of each day.

THE ART OF TRUE APPRECIATION "Doubtful it stood; As two spent swimmers, that do cling together And choke their art."-Our valiant life-savera. "It cannot be that thou are gone!"- The empty hat-peg. "I can go no further, my old bones acha"- Third time round. " . . . the a ir "Nimbly and sweetly recommends itself Unto our gentle senses."-Aroma from the la b. "How well my garments sit upon me!"- The school uniform. "And tho' We are not now that strength which in old days Moved earth .. . ; that which we are, we are"- The Sixth Form. Mistress correcting two identical papers . "Through the crack I could hear the leaden hiss"- Observation from verandah room. "You must wake and call me early, call me early, mother, dear."-For early athletics. -N.K., IV A, and "A flock of sheep that leisurely pass by, One after one."-Going into Assembly. "What thou art we know not."-Latin translation. "Such angel grace."-Gym. lessons. "In profuse strains of unpremeditated art."-Singing Class. " I trust I have not wasted breath?"__:_ Mistress explaining Trigonometry. "Villiany somewhere! Whose?"-

1 '

- H.C., VIA.

M.V., IVLi.

- MANGEL ELLIS, VA.

TO SLEEP Come, gentle brother of eternal Death,

-M.S. ) an~j T.V:, IV A.

All day 'midst heat and strife unending, I sought thee Unavailing, now whilst all is still, Come to me with dream decked slumber, And visions woven of spider-silver weft. Tell of countries far beyond the surging seas, Of pine clad ridges clinging to the sky And smoky towns that rarely see the sun Of tractless molten deserts that quiver in the heat, Whisper tale_s of frozen polar wastes, And let me hear the murmur of the breeze Amongst the palms, oc the. shriek and crackle of Heaven's electric migh!

NIGHT BEAT! We sat; our eyes were glued to the clock as the minutes ticked ince ssantly by. The tension was rising within us. The dread of what was to come mounte d within two among so many. The clock struck the hour and simultaneously we rose, walked casually through the door and began our stealthy ap- proach to the darkened passage. _ As we crossed the deserted h

As Nature whips to frenzy The ocean's tideless deeps. And when I tire, give to me The dreamless peace to res t a weary soul: Waking at dawn, refreshed and strong, A debtor still to thee.

-JANICE JOHNSTON, VA.

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Ilrisbane Girls' Grammar School Magazine

July. 1957

Brisbane Girls ' Grammar School Maqazine

tuly, 1951

THE CALL OF THE CONTINENT-AND OTHER NOISES 'Take your own car to the continent and see every-day life the ·way it is really lived!' This slogan might be interpreted by 'Crank your 1934 Canardly to the continent and starve like a peasant,' which, a lthough far be it from me to discourage the would-be traveller, was the result when our family mis- guidedly obeyed the command of sundry gay advertisements in the London tube stations. It is the lofty ambition of that species of Australian which frequents Kensington, Earls' Court a nd the vicinity, to venture into Europe in one of those antiquated junk heaps, the London taxi. Those who are unfortunate enough to be unable to pro- cure such an abominable vehicle content themselves with other machines, nearly as ludicrous; and ours might have been snid to fit into this category. They can be seen all over Europe and are so decorated with painted kangaroos, southern crosses, flags and emblems, as to provide a great source of entertainment for the local in- habitants. With only a small "Australia" in our rear window we managed to attract inquis·itive hordes of babbling peasantry in each small town. Having thus placed ourselves on such a low social foot- ing, we considered it too undignified to stay at respectable hotels where one may have wash basins and hot water in one's room. No, no. One is there in order to see life the way it is really lived and this discovers the lack of breakfast of any dimens·ion except in Holland and Scandinavia-it diminished itself to rusks and black coffee once, in France-and acquires the habit of drinking excessive amounts of wine-le vin du pays-and of eating huge quantities of bread. On the continent horns and traffic indicators are used con- tinually and driving is extremely fast and unnerving. Half of the roads cons·ist of disgusting pave, or large cobblestones, which leave one with permanent corrugations from the con- tinuous bumps. A delicious illustration of the speed observation occurred near Geneva, just before we came along, on the opposite side of the road. As we were crossing an intersection, we saw that a collision had just happened, but not of two cars·, nor three, nor even four, but in fact, twelve-a perfect example of the concertina. At the corner a group of twenty odd people stood waving their arms and shouting, around a shrieking policeman who

FRENCH CROSSWORD

CLUES

Across

Down

3. Grain. 9. Its. 13. To hail. 14. To be.

l. Beverage. 2. Counter. 3. Same as 3 across .

4. Any. 5. Note. 6. Bare.

15. Retention of the memory. 16. Earthern pan. 17 . Female duck. 18. Belief. 19. Embankment. 20. Open.

7. To wander. 8. Intoxicated. 9. If. 10. Year.

11. Embers. 12. Vigour.

-BETH LEE. VI A.

(Solution on Page 31).

23

22 I

Brisbane Giris' Grammar Schooi Magazine

July, 1957

Brisbane Girls' Grammar School Maqazine

July, 1957

was also waving his arms furiously. How the thing was settled, I shall never know, because we were so helpless with laughter that we had not the courage to stop, and perhaps alter the ending of this delightful tale. And therefore we chugged and clanked on OUr way. -CLACE BIRKBECK, VB. LINYUNGA At the faint wail from within the humpy, the young native sitting out~ide sprang to his feet. The child was born! His first child, and, he hoped, a boy. He waited patiently, out- wardly calm, but, inwardly, with a burning impatience until an old lubra-the midwife-emerged from the humpy. The young chief waited for her to speak but she only stared at him, speechless, her eyes full of fear. "The child is well?" he finally asked. She nodded. "Yes, Boorit Doon, and it is a boy, strong and healthy." But even in his joy he saw the fear still in her face, and a sudden, horrify- ing doubt gripped him. "Go", he said, "and bring the child to me." Whimpering in her fear she did his bidding, and brought the tiny, wailing bundle to him. He gazed at the child in horror, and then as the awfulnPss of the whole situation came over him, he shook with rage and disappointment. By native law, this child must die. "Give him to me," he growled, and she placed the little half caste in his arms·. Miraculously, the child's crying ceased, and he gazed up into the native's face. And the man knew that though this child was not of his making, he could never kill him. He stood in a moment's indecision, then: "Tal

in a "home" and sent him to school where the white children ridiculed his native ways and halting English. In the years that followed he fought himself free of their ridicule, but they never accepted him as one of themselves; while he, for his part, ever dreamed of a camp by a river, a tall native chief- tain, and the carefree, happy life he had lost. He understood now the stigma of his birth, and wanted only to return to his native life. At last, at fifteen, he left school, and finding work with a droving plant, returned to the country of his people. They welcomed him with smiles and gladness, but the old familiarity and equality was gone. Linyunga realised that now, owing to his long absence, he was an outcast even here. The natives, regarding him now as a product of the white man's ways, did not trust him. Sadly, he .left them. An outcast of both the white and the black worlds, Lin- yunga lived on in a morose, sullen world of his own. With not even hopes and dreams to cheer him he went, as do thousands of half breeds, from bad to worse, drinking and fight- ing his freedom away. He is eighteen now, a hard and bitter youth, just completing a nine months term in prison. His plight is a typical one. Can nothing be done for the thousands of half castes in Australia to-day, with no future, no hopes, and no dreams? -H. DODD, VB. MUNGALPIN Mungalpin is !he aboriginal name for Morelon Island, meaning-"where !he sand meels !he sky." This is their heritage. This is their land. A million years have called her fair.

Raised from the sea In mist blue years, Alone, she stands. The ghos t gums whisper-the moonlight is stilL Soft on the wing the light wind breathes, Ripples the pools Hung dark with sleep. The warm earth stirs . This is their heritage. This is their land. Brown eyes mirror a dusty dream Lost in the earth, And the shimmering heal Of a silent age. Here is the dream land, hushed and still In the infinite blue the eagle waits . The thunder rolls,

The black ships strain Broken the silence-

The dream is gone . 25

-A. CRAWFORD, VB.

July, 1957

Brisbane Girls' Grammar School Magazine

Brisbane Girls' Grammar School Magazine

July, 1957

VIEW FROM BILBROUGH'S The clear, cold, blustering day was typical August weather. The sun was hot, but a cold strong wind had risen. It whipped dead leaves around our feet and swirled the sur- face dust of the long brown road we were walking: The road suddenly narrowed into a steep rocky path up the hill. We did not mind the exhausting tramp over boulders and through patches of dense undergrowth, because w~ were anxious to gain the summit of the hill, known as Bilbrough's Lookout, which was reputed to offer a magnificent view. Then the path took a steep turn, the wind blew more strongly, and we were on top. Our efforts were truly rewarded. The beauty of panorama stretching below us was breathtaking. The coastline from Moreton Bay to Cape Byron was easily seen, with every cape and bay clearly outlined by the intense blue of the ocean. We could faintly see the waves being pounded into spray on the rocks of Pt. Danger. The strong south-easter whipped the sea into lines· of white foam, visible to us so far away. On the distant horizon we discerned a: smudge of smoke from a passing streamer. Far to the south, Byron Bay Lighthouse stood firm on the headland. Directly below we could see clusters of farm houses·, surrounded by rich cane fields like neat patchwork quilts of green and brown, and we could distinguish the large towns which are scattered along the coast. The white strips that were roads winding so far below were in vivid contrast with the green of the fields, and by straining our eyes· we could see black specks of cars crawl- ing over them. The meandering rivers were as blue as the sea, and Terranora Lakes, lying snugly in the hills, were like pieces of carefully cut azure paper. To the south-west, Mount Warning stood black, grim, forbidding. The fleecy clouds flew across the sky before the strong wind, the birds in the trees· near us sang for the very joy of living, and the whole thing seemed unbelievably perfect. we· turned to go back, carving our names among many others on the huge black rock on the edge of the hill, because we were thankful and proud we had had the opportunity to witness something as awe-inspiring as what lay behind us. -R. WADDINGTON, IV A•. 27

N. BUCHANAN, VI A.

26

I .

July, 1957

Brisbane Girls~ Grammar School Magazine

Brisbane Girls~ Grammar School Magazine

July, 1957

THE INTRUSION

easy enough to start the day with a sharp gallop of half a mile or so!

The silent shadows of the fore st melt to thinnest blue, And meet the white of mists winding lower through the trees; Slow sways th' indolent branch that resentful bears The sleepless squirrel, excited with his winter store. Which in the cosy hole in darkness keeps. Not far beyond the broad and lonely stream, On which a leafy pageant bends its way towards the pass, Sobered in its pomp, saddened with the death of day, There-sudden walls of rock force the seething mists to rise; Halt the eager forest, which in the fruitful hours of morn Is goaded onward by the waters of the stream and fallen dew. Three rocky ledges higher than the mountain's dauntless base , A host of ghostly boulders guards the long-forgotten cave; Slow stabbed by silent darkness and long lost in wreathing Dain, The tangled vine still fai thful kept the secrets of the Man; · Still kept the murky den from the icy blast of wind; Still kept the very Hunter's dust beside his carven tool. But once the struggling vine is slashed and careless thrown aside , When the balking boulders crash below to blast the fleeing stream, And then the foot of modern man has paced the cluttered floor, The magic dust and mystery of Ancient Time is blown Across the valley, through the trees, to pierce that morning's mist Upon the quickened, eager breath of Nature's born intruder, Whose excited footfall, damped with dust, yet tells of the intrus ion; The cave is thrown open, and the stifled soul has fled. -WENDY POPE, VI A, ON RISING EARLY IN THE COUNTRY To many people, mostly city dwellers, the thought of an -early rising on a dairy farm would suggest several things- the sight of a glorious sunrise, the scent of the fresh, cold air and the s·ounds of the bush birds and animals. . No doubt all these, and many more wonderful things do exist, but one must be practical and it is for this reason that I choose to illustrate how I began the day during the recent .school holidays . The day usually began about 3.20 a.m. when either a sixth sense or Dad told me it was time "to rise and shine." Because the mornings· were very cold I frequentl y put on as much clothing as I could possibly find, even at the ·expense of my walking capabilities. The intelligence of a pony should never be underestimated -and my pony is, unfortunately for both of us, particularly intelligent in the early morning. Therefore, it often took me some time to find, catch and saddle her. However, we all have our crosses to bear and I usually managed to set out at a reasonable time. If not? Well, it was· 28

At this time of the morning most cows were busily taking advantage of the advancing daylight to snatch a hasty snack before the milking; but there are always a few exceptions, and as far as I was concerned, the fewer cows who found refuge in the lank, brown gras·s and undergrowth, the worse it was for me. Nevertheless, it did not take long to get them under way and all I had to do then, was to trail along behind them, prodding the slow-coaches. This was the most irritating part of the whole undertaking because the tedium and especially the dust were just inde- scribable. When the bails (only thos·e who do not work there, call this place a milking shed!) were at last reached the cows would generally decide that they had walked far enough and would stop short, fifty yards or so from the goal. The only way to budge was by using the stock whip;:: but, as this method only made them arrive at the double enveloped in a great cloud of red dust, it wasn't really worth it on two counts. At this point I never failed to be very short of both words and temper till, vowing that I would never do it again and that to-morrow Dad could "jolly well get the silly old cows himself," I retired to the house and a good strong cup of 'coffee or sometimes even to bed. And still people say, "Qh, I just love getting up early in the country !" - SUSAN PECHEY, IV B. Also, by this time the sun had risen and more often than not, I found myself with far too much clothing on.

29

Brisbane Girls' Grammar School Magc:zine

july, 1957

July, 1957

Brisbane Girls' Grammar School Magazine

SOLUTION

A VISIT TO THE CHINESE CLASSICAL THEATRE The lights grow dim, and we, the audience, watch curi- ously as the rich red curtains part slowly to disclose to our appreciative eyes all the splendour of the "Chinese Classical Theatre." First we are to see the "Lotus Dance," an exquisite, delicate interpretation of flowers on a lily pond. The lotus flower symbolises youth and beauty. The appearance of ruffled water is obtained by the almost imperceptible motion of the flowers as they sway rhythmically. The eight lotus flowers are joined by a ninth, their queen, and they all dance with joy and protect each other from the sun. Next comes the "Tea Picker's Dance," derived from an o ld Fukien folk dance. A group of young g irls· are picking tea . As twilight descends they a re about to turn homeward when a gaudy butterfly, flitting provocatively, catches their eye. They give it merry chase. This is essentially a story to show the coming of spring. "Where Three Roads Meet," an old Chinese story, por- trayed with brilliant satire and wit the d ifficulties of a duel in complete darkness. The Chines·e rarely use stage properties so the illu2ion of darkness Js created by the skill of the actors. Excellent acrobatics also play a major part in this comedy. One of the most curious features of the Chinese Theatre is the orchestra, composed of a ll manner of queer s·ounding, sometimes raucous wind and reed instruments. It plays just off stage and at intense moments its loudness becomes unbear- able. The Chinese Theatre has s·omething of an old world air a nd charm about it, and the whole performance has an inde- scribable polish, as it should, for the actors must train for many years before entering it. It is many hundreds of years o ld and its very age lends it romance. Seemingly ageless, it still affords as· admirable an entertainment now as it did in previous centuries .

Across:

Down:

l.

ble . ses .

the.

3. 9.

2. etabli.

13. heler.

ble en.

3. 4. 5.

etre.

14. 15.

tenace.

lettre.

16. terrine.

nu.

6

17.

7.

cane.

errer.

a·. enuire.

18. credo.

digue.

19. 20.

9.

si.

bee.

10. an. II. cendre. 12. seiee .

DESPAIR

-JANET THOMSON, IV D.

30

3'1~

July, 1957

Brisbane Girls' Grammar School Maqazine

July. 1957

Brisbane Girls' Grammar School Maqazine

EXPLORING THE BARRIER REEF The Great Barrier Reef of Queensland is one of the great natural wonders of the world. No description can adequately convey to the mind an impression of the beauty of the coral and the life a ssociated with it. At seven-thirty, we boarded the launch, and began our five hour cruise to a coral reef called Shaw Reef. On our first introduction to the coral, it was somewhat disappointing, as all that could be seen was brown, dead coral with huge nigger heads rising above everything else. As we neared the reef, and looked over the sides of the launch, layers upon layers of brilliantly coloured coral could be seen. The dinghy was lowered, and we were rowed over to the coral. Our ramble over the reef was full of interest, for the life everywhere is different from what we have ever seen. Clams with their sinuous mantle edges· displayed a wealth of brilliant colours. The mantle is velvet in appearance, and the clams spurt water whenever anyone comes near them. There are flowers on the reef, which bear a close resemblance to chrysan- themums and anemones. Prominent in every pooL and conspicous by their ugliness, are long drab beche-de-mer, or sea-slugs. There are many soft corals, rather rubbery in appearance. The hard coral is what must be looked for to walk on. Tropical fish of amazing pat- terns, and vivid colours·, swim lazily in crystal clear water. Tiny crabs scurry hither and thither among the coraL and baby octopi are seen everywhere. One of the most sought-for shells, is the tiger cowrie shell: we were fortunate enough to find severaL under huge chunks of coral ; these always come in pairs. They are about four inches in length, and have brown or black spots. We also found a couple of white cowries·, which are beautiful. Another interesting shell fish which is quite plentifuL is the Spider Shell. The upper surface is usually dulL and more or less eroded, but the lower surface is a most delicate pink. It has derived its name from the long, curved spines that pro- ject from the margin of the shell. While we had been admiring the reef, and my father had ·been taking coloured photographs, the tide had s'lowly been coming in, and we had to walk back to the dinghy through limy, muddy water. When once again on board the launch, we were taken into deeper water where many enthusiasts began fishing for Red Emperor, and other tropical fish which we enjoyed the following evening. 33

32

July, 1957

Brisbane Girls 1 Grammar School Magazine

July, 1957

Brisbane Girls 1 Grammar School Magazine

SPORTS ASSOCIATION President: Miss Crooks (on leave); Miss Macmillan. Vice-President: Miss Rooney. Secretary: R. Morrison. Treasurer : M. Geach .

The skipper allowed me to steer the launch for a while, and it was glorious, steering through the bright blue water, with porpoises playing on either side of the launch, and seeing the sun set like a red ball behind the islands, and giving them an orange tint. The tall trees on these islands were silhouetted against the darkening sky. It was a wonderful conclusion to a Very pleasant day. - NAVARRA HUMPHREYS, IIIB. ATHLETICS-AND THE AFTER EFFECTS \IVhen the annual ::ports are looming, three times round the track, fs just the sort of recipe, the record times to crack. A short tryout for relays, always heads the list, You take the flag and start to run, and then your ankle twists. :3o hobble to Assembly, and in the second verse, · { ou feel your head just spinning, and you're getting wor':.e and worse, ·{our legs· just turn to jelly at the "Amen" of the hymn, And the ceiling seems to tremble as everything goes dim When back to consciousness you come, you find you're on a bed, Your legs are sound, the picture's straight, away your painful head. So up you sit and back you go, to the lesson (which is French), Your pen nib strives to keep the line, as· all your teeth you clench, So first week's practice ends all right, with many more to come, And you wouldn't miss for anything,- The fainting's half the fun! -V. SKERMAN, III B. THE SEA What toppling wond'lrs of delight!

Committee: Miss Hutchison; Prefects: H. Duffy, C. Evans, N. Buchanan, V. Churven, W. Cooper, J. Fielding, M. Finlayson, M. Geach, R. Morrison, K. O'Connell, C. Readdy, J. Tunstall; K. Valle, J. Beak, J. Smith, J. Howcroft , A. Goddard, B. Beaumont, R. Johnson, L. Nichols, P . Sugars, A. Fielding , J. Simpson, J. Harrison, T. Hubbard, L Selby.

BEANLAND MEMORIAL LIBRARY COMMITTEE President: Miss Crooks (on leave); Miss Macmillan. Vice-Presidents: Mrs. Jackson, Miss Thomas, Miss Paterson. Secretary: G. Anderson. Treasurer: K. O'ConnelL

Committee: Miss Elliott, H. 'Duffy, C. Evans, C. Readdy, M. Neil, M. Geach,. A. Kobza, A . Hutton, J. Tremayne, H. WebstEtr, S. Will iamson, ). Vellnagel, S. Pechey, J. Coleman, J. Thompson, A. Simpson, K. Burnett, B. Bergland, S. de· Vidas, N. Johnson, E. Butz-Olsen, D. Brown. MAGAZINE COMMITTEE N. Buchanan (Editor); E. Lee, J. Marks (Sub~Editors); M. Golliker, R. Vickers , J. Gellie, M. Penman, M. Davis, M. Vallance, B. Jarrett, B. Sir!, F. Hart ,. V. Skerman, P. Moreton, J. Neilson, L. Tate. PREFECTS H. Duffy, C. Evans (Head Girls); N. Buchanan, V. Churven, W. Cooper, J. Fielding (Head Boarder), M. Finlayson, M. Geach, R. Morrison, K. O'Connell, C. Readdy, J. Tunstall , E. Lee (House Prefect).

FORM CAPTAINS IV C.-W. Hoffensetz. IV D.-A. Vidgen. IV E.-V. Jordan. IV F.-G. Spence. Ill A.-R. Mcinnes.

VL-H. Duffy, C. Evans. V A .-P. Stephenson. V B.-H. Ling. IV A.-R. Waddington. IV B.- M. Lowe.

Ill B.-R. Holt. Ill C.-J. Eglin ton. Ill D.-J. Rutledge. Ill E.-L. Best.

These misty seas of crashing might, Flanked by shores of gleaming sands Swept by winds from distant lands. A frothy mass of laughter bubbles Foaming and clinging to sea weed stubbles, Babbling through the rocky tunnels, Splashing out in eddying runnels . The lacy crests of tossing waves Rush echoing through the gloomy caves, While gulls flash by on graceful wings To skim the sun-drenched surface kings. Down in the sun~flecked depths below

TENNIS TEAM

M. Finlayson (captain), J. Smith (vice-captain), L. Nichols, G. Walden.

BASKETBALL TEAM K. Valle (captain), J. Beak, J. Johnston, J. Blackburn, N. Carr, P. Stephenson,. J. Prideaux. SWIMMING TEAM E. Deaville (captain), B. Bell, E. Howe, W. Pope, L. Greasley, M. Hughes" D. Jennings, J. Forster, M. Huxham, R. Johnson, E. Jessup, S. Smith, R. Mathers, K. Evans.

Colours richly flash and glow. Each a gem of

LIFE-SAVING TEAM E. Howe (captain), E. Deaville, E. Jessup, A. MarshalL 35

-JENIFER KELLY, Ill B