July 1966 School Magazine

July, 1966

Brisbane Girls' Grammar School Magazine

July, 1966

Brisbane Girls' Grammar School Magazine

as possible, showing off their lithe brown bodies to their best advantage. Slowly they drifted to the water's edge where they joined the happy crowds in the cool water . The farmers left their homes after listening to the news, to contemplate what they would do about the present day affairs, but forgot those worries for their own, more definite, more vital worries of the use of their land and the bringing in of more money to send the children to boarding schools in the capital city. The sun dropped lower in the sky. The crowds at the beach drifted home, slowly, considering their last day of the long week- end an absolute success. The seagulls circled overhead placidly; the waves still rolled to shore; the wind blew caressingly on to the land, a warning of night approaching . The sun cast its vivid colours over the sky, purple, crimson, gold, all gradually fading. A star twinkled there, and from a passing car came the rhyme : The colourful neon lights began flashing in the beach resorts; the farmers returned home from a long, tiring, but completely satis- factory day. The darkness, an inky blue, slowly crept across the evening sky. A few more stars twinkled. The moon looked calmly over the whole area. The last seagulls flew against the darkening sky, beautiful white, graceful birds . Eventually, they, too, would rest. The people listened again to the news, and then went to watch television. The wind blew ge11tly outside the houses and against the hills. The hills stood out black against the now quickly darkening sky. Another day had finished, lights went out, one after the other, until the moon could see only the street lamps. Presently another day began to form, to be born in a glorious moment of brilliant colour. - RACHEL CALLAGHAN, VA, Gibson House. "Little star, evening star, The first I see tonight, Grant to me my eager wish". Daylight slowly, unwillingly, succumbed to night.

SUMMER SKETCH 1 The trees stood black and stark against the dimly lit sky. The hills were softly shaped, with gentle contours which lengthen- ed towards a plain. Delicate pinks and mauves chased the night sky away, then the delicate pink suddenly changed to the bright pink of the cockatoo's breast, and the sky grew red with the sunrise. The clouds were pink-tinged grey - delicate cirrus clouds, and the promise of a fine day dawned. The reflection of the sun grew on the water - a long gradually widening strip of rippling gold, and a golden disc visibly growing larger, until all signs of night had gone. The fishermen stood waist deep in the cold water, waiting patiently; early-risers wandered along the huge expanse of pale sand. The creek moved as though angered by some element - the fast retreat of the night tide. Overhead, seagulls screeched, and suddenly one plummeted down to the sea below it, and rose with a great flourish with its catch, to join its companions . The day wore on. The cool morning sun changed, gradually becoming hotter. Life became its usual busy bustle - hundreds of holiday-makers lying for hours on the sand, or swimming in the cool water. The hills were surveyed by a farmer for his next season's crops; the plain was checked fot broken fences against the chance of straying sheep or cattle. Towards midday, people went back to their hotels for lunch and a cool drink, the sun too hot for comfortable sunbaking. The seagulls still screechecl. overhead; the waves still rolled to the shore; the trees still swayed in a gentle breeze . In the early afternoon, the peonle listened to their radios before going back to the be:ich. They heard that an esc:aped prisoner - a murderer - had killed another man. but had been caught shortly afterwards. They heard the squabbles of inter- national. oolitics and wondered if this unc1eclared war would come to anything, and honed for the best. placing their . lives in the hands of the men they had chosen for their government. The news broadcast finished with the announcement that four more oeople had been killed on the road, and six injured. two seriously, binging the total to twelve dead and seventeen iniurecl. over the long weekend. The people retired to their comfortable rooms to rest. The youngsters had, all this time, been standing in snack bars drinkinp; pute fruit juice and eating hamburgers and fish and chips. Or tqey had been standing in groups around rather flashy cars with surf boards on top. They were all dressed as scantily

- D. P., VIE, Griffith House.

39

38