June 1940 School Magazine

Brisbane Girls' Grammar School Magazine

Brisbane Girls' Grammar School Magazine

June, 1940

June, 1940

BETTY WOOLCOCK MEMORIAL ESSAY By JUNE CHRYSTAL "We are the music-makers, And we are the dreamers of dreams,

CURRENT EVENTS.

Now that the time has come when everyone must do all they can to help their Empire we, at school who ca,n not do full-t ime work in the greater effort being made by the ardent workers of many various societies, are endeavouring to help a little in the great work being done . We hape we may be able to take our part in active war work when we -leave school; but for the present we can help by knitting and s ewing. Last December, over 50 pairs of socks •were sent to the Comforts' Fund, and at the invitation of a committee of ladies of this body, girl3 representing every form helped to pack comfor ts wl:iich were sent to the navy for Christmas . Two old girls and two present girls were given the honour of lettering for the. Australian Comforts' Fund excerpts from Her Majesty the Queen's speech to the women of the E'mpire. In May, 12 pairs of socks, 4 pairs of gloves, 5 pairs of mittens, 5 scarves and 4 bala- clavas were sent to the Comforts' Fund, and since then wool has been dis- tributed for 21 pairs of socks, 12 scarves, 9 waistcoat mufflers, 9 balaclavas and 17 pairs of mittens. We were pleased to be able to contribute towards the success of the Government House Fete on April 20th, and 110 beautifully dressed dolls were sent to the Dolls ' Stall. Mrs . Grant has since told us· they were much appre- ciated. The raffle conducted by Sixth Form brought in £3/10/-, which was also sent to Mrs. Grant for this stall. In May, 200 housewives were assembled for the Women's National Register by the Knitting and Games Group and by other girls of the School. Every month the Army Medical Comforts' Fund Committee holds a tuckshop which is well patronized by the School. The Clubs which '.lfere begun last winter with such great success, were resumed in the second term of this year, and a First Aid group has be€n added to the Wanderers, Handicraft Club, Orchestra, Photographic Club, Knitting, Reading and Games clubs. Entertainments are enjoyed by every schoolgirl, and three very enjoyable ones have been g iven in these two terms. Mr. Purdie again delighted the school by his recital of "Macbeth" and "Henry V .", and we are sorry that this visit to the school will probably be his last. Later in the term Miss Purnell gave a pianoforte recital which was enjoyed by the Upper and Middle School. Miss Laurel Martyn, known to Old Girls as Laurel Gill, gave a delightful talk on her experiences in England and her work in Ballet there. Miss Martyn is an Old Girl of the school, and we w ish her every success in the career which :she has chosen and obviously loves so well. Old Girls' Day was once more a success and the matches we·re played with excellent spirit. The Swimming Carnivals were attended by enthusi - ·astic spectators. We gained second place in · the Brockway and McWhir ter Cup Compet itions, and also at the Interschool Swimming Carnival where we won ihe relay race and gained five first places in other events. Net-ball and tennis fixtures have begun and the teams are playing well. Great enthusiasm is being shown ir: Athletics which have began this term. At the end of last year we were sorry to learn that Mrs. Mottram and Mrs. Bell would not be returning. Many of us remember Mrs . Mottram from our first weeks in the school, her symr::athy as a Form Mistress and her enthusi- ·asm and encouragement in Form and Interform Net-ball. We extend to her every good ,;,_,ish in the fu ture and look forward to seeing her at school functions. We extend a welcome to Miss Baker and Miss Crooks who have joined the Staff this year. 10

Wandering by lone sea-breakers, And sitting by desolate streams;- World losers and world forsakers, On whom the pale moon g leams; Yet we are the movers and shakers Of the world for ever, it seems".

O'Shaughnessy.

From "The Music Makers"

We do not seek for fame and worldly glory, Or other futile joys the proud could name, We strive not thro ' the lure a f vain ambition, To climb the steep and slippery steps of Fame. Our joys and hopes, and faith in the Here afte-r Expression find in concord of sweet sound. . Our live s we g ive to sadness, joy and la~ghter, Our souls belong to God, and scorn the ground . At dawning, when the g lorious orb of Heaven Sheds on the drowsy world its radiant light, Awakening to a twinkling fa iry sphmdour The dewy drops of crystal, glist'ning bright- Where ceaselessly, with sonorous roar and rumble, The angry breakers beating on the shore, Frustrated, see their azure castles tumble, And fall in snowy helplessness once more- Where thro ' the fairy woods and leafy bowers, The singing silver streamlet scorns to rest Entranced, we hear such mystic songs of 'Nature, As in Elysian Fie lds might charm the b lest. Melodious Muse, give us the elusive power, Who, for pure love of thee surrender all, That we may with sweet harmony endower Those restless, weary souls Pride holds in thrall. And when the silver queen in misty glory, Her twinkling train leads o'er the carpet jet, Oh, visit us with stirring inspiration, That thy adherents, Muse, may serve thee yet. As lost in mystery of meditation, We sit in solitude by stream or sea. So far detached from power and temptation, We dwell in halcyon realms of melody. Oh could our mortal ears but once · be opened, Tuned to receive the music of ihe spheres- Oh could they be regaled by rippling glory, The magic melody of countless years ! Oh could the cup of ecstacy be tasted But for ::>ne fle eting breath, one tiny space, The snow-white dove would bring the light of concord To banish sombre war-clouds from Earth's face .

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