2014 School Magazine

FROM THE SERVICE CAPTAINS AMY HANCELL (12B) AND EUGENIE SMITH (12M) There is a saying that ‘to lead is to serve’. As Service Captains at Girls Grammar, we have had the privilege this year to do both these things as we have worked with wonderful and compassionate students to enrich the lives of others. We have laughed, we have cried, we have worked and we have given. Most of all, we have been blessed, as we discovered that giving is truly the greatest gift. Service at Girls Grammar is both tangible and intangible, big and small, and, whether consciously or not, has affected every member of the School community this year. In reviewing the year as Service Captains, we couldn’t be more proud of the efforts and thoughtfulness of the girls. We have built upon a tradition of well-supported Service initiatives such as the World Vision fundraising for Years 8 and 9, and community service for Year 10, by implementing our agenda of new ideas. One such initiative saw a special collaboration between Sport, Arts and Service dubbed the SAS events. As the title suggests, they were indeed SASsy and made a significant contribution to the School charity and the atmosphere of giving amongst the students. The role of House Service Leader this year has been reconfigured from a pastoral role to one of great significance within the House. House Service Leaders helped raise the awareness and status of the nine respective House charities, as well as provide an extra fundraising event involving the whole House. The Heelys fundraiser, a quirky idea involving a formal dare and a pair of hideous hybrid roller-blade-joggers, was very successful providing not only hilarious formal photos but also an unprecedented $755 for mental health. It just goes to show we can have fun while helping our community. Pink Day was again successful, as the compassion and generosity of the girls and their parents made the day poignant and memorable, particularly to those touched by breast cancer. This year we attempted to shine a spotlight on specific projects that would highlight to girls that Service isn’t just about donating money. Instead it is about showing empathy and care and using your skills and passion to assist others. The Good on Ya’s (kind acts) were a way of creating opportunities for us to do something kind for someone to understand that a generous act in itself is rewarding. Ranging from ‘line up for the tuckshop with another girl’ to ‘give someone in another grade a high five’, the Good on Ya’s was another small but successful Service initiative, reminding us all that Service is an attitude, not just an obligation. The Steptember project, raising money for Cerebral Palsy, has been one with broad appeal and an easy entry point for girls to really be gripped by the heart of Service — not just by raising money, but also improving their own fitness as they step out with friends. This year we were overwhelmed by the more than $11,700 raised by our eighty-five teams of students, staff and parents.

Finally, the School charity project raising funds and awareness for Indigenous health and education, has forged a new partnership between Girls Grammar, and the students at Carinity Southside Education. This is an important step for Girls Grammar as we acknowledge the importance and legacy of our Indigenous community. Although we have raised a great deal of money, more significantly we feel we have really embraced the opportunities provided at this School to make a difference to the futures of other students in our community. We feel strongly that active involvement in Service can help grow an individual’s sense of justice, compassion, humility and grace. We feel truly privileged to have led the Service effort in 2014 at BGGS. We sincerely thank Mrs Mungomery for her patient, kind and wise stewardship and importantly thank all the BGGS girls who so generously baked, roller-skated, decorated, spruiked and gave of their hearts for the benefit others. ■

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