Objects of Substance- 1957 Athletics Program

Lyn Lewis, a boarder, was an exceptional sprinter and, in her first year at the school, 1957, won the 75 yard Junior Championship and her age race. On Speech Day, she received the School’s prestigious Trustees Cup, the School Athletics Prize, and a Blue. In Lyn’s words, “I was a good runner before I went to Grammar representing Queensland at National Athletics carnival held at Lang Park winning the Queensland Junior relay… In my later years, I became very friendly with both Marlene Matthews and Raelene Boyle, who both went on to great Olympics and Commonwealth Games success, and we have often discussed our times at the same ages, and I was running about the same time as them. So, who knows how my career would have progressed if I had been allowed professional training.” (Lewis 26.08.23) Lyn went on to receive the School Athletics Prize in 1958, as well as a second Blue in 1959.

1958 Shuttle relay at the Brisbane Cricket Ground.

Elaine’s QGSSSA program, when compared with the Track and Field program of today, also sheds light on the changes in women’s sport and societal attitudes. Sixty-six years ago, when Grammar athletes marched under their banner at the Brisbane Cricket Ground on Saturday 3 rd August, they had competed in 26 events. These events included ballgames (in 1957, this included File Gap, Captain Ball, Leaderball, and Tunnel and Zig-zag Pass), sprints from 60 yards to 220 yards, and shuttle relays. Age divisions were under 15 years and over 15 years for relays and championships, and under 13 years to 17 years and over for 60 to 100 yard sprints. The schools competed for three cups: the Stephens Cup and the Senior and Junior Cups with points awarded for the top five schools in each event. This is an interesting point as there were 12 schools in the QGSSSA at the time which included Wynnum State High School (grey) and State Commercial High (mauve). Relays and championships were valued over regular sprints and ballgames, gaining extra points.