Objects of Substance – Governers General and Grammar

This tradition has continued. In 2020, the newest Girls Grammar building was opened by our Official Visitor. His Excellency the Honourable Paul de Jersey AC, Governor of Queensland, opened the Science Learning Centre on Tuesday 20 October. In a little more than 100 years, the nation's relationship to the Crown has changed markedly but the traditional link the Governor has with our School offers a sense of history and continuity no matter the crises faced.

20 October 2020 His Excellency, the Governor Paul de Jersey with Principal, Ms Jacinda Euler, and Chair of Trustees, Ms Julie McKay Each year since the School opened, Governors have also been invited to the annual prize giving events. Initially held in conjunction with Brisbane Grammar School, from 1927, Girls Grammar hosted its own separate ceremony. Of course, on this auspicious occasion, our Official Visitor, His Excellency the Governor, Sir John Goodwin, accompanied by Lady Goodwin, was the first Governor to distribute our own annual prizes. It was often the case that the Governor's wife was tasked with the presentation of prizes. Kristine Harvey (1967) remembers vividly that her mother had to rush out to purchase white, wrist-length gloves-to match her white Speech Day dress-so that she could shake hands and curtsy to receive her prize from Lady May Abel-Smith, the wife of the then- Governor. She recalls how protocol was strongly stressed and that curtsy practice occurred.