Objects of Substance- Spurgin Photograph Album

appears as a small, slight, fair student but these looks belie her resilience. [I wonder if her full name is not an indication of her [perhaps] unexpected strength.] Within her modest frame was a strong young woman who participated to the full in everything she undertook – and she seemed to be an ardent participator in everything she did! Even a quick browse through this album reveals she played a wide range of sports, including basketball (netball), athletics, ball games, and swimming. It seems she was a pocket-rocket. And what does Gwen’s album tell the 21 st century student about the School – beyond braids, bandannas, and bloomers? Firstly, school events, and especially sporting activities were significant enough to be celebrated with official photographs. And the athletes smile out proudly. The links with Brisbane Grammar were strong with evidence of girls involved in important events “next door”. The pages of photographs of what we assume were teachers also reveal how important these women were in the lives of their students. In addition, for archival purposes, there are very rare glimpses of a Gailey Building classroom, a Speech Day at the School, and girls grouped on the old Western Block stairs. The fact that Gwen took so much care to preserve these memories tells us that they were treasured moments. These are all sentiments a current Grammar girl would recognise. Gwen declared that “No frills is my motto” and this “get it done without fuss” is a motto that generations of Grammar girls might recognise. While the School rightly celebrates those students who stand out, excel, trailblaze, that attitude about involvement, commitment, drive, positivity, and contributing are qualities that also deserve admiration. Jenny Davis Librarian – Special Collections

Page 6 from Gwen Spurgin’s album dated 1922 and 1923