Objects of Substance- The Babushka or Bandanna

The function of the bandanna was three-fold: firstly, to act as a convenient control for wayward hair during intense competition; secondly, to match the conventional covering the head and hair; and finally, it was used to identify and place the girl wearing it in competition. By the 1920s, the bandanna was most definitely an official part of the athletics uniform. During the 1920s, the technique to secure the bandanna for the Grammar netballer or athlete was to have a square piece of cloth folded into a triangular shape, positioned tightly across the forehead, and then tied at the base of the skull in a knot. The apex of the triangle was either tucked into the knot or left to flutter. This use of colourful accessories to identify different competitors and supporters was carried over into sporting competitions within the School where intramural or form colours were worn as a bandanna and ribbons attached to blazers. The Brisbane Girls Grammar Sports Club minutes of 7 th December 1928 provide a list of Form Colours. These colours were worn as bandannas and occasionally, ties. A former pupil (1918 -1922) and staff member responsible for teaching English and co-ordinating Athletics (1930-1971), Marjorie Elliott, explained the colour allocation. In her words “[there was a] keen interform competition – second to fifth form had two colours (all Thirds had black plus another; Fourths navy plus another) Sixth form had the three colours blue, black and gold.” 1 Examples of these colour combinations were: IIIA’s colours were black and green, and IVA carried navy and cerise. Each form’s bandanna was made in the appropriate colours with the Fifth form wearing a tartan design of gold and royal blue in 1928.

c 1930 V Form Interform babushkas By the mid-1960s, the babushka was permanently adapted to a triangle with two long, narrow ties making it easier to tie onto the head, less bulky and difficult to keep on the athlete’s head in competition. The last year the bandanna was worn by Grammar athletes was 1967 where I had the joy of keeping it in place while competing in the Interschool Ballgames competition. As an athlete, I was certainly very pleased not having to battle with it in later competitions.

1 Elliott, M., Miss. (1973, May 3). Report of Interview with Miss Elliott on 3 May 1973 [Personal interview].