Objects of Substance- The Grammar Banner

It is, of course, not the only banner to have been carried by Grammar girls and the School holds many others in its archives. A favourite is the large (400 x 200 centimetres), decades old banner that is simply adorned with ‘B.G.G.S.’. Striking in its simplicity, and large enough to be seen from great distance, it too has been carried into sports venues and hung from railings to proudly proclaim our presence.

2006 QGSSSA Athletics, QSAC, Nathan. Perhaps the most innovative use of this large banner came from Mrs Alice Dabelstein, the cross country coordinator throughout the early 2000s. Mrs Dabelstein used to lay it out on the last heart breaking incline just before the home stretch at the QGSSSA cross-country course at Limestone Park in Ipswich. Just as the Girls Grammar runners thought they had given their all, the sight of the banner that close to the finish line reminded them that they still had more to give. It was a none too-subtle prompt; a visual reminder for each girl to continue to work hard until the very end of the race. Other banners include those that are sport specific. There are banners for hockey, equestrian, swimming, touch, and tennis to name just a few. There are older-style painted canvases; mainly blue with white lettering, but some with the colours reversed. A number of these have been lost and now only exist in photographs or memory. Others have been recently retired to the archives for fear that they will perish with continued use. There is also a long history of homemade banners and other items of paraphernalia that have appeared over the years. These banners, some more skilfully made than others, appear only to disappear when the owners graduate. Some of these banners have also found a home in the school archives, for they too are part of the School’s story.