Objects of Substance- The Gymnastics Wall Bars

1976 D Grade WAG pose on the beam in front of the original wall bars. L to R: Kay Bowen, Elizabeth Ham (splits), Elisa Swindon, Katrina Heer.

The transition of the wall bars from the Auditorium to the School’s most significant facility for

Physical Education and Sport, to date, the McCrae Grassie Sports Centre, was made due to the co

ordinator of Artistic Gymnastics, Nicole Robbins nee Ives. For her, the wall bars were one of the first

things she noticed about the School when she arrived in 1989 to commence 28 years of teaching at

BGGS.

Completed in 1994, and opened on 15 March 1995, The McCrae Grassie Sports Centre, represented

a dramatic shift in the School’s approach towards Physical Education and co -curricular sport. In 1995

it was a purpose-built, state-of-the- art school sports facility. A specialised Women’s Artistic

Gymnastics space was a feature of the building and, along with Basketball, Netball, Volleyball,

Badminton, and other open spaces, the Sport Centre presented students with a safe and engaging

environment to learn. Co-curriculum preferences, and the Physical Education curriculum, had

changed dramatically since 1962. The role of creative movement and educational gymnastics had

diminished and much of the equipment, once considered so vital to girls’ physical wellbeing, was

discarded. Fortunately, one section of the wall bars was retained owing to Nicole Robbins suggestion

and transferred to a wall adjacent to the Gymnastics sprung floor, and continued to serve Grammar