Grammar Gazette- Issue 2, 2010

B R I S B A N E G I R L S G R A M M A R S C H O O L

Swimming in competition against Ipswich Girls’ Grammar School, St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School, Brisbane High School for Girls and Southport High School. In 1917, MIss Mackay initiated a Sports Day the proceeds of which went to the Patriotic Fund. This day emerged into an annual event, although the fund raising aspect of this day has long since ceased. In 1918, she actively supported a Combined Secondary Schools Sports competition. Brisbane Girls Grammar School won this inaugural competition and was subsequently awarded the Stephens Trophy; a trophy still presented to the school that wins the Interschool Athletics. Miss Mackay also believed that the best all-round sporting student should be acknowledged. In 1917 an anonymous donor paved the way for the first Sports Brooch to be awarded. Designed by Dorothea Stephens, a student, the first brooch was given to Essie Wilson. As it remains the highest sporting award in the School, the Sports Brooch continues to be presented on Speech Day. MIss Mackay always encouraged her students to be active, involved and responsible students. As an assistant mistress, she personally catalogued the entire Library of about 600 books then handed the keys to the students in Form VIa expecting them to manage the Library in the interests of other students. In 1918, she introduced a Sports’ Committee consisting of four staff and six students whose collective task was to co-ordinate all school sports. This was a fairly novel concept; that is, giving responsibility to students but under the nurturing eye of experienced staff members. The most important change she made occurred in 1920 when she initiated the School Officers Group consisting of Prefects, Form Captains, Sports Captains, Librarians and the Editor of the Magazine. From within this group came the School’s first Head Girl; Doris Howlett who later became the recipient of the Lady Lilley Gold Medal.

MIss Mackay was also entrusted to carry out Miss Beanland’s (Lady Principal 1882 – 1888) wish for a silver medal, which she had cast in memory of her mother, to be presented to the student who showed the most proficiency in needlework. The first recipient, in 1915, was Mona Collings. The Esther Beanland Memorial Medal is still presented today but, in keeping with contemporary times, is known as the Esther Beanland Medal for Textile Design. Although school records do not indicate that MIss Mackay played sport as a student, it is evident that she fully supported a very large and successful sporting programme. Many of the trophies donated at that time continue to be presented at Interhouse or QGSSSA competitions. For example In 1915, Mrs Burrell, mother of Joan, who was a swimmer in the School’s winning Brockway Cup relay, donated a trophy which continues to be given to the school which wins the relays at the QGSSSA competition. Within the embryonic Interschool competition, Brisbane Girls Grammar School held the esteemed Secondary Schools Cup from 1916–1921 for their overall success in Tennis, Basketball (Netball) and “MACKAY INITIATED A SPORTS DAY THE PROCEEDS OF WHICH WENT TO THE PATRIOTIC FUND. THIS DAY EMERGED INTO ANANNUAL EVENT, ALTHOUGH THE FUND RAISING ASPECT OF THIS DAY HAS LONG SINCE CEASED.”

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