Brisbane Girls Grammar School Gazette, Issue 2 2020 by Brisbane Girls Grammar School

Issue 2, 2020 Volume 36

Judicious and ethical action

The Future of Science at Girls Grammar . . . BGGS Head of the River Win. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The 2020 Service Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gala: Ode to Joy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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Judicious and ethical action Guiding Principle, Brisbane Girls Grammar School Strategic Design 2020–2022 — In each edition of the Gazette, a student contributes a design element to represent the Guiding Principle that informs the publication.

This design is multifaceted, encapsulating the theme of ‘Judicious and Ethical Action’ in many ways. The simplified light bulb container symbolises positive action, progression, invention and forward thinking. Extending upon this, the hand holding the light bulb—created using negative space—alludes to ideas of activism and conscious judgement; humans seeking to promote positive, ethical action are leaders, who ‘hold the torch’ and guide the way toward constructive change. Additionally, following the curve of the abstract glass reflection, a set of scales is included to didactically convey the concept of judicious and ethical action. Collectively, the elements of the design unite to create a visually interesting, thought-provoking and balanced icon. —Audrey Lusk (11E)

Grammar Gazette Issue 2, 2020 | Volume 36

— Managing Editor: Ms Veena Herron Acting Director of Communications and Engagement Editor: Ms Keziah Sydes Senior Communications Officer For Gazette enquiries and comments: T +61 7 3332 1300 E communications@bggs.qld.edu.au To change your subscription to the Gazette from printed to electronic please email communications@bggs.qld.edu.au.

Printed in Brisbane on environmentally responsible paper.

cover image The School's newly opened Science Learning Centre

Contents 02

Practising principled behaviour

Year 9 and 10 Drama Production

2020 Gala

Embracing 2020

Mrs Emma Lowry

From the Principal Ms Jacinda Euler

From the Head Girls Arwen Dias-Jayasinha (12G) and Abbey Grice (12E)

Open to New Discoveries

Trailer

In Their Words

Ethical Action in Practice The 2020 Service Program

An historic day for Rowing

Girls Grammarâ€™s commitment to the climate

Collaboration Amidst COVID-19

Small Steps to Sustainability

The Funfit Revolution Movement for movement's sake

Designing for better health

Brisbane Girls Grammar School

More Than Spectators A brief history of the Fathers Group

The Science Learning Centre

BGGS Wins Head of the River 2020

Ode to Joy

20 Years in 2020 The BGGS Class of 2000

Shaping Our World The gift of education

Awards and Achievements

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From the Principal

Ms Jacinda Euler Principal

Practising principled behaviour

It is one thing to be taught values and ideals at home, but it is quite another lesson to learn, practically, how to join together with other people who share the same values, and use your collective voice to enact change. And there are some changes that simply cannot be made alone.

One of the great challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic has been to ensure that we are effectively looking after each other—in our communities, as nations, and even on a global scale. The year’s unpredictability has given us pause to reflect upon our values, perhaps reassess priorities and decide for ourselves what needs to be preserved, even fought for, despite upheaval or uncertainty. The School’s Guiding Principles have similarly gone through this ‘2020 filter’. The principle at the heart of this edition of Gazette, Judicious and Ethical Action, has taken on new meaning. The strategies that underpin it—challenging the status quo thoughtfully and creatively, contributing through service, advocating for a more just world—have proven essential parts of our academic programs, activities, and daily school life.

At BGGS we are proud to create spaces and structures where Grammar girls, families and staff can lead and contribute to important initiatives. Throughout this publication, you will read many such stories. In the face of losing many of their much-anticipated school milestones, students looked beyond themselves to support those experiencing hardship, through Service activities such as the Notes of Hope (page 13). For many years, students and staff have been progressively making our campuses and practices more environmentally sustainable, with exciting new initiatives emerging (page 18). And our alumnae continue to lead by example, with many dedicating their lives or careers in service to their communities (from page 31), be they local or global.

We are also excited to introduce another space for girls to learn more about their world, our new Science Learning Centre (page 5). A dedicated space for enquiry, the building was explicitly designed to nurture the curiosity of our students, prompting them to interrogate ideas using the scientific method, a foundational skill for judicious and ethical decision-making. It is my expectation that Girls Grammar students will acknowledge the importance of principled behaviour and my hope that they understand our actions should have a positive impact, which requires making good decisions for themselves and doing what is right. BGGS seeks to cultivate in students lasting lessons that will help our capable young women to find their own, unique way through the complexities of the world and, hopefully, to improve it.

left Principal, Ms Jacinda Euler, and Chair, Board of Trustees, Ms Julie McKay, join His Excellency the Honourable Paul de Jersey AC, Governor of Queensland, with the building's plaque

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Embracing 2020

Arwen Dias-Jayasinha (12G) and Abbey Grice (12E) Head Girls

A year of love, teamwork and spirit

At this year’s Year 12 Leadership Induction, we looked forward to 2020 as ‘a new year, a new decade, with new leaders, and new beginnings’ because, while we could have never predicted the experiences the year has brought, we always knew it would be one to remember. From the day our cohort walked through the white picket fence for the first time, we were unique. As the School’s first Year 7 students, we not only embraced everything Girls Grammar has to offer, but also formed a truly special bond. This bond only strengthened as we prepared for the new ATAR system and—with the challenges of every new marking guide, assessment piece, and QCAA guideline—we demonstrated resilience, perseverance, and most importantly, enthusiasm. These defining qualities are represented in our school motto for this year: ‘2020, me and you, be the glue that binds the blue’. As the only cohort to include their year in the motto, we saw 2020 not just as a memento of the year we graduated, but as a symbol of the new decade and journey we are all entering— together. And, unbeknownst to us, our motto could not have encapsulated the spirit and disposition needed to thrive in this current world more perfectly.

Brisbane Girls Grammar School

This year has delivered many challenges, but we have faced them with the attributes that Grammar girls have always held in high regard: love; teamwork; and spirit. We were amazed at how well each and every girl enacted these qualities throughout the year, especially during remote learning. The amount of love we witnessed was incredible. It started with our teachers, to whom we are all so grateful for providing learning resources of the highest quality to help us transition into remote learning as smoothly as possible. Equally amazing was the love Grammar girls showed for each other. We saw girls embracing their sisters like never before in isolation, from checking in on each other—every day, in some cases—to having Zoom lunchtimes, or simply interacting in virtual House Assemblies. We were also proud to see how contemplative girls were during isolation; whether it was participating in mindfulness, or balancing learning with non-screen activities like exercise, family time, or baking, self-care remained a strong priority.

The Student Council’s initiatives were also integral in building teamwork. Both the Passion Series of videos, which showcased girls’ hobbies and interests, and the Creative Manifestations Series, which taught new artistic skills, allowed us to appreciate the hidden talents of girls at the School. The continuation of co-curricular activities through recorded music performances, Zoom fitness sessions and Service opportunities further highlighted our teamwork. Finally, our spirit has shone as we have all had the chance develop our resilience, creativity, and positivity. As we reflect on the year, we are proud of the attitude we have adopted, the kindness we have shown and the spirit we have brought to every occasion. As long as our Grammar sisters demonstrate love, teamwork and spirit, we are sure that in years to come, they will remember this time as enjoyable and enriching.

above Abbey Grice (12E) and Arwen Dias-Jayasinha (12G) welcome girls back to School after remote learning during Term 2

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FROM THE STUDENTS GEOGRAPHY

In Term 1, Year 10 Geography students were asked to select a young individual who has made a positive contribution to advancing the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals by improving the wellbeing of their communities and the health of the planet. Students then produced an illustration and an artist statement demonstrating the individual’s achievements.

Young Agent of Change: Trisha Shetty Isabel Shorrock-Browne (10R) Human rights lawyer and feminist, Trisha Shetty, is an advocate for women’s rights. Through her foundation, SheSays, she helps empower women and provide support for those suffering sexual abuse and violence. Established in 2015, the program educates women on how to respond to harassment, as well as how to provide emotional and physical support. Through the foundation and her personal endeavours, she has engaged with and educated more than 60 000 young women. As a United Nations Young Leader, Trisha Shetty strives to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 5: Gender Equality. Her work focuses on target 5.2: ‘Eliminating all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation’. Trisha, with the help of her organisation, has already been able to assist 151 426 women in India. Her presence at international forums, including the 2019 Paris Peace Forum and the 2017 UN ECOSOC Youth Forum, has made her an influential voice in articulating the changes necessary to achieve gender equality. Her work has been praised globally, including by Queen Elizabeth II, who presented her with the Queen’s Young Leader Award in 2018.

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Open to New Discoveries The Science Learning Centre

Term 4 2020 marked the beginning of an exciting next stage in Science education at Brisbane Girls Grammar School. The School’s Science Learning Centre (SLC) was officially opened by His Excellency the Honourable Paul de Jersey AC, Governor of Queensland, on Tuesday 20 October 2020.

Completed more than three months ahead of schedule, the SLC was open for Grammar girls to attend classes on the first day of Term 4, Tuesday 6 October. Before school, girls were delighted to climb the building’s gantry staircases, exploring laboratories, advanced equipment rooms and breakout spaces. ▶

‘It’s so motivating to know this building has been built specifically for us to learn science—even the staircases all point to different versions of North, so when you’re walking up the stairs, you’re thinking about scientific concepts that inform our daily lives.’ —Catriona Brown (11G)

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The Science Learning Centre

Distinctive green glass panelling on the seven-storey building makes it a feature of the Spring Hill skyline, with its curved peaks visible from Victoria Park to the CBD, and beyond. However, its most innovative features are found within the building. Students and staff alike were captivated by the central architectural void, its sweeping structure inviting the sky into the heart of the building. The SLC significantly increases the number of laboratories at BGGS, offering dedicated floors and specialised equipment for each scientific discipline (Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Junior Science). It also provides five new general learning classrooms, a generous Sport and Health and Physical Education space, and a multi-function space that will seat up to 600 guests. Designed by m3architecture, the building is imbued with ‘teachable moments’ that allude to astronomical concepts, including the distinctive central void, which provides light and cooling functions, and is based on drawings of Einstein’s space-time continuum. As Grammar girls have a remarkable aptitude for, and interest in, Science, the building is set to bring immeasurable value to future generations. More than 90 per cent of Grammar girls choose to study a Science subject after Year 10, and in 2019, more than 50 per cent of graduates chose to study a STEM-based university degree. The Science Learning Centre represents Girls Grammar’s commitment to nurturing students’ scientific abilities—preparing them to know that in the midst of ambiguity, they can find solutions to the challenges the world faces. ▶

above Year 7 students in the Biology laboratories right: top to bottom His Excellency the Honourable Paul de Jersey AC, Governor of Queensland, addresses guests at the Official Opening of the SLC // Director of Science, Dr Sally Stephens, talking with parents // Guests at the Official Opening

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The Science Learning Centre

A foundation of giving — Ambitious projects, much like exciting and ground-breaking scientific discoveries, are tangible representations of our commitment to the future. In 2020, more than ever, the value this building represents to Grammar girls is apparent—an exciting next stage in science education has begun and an optimistic future beckons. No project such as this would be possible without the support of the Girls Grammar community. Thanks to the collective generosity of the Parents and Friends Association, Girls Grammar families, alumnae and staff, the Exceptional Futures philanthropy campaign has raised $3m in support for this project, surpassing the campaign’s goal. The School sincerely thanks every supporter of this project for their commitment to girls’ education and for believing that their futures as tomorrow’s leaders and good citizens will begin here. ■

top to bottom The Wall of Thanks, which takes the form of the periodic table, honours donors to the SLC // Mrs Sacha Cross and students in the classroom // Mr Alan Allinson with Year 12 students

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BGGS Wins Head of the River 2020 An historic day for Rowing

BGGS rowers made history in Term 3, winning Head of the River for the first time.

Brisbane Girls Grammar School

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Rowing

At the 31st Head of the River, held on Saturday 29 August at Wyaralong Dam, the BGGS First and Second VIII crews won in an impressive display of skill, determination and teamwork. Girls Grammar achieved its strongest results in the sport’s history at the School, finishing third in the aggregate trophy with 10 podium finishes—seven gold, two silver and one bronze. Year 9 crews set the tone for the day, winning the sixth, fifth and fourth division quad races, then placing 3rd in the third division. These fabulous early results inspired the other groups later in the morning, with the Year 10 fourth division crew continuing their undefeated season, the third division crew placing 3rd, and the first division crew finishing very strongly to also take 3rd place. Additionally, four single scullers competed in individual races as well as their crews. Congratulations to Ellyn Hill (11H), who won the Year 11 single scull convincingly, before achieving a second victory with the First VIII. In the lead up to Head of the River, the School officially named its new Rowing Eight scull ‘Audacia’, meaning daring, bold, and intrepid. The girls displayed all of these characteristics on the water. This year’s win was the culmination of a very successful season for our rowers and demonstrated the depth of the School’s rowing squad, cultivated over many years by former Rowing Coordinator, Mrs Sally Callie, and the entire coaching staff including Coordinator and Head Coach, Mr Darcy Wruck. The assistance of the Rowing Support Group, parents and the broader rowing community was invaluable to the School’s success. Director of Sport, Ms Jo Duffy, said our girls demonstrated great strength and commitment throughout the season, in preparation for Head of the River. ‘Rowing is an extremely challenging sport, and our girls have risen to the occasion, working hard during training, performing well at season regattas and coming together as a team to seize every opportunity’. Congratulations to all 73 BGGS rowers who competed on the day—the future of BGGS Rowing looks bright. Go Grammar! previous page The First VIII celebrate their victory top right The Second VIII at the first season regatta right Ellyn Hill (11H), winner of the Year 11 single scull

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Collaboration Amidst COVID-19 Designing for better health In the early stages of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Year 11 students worked with medical professionals and used their design skills to help create innovative personal protective equipment (PPE) solutions.

The key concern when developing a solution to the problem was creating a comfortable and convenient design. I had a design interest in the fact that all face shields had fixed lengths. After I had a viable solution to this problem, I realised the removability of the face acrylic also made it easier to clean. â€”Julie Lu (11G)

In March 2020, as COVID-19 case numbers began to climb in Queensland, BGGS alumna, Dr Amy Langford-Ely (Cunningham, 2004), was considering the potential impact of the pandemic on patients and healthcare professionals. As a General Practitioner (GP), Dr Langford-Ely wanted to do her part to prevent the virus from having the devastating impact that areas such as Northern Italy and New York City were experiencing. High case numbers in many areas resulted in a chronic undersupply of PPE, and all over the world, 3D-printing and laser-cutting communities were answering the call for items such as masks, shields and gloves for healthcare workers. Dr Langford-Ely thought of Brisbane Girls Grammar School, her alma mater, as she was aware the School owned a range of industrial design machines used in Design and Technologies subjects. She contacted

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the School, and spoke to Director of Technologies, Mr Brendon Thomas, about how BGGS students might be able to assist. Coinciding with the transition to remote learning at the end of Term 1, Year 11 Design students were tasked with creating PPE solutions for GPs and other medical staff. Dr Langford-Ely briefed students via video conference and email, allowing students to discuss different scenarios that Dr LangfordEly might face, and what priorities she and her fellow doctors would have in using PPE. Part of a Commercial Design unit, students learned firsthand how to respond to the needs of clients to create a commercially viable mask, considering economic, social and cultural constraints. Students worked collaboratively, developing concepts and low-fidelity prototypes to explore potential design features. Their designs reflected a range of parameters, such

as comfort, appropriate sizing, costeffectiveness, and ease of cleaning. Ultimately, students created a range of diverse designs, each catering to particular needs of medical practitioners. Some utilised the Schoolâ€™s 3D printers to create adjustable shields; others designed masks with intricate laser-cut features or foam straps to ensure comfortable longterm use. At the start of Term 3, selected student designs were produced using the School's 3D printers and laser cutters. They were used by staff in the BGGS Health Centre, and shared with medical professionals to gain feedback. This authentic and innovative learning exercise has been a powerful opportunity for students to experience a professional design process, and we thank Dr Langford-Ely for offering her time and expertise to the School. above Year 11 Design students Julie Lu (11G) and Grace Phua (11O) adjust their mask designs

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Trailer

Ms Bonnie Towers Drama Teacher

Year 9 and 10 Drama Production

On 22 October, the doors of Gehrmann Theatre opened for the Year 9 and 10 Drama Production of Vanessa Bates’ play, Trailer. Originally commissioned by Arts NSW to give a voice to young people living in regional areas, this contemporary coming-of-age story explores the themes of identity, contemporary family structures, self-discovery and hope through a cast of complex characters. As playwright Yasmina Reza has said, ‘Theatre is a mirror, a sharp reflection of society’, and this year’s production aims to provide hope to audience members in a year of uncertainty.

above right Jez (Maxine Gamer (10G)) inspecting a sinkhole forming in Keera’s front yard (Caitlin Davies (9W))

The play’s main character, Jez Bowden, is on a journey of self-discovery. Living in a coastal town, moving back and forth between destinations on a train line, Jez struggles with the conflict of feeling compelled to escape yet bound to stay. This theme of isolation is introduced in the opening scene of the play, set on a train, where chorus members are seen wearing earphones, tuned into devices, and not making eye contact or speaking out loud, in a designated ‘quiet carriage’. The inherent irony in the setting is that we view a group of people sharing a communal experience, however each person exists in complete isolation from one another. The train setting acts as a powerful metaphor, becoming a life-force that moves the action forward. Passengers can sit back and observe, or take charge

and action. For much of the play we see Jez as a passenger, both literally on the train and metaphorically in her own life. A sense of emptiness is symbolised by a recurring reference to sink holes. The physical presence of a sinkhole on stage in conjunction with its reference in dialogue reminds us just how quickly and unexpectedly life can change. The final hope-filled scene allows Jez to see her ‘spark’—her inner gifts and strength—giving her the courage to finally accept her circumstances and move forward. Through the process of bringing this performance to life our cast reflected upon the difficulties of this year and their own ‘sparks’. Our aim is to remind our audience of their resilience and unique qualities, and that life does keep moving.

above left Jane (Emma-Rose Neil (10M)), recounts stories told by her father, a train driver

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In Their Words

Mrs Emma Lowry Dean of Students

Empathy and understanding others

" ... we are building a culture— a strong community where people experience a sense of belonging."

— To read more stories from BGGS staff In Their Words, visit bggs.qld.edu.au/in-their-words

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Mrs Emma Lowry’s passion for studying and teaching the Japanese language has been a constant in her life. Responsible for the School’s comprehensive Student Care Program, Mrs Lowry attributes her emotional intelligence skills to her language studies. — I began studying Japanese in high school and instantly connected with the subject, embracing the opportunity to learn about a different culture. I’ve always liked to push myself beyond my comfort zone, and have studied abroad twice. I participated in a Rotary Youth Exchange after finishing high school, studying for 12 months in Tokyo; later, I lived in Sapporo, the capital city of the island of Hokkaido, while studying a Bachelor of Business and Arts at the University of Technology, Sydney. After completing my Business degree, I moved to Brisbane and started working, but I began to miss studying Japanese. I decided I wanted to share that passion with others, so I enrolled in a Bachelor of Education at Queensland University of Technology. I completed a practical placement at Girls Grammar with Head of Accounting, Dr Phillipa Greig, and as luck would have it, at the completion of my placement a position became available at the School as a part-time Japanese Teacher. I applied and was appointed to the role. In 2009, I took a leave of absence so that my husband and I could participate in The Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme. The Programme promotes grass-roots internationalisation and provides foreign language education at Japan’s government offices and schools.

We were placed near Sendai, northeast of Tokyo, in a small rural town of approximately 5000 people. The locals held community in a very high regard—they often shared home-grown fruit and vegetables or rice with us, and went out of their way to welcome us. I became friends with a local woman, and she would come to my house each week to teach me Japanese cooking. It was such a special and authentic experience that arose naturally from living as part of the community. However, my most memorable experiences were within the classroom—providing children with the opportunity to learn about an entirely different culture. Learning a language has certainly developed my emotional intelligence and ability to empathise. When you’re speaking in a different language you are always thinking about who you are communicating with, and it requires you to understand and relate to other people’s perspectives. I think these skills drew me to student care. Originally, I wanted to teach to share the love of embracing different cultures and different ways of thinking. Now in my role as Dean of Students, I’m not in the Japanese classroom as often but the fundamentals are the same. In Student Care, we are building a culture—a strong community where people experience a sense of belonging. The girls help create this culture and ensure Girls Grammar’s traditions carry on. For many, it’s often long after their time at the School that they truly appreciate their Girls Grammar experience. It is not uncommon for Heads of House or teachers to receive thank you cards years after a student has graduated. Without realising it at the time, it is the everyday interactions and relationships that make a difference, and inspire and influence a girl’s life path.

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Ethical Action in Practice

Mrs Lynne Mungomery Director of Service

The 2020 Service Program It is said that hard times can bring out the best in people. This year has given us many reasons to reflect on how, as a society, we depend on one another. This extends beyond our global economy and reliance on each other to prevent the spread of disease, but more personally, to our need for companionship, kindness and hope. Our students have responded positively through the School’s Service Program, reaching out to connect with those in need as a result of drought, bushfires and the global pandemic.

Helping others from afar — Throughout the year, Service Captains, Gia Cayas (12G) and YuZhen (Eva) Seet (12B), have promoted imaginative and unique School Service initiatives to inspire Grammar girls to contribute to their community, even while unable to connect physically. At the start of the school year, priorities turned to supporting our drought and bushfire-affected neighbours. The House Service Captains decided to support Rural Aid as the 2020 School Charity to enable a closer connection and understanding of the lives of rural Queenslanders. Established in 2015, Rural Aid aims to provide economic and empathetic assistance during and after natural disasters (Rural Aid, n.d.). Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the Rural Aid Gift of Music Program, in which Grammar girls would have helped raise funds for rural schools to access musical instruments, was suspended. Instead, more than 30

Grammar girls responded by compiling a video of short performances, recorded in their homes, to share with rural students and their families. The input from our musicians was so well received that the video was also shared with the aged care facilities that we had been unable to visit this year. Encouraged by our girls’ willingness to contribute, a second collaborative task was initiated to allow students to remain connected while physically distant. The intention: to bring happiness to somebody’s day. Artwork and messages of hope were created as ‘Notes of Hope’, and sent to residents at aged care facilities, frontline medical staff and rural families. A delightful outcome of these notes—and many other Service activities this year—has been the reciprocity and reward experienced by students. Heartwarming messages of thanks, photos and thank-you cards have been received, enhancing the reflective process and appreciation of the impact that simple acts of kindness can have. ▶

above 'Notes of Hope' were created by BGGS students and shared with aged care facilities, frontline medical staff, and rural communities

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Ethical Action in Practice

Changed focus: Community Contribution — While Year 10 Community Service students are normally required to compete 15 hours of active service within a community organisation, this year, their focus pivoted to completing acts of Community Contribution. This included participating in the RSL ‘Light up the Dawn’ initiative on ANZAC Day, connecting with or caring for neighbours and the elderly, or providing support for healthcare workers and those in need during isolation. The School Service Program has adapted to changing circumstances, while supporting students to find meaningful ways to engage with our charities and each other. While traditionally the Service Program has included a fundraising element, this year the program placed greater emphasis on awareness raising for key issues, building quality relationships and sharing simple

acts of kindness. Wherever possible, awareness and acts of kindness have been complemented by providing tangible help. Goods donated by the Girls Grammar community in the Term 2 Donation Drive enabled: the Second Chance Programme to provide board games and craft activities to families in supported living; Gibson House to stock the desperately low pantry at the Romero Centre; and the Uralla Club to provide clothing and toiletries to the Indigenous Unit at Queensland Children’s Hospital. Members of the Kirsten Jack Memorial Leukaemia Committee also received recognition for Hero-gram messages the girls created, which were posted on the Ipswich Hospital Foundation website and Facebook page, and the Second Chance Service group organised their annual Christmas gift-giving program for women at the Bahloo Women’s Youth Shelter and Zig Zag Young Women’s Resource Centre. ▶

‘Service has helped me to realise that what we may perceive as small actions can have a huge impact on others, and has taught me to be grateful for everything I have.’ —Eva Seet (12B), Service Captain

left Students in the Second Chance Service Group with Christmas gifts from the Girls Grammar community to women in local Brisbane shelters

Brisbane Girls Grammar School

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Ethical Action in Practice

Something lost, something gained — Girls Grammar students and staff are grateful, more than ever before, for the time that we have together. In Term 3, girls were delighted to have some of our more hands-on Service activities return, such as being PlayerMentors in the Modified Rugby Program, and celebrating initiatives like Diversity Day. The period of remote learning in Term 2 highlighted our need to connect face-to-face with each other. We were granted the luxury of time to experience togetherness at home with our family; however, the importance of friendship and companionship with others soon became apparent for many. Students missed the face-to-face communication with their friends and teachers, and likewise, teachers missed sharing the classroom with their students. The vibrancy and spirit that we love about our School was suddenly diminished, and it became apparent that there were (and are) many people in our community experiencing far greater feelings of loneliness and loss of hope. While the unique challenges and uncertainty that we each might be facing continue, we have all learned new ways of contributing and supporting each other that will stand us in good stead for whatever the future holds.

Service Spotlight: GingerCloud Foundation's Modified Rugby Program (MRP) — The MRP is a modified form of touch-only rugby, which aims to allow children with learning and perceptual disabilities to experience the thrill of playing rugby, with the support of their own PlayerMentor on the field. — ‘I love being at MRP because I see my player becomes more confident every week. Overall, it’s just a really joyful experience—everyone on the field is really happy, excited to play and excited to have a go and try something new.’ —Lara Triscott (12H) — ‘I’ve seen how the players handle things that are different to maybe what I handle, or what people at school handle in everyday life. It has helped me learn patience, and to step back and observe. Rather than doing it my way, I can take a different approach.’ —Rosette Sclavos (12L) — ‘I’ve been a PlayerMentor here for three years now, and seeing the boys’ personalities grow has been amazing. Over the three years I have volunteered at Brothers I have learned a lot about different abilities... you just need to wait and meet your player to see what they need.’ —Astrid Walters (12B)

‘All in blue, we’re here for you’ — In January 2020, the Service Captains had no idea the profound impact their motto would deliver. They aspired for Grammar girls to make a closer connection with their charities. It has become a year of purposeful and ethical engagement for many. Participation in Service is an active expression of personal values, and through their Community Contribution in 2020, Grammar girls have had a unique and powerful chance to show genuine care and concern for others, no matter the circumstance. ■ — References Rural Aid. (n.d.). About Us. Retrieved August 9, 2020, from Rural Aid: https://www.ruralaid.org.au/about-us/ Seet, Y. (October, 2019). Service Captain Application. Brisbane Girls Grammar School, Brisbane.

above right Astrid Walters (12B) mentors her player in the Modified Rugby Program

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School Life

Brisbane Girls Grammar School

1 Members of the Girls Grammar Rowing Squad with the School’s new eight-person boat, ‘Audacia’, at its naming ceremony 2 The 7A Netball team at their first match for the season 3 Ava Tran (7G), Scarlett Bennett (8L) and Cate Hughes (7W) tour the Science Learning Centre while under construction during Term 3 4 Sienna Anderson (9M) in the 14-Years race at Interhouse Cross Country 5 Kanisha Bhalla (12W) prepares for mock Year 12 examinations 6 Hirschfeld House Captains, Phoebe Lingard (12H) and Mimi Wackwitz (12H), along with Hirschfeld House Sport and Service Captains, Josephine Burke (12H) and Matisse Black (12H), and Emily Wilkie (12H) and Eleni Karanicolas (12H), challenge Grammar girls to collectively walk 15 835 kilometres ‘around Australia’ during Term 2 7 Arts Captains, Annabelle Khoo (12W) and Jess Mangos (12G) put the finishing touches on a pixel-art mosaic displaying the word ENRICHED as part of Arts Fest 8 Service Captains, Eva Seet (12B) and Gia Cayas (12G), with O’Connor House Service Captains, Ashley Zhang (12O) and Abigail Lui (12O), on the sixth annual White Blouse Day, which supports Cherish Women’s Cancer Foundation

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School life

9 Year 12 students receive their Senior jerseys 10 Olivia Knauer (7M) plays Hockey at a home match 11 Zara Hosking (8G) and classmates practising guitar 12 Year 12 girls enjoy a relaxed afternoon at a picnic for Year 12 families at Rangakarra Recreational and Environmental Education Centre 13 Chloe Martin (9W) and Chloe Burke (9H) on the challenge ropes course at Marrapatta 14 Chamber Winds ensemble rehearsal 15 Mothers Group Vice-President, Mrs Anna Israel, Year 12 Mothers Group Representative, Mrs Louise Michael, Mothers Group President, Mrs Julie Norris, and Year 12 Parent Representative, Ms Vanessa Oâ€™Sullivan, at Rangakarra 16 Sophie Finch (12H) and Lauren Mackay (12H) participating in study retreats at the Spring Hill campus during the September school holidays 17 Tung-Hi Ma (9H), Melissa Bucknill (9W), Hannah Marks (9G) and Katie Reid (9E) after a day of mountain-biking at Marrapatta Memorial Outdoor Education Centre

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Issue 2, 2020

Small Steps to Sustainability Girls Grammar’s commitment to the climate

Students live in a world where changes in climate, population pressures and globalisation are reconfiguring the relationship between people and the planet. Devastating events such as the bushfires that raged across Australia in January are fresh in the minds of students and staff alike, and have prompted renewed enthusiasm for managing environmental issues within the School community.

As providers of a broad, liberal education grounded in the Grammar tradition, Brisbane Girls Grammar School not only seeks to provide girls with outstanding personal learning, but also to prepare them to become active, capable members of civic society. Through critical reflection, educational discussions and student-facilitated in-school action, staff and students at Girls Grammar have engaged in dialogue about aspects relevant to environmental sustainability, such as authority, conflicting perspectives, truth and assumptions. In 2020, the Grammar Environmental and Conservation Organisation (GECO) and BGGS representatives in the Brisbane City Council Student Environmental Leadership Network (SELN) have led initiatives focusing on increasing awareness of students’ interaction with the environment. In Term 3, bins across the campus were fitted with new information about separating rubbish correctly into recyclable, food waste, and Containers for Change bins. The group also led an Art Competition, challenging students to create an artwork inspired by the theme ‘Environment’. Over the past few years, Service groups and smaller groups of passionate students have supported staff initiatives, and championed their own activities to implement more sustainable practices. Just a few of these initiatives are detailed on the next page.

‘My artwork depicts what happens to flowers when their water is removed. The result is a metaphor for how humans can encourage and instigate environmental degradation for the sake of material profit and individual benefits.’ —Simran Mackrani (10H)

left Simran Mackrani (10H), winner of the GECO Art Competition

Brisbane Girls Grammar School

Gazette

Issue 2, 2020

Small Steps to Sustainability

Organic waste was collected by the School’s caterers, and distributed to two worm farms onsite, with surplus waste sent to an organic farm

The Grammar Goes Green group planted new garden beds and maintained previous rehabilitative planting at Rangakarra

The Year 12 2019 cohort created engraved reusable metal straws as fundraisers

Over the past two years, GECO worked to reduce BGGS’ contribution to landfill, through promotion of sustainable waste practices

All utensils used on Open Day 2019 were biodegradable

On School Blue Day celebrations, only recyclable or reusable items are used to adorn the School

A coffee-cup recycling initiative was introduced at the School café

Proceeds from Containers for Change were used to maintain and split the School’s native beehive

Soft plastics recycling was introduced in 2019

70 new bins for co-mingled recycling were introduced

The School installed solar panels on the McCrae Grassie Sports Centre, following installations on the Cherrell Hirst Creative Learning Centre, and at Rangakarra Recreational and Environmental Education Centre (Rangakarra)

Two students annually represent the School in the Brisbane City Council Student Environmental Leadership Network (SELN)

SELN representatives, in conjunction with GECO, introduced ‘Containers for Change’, a program that allows containers to be recycled

above Jessica McLeod (Head Girl, 2019) and Gia Cayas (12G) at a Grammar Goes Green event right Students in GECO affix new stickers to the School’s recycling bins

Brisbane Girls Grammar School

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Issue 2, 2020

FROM THE STUDENTS VISUAL ART

Francesca Arcibal (11O) Untitled Digital photo series Developed as part of an experimental investigation of Art and Aesthetics, this cycle of photographic images charts a passage from beauty to decay.

Brisbane Girls Grammar School

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Issue 2, 2020

FROM THE STUDENTS VISUAL ART

Chanel Kircher (10G) left Halle Batchelor (10G) right Self Portraits in a Time of Home Learning Ink and Pencil on Paper Students responded to Tim Storrierâ€™s Archibald Prize-winning portrait, The Histrionic Wayfarer (after Bosch), by photographing a figure constructed from a collection of objects reflecting their activities during home learning. Their photographs were then extended as drawings utilising selected media and graphic style to convey the mood and feeling of their individual experiences.

Brisbane Girls Grammar School

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Issue 2, 2020

The Funfit Revolution

Ms Jo Duffy Director of Sport

Movement for movement's sake 2020 had always promised some adjustment to the Queensland school sporting calendar with the introduction of the new system of senior assessment; however, the arrival of the global pandemic to Queensland in March shifted our attention away from the yearâ€™s calculable challenge. Suddenly, we were acutely aware of the breadth of regular Co-Curricular opportunities that were put on hold, and the void that this left for many girls. Nevertheless, lifeâ€™s obstacles present an opportunity to grow and adapt, and these latest hurdles will offer learnings for Grammar girls for many years to come.

Brisbane Girls Grammar School

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Issue 2, 2020

The Funfit Revolution

With many regular sports seasons placed on hold or cancelled, the School’s Sport program sought new ways for the girls to connect, and be physically active. Our coordinators and Head Coaches embraced the mantra that 2020 would not be about exactly-executed performances, but rather the pure joy of participation through sporting interaction. Beyond the well-documented benefits of physical activity including increased attention span, cardiovascular fitness, and improved psychological wellbeing, it was our aim to provide opportunities for the girls to ‘play’ in its simplest sense. Evidence is building for the power of physical movement to improve academic and educational outcomes. As research from Charles Sturt University notes, ‘there is emerging evidence over the past two decades that links movement with improvements in children’s academic outcomes, in memory, in problemsolving, in planning and in selfregulation’ (Hyndman, B. as cited in Duggan, S., 2020). Late in Term 1, our Sport staff collaborated to ensure students were furnished with detailed remote programs accessible through our newly created ‘At Home Workouts’ page within the School's Learning Management System. We experimented with a range of delivery modes, and soon

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landed on a mixture of pre-recorded workouts and live Zoom fitness sessions, as we delivered a reinvented strength and conditioning program. Groups of ten utilised different zones of the School for our fitness sessions, as a lead coach directed the broadcast experiences through Zoom. Soon, every available Girls Grammar sports space was occupied, as the girls embraced our new offerings. Over the weeks, staff, coaches and girls celebrated the lifting of restrictions as we moved from groups of 10, to 20, and finally to 100 participants inside the McCrae Grassie Sports Centre. When we finally set out to run again in managed groups of 20, it was clear that our girls craved the human connectedness of a large, united fitness group. With trademark high-fives still on hold, the coaches’ playful encouragement of the participants echoed from the workout spaces each week. Any grumbling about the early hour was quickly forgotten, as our coaches thanked the girls in advance for their enthusiastic participation. Borne from the girls’ uptake of these online remote learning offerings and last year’s RunFit initiative, FunFit was the Term 3 innovation of our Head Cross Country Coach, Mr Tim Franklin. Assisted by our Sports Manager, Mr Liam Mulligan, the two coaches championed their creation—always with a resounding message that hard

work equated to fun. Joined regularly by a number of assisting staff, the sessions have been consistently well-attended. The girls have embraced the challenges, with 'E.M.O.M.' and ‘Tabata’ now part of their expanding workout vocabulary, and Mountain Climbers, V-Sits, and Explodes now some of the girls’ regular exercise staples. Throughout the changes that 2020 has brought, the girls’ resilience and joyful participation has been uplifting. Their enthusiasm will ensure our Sport staff remain agile and innovative—they are poised and ready to re-imagine programs if required. From our 2020 lockdown, we have learned that the essence of the Brisbane Girls Grammar School Sport program doesn’t hinge on premierships or results, but rather the value of authentic exercise and the joy of pushing physical fitness boundaries together in pursuit of a collective goal. — References Duggan, S. (2020, August). We need to get a wriggle on – movement and learning links undeniable. Australian Teacher Magazine, August 2020, pp. 12–13.

all photos Grammar girls attend Fun Fit sessions before school

Gazette

Issue 2, 2020

Named for the goddess of wisdom, Athene is a co-curricular discussion forum comprising senior students from Brisbane Girls Grammar School and Brisbane Grammar School. Membership is by invitation only and at each meeting, Year 12 Athenians present researched papers of between five and 10 minutes on an issue of philosophical, political, social or otherwise topical interest. The papers are followed by 30 to 40 minutes of spirited discussion.

FROM THE STUDENTS ATHENE CLUB

Discussion Paper: Convenience or Privacy? By Matina Samios (12W) The wide and wonderful web. As we are becoming more and more connected, our technology is becoming smarter and faster than ever. With a simple Google search, I could tell you the answer to almost any question you throw at me. But as you’re busy scrolling through your social media, taking a photo, or maybe just walking down your street, do you know how much the Internet knows about you? The truth is, with the benefits of our ever-advancing technological world also come the harms. This drive for convenience and to ‘datify’ our lives is creating an ultra-transparent world in which we are never free from surveillance. Huge data-driven companies—which we all know and love—go on and on about their product’s latest features, but we often don’t hear about their invasive data policies—policies that are either buried deep in their unread Terms and Conditions, or worse, completely absent altogether. Let’s talk about the multinational tech company, Apple. CEO, Tim Cook, just last year claimed, ‘We at Apple believe that privacy is a fundamental human right’ (Bogost, 2019), but let’s examine just how far within your ‘private’ life the company reaches. Apple analyses all the photos you take and categorises them for your convenience. In just one of these pictures I could tell you exactly, when— to the nearest millisecond—and where—to the exact geographical coordinate and height above sea level—you took this photo. I could tell you on which exact device you took the photo, and of course, who is in the photo. All this information is known as metadata and is attached to every picture you take, on any device. What people often don’t know is that when you send a picture to someone, or post one to social media, all of that data is sent or posted with it—a hacker’s dream. Another innovation Apple has included within its devices is the Live Photos feature, which brings your photos to life. A Live Photo captures a three-second video from before and after you take your actual photo. But how does your phone know you’re about to take a photo? Well, it doesn’t. Your phone is actually recording 24/7 while your camera is open, waiting for the instant you want to take a live photo, with all your footage being sent to Apple and supposedly destroyed after two months. I imagine you didn’t read any of that in your Terms and Conditions. Furthermore, I’m sure many of us have had a moment where we thought our phones were listening to us. Activated-voice assistant technologies like Siri, Cortana, Alexa and Google Assistant are always attentive. When these features are on, your mircrophone is listening, waiting for a command phrase such as, ‘Hey Siri’. Our devices routinely collect our voice data, store it in a distant server and use it for marketing purposes. Social media giant Facebook got caught in 2019 doing more than simply marketing. Facebook had contracted an external company to transcribe audio conversations conducted through their app, admitting to listening in on our private conversations. Of the 17 000 random apps privacy tested in 2018, 9000 were found to be taking screenshots of user screens to send to third parties, with about half of these actually stating this in their Terms and Conditions (Press Trust of India, 2018).

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Issue 2, 2020

FROM THE STUDENTS ATHENE CLUB

With access to real-time physical location data, marketers can send tailored advertisements to consumers’ mobile devices to prompt them to visit stores in their vicinity, and then determine whether a consumer actually visits or merely passes by their store. This way they can determine whether their ads have been successful. One of the biggest debates surrounding data surveillance involves the use of this data for prosecution in the a court of law. There is a long-standing principle of individual privacy that cannot be violated without just cause and legal process: police need a warrant to search someone’s house, tap someone’s phone or check their private emails. But as seen in these data-driven companies’ privacy policies, they will share your information with law enforcement upon legal request—including all the data you might not even have known they were collecting. In fact, in Australia, this is a mandate of the Federal Government (Stilgherrian, 2018). Facial recognition technology opens up a whole new ‘can of worms’, and comes with its own pros and cons. Facial recognition can add conveniences: helping you unlock your device quickly, or tagging photos on Facebook automatically. Airports are increasingly adding facial recognition technology to security checkpoints—it’s quick, efficient, and if travellers know they’re being watched, they are perhaps less likely to commit a crime. Using biometrics to map facial features from a photograph or video, many countries harness facial recognition to compare with their criminal databases to find a match. Rationales for this action centre on the idea that ‘if you’re not doing anything wrong, you have nothing to worry about’. Law enforcement uses a range of advanced technology to make their jobs easier, but facial recognition is one that is particularly powerful—and potentially dangerous. Facial recognition has many potential benefits beyond tracking criminals—helping to find missing persons, deterring crime, even identifying symptoms of disease. But there is always the significant risk of abuse of this technology by politicians and law-enforcement agents, even well-intentioned ones. I’ll conclude with some questions to consider: do the benefits of convenience and tailored experiences outweigh the breaches to individual privacy? Is hiding invasive privacy policies deep within Terms and Conditions a sufficient justification for its users? And, if we are doing the right thing, is data surveillance really an issue for us at all? — References Bogost, I. (2019) Apple’s Empty Grandstanding About Privacy. The company enables the surveillance that supposedly offends its values. Retrieved from: https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2019/01/apples-hypocritical-defense-dataprivacy/581680/#:~:text=%E2%80%9CWe%20at%20Apple%20believe%20that,and%20sale%20of%20user%20data. Stilgherrian. (2018). What's actually in Australia's encryption laws? Everything you need to know. Retrieved from https://www.zdnet.com/article/whats-actually-in-australias-encryption-laws-everything-you-need-to-know/ Press Trust of India. (2018) Some Android apps are secretly taking screenshots of your activity: Report. Retrieved from https://tech.hindustantimes.com/tech/news/popular-apps-secretly-take-screenshots-of-activity-send-them-to-third-partiesstudy-story-MPnd5BX8PUK1mR7UAYgyeO.html

above Matina Samios (12W)

Brisbane Girls Grammar School

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Issue 2, 2020

Ode to Joy

Mrs Emma Dron Director of Instrumental Music

2020 Gala

Late last year, when Ode to Joy was chosen as the theme for the 2020 Gala Concert, and Instrumental Music staff began excitedly and secretly planning repertoire ideas, no one could have envisioned the extraordinary circumstances in which we would find ourselves this year. On receiving the news that the 24th annual BGGS Gala Concert could not proceed as planned on the Concert Hall stage of the Queensland Performing Arts Centre, we began reimagining the event. The result culminated in a large-scale recording project, which aimed not only to honour the long-held traditions of Galas past, but to explore new ways to celebrate the achievements and abilities of girls in the Instrumental Music program.

left Euphonix choir above Ava Earnshaw (7R)

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Issue 2, 2020

2020 Gala

With a theme such as Ode to Joy, the presentation possibilities are endless. The concept facilitates a celebratory, festive and joyous music concert, and also recognises the 250th anniversary of the birth of Ludwig van Beethoven. A looming figure in musical history, Beethoven’s lineage and legacy resonates deeply throughout the carefully curated concert program, which features works from the 17th through to the 21st Centuries. As is tradition, the Gala showcased performances by the Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Strings, Chamber Singers, Grammar Singers, Symphonic Winds and the Big Band. In addition to these regular performing ensembles, this year’s event also presented three unique performances, providing every Girls Grammar instrumentalist the exciting opportunity to perform at Gala. Greater Than, composed by Brian Balmages, is a lush work that featured more than 260 BGGS string students from eight ensembles combined in a virtual massed orchestra.

— Watch the Ode to Joy Gala Concert 2020 Visit bggs.qld.edu.au/odetojoy

top images Symphonic Winds above Arabella Martin (11M), Tundra Descant choir

Brisbane Girls Grammar School

Similarly, almost 300 choristers in the School joined forces to perform the transcendent Tundra by Ola Gjeilo, accompanied by a Year 12 string quartet. One of the grandest assemblies was seen when more than 320 band students performed Songs of Joy arranged by Justin Williams, which presents a powerful homage to two famous works: JS Bach’s Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring; and the concert’s namesake, Ode to Joy, from Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9. The effort, commitment, optimism and resilience of students, their families and the BGGS Instrumental Music Staff in bringing this joyous musical celebration to fruition has been tremendous. The Ode to Joy Gala Concert not only represents and showcases the stunning accomplishments of the Girls Grammar instrumentalists in 2020, but is also undoubtedly a unique record of an extraordinary time in our collective history and one to be treasured for many years to come.

Gazette

Issue 2, 2020

More Than Spectators

Rick Maher President of the Fathers Group

A brief history of the Fathers Group

I am oft-fascinated by how regularly a simple moment of practical generosity can have far-reaching effects. The most unassuming actions can, when fate intervenes, grow into longlasting movements and organisations. It is via this very sense of providence that the BGGS Fathers Group found its genesis.

The idea of a group for Fathers of Grammar girls was borne in response to a simple need—the need for water polo nets for Grammar girls to train with in 1976. Then, as now, many fathers do not merely want to ‘attend’ or ‘spectate’ their daughter/s’ participation in BGGS activities, but rather are motivated to stand alongside their daughters, feel like they also belong, and contribute. In 1976, BGGS fathers found that they not only enjoyed constructing water polo nets for the girls at Centenary Pool, they also enjoyed each other’s company while watching their daughters compete, and found great sense of purpose in fundraising for the sport. By 1977, the fathers had raised $1200 to assist with sending seven BGGS girls, who had been selected in the Queensland U18 Water Polo team, to compete in New Zealand. Later that year, the fathers organised a BBQ break-up for the team and parents at the Centenary Pool. A BBQ tradition continues to this day, with the Fathers Group conducting our fundraising BBQ each year at the School’s Open Day.

left The Fathers Group at a Working Bee at Marrapatta in 1989

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Issue 2, 2020

Fathers Group

By 1978, fathers who were not involved with the Water Polo Club also began asking ‘what else could be done to help the School and enjoy the camaraderie of other BGGS dads?’ This newly found and widespread interest inspired a delegation of dads to approach Principal, Mrs Judith Hancock, and propose an official BGGS Fathers Group. Mrs Hancock readily supported the notion, and the Fathers Group was born with its mission to ‘assist with school projects’. At first, the Fathers Group focused their energies on the Spring Hill campus—for instance, constructing the covered walkways around the School. Fathers worked diligently to make improvements at the School until 1983, when the School purchased land just outside Imbil, which was to become Marrapatta Memorial Outdoor Education Centre. From early in the piece, the Fathers Group supported the development of Marrapatta, contributing to the construction of the first two dormitory buildings. The second dormitory building is named after the Fathers Group’s longest serving president, Mr Peter Wilson, and

wherever you go around the campus you will unwittingly encounter evidence of the BGGS fathers’ touch. From the Commemorative Tree Grove to the newly finished Nonagon shelter, the fathers’ influence is ever-present. However, not everything that the fathers involved themselves with has been focused on Marrapatta. For instance, from 1991 to ‘92 BGGS dads, led by President John Shenstone, constructed the white picket fence at the front of the School—a feature of the Gregory Terrace-facing aesthetic to this day. Today, the Fathers Group’s range of annual activities now includes hosting Fathers Group dinners, working weekend retreats to Marrapatta, the Father and Daughter Dinner, cooking up a storm at the Fathers Group BBQ at Open Day, and providing representation at various bodies such as the Parents and Friends Association. The Fathers Group continues in its mission to ‘assist with school projects’ but far more importantly, it serves to connect fathers in a practical, participative and meaningful way to their daughters while at BGGS. top The Fathers Group with the newly constructed Nonagon shelter at Marrapatta above Fathers constructing the picket fence at Spring Hill in 1991

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Issue 2, 2020

FROM THE STUDENTS POETRY

For this poem, Eve Zelich (11L) was awarded first prize in the 2020 Australian Mensa Poetry Competition.

2 blessed 2 be depressed Eve Zelich (11L) the world sings to me now. i’ve never actually heard it before. the music sheet of my life was a mess of meaningless symbols, lifeless characters, incapable of producing beautiful sound. now, as i sit in front of my piano, i feel like i could be reckless. like i could break things, change things…even make things. i could plunge my hand into glittering cosmos and rearrange the stars to form my name. but, music, oh music! i want to do that first. i close my eyes and remember the fireplace in my house and how close to it i used to sit. i remember understanding how easily it could burn me, destroy me into nothing, just dust to be swept into a bucket. but this thought no longer frightens me, as my soul has thawed. it now feels warm, because of the pictures i paint with my fingers when hitting the black and white keys in a treblesome chess match. do you hear that beautiful sound? i open my eyes before i flip my music sheet to the first page, and i watch the quavers rise to their toes, ready to perform their melody. when i waved my depression goodbye, it almost felt like parting with a friend. but when i part with my friends, i usually don’t feel so much joy.

above Eve Zelich (11L)

Brisbane Girls Grammar School

Gazette

Issue 2, 2020

20 Years in 2020 The BGGS Class of 2000

With the motto ‘Dream it, Dare it, Do it’ fresh in their minds, the Brisbane Girls Grammar School Class of 2000 left the School with the promise of a new century before them. Two graduates, Belinda Nevell and Katie Cameron, took vastly different paths after graduating from Girls Grammar in 2000—Belinda moved from a successful swimming career into a role working as Queensland Police Negotiator, while Katie left a university career to become a farmer. In 2020, after two decades in the world beyond the picket fence, Belinda and Katie discuss how it felt to be a graduate in the new millennium, where life has taken them, and how they feel about the future.

Senior year — For Belinda, the path ahead after school seemed clear—having competed at an elite level during her senior year, Belinda was excited to launch into a swimming career. ‘2000 was a huge year personally for me. I travelled to Europe to compete at the World Cup swimming series with the Australian Swim Team, competed at several domestic open level competitions, captained the BGGS Swim Team and held a leadership position within Lilley House,’ Belinda said. ‘I found the teaching staff and Principal, Mrs Judith Hancock, to be incredibly supportive of me being an elite

athlete, and they created an environment that was conducive for students of all capabilities and interests to flourish.’ Katie’s favourite memories of her final year at BGGS are of the Instrumental Music program and Outdoor Education. ‘One of my standout memories from school was choir. That warm feeling you get when you are singing with other people is really special. ‘I used to find any excuse I could to go on camp—I really enjoyed the outdoor education experience so it was wonderful that the School provided these learning opportunities. As I look back now, I obviously had that interest and love for being outdoors, even at that young age.’ ▶

above Katie on her family’s farm left Belinda in training, 2008

Brisbane Girls Grammar School

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Issue 2, 2020

The BGGS Class of 2000

‘Dream it, dare it, do it’ — The class of 2020 had a bold, aspirational motto for their senior year. For Belinda, the motto encapsulated her entire approach to Year 12. ‘It was a mantra that shaped the way I approached my final year of schooling and I felt as though I could achieve both my sporting and academic goals. I also saw firsthand how my cohort adopted the motto, and was so proud to be present to see so many of my friends achieve their personal goals throughout the year.’ Katie says that at the time she didn’t see herself as embodying the motto— but this is something that resonated more with her later in life. ‘While I was studying exercise science at Griffith University, I had worked casually in administration at The University of Queensland, and they offered me a full-time job. I ended up being there for almost 10 years,

working my way up in the Research and Innovation department, eventually managing Sponsored Research and overseeing the university’s internal research funding scheme. It was something I just fell into, but I loved it and found it really rewarding,’ Katie said. ‘My husband was working as an accountant—and even though he had grown up on a farm, farming was not something he ever talked about for his future. However, a few years passed, and his parents started to talk about succession, and whether or not he would be interested. ‘As our careers progressed in Brisbane, we were both working really long hours and beginning to feel burned out—so, after a lot of discussion, we took the leap and decided to become farmers! ‘At the time that we moved, it didn’t feel like as much of a leap as it does on reflection. In hindsight, I had loved my job, and had built so much

confidence in my ability to do that job, so it really was a “dream it, dare it, do it” moment. I found that I had to grow into my confidence—I obviously had an amazing education behind me, lasting friendships, and the values that Grammar instilled in me, but I came to that understanding more slowly.’ A changing world — In two decades, pivotal world events including the September 11 terrorist attacks, the rise of new and social media, and growing awareness of climate change have drastically changed the world in which graduates live and work. Some of these changes led alumnae to modify their careers and goals considerably. ‘I remember the events of the 9/11 attacks very clearly, which was probably my first exposure to terrorism on a world scale,’ Belinda said. ▶

above Katie, her husband and children on their property near Moree, New South Wales

Brisbane Girls Grammar School

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Issue 2, 2020

The BGGS Class of 2000

‘It really heightened my awareness that things were starting to happen that could potentially one day affect us all on a domestic front … those events really got me researching as much as I could and seeking to increase my knowledge and awareness. I had always wanted a career in law enforcement and was drawn to finding out as much as I could. After completing a Bachelor of Business and working for eight years in Human Resources, Belinda achieved her lifelong dream of becoming a Police Officer, and now works as a Police Negotiator, a role that means she ‘meets people on their worst days.’ ‘I was selected on the Police Negotiation course in 2015. I was based at Hervey Bay station at the time and my team Sergeant was a Police Negotiator. I could see how well he interacted with members of the public on a daily basis, and it really inspired me to follow in his footsteps and apply for the next course. ‘Having joined the QPS at age 28 I brought a range of communication and personal skills that I had developed through secondary school, swimming, university, and a career in Human Resources. Being a successful Police Negotiator requires patience, empathy, and an ability to influence and show that you are genuine. I continually work

on these traits every time I am deployed to a job.’ For Katie, managing a farm has given her a personal experience of climate change, and an insight into the complexities and rewards of working with the environment. Katie and her husband farm merino, along with growing pulses and other crops. ‘We moved at the start of 2013, in the middle of summer. We arrived and went straight into shearing, and we would later find out that 2013 was to be the driest year on record—beaten again last year, in 2019. Over the past eight years since we’ve been on the land, only one year has reached average rainfall,’ Katie said. ‘My husband and I completed a course about grazing management and cropping, and how to better manage your pasture with greater consideration for the environment. We learned to be much more sensitive to rainfall, and managing feed stocks compared to the condition of the ground. We have really had to change our mindsets, because if you look after the environment, it will give back to you when the conditions are good. It’s essential to think of the long term, particularly in an increasingly variable climate.’

Looking to the future — For Katie, a strong foundation gives her confidence for the future. ‘I am grateful that Girls Grammar was setting us all up to be strong women, who have our own voices, and our own opinions and our own thoughts—even if some of us have ended up in slightly less traditional occupations!’ Belinda said as a seventeen-year-old, she felt optimistic about the future and the world in general—and despite being exposed to serious personal and global challenges, she still feels that a positive outlook is important. ‘I am incredibly positive about the future. My old swimming coach used to say almost daily, “believe in belief” and this is something that has stayed with me for all these years. For me personally I don’t think having a negative view on the future would be beneficial to either myself or my family,’ Belinda said. ‘The cost of living, climate change and the impacts of COVID-19 on the economy are just some challenges that I envisage are at the forefront of the current graduating class of BGGS. However, if the class of 2020 are anything like my class of 2000, I can’t think of anyone better positioned to overcome these challenges.’ ■

left Belinda in her role as Police Negotiator Image courtesy of State of Queensland (Queensland Police Service) 2020

Brisbane Girls Grammar School

Gazette

Issue 2, 2020

Shaping Our World

Ms Georgina Anthonisz Director of Development

The gift of education

Education has the power to change lives, both enriching the individual and bringing benefits to their community. For 145 years, Girls Grammar has prepared generations of women to have a positive, enduring and transformational impact on their world. Our School has a strong history of educating girls from diverse backgrounds. The School’s Bursary program seeks to provide girls who may not be in a position to attend the School with access to the life-changing opportunities of a Girls Grammar education. Alumna, Dr Mary Martin AM (1970), shares some of her experiences since attending BGGS, below.

Tell us about your current role and work. I am a Workforce Coordinator at Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council (QAIHC). My role focuses on educating health professionals about the appropriate treatment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients. It is an honour to be part of an organisation that works toward improving the lives of others. My career has allowed me to draw attention to the problems surrounding indigenous and rural health in Australia— the more exposure people have to these issues, the more likely they are to want to understand and create change. What are your strongest memories from your time at school? I still have my blazer pocket as a keepsake from my time at BGGS, and when I drive past the Main Campus I am reminded of the best days of my life. For me, it was the connections I made at BGGS that had the most significant impact on my life. Since leaving BGGS, I’ve had the opportunity to work, and sit on a number of boards, with fellow Grammar women. It is lovely to reconnect with these women and work together to drive positive change.

What was the most significant impact your time at BGGS had on your life after school? I often say my life has been a series of coincidences. For example, I attended BGGS on an OPAL scholarship and didn’t find out until years later when I was on the Board of General Practice Training Queensland with former BGGS Deputy Chair of the Board of Trustees, Dr Mary Mahoney, that her father, Konrad Hirschfeld, funded my scholarship to attend the School. Coincidence or not, these events have all led me to where I am now, and I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for the education I received at BGGS. What would you say is your greatest achievement since leaving school? In 2011, I was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for my service to the healthcare of Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, and to the nursing community. This was a special moment, and so too was winning a South-East Queensland NAIDOC Week Award. Being recognised by the local Aboriginal community was a precious moment for me. To be honest though, my greatest achievement is the relationships I’ve developed throughout my career. I’ve worked alongside so many wonderful people who share a common goal. The power that comes from recognising our responsibility to society and walking together is profound.

As a leading girls’ school, we are committed to growing the BGGS Bursary program to offer the life-changing experience of an excellent education to more girls. Every gift brings us closer to supporting new bursary recipients through their schooling. — bggs.qld.edu.au/making-a-gift

Brisbane Girls Grammar School

Gazette

Issue 2, 2020

Awards and Achievements

Congratulations to the following staff, alumnae and students who have been recognised by independent organisations for their accomplishments across many and varied fields. — Zoe Goss (2019) accepted the UQ Ramsay Undergraduate Scholarship to study a Bachelor of Humanities (Western Civilisation)/Bachelor of Laws (Honours) at The University of Queensland in 2020. — Annika Honan (2019) accepted a QUT/Westpac Young Technologists Scholarship, to support her study of a Bachelor of Design (Interaction Design)/Bachelor of Information Technology at Queensland University of Technology. — Elzbieta (Ela) Noble (2019) accepted a place to study a Bachelor of Arts (Economics) at Princeton University in 2020. — Amelia Stacey (2019) accepted a place to study History and Economics at Oxford University in 2020. — Johanna Conomos (10W) and Matina Samios (12W) received the inaugural Australian Defence Force Future Innovators Award for their critical thinking and problem-solving ability in STEM subjects. — Tia Fitzpatrick (10M) and Eva Seet (12B) were presented with the Long Tan Youth Leadership and Teamwork Award for 2020, in recognition of their leadership and teamwork, and for displaying values such as respect for others and doing one's best.

— Dr Bruce Addison, Deputy Principal (Academic) will become an Executive Member of the Australian Council for Education Leaders Queensland Branch (ACELQ) for the 2020–2023 term. — Elizabeth Jameson AM (Head Girl, 1982) was awarded a member of the Order of Australia in the 2020 Queen’s Birthday Honours for her significant contribution to business and the community. Ms Jameson’s close relationship with BGGS spans decades. After attending the School from 1978 to 1982, she returned as a Trustee in 1994, and was appointed Chair of the Board of Trustees in 2006—a position she held until 2019. Ms Jameson’s thoughtful, steadfast and progressive leadership and dedicated service to the School left a profound and enduring legacy. — Rear Admiral Sarah Sharkey AM (Chandler, 1986) was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in the Military Division of the 2020 Queen’s Birthday Honours, for exceptional service to healthcare management in the Australian Defence Force. She was promoted as Commander Joint Health and Surgeon General Australian Defence Force on 2 December 2019. Since joining the Royal Australian Navy in 1997, Rear Admiral Sharkey has received a Chief of Army Commendation, Australian Defence Medal, Australian Service Medal (Solomon Islands), Long Service Medal (2 clasps) and Conspicuous Service Cross. — Fiona Qiu (2017) was awarded the prestigious Ena Williams Award for Postgraduate Study Overseas Major Bursary of $40 000. Fiona completed a Queensland Conservatorium scholarship to work with tutors in Germany and at the Royal College of Music in London, and has been appointed Concertmaster to the Australian Youth Orchestra.

right Fiona Qiu (2017) performs at BGGS in Term 4

Brisbane Girls Grammar School

Gazette

Issue 1, 2020

Gregory Terrace, Brisbane QLD 4000, Australia T +61 7 3332 1300 F

+61 7 3832 6097

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