This report has been compiled by staff of the Brisbane Girls Grammar School’s Communication, Development and Engagement Department. Students pictured throughout this publication represent BGGS and are not necessarily bursary recipients. Last modified February 2025. Information correct at time of print.
One of the greatest pleasures I take in my role as Chair of the Board of Trustees of Girls Grammar is being able to watch with pride as the School evolves and takes on new projects—many of which have been shaped by philanthropy.
From my earliest days attending the School, to my graduating year in 2000 and commencement on the Board in 2019, it has been a privilege to witness new chapters begin as others evolve.
One such chapter, shaped by our community’s valued contributions, is the new Junior School campus, to be completed ahead of the commencement of the 2026 school year. The Junior School building project represents one of the most significant undertakings in the School’s 150 year history. Over the past decade, our students have experienced the benefits of your contributions, which have funded the Elizabeth Jameson Research Learning Centre, the Science Learning Centre, Dorothy Hill Observatory and now, the Junior School. The School’s decision to become Brisbane’s first secular, independent girls’ school to educate girls in Years 5 and 6 represents a tangible commitment to the pursuit of gender equality and great confidence in the future
of girls education at Girls Grammar. Thank you to all who have contributed. In a remarkable demonstration of the School’s culture of philanthropy in action, we were honoured to receive an extraordinary donation from Mrs Kay Bryan OAM to establish a perpetual bursary that will generously and profoundly impact generations of future students through the gift of a Girls Grammar education. Mrs Bryan’s gift will unlock countless opportunities for those who would not otherwise have the means to access a Girls Grammar education, providing them with a platform from which to take on the world.
Our collective spirit of generosity, support and hard work is the foundation of our School’s community. We are deeply grateful for the significant support already received from key groups within our School community, including: the Parents and Friends Association, who supported the Junior School Playground; the Mothers Network, contributing towards Little Tucker at the Junior School; and the Old Girls Association, providing a donation towards the Junior School Capital Campaign. We have also received outstanding contributions from individual donors as well.
‘Our collective spirit of generosity, support and hard work is the foundation of our School’s community’
—Julie McKay (2000)
The Junior School Capital Campaign is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to leave a legacy for future generations of students. We invite all parents, alumnae and members of our community to join us on this journey, helping to create a space where young minds can thrive and flourish.
In addition to the Junior School Capital Campaign, we were grateful to receive donations to support the Cherrell Hirst Creative Learning Centre Greening Project, BGGS Bursary Program, Pool Lawn shade sails, and other projects. The combined efforts and generosity of our community raised funds that will have substantial impact far beyond the next 150 years of our School’s history.
On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I extend my thanks and gratitude to our Girls Grammar community for their unwavering support of the School in 2024.
Without philanthropy and your generosity, we would not be able to educate generations of Grammar girls. We deeply value and do not take for granted the profound impact of your support.
Ms Julie McKay (2000) Chair, Board of Trustees
As we enter a new era in Brisbane Girls Grammar School’s history in 2025, we acknowledge the strength and support of our community across the School’s 150 years.
To capture and recognise the School’s philosophy of philanthropy in just one publication would be an impossible task. It has not been any one contribution, but the collective efforts of so many throughout our history that has shaped the School as it stands today. Whether small or large, financial or in-kind, each contribution made since the foundation of Girls Grammar in 1875 has played its part.
In this publication, we revisit the history of the fourth Lady Principal of Girls Grammar, Miss Sophia Beanland, who bequeathed her estate to ensure continued excellence in teaching and learning. Sophia Beanland’s altruism has had an impact far beyond her lifetime and has embedded a culture of philanthropy into the fabric of the School. Part of her legacy lives on through the Sophia Beanland Circle, a small group of donors whose generosity is acknowledged
through special events and activities throughout each year. One of these donors is alumna and former Chair of the Board of Trustees, Ms Elizabeth Jameson AM (Head Girl, 1982) (page 16).
We look forward to the arrival of the youngest generation of Grammar girls, Years 5 and 6 in 2026. They will benefit as we begin a new chapter in not only their lives, but the School’s. In 2024, the School was delighted to receive a generous donation from a deeply respected member of our community, Grammar Woman, Mrs Kay Brassil (Klatt, 1959). Her contribution will be acknowledged in the support of one of the Junior School classrooms named in honour of pioneering scientist Dr Mabel Josephine Mackerras (Bancroft, 1914).
These gifts—in addition to in-kind contributions—are integral to laying the foundations for future success. It continues to be a privilege to see Grammar girls take their first steps through the white picket fence as nervous, yet elated Year 7s and then walking up Gehrmann Lane on their final day as Year 12 students ready
for the world beyond. The exceptional ATAR scores achieved by the Year 12 Class of 2024 reflect our commitment to academic excellence: more than 85 per cent attained a score of 90 or above and 12.76 per cent received a score of 99 or above. Their achievements—which extend far beyond test results and scores—are a testament to the work of not only the senior cohort, but the unwavering support of their teachers and the wider Grammar community.
It is this community, which spans both time and distance, that we honour and sincerely thank for all that has been accomplished over nearly 150 years.
Ms Jacinda Euler Welsh Principal
Since 1875, Brisbane Girls Grammar School has been dedicated to nurturing the intellectual, social and emotional development of young women, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to confidently shape a world that values wisdom, imagination and integrity. The generosity and engagement of alumnae, families, friends and staff have been instrumental in the School’s enduring legacy of empowering young women through education.
Thank you for supporting Girls Grammar’s vision of exceptional scholarship and advancing young women in today’s dynamic world.
Brisbane Girls Grammar School’s philanthropic priorities are focused on four pillars essential to the School’s commitment to a broad, liberal education for girls.
Girls Grammar fosters a climate of opportunity, grounded by a 150-year history of educating girls from diverse backgrounds. Through its meanstested bursaries, the School is committed to providing the life-changing experience of a Girls Grammar education to girls who do not otherwise have the means to attend. Bursaries are awarded to students who embody the core qualities of a Grammar girl and who possess the willingness and enthusiasm to actively engage in a wide range of educational and schoolrelated activities, enriching both their own development and our community.
Providing inspiring teaching and learning spaces across all curriculum areas supports students to achieve their full potential and ensures the sustainable physical future of the School. As government funding continues to decline, Girls Grammar is committed to ongoing investment in innovative infrastructure projects that engage and challenge our students.
Within the Elizabeth Jameson Research Learning Centre, the Beanland Memorial Library holds a range of specialist resources to spark curiosity, imagination and discovery and deepen knowledge. The space contains more than 55 000 resources and provides flexible, contemporary learning areas. Each year, the School invests approximately $50 000 to ensure the Library’s extensive stock is relevant, up-to-date and in good condition. Gifts to the BGGS Library Fund will contribute to the provision of a wide range of books, subscriptions and digital resources to support quality teaching and learning.
Girls Grammar prides itself on a strong tradition of participation in sport, encouraging students to train and perform as individuals and in teams to their personal best, while providing girls with access to leading research in exercise science, health and nutrition. Donors can make tax-deductible gifts to the BGGS Sport Programs via the Australian Sports Foundation, ensuring students have access to excellent sports facilities, equipment and programs for their physical and mental wellbeing.
As an outgoing Year 6 student, Abigail Woodcock (2022) knew she wanted to challenge herself and take advantage of every opportunity. At school, she was involved in ‘absolutely everything’ and knew that a bursary to attend Girls Grammar would be life changing. While she didn’t know exactly what it meant to be a ‘Grammar girl’ she knew it was a place where girls and young women came to excel personally and academically— something that aligned with her own goals—and so it was no surprise to her parents that Abigail’s tenacious personality lead to her taking it upon herself to apply for a bursary.
‘Being a Grammar girl is a sense of community,’ Abigail said.
‘You become so involved in this space where everyone is pushing and supporting you to do well in anything you want to do.
‘It’s not one individual person, but a big community of people around you that inspire confidence and help you to become the person you want to be.’
The Maria Sulima Bursary is a perpetual, means-tested bursary awarded to a student who displays the qualities of a Grammar girl but whose parents could otherwise not afford to access a Girls Grammar education. More than 20 young women have benefited from a Maria Sulima Bursary since 1995 and Girls Grammar continues to offer this opportunity to a girl whose character, talent, academic ability and intelligence suggest she will take full advantage of the opportunities a BGGS education offers.
Fourteen Grammar girls were on meanstested bursaries supported by donors in 2024 and in 2025 there will be 16. BGGS’s means-tested bursaries celebrate aspiration and achievement, fostering diversity by making a quality education more accessible and equitable.
Abigail thrived at BGGS, achieving Certificates for Academic Merit in 2019 and 2021, a Prize for Academic Merit in 2022, and Prizes for Outstanding Academic Merit in 2017, 2018 and 2020, all presented at the Annual Speech Day and Distribution of Prizes ceremony. She was also awarded the 2022 Year 12 Australian Defence Force Future Innovators Award, recognising her achievements in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. To challenge and extend herself, Abigail participated in the Australian Biology Olympiad (Distinction 2021), the Australian Physics Olympiad (High Distinction 2021), the First Tech Challenge Robotics competition (progressing to the State and National Championships 2020), and was a dedicated member of multiple Instrumental Music ensembles and the Debating Program.
‘I was a bit nervous (to attend BGGS) in terms of how I’d grown up, being from a
different financial background to some of the other students,’ she said.
‘But when I ultimately decided this was the school for me, it was because I knew I could participate in so many extra activities and clubs that I might not get somewhere else.’
Currently, Abigail is in her second year of studying an integrated Bachelor of Engineering and Master of Engineering at The University of Queensland, specialising in Mechatronics Engineering, and has recently completed an internship with Energy Queensland. The generosity of a BGGS bursary education inspired Abigail to also give back to the School.
‘From who I was before I came to the School to now, I’m more confident when going into new situations. Being able to put myself out there and say, “I can do this,” I feel like I wouldn’t have that attribute as strongly without Girls Grammar.’
‘It’s not one individual person, but a big community of people around you that inspire confidence and help you to become the person you want to be’
—Abigail Woodcock (2022)
Few names are as synonymous with visionary female education and a legacy of giving as Miss Sophia Beanland (1851–1925). Arriving in Brisbane in 1882, Miss Beanland, the fourth Lady Principal of BGGS, defied the norms imposed on women of her time, dedicating herself to empowering girls through education. Before her death in 1925, she bequeathed her estate to the School, ensuring its continued excellence.
In 2025, 150 years after the School’s opening, her influence endures in the Beanland Memorial Library, the Esther Beanland Prize and Beanland House, but also in the Sophia Beanland Circle. The Circle unites those, who, like Miss Beanland, have made a lasting impact through bequests that are dedicated to making a difference to the School. Among them is Grammar Woman and past Chair of the Board of Trustees, Ms Elizabeth Jameson AM (Head Girl, 1982), whose family’s connection to Grammar dates to the early 1900s.
Elizabeth’s grandfather—the son of a boilermaker and the tenth of 13 siblings— received a Brisbane Grammar School scholarship. The first in his family to complete secondary school, he became a doctor and married a Grammar girl. This legacy of giving is a driving force for Elizabeth, who has followed in Miss Beanland’s footsteps as a BGGS donor and bequestor.
‘My grandpa’s family could never have sent him to BGS in a million years otherwise, and that scholarship paid forward to me, my brothers and now their children,’ Elizabeth said.
‘My values today revolve around belonging and community, curiosity about the world, standing up for what is right and—most importantly—compassion and generosity of spirit. These values inspired me to donate and bequest.
‘Privilege is not only about money. It is about opportunity and position and the ability to make the world a better place. I feel incredibly privileged to have had the family, education, friends and opportunities I have had. When we acknowledge our privilege, we are empowered to act.
‘We must never rest from striving to change the world one fabulous young woman at a time.’
Brisbane Girls Grammar School is built upon a heritage of giving. Including a bequest in your Will is an enduring and transformative way to enrich the lives of future generations of Grammar girls through education.
To discuss making a bequest to BGGS, please contact Development Manager Ms April Euler +61 7 3332 1300 aeuler@bggs.qld.edu.au. For further details, please go to www.bggs.qld.edu.au/giving
‘We must never rest from striving to change the world one fabulous young woman at a time’
—Elizabeth Jameson AM (Head Girl, 1982)
Each time John Knight opens his iPad, his screen’s wallpaper brings a smile to his face. It is not a holiday snapshot or pet photo, but his granddaughter’s colourful Brisbane Girls Grammar School artwork.
Of all the items the esteemed textiles director has accrued in his life, his most treasured possessions are his granddaughters’ handmade creations —‘Picasso-esque’ drawings, bracelets, beadings and cards.
Mr Knight holds nothing but excitement when considering the power of the education his granddaughters—Madeleine, Eloise and Camilla—will receive as secondgeneration Grammar girls.
His daughter-in-law, Mrs Danielle Knight’s (West, 1996) admiration for her former school inspired Mr Knight’s donation to BGGS’s Building Fund.
‘The joy when they rang me many years ago to say that Madeleine had been enrolled into BGGS, I was thrilled for them,’ Mr Knight recalled.
‘Then I visited your beautiful School. It’s stunning—the open air, the architecture.
‘I find it mindboggling that back in the 1800s there was a Girls Grammar School in Brisbane. It blew me away, to be honest.’
Raising two sons with wife, Anne, was Mr Knight’s proudest achievement, but he has also achieved significant business success in textiles nationally and internationally.
Following his father’s footsteps in the textile industry for most of his life, Mr Knight learned to adapt and pivot to the ebbs and flows of changing consumer demand for textiles—taking textile-making offshore and moving into consultancy roles to assist businesses with reengineering during times when demand decreased. Currently, Mr Knight is the Technical Director of Global Merino.
‘Dad taught me two things: 99.9 per cent right is not good enough and never tell a lie,’ he said.
It is this same openness and honesty that Mr Knight applies to his role as a grandfather. The delight his grandchildren bring him is evident.
‘I was sent a photograph of the two big girls, Madeleine and Eloise, heading off to BGGS. A gorgeous photograph,’ he said, with a grin.
‘We share everything. I know what they’re up to and we do stuff together. The three of them are a joy.’
It was these moments of delight that motivated Mr Knight to encourage the School to consider a Grandparents Day event, which was held for the first time last year.
‘John was in my office speaking so passionately about the importance of grandparents in the lives of our Grammar girls,’ Principal, Ms Jacinda Euler Welsh, said.
‘The day itself was one of the most special I have ever experienced at our School, honouring that precious connection.’
For Mr Knight, grandparenthood is a refreshing reprieve from the stress of being a parent.
‘Parenthood is a lot of responsibility,’ he said.
‘You want your child to be educated and not have problems and not get hurt. It has its negatives.
‘But with grandchildren, it’s unconditional love both ways.
‘It’s stunning, absolutely unconditional. You just have fun.
‘And then you get to give them back.’
During Term 2 2024, the Year 7s celebrated Grandparents and Friends Day, hosting a grandparent or important friend for a morning of music, mingling, crafting and conversation over some light refreshments.
The morning allowed the girls to share the School with their loved one, while their relative gifted insights and memories from their own school journey.
Here are some of the heartfelt responses received by the School about the event:
‘This moment will forever be etched in my, my dad’s and youngest daughter’s memories… Dad was a (volunteer) basketball coach for many years when my sister and I were at Girls Grammar and to walk him across the School as my daughter’s Pap was special. Thank you to BGGS for hosting such a wonderful event and connecting this generation to their granddaughters and the School,’
—Bronwyn Labagnara (Mattern, 1992), alumna and parent
‘Thank you very much for inviting me to the grandparents’ morning tea… Our family is very proud of Amelie, and we know that being at such a wonderful school she will thrive with the opportunities it offers.’
—Helen J Chesterman, Grandparent
‘Personally, it was a wonderful highlight to share this time with my granddaughter, Alice, at her school.’
—Helen Case, Grandparent
‘Thank you for a most memorable day with my beautiful granddaughter, Delilah.’
—Norelle Andersen, Grandparent
Mrs Kay Brassil’s (Klatt, 1959) dedication to advancing the education of young girls at Brisbane Girls Grammar School was sparked by two pivotal moments in her career.
The first was as a young BGGS student when her Physics teacher, Mrs Ryland, ran an electric current through two electrodes and created lightning.
‘That was fascinating, especially for a young girl, to witness lightning in the classroom,’ Mrs Brassil said.
‘I remember the science teachers were very curious and wanted you to be curious as well.’
As a Senior Scientist in Anatomical Pathology from 1967 until her retirement in 2001, Mrs Brassil was also profoundly influenced by her time working alongside some of the most prominent figures in science, particularly Grammar Woman, Dr Mabel Josephine Mackerras (Bancroft, 1914), a trailblazer in the field of entomology.
Dr Mackerras, a renowned zoologist with a specialisation in parasitology, made significant contributions to the study of blood parasites. Her groundbreaking discovery of the rat lungworm’s life history, later named in her honour, stands as a milestone in parasitic disease research. Over the course of her career, Dr Mackerras authored more than 80 influential papers that have shaped the fields of entomology, veterinary medicine and medical science.
It was as a 19-year-old working at the Queensland Institute of Medical Research in 1961 that Mrs Brassil first encountered Dr Mackerras, whose passion and achievements would leave an indelible mark on her life and career.
‘Josephine was very unobtrusive and for her to invite me to her lab just left me astounded,’ she said.
‘I think she was trying to encourage a new girl in the interest of science. And I think she was aware that I was also a Grammar girl.
‘She spent a few hours with me in her laboratory and I was just inspired.
‘She was such a good teacher—explaining things and making me interested and encouraging me to want to know what comes next. She was a wonderful person.’
Inspired by Dr Mackerras’ contributions and influence, Mrs Brassil has become a dedicated member of the Sophia Beanland Circle and, in 2024, made a generous contribution to Brisbane Girls Grammar School’s Junior School. Through her support, she ensures that the next generation of young girls will have access to the same transformative educational opportunities that shaped her own journey. This commitment to fostering curiosity and scientific discovery will be honoured in the new Josephine Mackerras Science Classroom, one of eight classrooms in the purpose-designed, five-storey Junior School, to open in 2026. Each classroom will be named in honour of inspiring Grammar Women, celebrating their achievements and legacy. Naming a classroom offers a meaningful opportunity for donors to contribute to this vision, where future students will be inspired to pursue their own paths of inquiry and innovation.
The Junior School will redefine education at Brisbane Girls Grammar School, providing girls with a solid foundation that prepares them for both secondary schooling and the world beyond. With a steadfast commitment to nurturing tomorrow’s leaders, the Junior School will offer an exceptional learning environment where inspiring teaching and facilities foster inquisitive and analytical minds, creating a dynamic hub of inquiry and growth.
The classroom naming initiative is one of several impactful philanthropic opportunities to support this transformative project. Your contribution will play a vital role in shaping the future of education at Brisbane Girls Grammar School’s Junior School, inspiring generations of young girls to realise their highest potential and spark their love of learning.
To explore opportunities to support the Junior School, please contact our Development Office on +61 7 3332 1300 or development@bggs.qld.edu.au.
‘Here are the options, these are the pros and cons, where would you prefer to go?’
With the clinical precision of an experienced medical mind, Dr Matthew Remedios posed this question to his then young daughter.
Testament to their desire to raise a strong, independent woman, parents Dr Remedios and Dr Jennifer Greenwood, gave their daughter the freedom to choose her own secondary school.
After evaluating her options, Maya Remedios (2022) picked Brisbane Girls Grammar School.
It was a choice that marked the family’s commitment to transforming lives at BGGS.
For gastroenterologist, Dr Remedios, and anaesthetist, Dr Greenwood, philanthropy was ‘not a question of why would we, but why wouldn’t we?’
‘We have to give back,’ Dr Remedios said.
The couple generously donated to the School’s Bursary Fund, supporting a Girls Grammar education for those who do not have the means to attend the School.
Offering this choice to shape futures, was an important concept for Dr Remedios.
‘We are very fortunate in Brisbane to have good schools, but the risk is that not everyone can get in the elevator,’ he said.
‘The Bursary program supports people who do not have the advantage of going to the School in the first place.
‘It gives other girls an opportunity to have an excellent education.’
Dr Remedios believes a school needs to reflect the world around it—a sentiment that was core to his family’s wish to see more girls from diverse financial backgrounds attend Girls Grammar and receive the same education they were able to provide Maya.
‘My view is that you don’t want a group of people who keep going forward while leaving other people behind,’ he said. ‘It also teaches students about giving back, which I think is a very important concept.’
Grateful for the education their daughter received at Girls Grammar, the couple also donated to the School’s Science Learning Centre (SLC) in 2020, through the purchase of an element from the Periodic Table.
The Remedios family chose Gadolinium as their element, a rare-earth metal used in medical imaging.
The philanthropic initiative invites donors to support the SLC by ‘sponsoring’ an element from the Periodic Table.
Donors not only leave a lasting mark on Girls Grammar’s educational landscape but directly foster the advancement of scientific learning and discovery in a building devoted to nurturing future generations of scientists, engineers and medical innovators.
‘It is a beautiful building to learn in,’ Dr Remedios said.
‘We, as a family, are very fortunate to be able to have the funds to donate to financial programs and to be able to support a building like that.’
When it came to making her initial decision on where to attend, a multitude of factors came into play for Maya, including school culture, academics and sporting opportunities.
But it was the culture of a ‘girl empowerment school’ that ultimately guided her decision towards Girls Grammar.
‘She was definitely the right personality for an environment that was encouraging female education and strong women because she has always been strong,’ Dr Remedios said.
‘Now on reflection, I look at her education and I couldn’t have asked for anything better.’
As visually striking as the Science Learning Centre is—rectilinear green glass surrounding a perfectly circular form—it is the teaching and learning housed within that is truly breathtaking.
The seven-storey building includes 16 laboratories, five classrooms and a multifunction space dedicated to engaging and advancing young female minds in the sciences.
‘It has provided a supportive and intellectually stimulating setting that fosters critical and creative thinking, adherence to scientific norms and scientific play, enabling all students to enhance their scientific literacy, and develop as future professionals, if that is their aspiration,’ BGGS Director of Science, Dr Sally Stephens, said.
The funding of this facility was in part thanks to Building Fund donations including through the philanthropic Periodic Table project in which donors can sponsor an element.
Multiple elements are still available for sponsorship, including Aluminium, Copper and Erbium. If you wish to secure your own element and contribute to the advancement of scientific learning at BGGS, please contact our Development Office on +61 7 3332 1300 or development@bggs.qld.edu.au. www.bggs.qld.edu.au/giving
2024 highlighted the BGGS community’s remarkable generosity and commitment to current and future generations of Grammar girls. We are sincerely grateful to our donors on the third annual Giving Day, which, when matched, raised $544 401 for the greening of the Creative Learning Centre, Junior School development and bursaries.
This reflects the transformative power of a united community as we focus on supporting the new Junior School
in 2025 to deliver a dynamic hub of primary education for young girls. With the steadfast support of the Board of Trustees, donors and the wider community, BGGS is poised to strengthen its foundation and continue delivering exceptional education for girls.
In 2024, BGGS also received a generous contribution from Mrs Kay Bryan OAM, establishing a perpetual bursary to be awarded annually from 2025, a legacy that will shape future generations.
We have been thankful for the support of our community groups—Parents and Friends Association (Junior School playground), the Fathers Group (CLC Greening Project), Mothers Group (Junior School’s Little Tucker), and the Old Girls Association (Junior School Capital Campaign)—for their continued support. The generosity of all, through donations or volunteer efforts, enriches the life of the School today and into the future.
The Cherrell Hirst Creative Learning Centre (CLC) greening project aims to provide students with a leafy sanctuary to enhance their wellbeing and connection to nature.
As the School community rested during the summer break, multiple levels of pots were installed in the CLC, heralding the beginning of its transformation into terraced greenery.
The CLC Greening was supported by donations received during Giving Day 2024 and reflects our Strategic Design 2023-2025, offering sustainable and optimised facilities for students to enjoy. The project will provide 170 m2 of foliage, creating a vibrant green haven for students—part of the main campus’s multiple small forests and landscaped gardens.
Over 250 plants and five trees will be installed, including Liriopew, Eucharis Grandiflora and Philodendron Gloriosum.
The Property and Facilities team said they were excited to not only tend to the CLC plant growth but support the wellbeing initiative.
‘The greening project will soften the offform concrete structure and bring a sense of natural openness and space,’ BGGS
Facilities Operations Manager, Mr Chris Bailey-Bolton, said on behalf of the team.
‘The plants will provide clean air and be visually pleasing and it is our hope that the project will harness positive learning outcomes and connectedness.’
The Grammar Women—Grammar Girls Mentoring Program strengthens connections between current BGGS students and young alumnae in a meaningful and rewarding way. This valuable program provides support to students in navigating their senior studies and post-school planning by pairing them with recent graduates. Participants meet four times a year to discuss academic, personal and career goals, as well as strategies to enhance learning and wellbeing.
Kaiyu Su (2024), who received a 99.95 ATAR, and Ms Hope Sneddon (2016) (pictured right), were paired due to their shared interest in mathematics and science.
‘I was looking for a mentor who was openminded and willing to take chances, rather than let discomfort dictate their decisions, as this is an ability I believe is important to instil in myself,’ Kaiyu said.
Hope said she volunteered for the program to give back to Grammar girls after realising there was ‘an abundance of prescriptive knowledge’ to help young people plan their career paths, but few mentors available to help young people through the ‘philosophical and emotional challenges that came with this’.
‘Participating in these mentoring initiatives is just as beneficial for me as I hope it is for the students,’ Hope said.
‘We both take away a refreshed sense of perspective on where we are, the challenges we collectively face as intelligent women and where we want to go.’
If you would like more information about this rewarding program, please contact Alumnae Relations Manager, Ms Antonia Swindells on +61 3332 1437 or email GrammarWomen@bggs.qld.edu.au.
Given the importance of sun safety, the Parents and Friends Association generously funded the creation and installation of a new shade structure in 2024, allowing students to enjoy the Pool Lawn comfortably throughout the day, while being protected from UV exposure. The innovative sails can be adjusted to provide the perfect amount of shade and breeze depending on the angle of the sun and area to be covered.
To further enhance students’ enjoyment of the space, the Parents and Friends Association also kindly gifted picnic rugs and pillows, creating a cozy hang-out for students to relax and socialise during break times.
The sails and seating accessories were unveiled in Term 3 2024 and have quickly become a popular lunchtime destination to unwind with friends.
The BGGS community has always been one of generosity and engagement. Many volunteer their time to support the success of the School’s events and co-curricular activities by joining Parent Support Groups. Dedicated to helping our students, teachers and families, these groups are integral to upholding our community spirit. In 2024, the Parents and Friends Association funded the installation of the Pool Lawn shade structure and seating accessories. They also committed funds for the Junior School playground as an ongoing pledge, fully funded by the Parents and Friends Association.
The Mothers Group, Old Girls Association (OGA) and Fathers Group were also matching donors of Giving Day. The generous donations of both the Mothers Network and OGA went towards the Junior School, and the Fathers Group’s matched contributions funded the greening of the Creative Learning Centre (CLC).
The Music Support Group has offered invaluable support at co-curricular music rehearsals and events, fuelling the girls at concerts, hosting welcome events and stalls and arranging gifts for the Year 12 Music Farewell.
Every act of volunteering, whether through formal groups or informal networks, strengthens the BGGS community.
Our sporting teams were supported on the sidelines and behind the scenes by the passion and resourcefulness of the Rowing and Water Polo Support Groups, who funded the addition of new equipment. Water Polo Support Group donated new foldable goals and hosted the Olympic Watch Party at the School.
The School extends its sincere gratitude to all parent groups for their invaluable support in providing an exceptional education for our students, allowing them to explore and develop their unique talents and diverse abilities. Every act of volunteering, whether through formal groups or informal networks, strengthens the BGGS community. We deeply appreciate the dedication and commitment of all our volunteers.
‘The many parents that volunteer throughout the season experience a close, friendly and highly supportive rowing community’—Warwick Agnew, Rowing Support Group President
Brisbane Girls Grammar School’s Rowing is far more than just early starts and calluses. Coaches, staff, families and the School’s passionate Rowing Support Group create a dynamic and unwavering support network, driving our rowers to excel throughout their season.
Testament to the success of this community spirit were the 11 BGGS crews securing podiums at the 2024 Head of the River.
In 2024, through multiple fundraising initiatives, the Rowing Support Group raised more than $40 000 to purchase a new quad boat, Velocitas, and two new sets of oars for the rowers to use. These gifts enhanced the fleet’s capabilities and contributed to the success of the season. The new addition to the fleet was christened at the third Brisbane Schoolgirls Rowing Association (BSRA) regatta, which the School hosted in August.
Not only did they cook, plan, coordinate and set up regattas and functions, the Rowing Support Group also supported about 30 coaches and 110 rowers across the season at training and competitions, with a particular emphasis on teamwork within the rowing community.
‘The many parents that volunteer throughout the season experience a close, friendly and highly supportive rowing community,’ Rowing Support Group President, Warwick Agnew, said.
‘The parents’ efforts are very openly and sincerely appreciated by the girls.’
2024 marked the 125 year anniversary of the formalisation of the BGGS Old Girls Association. It is one of the oldest such associations in Australia and supports networks that span countries, backgrounds and generations.
Over the decades the OGA has given back to both the School community and the wider community in many ways, and this year’s anniversary was acknowledged with a new Connections for Life OGA badge, a Gala Dinner and presentation of the Sisterhood sculpture commissioned by alumna and artist, Danielle Piat (1981).
Brisbane Girls Grammar School is committed to exhibiting diverse and inspiring works of art.
The BGGS Fine Arts Collection holds more than 400 works in a variety of media, with many generously gifted. The School was pleased to add to its collection in 2024 with the donation of Ryogoku (Fireworks). The contemporary Japanese woodblock print—named after a Tokyo neighbourhood—was donated by the family of Mrs Julie Caton (Cleghorn, 1981), President of the Old Girls Association.
While traditional woodblock prints depict landscapes, courtesans or Kabuki actors,
this more modern work shows fireworks over a bridge crossing Tokyo’s Sumida River, bringing dynamic colour to the print.
The print is a signed, limited edition numbered woodblock print by Japanese artist, Jun’ichiro Sekino (1914–1988), one of the major post-WWII artists of the sosaku hanga (‘creative print’) movement that merged both Western and Japanese aesthetics. Given Japanese language and culture has long been studied at the School and BGGS has sister schools in Japan, this gift was greatly appreciated from both a cultural and artistic point of view.
The Old Girls Association also gifted the School in 2024 a sculpture titled, Sisterhood, in celebration of the association’s 125th anniversary.
Cast in bronze, it was commissioned from alumna artist, Ms Danielle Piat (1981), and depicts two students—one older, with her arm supporting a younger student—to show the sisterly bond between Grammar girls that underpins the ethos of the School.
The Board of Trustees and the Principal, on behalf of the School, thank members of the Girls Grammar community for their generous support in 2024.
AJ Family
Jacinta Akers
Dr H and Mrs E Alexander
Jacinta Amies
Nicole & Jared Andersen
Michael and Geetanjali Anthonisz
Dr Nathan Anthony & Ms Kirani Heeremans
Stefanie Bailey
Prof Andrew Barbour & Dr Samantha McLaughlin
Gay Barnett
Michael Barnett & Andrea Higgins
Eugene Barry
Drs Lilantha & Renu Basnayake
Beckingsale Family
Sarah Beckingsale
Dr A Bell AM
Dr Brendan & Mrs Vanessa Bell
Tanya Benson
Angela Bensted and Benedict Devereaux
Drs Nandan & Suruchi Bhende
Justin Bindman & Anna Wagstaff
Inais, Matisse, Persia & Arabella Black
Thady and Kylie Blundell
Krishna & Gayathri Bodla
Derek & Catherine Bond
Tyson Booth
Chamsi Bouhafs and Meriem Boudjakdji
The Bowden Family
Mrs Kay Brassil
Janet Bray
Brittain Family
Alistair & Colette Brown
Dr Derrick Brown & Rachael Browning
Nick & Bridget Brown
Mrs Kay Bryan OAM
Keryn Bryce
David & Peta Bunce
Suzanne Cali
Campbell Family
Louise Campbell
Marg Campbell
The Cardell Family
Cardell-Ree Family
Ramsay and Michelle Carter
Rebecca Castley
Ann Caston
Julie Caton
Francis Chan & Alison Yu
Chang Family
C Chang & N Kambe
Linus Chang
Chen Family
Dr Michael and Mrs Linda Chen
Yizu Chen & Shuangyan Zhang
Dr Eddie Cheng
Cheri Chern
E Cherry
Stephen & Kristina Chesterman
Anne Chidgey
Dr D Chin
Tung Chiu & Ka Ng
Raymond Chun and Ming Chow
Andrew Clark
Maria and Brett Clark
Clarkson Family
Taryn Collins
Sally Condon
Dale & Teresa Connor
Sarah Cooper
Jill Corrigan
Tatiana Coulter
Michael & Rosalind Creedon
David Cui & Helen Wang
Laura Cunning
Lavinia Dack
Lachlan Davidson
Dr Glenn and Mrs Cynthia Davies
Lesley Davies
Tania Davey
Janelle Desouza
Donaghy-Lowrey Family
Donnelly Family
Kathryn Dooley
Dr N & Dr A Dore
Ian Dorey & Hannah Riggs
James & Sarah Earnshaw
Peter Edwards
S Edwards
Wendy Edwards
Lynette Ens
Nikki Estrera
April Euler & Harry Tynan
Ms Jacinda Euler Welsh
Nova Evans
Dr Henry Fang & Ms Tammy Liang
Di Feng & Xiaomin Guan
Finch Family
Isla Fisher, Danika Fisher & Jasmine Lutz
Fitzgerald Family
Neil & Belinda Fletcher
Jody Forbes
David and Judy Fraser
Dr Margaret Fry
The Fu Family
David & Eva Gaffney
Mel Galloway
Gamer Family
Gandhi Family
Jo Genders
Jacinda & Mark Geritz
Drs D Ghahramanipour & L Imani
The Gianduzzo Family
Paul & Raeleen Gough
Ruth Gough
Governance by Design
Emily Granger
David & Kathryn Gregory
Dominique Grigg
Lyn Grigg
Richard & Jennifer Hadfield
Jane Hailes
Janet Hanscomb
Pauline Harvey-Short
Peter Hastie and Suzanne Sheridan
Dorothy Hawkins
Ian Hazzard Family
Heinemann Family
J Hennessey
Sacha Hennessy
Emmelia Herron
Higginson Family
Kellie Himstedt
Dr Cherrell Hirst AO
Noela Hirst
Nathaniel Ho and Jasmine Kiu
Hodge Family
Lisa Honeychurch Van Riel
B & R Hosking
Michael and Jenny Hovey
Teresa Howard
Hoyling Family
Chenggang Hu & Lan Xu
Victor Hu and Susan Zhu
Simon Hua & Jessica Shen
Geoff Huang
Helen Hunter
Dr Syed & Mrs Sitti Hussain
Savindra and Hapange Ilangamage
Mr Jackson & Dr Po-Ling Inglis
Anne Ingram
Inoka
Isbel Family
Sam & Amy Iskander
Prof Saso & Mrs Katie Ivanovski
Alison Jack (McAdam)
Ms Elizabeth Jameson AM & Dr Abbe
Anderson
Ruth Jans
Wen Ji
James & Jenny Jiang
Anna & Edward Johnson
Elizabeth Jean Johnson (Casswell, 1953)
Hyun-ju Johnson
Hannah Jones
Pamela Jones
Zachary & Ernestiene Jones
David Daniel Keane
Margaret Kelly
Timothy & Melissa Kent
Melissa & Andrew Kerr
Khursandi Wild Family
Jan Kildey
Hyoungnam Kim & Yuna Lee
Soohyun Kim
Racquel Kolkert and David Coates
Aleksandra Skaljak Kovacevic
Dr Benjamin & Mrs Rebecca Kroon
Ki Kyoung & Na Lee
Roger Lago
Lam Family
Nina Lamprell
Mark & Ellissa Lauder
Syndia Lazarus and Andrew Harcourt
Wei-Tse Lee & Fiona Tan
Jinxia Li
H Lin & T Chu
Ying Lin, Peiheng Hu & Sunnie Lin
Michael and Zora Liu
The Liu and Chen Family
Dr Benjamin & Mrs Alexandra Lloyd
Carla Lloyd
The Hon Justice John Logan
& Mrs Janice Logan
Bridget Lowry
Dan Lu & Ling Li
Mark and Amanda Ludlow
Philip and Lillian Lui
Allison Luque
J & C MacDonald
Emily Mackenzie
Clare Maguire
Gary Mahon
Kathryn Mainstone
Eimear Mann
Jane Martel
Lisa & Paul Martens
Suzuki Masatoshi & Xia Wang
Crystal Mason
Matthew Mazzotta & Tatiana Chashchina
Noelene and Ian McBride
Bill & Kate McCredie
Dr Mark & Mrs Andrea McCullen
Troy & Elissa McDonagh
Frances McInerney & Sean Martin
J McKay
Dr S & Mr H McKay
McLaughlin Family
John & Angela McMillan
Nicola McPhedran
Jonathan and Terriann Meadmore
Saxon Mew
Josh and Danielle Milani
Alexander Miller & Fiona McDougall
Paul & Melanie Mitchell
Dr C Mittelheuser AM
The Moody Family
Sophie Mooney
Rebecca Moore
Sophie Moore
Dr Debraj & Mrs Madhubanti Mukherjee
Ms L Mungomery
Timothy & Lyndall & Savannah Munro
Myers Family
Mr Adam Nancarrow & Dr Juliane Kampe
Rebecca Nardi
Jennifer Nash
Scott & Lisa Naumann
Johanne Neill & Ben Dodd
Jennifer Nevard
Geoff & Caroline Newman
Jim and Jill Nicklin
Mr Travis O’Brien & Dr Sarah Steele
Georgia O’Hare
Mr Shi Pan and Ms Emily Qi
Dr Jai & Mrs Katherine Panchapakesan
Lasanthi Paranavithana
Soojang Park & Minjae Lah
Lara Parker
Mark Parker and Lisa Wruck
Emma and Nick Parr
Dr Andrew & Mrs Carly Patten
Miranda Patten
Eve Peacock
Troy & Charlie Pearse
Ela and Peter Perry
Lucy Peters
Dr Damien Petersen and Dr Sharyn Van
Alphen
The Phua Wu Family
Aaron & Rebecca Pollard
Andrew Pollock
Dr Glenda Powell AM
Maurice Prendergast and Family
Toby & Monique Prior
Grace Qiu
Richard Qiu and Connie Shen
Louise Quinlan
Justin and Jacklyn Quinn
Rafiee Family
Dr L Thasini Ramachandran and Mrs A Lakshmi Narayanan
Sanjeev Ranjan
Mr Ranjithan Ratnam & Dr Elavarasi Ranjithan
David Rawson
Tracey Redmond
Drs Alistair & Abigail Reid
Rombola Family
Stephanie Russell
Mr Michael & Mrs Elizabeth Ryan
Salisbury Family
Bradley & Emma Sartori
Dr Keshan & Ms Anne Satharasinghe
Tim & Nina Sayer
Janine Schmidt AM
Darren Scott & Kirrily Hoole
Kim Selwa
Elaine Serisier
Mr Shamaleh and Ms Hassouneh
Karla Shaw
Mark Shaw & Vanessa Taylor
Jinghuan Shi
Jay Siddhpura
Jasjeet Sihota
Shang Min Forex Sim
Gurmandeep Singh & Jasjeet Sihota
James Skene & Kathryn Allan
Mr H Smerdon AM & Mrs S Smerdon
Charlotte Smith
Dr Tony Son & Mrs Jenny Lee
Carol Sorensen
Paul & Roberta Spezza
Alysia Stark
Mrs Ann Stark
Stevens Family
Melissa Stevenson & Tom Granger
Alison Stocker & Anthony Lynch
Mark & Jane Stuckey
Owen Su
Yong Su & Qingfen Lin
Chun Sui & Qingdong Ren
Gavin Sun
Sunny Sun & Julie Wang
Nisha Swanston
Swindells Family
Kathryn Talbot
Elin Tan Family
Guy Taylor
Renae Taylor
Christian and Leah Telford
Betty Teo
Kirsten Thatcher
Brendon & Kerrin Thomas
Mr Matthew and Dr Anna Thomas
Drs R Thomas & D Jacob
Lorraine Thornquist
Dr Nicholas Ting & Mrs Emily Tiang
Steven & Anne Ting
Tobin Family
Quang Tran & Hoa Huynh
Trappett Family
Susan & Luke Uhlmann
Dr Jatheesh Valappil & Vidya Jatheesh
Diane Voller
Ronny & Meleah Wachtel
Lili Wackwitz
Elaine Wan
David Wang & Ling Ling Li
Nathan Wang & Linda Lu
Bethel Webb (Hunter)
Andrew Wells
Robin Williams
Elvyn Wilson
Drs Peter Wong & Anita Lau
Yat Tung Wong & Pui Sze Chung
Retha Wood
Charlie and Dianne Woodward
Daniel Worthley and Liza Phillips
David Wright & Emily Cross
Bin Wu & Yanhong Zheng
Keping Wu
XinGang Wu & YanYan Gao
Dr Peter & Mrs Leigh Wysocki
Nan Yang & Nina Xing
Suzhen Ye
S Yong Gee
Mr S Yuen & Mrs H Jiang
Annie Zeng
Laurinda Zhang
Jun Ling Zhao
Ling Zhao
Queenie Zhao
Yan Zhao & Xiaoqi Ma
Zhi Zhao
Sarah Zhou
Zuting Zhuo & Yan Lin
72 Anonymous Donors
Sophia Beanland Circle
Mrs Kay Brassil (1959)
Dr Barbara Burge (1950)
Mrs Ann Caston (1958)
Mrs Julie Caton (1981)
Mrs Tatiana Coulter (1994)
Dr Jonathan Davies & Mrs Helen Davies (1962)
Mrs Lesley Davies (1959)
Mrs Jenny Everett (1961)
Ms Elizabeth Jameson OAM (1982)
Ms Linda Lee
Mrs Jeanette Lockey OAM (1952)
10 Anonymous Members
in
The Barbara Fielding Estate
Thank you to the School’s Support Groups for their important contribution and service throughout the year.
Parents and Friends Association
P&F Uniform Shop
Old Girls Association
Mothers Network
Fathers Group
Music Support Group
Rowing Support Group
Water Polo Support Group
Grammar Women Mentors
Contributions to support the future of BGGS and its students can be made in any of the following ways:
Telephone
+61 7 3332 1300
Email development@bggs.qld.edu.au
Online www.bggs.qld.edu.au/giving
Direct Deposit (EFT)
For more information about how you can give via EFT, please contact Ms April Euler, Development Manager, on +61 7 3332 1300 or development@bggs.qld.edu.au
As a valued donor, we invite you to join us at our milestone celebrations marking 150 Years of Brisbane Girls Grammar School in 2025.
Friday 14 March: 150 Year Anniversary Ball
Saturday 15 March: Foundation Celebration Afternoon
Tuesday 3 June: Donor Thank You Reception
For more information, please contact the Development Office on +61 7 3337 1300 or development@bggs.qld.edu.au
Gregory Terrace, Brisbane QLD 4000, Australia +61 7 3332 1300 communications@bggs.qld.edu.au bggs.qld.edu.au