Keep up to date with upcoming events
at Great Southern Grammar. Click to read this
week's Anchor.
When I Grow Up....
Thursday
this week saw most GSG students take the opportunity to
come to school out of uniform and projecting their
future selves. The theme for the Wilson free dress day
this year was “What I want to be when I grow up”. This
saw the arrival of police officers and firefighters, at
least one dragon, Superman, Batgirl and a surfer
complete with surfboard. In fact sport was well
represented as a career choice and crossing the grounds
one passed a cricketer, and football players
representing a range of clubs and codes. Doctors and
nurses mingled with Dr Who and other aspiring media
stars. All in all it was a fun day for a good cause,
supporting Young House Albany.
The Burgers are Better at GSG!
During Term One, GSG Year 9 and 10 Hospitality
students entered the Food Design Challenge 2013. This
Australia-wide competition is run by Home Economics
Victoria. Students were required to design, produce and
evaluate their own original vegetarian, seafood or meat
burger. Judging criteria included creativity, recipe
presentation, product presentation and evaluation. Along
with busy Hospitality students in the kitchens of the
new Hospitality facility in the Middle School, Year 10
Media students spent many lessons setting up a food
photography station to take some amazing photos of over
40 GSG burgers. Congratulations to Ruby Bigwood in Year
10 who was awarded third prize in the national
competition: a commendable effort from over 800 entries
throughout Australia. She made a tasty Triple Thai
Burger (click here for
the prize-winning recipe). Ruby received prizes
from Sunbeam, Macmillan Publishing and Home Economics
Victoria. All other students received a certificate of
participation for their high standard of entries.
Growing Demand for Boarding
With
the demand for residential places at GSG growing
steadily, the School is already gearing up to accomodate
additional boarding students in 2014 and 2015. The new
boarding house under construction on campus is
progressing well with the building on track for an
October structural completion. This allows time for the
fitting out of the facility and a planned viewing for
the school community at the end of the year. The
building will cater for 32 additional students in three
wings with a 1:1 student to bedroom ratio and shared
bathrooms. Each wing leads into a communal living,
kitchen and dining space as well as undercover barbeque
and recreation areas. The fourth wing will provide
living accommodation for supervising boarding parents.
Class of 2003 Ten Year Reunion
Even
the closest of families can be scattered far and wide
and it is no different for GSG graduates. The Alumni of
2003 have addresses in WA, interstate and overseas so it
was quite an achievement for nearly half the original
student group to gather at GSG last Saturday. A tour of
the School evoked a range of memories from their school
days interspersed with amazement at the high standard of
facilities available to current students. A number of
2003 staff members joined their past students in the
Boarding House Dining Room to catch up and reminisce
about absent friends and shared memories.
GSG Hospitality students looked after the guests and
impressed the gathering with their skills and customer
service, as everyone enjoyed a delicious meal. Among the
apologies was a video message from former Head Boy Matt
Ward who sent a greeting from London, and former
Headmaster Mr Peter Welch also sent his best wishes from
Queensland. Finally after non-stop talking, it was the
four beautiful and well-behaved babies present who broke
up the party and who we hope will be joining the School
in due course. There is no doubt that this is a year
group that we can all be proud of. (22nd
May 2013)
US Consul-General Visits Flinders House
The
United States Consul-General, Ms Aleisha Woodward,
visited Flinders House during the holidays and met with
a group of GSG student leaders from Years 6, 9 and 12.
Questions asked by the students were wide-ranging (yes,
she has met Mr Obama and her next posting is to
Khazakhstan). Ms Woodward was able to give the students
a real insight into diplomatic life and an outline of
her career pathway since she studied International
Relations at university in Utah. She has been the Consul
General in Perth since October 2010. Everyone attending
was delighted to receive a pin of the twin US/Australian
flags.
The Consul-General was also interested in the life of
the students and would have liked to meet with the
boarders who reside at Flinders House. Mrs Rosie Deveson
(formerly of New York) provided the perfect afternoon
tea for the occasion with homemade chocolate brownies,
scones and Anzac biscuits which were very much
appreciated by everyone. (9th
May 2013)
2013 School Ball
The
Year 12 Ball is always a much anticipated event
and this year’s Ball which was celebrated last Saturday
evening was no exception. The Princess Royal Sailing Club
was the perfect venue and the interior was decorated
beautifully by a willing band
of helpers. Students were also transformed into
beautifully turned out young men and women, ready for an
evening of celebration. The students and staff attending
enjoyed a delicious meal, lots of chatting and
demonstrated their moves on the dance floor. The Ball
Committee and GSG staff who coordinated the Year 12 Ball
are to be congratulated on their efforts. (19th April 2013)
GSG Farewells Dedicated Volunteer
Representatives
of the P & F recently organised a farewell lunch in the
GSG Dining Hall for Mrs Reiko Kitamura who is leaving
Albany with her family to return to Japan. The Kitamura
family have been part of the GSG community since 2008
when Reiko's daughter Moana commenced in Year 2. Among
those attending the lunch were the Headmaster Mr Stuart
Marquardt, the Business Manager Mrs Diana Currie, the
President of the P & F Mrs Julia Bairstow and Canteen
Coordinator Mrs Val Kirby who showed their appreciation
to Reiko for her much valued contribution to the school
and P&F through her outstanding voluntary commitment to
the Canteen. (16th April 2013)
World Individual Debating and Public
Speaking Championships Durban 2013
This
Easter, Katie McAlllister, Year 12, and Ms Valda
Wieland, Debating Convenor, Easter headed to Durban, South Africa, to take Katie’s
well-earned place in the Australian team for the World
Individual Debating and Public Speaking Championships. The event involved
students from 14 countries and was
held over five days, which included entertainment and
excursions to places of cultural significance.
Katie succeeded in being placed as a finalist out of 116
students in two events; Persuasive Speech and Impromptu
Speech. From 14 finalists, only two grand finalists were
selected. Katie placed 6th overall in
Persuasive and 13th in Impromptu. She is to
be congratulated for this achievement and can be proud
of her placement in the final overall tally
which places her 19th in the world!
Inspired by her experience, Katie is enthusiastic about
encouraging others to have a go at something they may
not know that have an aptitude for and she invites all
with shy curiosity or burning ambition to join the House
Debating that will start in Term Two.
(12th April 2013)
Shadow Ministerial Visit GSG
The
Hon Christopher Pyne, Shadow Minister for Education,
Apprenticeships and Training; Senator Dean Smith Liberal
Senator for WA; Senator Chris Back, Liberal Senator for
WA; and Mr Rick Wilson Liberal Candidate for O’Connor
visited Great Southern Grammar this week. The visitors
enjoyed a tour of the School and the Boarding facilities
followed by a lunch provided by Hospitality students.
After lunch they took time to have an informal chat with
Year 12 Politics and Law students. Earlier in the day,
Senator Smith and Mr Wilson attended a round table
meeting in Albany of local educators and P&C
representatives, inviting Mr Pyne to learn about the
issues facing local school communities and to discuss
the possible impact of the Gonski Review. (12th April 2013)
Students Make the Cut
Year 8 Media students were recently involved in the
ShortCuts Film Project as part of the Perth
International Arts Festival (PIAF). The Project was an
opportunity for young people from all corners of WA to
make their own artistic contribution to the 2013 Perth
Festival by filming 30 seconds of their favourite local
shortcut. Then editors cut together the best entries to
make a final video to show on the Perth Cultural Centre
big screen. Congratulations to the GSG student whose
work was all selected to be included for the final
video. For more information about the Project visit the
PIAF website.
(12th April 2013)
Thursday
this week saw most GSG students take the opportunity to
come to school out of uniform and projecting their
future selves. The theme for the Wilson free dress day
this year was “What I want to be when I grow up”. This
saw the arrival of police officers and firefighters, at
least one dragon, Superman, Batgirl and a surfer
complete with surfboard. In fact sport was well
represented as a career choice and crossing the grounds
one passed a cricketer, and football players
representing a range of clubs and codes. Doctors and
nurses mingled with Dr Who and other aspiring media
stars. All in all it was a fun day for a good cause,
supporting Young House Albany. 
During Term One, GSG Year 9 and 10 Hospitality
students entered the Food Design Challenge 2013. This
Australia-wide competition is run by Home Economics
Victoria. Students were required to design, produce and
evaluate their own original vegetarian, seafood or meat
burger. Judging criteria included creativity, recipe
presentation, product presentation and evaluation. Along
with busy Hospitality students in the kitchens of the
new Hospitality facility in the Middle School, Year 10
Media students spent many lessons setting up a food
photography station to take some amazing photos of over
40 GSG burgers. Congratulations to Ruby Bigwood in Year
10 who was awarded third prize in the national
competition: a commendable effort from over 800 entries
throughout Australia. She made a tasty Triple Thai
Burger (
With
the demand for residential places at GSG growing
steadily, the School is already gearing up to accomodate
additional boarding students in 2014 and 2015. The new
boarding house under construction on campus is
progressing well with the building on track for an
October structural completion. This allows time for the
fitting out of the facility and a planned viewing for
the school community at the end of the year. The
building will cater for 32 additional students in three
wings with a 1:1 student to bedroom ratio and shared
bathrooms. Each wing leads into a communal living,
kitchen and dining space as well as undercover barbeque
and recreation areas. The fourth wing will provide
living accommodation for supervising boarding parents.
Even
the closest of families can be scattered far and wide
and it is no different for GSG graduates. The Alumni of
2003 have addresses in WA, interstate and overseas so it
was quite an achievement for nearly half the original
student group to gather at GSG last Saturday. A tour of
the School evoked a range of memories from their school
days interspersed with amazement at the high standard of
facilities available to current students. A number of
2003 staff members joined their past students in the
Boarding House Dining Room to catch up and reminisce
about absent friends and shared memories. 
The
United States Consul-General, Ms Aleisha Woodward,
visited Flinders House during the holidays and met with
a group of GSG student leaders from Years 6, 9 and 12.
Questions asked by the students were wide-ranging (yes,
she has met Mr Obama and her next posting is to
Khazakhstan). Ms Woodward was able to give the students
a real insight into diplomatic life and an outline of
her career pathway since she studied International
Relations at university in Utah. She has been the Consul
General in Perth since October 2010. Everyone attending
was delighted to receive a pin of the twin US/Australian
flags.
The
Year 12 Ball is always a much anticipated event
and this year’s Ball which was celebrated last Saturday
evening was no exception. The Princess Royal Sailing Club
was the perfect venue and the interior was decorated
beautifully by a willing band
of helpers. Students were also transformed into
beautifully turned out young men and women, ready for an
evening of celebration. The students and staff attending
enjoyed a delicious meal, lots of chatting and
demonstrated their moves on the dance floor. The Ball
Committee and GSG staff who coordinated the Year 12 Ball
are to be congratulated on their efforts. 
Representatives
of the P & F recently organised a farewell lunch in the
GSG Dining Hall for Mrs Reiko Kitamura who is leaving
Albany with her family to return to Japan. The Kitamura
family have been part of the GSG community since 2008
when Reiko's daughter Moana commenced in Year 2. Among
those attending the lunch were the Headmaster Mr Stuart
Marquardt, the Business Manager Mrs Diana Currie, the
President of the P & F Mrs Julia Bairstow and Canteen
Coordinator Mrs Val Kirby who showed their appreciation
to Reiko for her much valued contribution to the school
and P&F through her outstanding voluntary commitment to
the Canteen. 
This
Easter, Katie McAlllister, Year 12, and Ms Valda
Wieland, Debating Convenor, Easter headed to Durban, South Africa, to take Katie’s
well-earned place in the Australian team for the World
Individual Debating and Public Speaking Championships. The event involved
students from 14 countries and was
held over five days, which included entertainment and
excursions to places of cultural significance.
The
Hon Christopher Pyne, Shadow Minister for Education,
Apprenticeships and Training; Senator Dean Smith Liberal
Senator for WA; Senator Chris Back, Liberal Senator for
WA; and Mr Rick Wilson Liberal Candidate for O’Connor
visited Great Southern Grammar this week. The visitors
enjoyed a tour of the School and the Boarding facilities
followed by a lunch provided by Hospitality students.
After lunch they took time to have an informal chat with
Year 12 Politics and Law students. Earlier in the day,
Senator Smith and Mr Wilson attended a round table
meeting in Albany of local educators and P&C
representatives, inviting Mr Pyne to learn about the
issues facing local school communities and to discuss
the possible impact of the Gonski Review. 
