From the Principal’s Desk – Celebrating 133 Years of Rockhampton Girls Grammar School

Foundation Day – Wednesday 30 April

Last Wednesday, we celebrated a significant milestone in the life of our school — 133 years since the founding of Rockhampton Girls Grammar School. Foundation Day holds a special place in our hearts, and this year’s gathering was a beautiful reflection of the pride, connection, and tradition that define our school community.

There was a sense of excitement in the air from the very start of the day. Music played as students and staff arrived, and balloons along the Agnes Street fence added a festive touch. But it wasn’t just the decorations or the music that made the morning feel special — it was the feeling of coming together to honour our School’s rich history and the proud standing of our beloved, Heritage listed Paterson House. 

Foundation Day is a time for us to pause and reflect — to think about the thousands of girls and women who have walked these grounds before us. Each of them contributed something unique, helping to build the strong, values-led community we are so proud to be part of today. Their legacy continues to live on in the everyday moments that make Girls Grammar such a remarkable place.

It was a pleasure to welcome some of those who know this legacy firsthand — members of our Alumni and Old Girls Association. Their continued connection to the school is a powerful reminder that being part of Girls Grammar doesn’t end at graduation — it lasts a lifetime.

Our morning began with students and staff gathering around Paterson House — the heart of our school and a powerful symbol of our history. There, we formed our traditional gold coin spiral in support of the ongoing restoration of this much-loved, heritage-listed building. Thank you to everyone who contributed. Your generosity will help ensure Paterson House continues to stand tall for future generations of Girls Grammar girls.

Surrounding Paterson House, we also shared in some of our most cherished school traditions — singing the School Song and Happy Birthday, raising our voices for the School War Cry, and ending with the much loved Panama Hat toss. These moments, while simple, carry deep meaning. They connect us to each other and to those who have come before us.

From there, students in Years 6 to 12 gathered in McKeague Hall for a very special Q&A session with four past students who generously shared their memories and reflections:

• Jan Davison, Class of 1959, a Day Girl from 1956 to 1959 and the Helen E Downs Prefect in her final year

• Michelle Landry, Class of 1978, a Day Girl from Yeppoon

• Kathy King, Class of 1989, a Boarder from Calliope and the Helen E Downs Prefect in 1989

• Ellena Price, Class of 1990, a Boarder from Longreach

  
  
  

  

  
  
  

I extend my heartfelt thanks to our special guests whose reflections offered valuable insight and, I hope, helped our current students appreciate how their own Girls Grammar journey is part of something bigger.

Their stories were honest, warm, and full of the kind of wisdom that only comes from experience. I know their words resonated with many of our girls, offering them not only insight into the past, but also a sense of perspective about the present. I am incredibly proud of our School and deeply grateful to be part of a community that holds its history, values, staff and students both past and present in such high regard.

Thank you to everyone who made the day so memorable.

Kara Krehlik

Principal