Welcome to Semester 2: The Marathon Continues

Welcome back to Semester 2 at Rockhampton Girls Grammar School!

I hope the holidays provided time for rest, reflection, and reconnection - for students and families alike. As we enter the second half of the year, it’s the perfect opportunity to pause, take a breath, and re-centre ourselves before stepping forward once again.

As I prepared for Term 3, I found myself reflecting on a personal experience that offered some unexpected but powerful life lessons - lessons that feel especially relevant as we return to school. Over the holidays, my husband Marty completed his very first marathon on the Gold Coast: 42.2 kilometres of grit, commitment, and determination. For context, that’s further than the drive from Rockhampton to Yeppoon!

What makes Marty’s effort even more remarkable is that he’s not a runner - or at least, he didn’t used to be. He only started running last September, just nine months before the race. Instead of starting small, he set his sights high and committed fully to the challenge of a full marathon.

And, as with most big goals, it all began with small steps - a jog around the oval at Kettle Park, a few laps along the riverbank, and eventually a half-marathon at the Rocky River Run. Progress didn’t come overnight. It came with early mornings, sore muscles, and quiet perseverance. There were days he didn’t feel like getting up at 4.30am to run, but he did it anyway - because he had his eyes on the finish line.

Lesson one? You don’t begin by sprinting - you begin by starting.

Small, steady steps lead to big achievements over time.

Marty also ran much of his journey alone - no coach, no running buddy - just him, his thoughts, and his playlist. But he wasn’t truly alone. He had a team of quiet supporters cheering him on: our family, friends, workmates and neighbours. People who noticed the milestones, celebrated the small wins, and encouraged him when the training got tough.

On race day, that encouragement made all the difference. Our boys and I met him along the course with gummy bears and loud cheers at key points. Even though he had already passed the halfway mark, he still had over 20km to go. He later told us, “If you hadn’t been there, I think I would’ve pulled out.”

Lesson two? Encouragement is fuel.

A kind word, a cheer, or a simple “You’ve got this” can lift someone when they need it most.

Marty crossed the finish line in just over four hours - an amazing effort, though just short of his personal goal. But instead of feeling disappointed, he did something we can all admire: he signed up for another race. Next weekend, he’ll be running again in Yeppoon.

Lesson three? There’s always another chance.

We all stumble, fall short, or get tired. But every day gives us a new opportunity to reset, recommit, and keep going.

So, as we begin Term 3, I invite all of us - students, staff, families - to think about our own personal marathons. What are we working towards? What’s something we’ve been nervous to try, or something we’ve been putting off? A subject that challenges us? A skill we’d like to build? A relationship we want to strengthen?

We don’t need to complete the race in one go. But maybe this term is when we take the next step.

Let’s remind ourselves:

• It’s never too late to begin.

• We don’t know what we’re capable of until we give it a go.

• Small steps matter.

• The support of others can carry us further than we ever imagined.

  
  

I look forward to all that Semester 2 will bring - for our students, for our school, and for our wider Girls Grammar community. Let’s continue to run our races, cheer each other on, and make this term one to remember.

Kara Krehlik

Principal