From the Principal

Today was a momentous moment for Girton Grammar School, as we came together to officially open the Angus Mackay Pavilion on our Junior School campus. The value of this magnificent new facility was clear from the outset of the ceremony, as it shaded attendees from the afternoon sun.   

It was wonderful to share the occasion with so many members of our school community, including Founders, Board members, families, staff and students. We also had the honour of welcoming some very special guests: the teams from e+ Architecture and Fairbrother Construction, who designed and built the impressive structure, and our pavilion’s namesake, Mr Angus Mackay.  

Angus’s family has played a significant role in the Bendigo community since its early days as a goldmining settlement, with many of his relatives having studied at Girton during its years as a girls’ school. Although Angus attended school in Melbourne, he developed a special connection with Girton through his Aunt, Miss Flora Mackay, who was actively involved in school life both as a student and later as an Old Girtonian. Angus’s ties to our community deepened further when he moved to Bendigo in the 1960s to run ‘The Beehive’, a prominent department store that was located in Pall Mall.  

Angus’s deep connection to our city and our school made today’s event particularly meaningful, and it was moving to see that connection preserved through the unveiling of a facility that will benefit generations of Girtonians to come. As our Board Chair, Ms Fleur Jackson, noted in her address, the pavilion represents much more than an undercover learning and play space. It stands as a symbol of Girton’s continued progress, a tangible investment in our students’ wellbeing, and a reminder of the generosity within our school and wider community. Thank you to all those who attended this wonderful event. 

With International Women’s Day (IWD) being celebrated tomorrow, we took the opportunity to mark the occasion at Girton today, including with a special IWD Assembly hosted by Aherne House. This event featured guest speaker Dr Bethany Cunning, whom I had the pleasure of teaching biology. Since graduating Girton as Dux in 2009, she has gone on to excel in her career as an orthodontist, making for an inspiring address for the students in attendance. Aligning with this year’s IWD theme of ‘Marching Forward’, Prefects Mia Nichol and Jack Liu took part in a video that saw them ask students why they believe it’s important to keep marching forward for gender equality. I am delighted to share their work with you below. 

As a longtime advocate for continuous improvement, this year’s IWD theme resonated with me – just as it did for so many of our students who put up their hand to take part in the video. Girton has been ‘marching forward’ for gender equality since it was founded over 140 years ago as the first school in Bendigo to offer girls the same educational opportunities as boys. While significant strides have been made since then, we owe it to those pioneering women in Girton’s history to keep moving forward. As Principal, I am incredibly proud to see our students and staff – regardless of gender – coming together to support important causes such as International Women’s Day, carrying forward Girton’s long-standing commitment to equality and respect. 

On Wednesday, I also had the pleasure of watching Girton’s Senior School swimming team in action at the ICCES Swimming Carnival held at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre. Our swimmers came second overall, with four students awarded Age Champion, which is a truly phenomenal achievement. Congratulations to all the students who competed at ICCES in swimming, badminton and table tennis on Wednesday, and to those who attended our Sports Day against Goulburn Valley Grammar last week. Thank you also to the staff members and parents who were involved in supporting these valuable representative sport opportunities. It is always a joy to see our students demonstrating their talents and representing themselves and our school with pride. 

Finally, before I sign off for this week, I wanted to provide a quick reminder to Senior School parents and carers that staff supervision is provided in the PA Courtyard each morning between 8:15am and 8:35am. Students arriving at school between these times are asked to remain in this supervised area before heading to House Tutor.  

As always, thank you for your support of our school and students, and I wish you and your family a wonderful long weekend. 

Dr Emma O’Rielly 

Principal