Arts Faculty News
ArtFest Exhibition Weekend
From 13 to 15 September, the Bendigo Town Hall was transformed into a vibrant showcase of artistic talent for the Preparatory to Year 12 ArtFest BLOOM exhibition. This remarkable event brought together hundreds of parents, students, grandparents and members of the wider Bendigo community to celebrate and appreciate the diverse range of creative works produced by our students.
The exhibition featured a stunning array of student artworks, including paintings, prints, ceramics, floral installations, mixed media work and collages. Each piece highlighted the creativity and skill of our young artists, offering visitors a glimpse into the rich artistic environment fostered within our school.
The opening night was a highlight, with a floral-themed cocktail party attended by distinguished guest, The Hon. Howard Nathan KC AM, who officially opened the event. Attendees enjoyed the diverse displays of student art and mingled with parents and fellow art enthusiasts.
On Saturday, the excitement continued with a live outside broadcast by Triple M, which added an exciting element to the event. Music students contributed to the lively atmosphere with their performances, showcasing their talents and enhancing the festive spirit of the exhibition.
One of the standout features of the ArtFest was the interactive component, where children and adults were invited to create their own paper flowers. This hands-on activity allowed visitors to engage directly with the artistic process. Another highlight was the mural created by Year 10 students in collaboration with artist Danny Butterworth. This impressive piece is destined for the school grounds, and its display at the exhibition offered a preview of this exciting addition to our campus.
The success of the ArtFest BLOOM exhibition would not have been possible without the generous support of our community partners. We extend our thanks to Provincial Home Living for loaning us lamps and homewares, which added fabulous detail to the exhibition space. Our gratitude also goes to Rotary Bendigo for their generous loan of display boards, which were essential for showcasing the students' artworks.
ArtFest BLOOM was a resounding success, bringing together the community to celebrate the creative achievements of our students. We are grateful to everyone who attended, participated and supported the event, and we look forward to future opportunities to celebrate and showcase the incredible talent within our school.
A note of thanks
I would like to express our gratitude for the invaluable assistance of parents during the ArtFest BLOOM exhibition. Your hard work was instrumental in helping to make the event an enormous success.
From framing, hanging and making, to vacuuming, cleaning and packing up, your support ensured every detail was meticulously attended to. Without the enormous amount of parent help, the exhibition would not have been possible. Your commitment to our community and our students’ artistic achievements is appreciated.
A special thank you is also due to the Visual Arts Department for their efforts in preparing the student work. Their dedication was evident in the outstanding presentation of the exhibition. I would also like to extend my sincerest thanks to Sharon Hocking. Her enthusiasm for the event and her willingness to work well beyond regular hours helped to bring our vision to life. Sharon’s contributions went well above and beyond, and we are incredibly grateful for her exceptional support.
Once again, thank you all for your incredible efforts. ArtFest BLOOM was a triumph because of your hard work and dedication. We look forward to future events and hope to see you there.
Mrs Nic James
Head of Art for Junior School and Senior School
Middle School Production 2024
From 16 to 19 September, our beloved Black Box Theatre was transformed into the beautiful land of Arendelle! Our 2024 Middle School Production of Disney's Frozen JR. was a huge success and brought so many smiles and lots of laughter to all who were able to secure a ticket!
I could not be prouder of my amazing cast, who have worked tirelessly to bring this beautiful show to life. Life-sized puppets, wig changes and costume changes (some of which happened with less than 30 seconds to spare) allowed the audience to be fully immersed in the land of Arendelle.
Thank you to all the amazing people who worked behind the scenes to help bring this show to life, including James Forbes (12 Aherne), Matilda Lovett (10 Jones), Mrs Jacinta Jackson, Mr Bevan Madden, Mrs Kerri Bobart, Mrs Annette Holmes, Miss Taylah Chisholm, Mr Adrian Hodda, Mr Dave Plathe, Ms Mandy Ellison and Ms Shari Williams. I am the proudest director ever. Bring on MS Production 2025!!!
Miss Emily Holmes
Director of Frozen JR.
Get ready to make a splash with Girton Grammar School’s Junior School Production of Disney's Finding Nemo JR!
Follow the heartwarming journey of Marlin and Dory as they embark on an epic adventure across the ocean to find his son, Nemo. Watch as our young performers bring the enchanting underwater world to life with vibrant costumes, catchy tunes and heartfelt moments.
Tickets are on sale now – don't let this opportunity float away! Secure your seats today and join us for a fin-tastic show!
Royal South Street Competitions
Girton Singers and the Junior School Performance Choir experienced two wonderful days of music-making at the Royal South Street Competitions in Ballarat on Thursday and Friday last week.
The Junior School was placed in the top three in both their sections. They came second to St Catherine's by half a point in the first section, having won Platinum against the same choir at the Victorian School Music Festival. We came third in our second section, with one point dividing first place (St Catherine's), second place (The Geelong College) and the Junior School Performance Choir.
Girton Singers was not placed in the top three despite performing beautifully. We performed in a hotly contested field of 15 choirs and scored 91 against the winner's 97 points. The winner, Canterbury Girls High, was absolutely sublime. It was a great two days and I was delighted that we held our own against such significant competition.
Thank you to Mrs Jess Potter, Mrs Shari Williams, Mrs Amy Stanton, Mrs Nicola Matthew, Mrs Katherine O'Shea and Mrs Cally Bartlett for all manner of support both leading up to the day and on the day. I would also like to extend a huge thanks to our accompanist, Mrs Belinda Moon. In Cally's words, we certainly had the finest accompanist. Belinda's 'fabulosity' extends far beyond her command of the notes. Her awareness of style and nuance in music is such an asset to my choirs and I am grateful to her. Please congratulate the singers when you see them.
Mrs Laura Dusseljee
Head of Junior School Music