Girraween High School

History

Girraween High School was opened in 1976, with an enrolment of 300 students and 20 staff. Its first Principal was Colin Bowser with Deputy Principal Harry Earp.

Shortly after the school's opening an agricultural plot was established, staffed by a part-time farm hand. The facility served as a practical application for several courses in agriculture. In 1979, students with an interest in aquaculture established a freshwater pond system.

That same year, with the assistance of Science Teacher John Flannigan, a camera club was formed. Given that the medium was not at that time part of the art curriculum, the darkrooms were installed within the Science Department. In 1980, the Camera Club's collaboration with students interested in journalism led to the publishing of the school's first yearbook.

In 1978, the school applied for a grant to build a number of buildings to represent a pioneer Australian town. Despite not receiving the funding, under the guidance of Industrial Arts teacher John Lawson, the school erected a colonial cottage that was relocated from Blacktown. The building was the first of several, including a railway station, and constituted what was to become "Daveney Village". The structures were burnt down a decade later with the school maintaining the remains in what is now part of the expanded agriculture plot.

Through the years of 1977-1983, Gus the Goat served as the school's official mascot. On his passing in 1983, the school newspaper was dedicated to him.

In 1989, Girraween High became a Selective school. Under principal Robert Cruikshank, specialist computer rooms and music studios were constructed, and a Sister school relationship with Hisai High school in Mie, Japan was forged. Principal Graeme Holden continued to develop the school's technological infrastructure, realising a focus on technology-based learning across the curriculum would be the most important focus for the future.

Academic Achievement

Students take the School Certificate and the Higher School Certificate.

Students participate in a variety of extra-curricular activities including the The Duke of Edinburgh's Award, agriculture club, school newspaper, music and drama, chess, mock trial, Tournament of Minds, Inter-school Christian Fellowship, Students' Representative Council, various debating competitions, the Streamwatch water monitoring initiative, and an advanced driving course. The school has also hosted an annual concert at the Riverside Theatre in Parramatta until 2006.

Sporting Achievement

Girraween High School takes part in inter-school sport, with considerable success. A major claim to sporting fame is Commonwealth Games gold medallist Jana Rawlinson who studied at Girraween High School from in 2000.

The school' sporting reputation has declined steadily over the years, with termly inter-school competitions known as grade sport being abolished at the end of 2005.

Girraween High School does however maintain a dominance over the zone swimming competition after winning it many years (approx. 13) consecutively.

Girraween High School is also pevalent in zone cross country and athletics.

Ethnicity

Of the 750 students, 74% come from non-English speaking backgrounds and 23% of the students from these backgrounds are Chinese. There are also many students from India, Sri Lanka, Vietnam and the Philippines. As with many other selective schools, it is one of very few in Sydney with a low percentage of students from anglo-saxon backgrounds.

Performing and Creative Arts

In 1981, Girraween High produced its first musical, "The Boyfriend", followed in 1983 with "Annie Get Your Gun". The play was described by "Arena" Magazine as "a triumph of co-operation", the reviewer noting that "the only mistake (he) could find in the whole performance was one muffed line". The school would later perform "Cabaret" and "Little Shop of Horrors" and others.

The school has a concert band for more experienced players, a training band for people who would like to learn to play an instrument, a stage/jazz Band, a percussion ensemble and a number of rock bands.

MAD (Music, Arts and Drama) is an annual production of Girraween High School's Music Department. Owing to its venue, the production was originally known as the "Riverside Musicale" and was founded by Clive Lane (now Deputy Principal, Conservatorium High School) in 1995 as a showcase of musical talent at the school, and a performance opportunity for HSC performance students. It has evolved due to the actions of student-teacher Dane Ropa (since left) to include a percussion ensemble and a mass choir of approximately 300 students, and now incorporates student works from both drama and visual arts.

Alumni

• Melissa Curran Poet and author of "The Long Drowning".
• Brett Leigh Dicks Photographer whose work has been widely exhibited in Australia, Europe, and the United States. Photographic critic for The Santa Barbara Independent.
• Nicholas Ng Composer of "Poppies & Spice" and current PhD candidate in Composition/Ethnomusicology at Australian National University.
• Jana Rawlinson (Pittman), Gold medalist hurdler in the 2002 and 2006 Commonwealth Games and 2003 World Championships. Member of Gold Medal winning relay team at the 2002 Commonwealth Games.
• Magda Rybicki Member of Australian National Volleyball team and member of Australian University Volleyball Team at the 2003 and 2005 World University Games.
• Nicole da Silva Actress on television shows such as All Saints and currently appearing in Dangerous on Fox8.

See also

• List of Government schools in New South Wales
• List of selective high schools in New South Wales

References

• NSW Department of Education and Training - Girraween High School

External links

• Girraween High School website