We couldn’t have wished for better weather for the 21st Girls Grammar Race Day. The radiant sun was a welcomed sight from the dedicated volunteer committee of staff and parents after several months of organisation.
One of the most special moments of the day was pulling down the trackside Marquee wall to reveal the rising sun over the track. The air thick with the smell of horses as their hooves pounded the track during their practice runs.
The original Girls Grammar Race Day Committee handed the reins back over to the School for the 21st iteration of the event, after a long and committed endeavour.
The original committee raised over $700,000 for the School during those 20 years - a momentous effort.
Pulling off the Race Day in just under six months with a brand new committee was always going to be a challenge, but luckily we had dedicated staff who were willing to put their hands up to take on the massive feat.
As an ode to the past, we decided to host a vintage themed 21st Race Day. A way to celebrate our ‘Roaring 20s’ in a way.
After a few days of unexpected occurrences in the days prior, such as stray cats who decided to leave dirty footprints all over the crisp white tablecloths, we were joined on Saturday morning by a group of additional volunteers who helped us dress the tables.
We couldn’t have dressed those 22 tables in the Marquee without each and every one of them.
The settings looked magnificent, thanks to the styling efforts of Deputy Principals Assistant Jen Hooper. Gold trees with strings of pearls and rose petals were the main feature of the table. Linen napkins and polished glassware made the tables look extra special.
The feature colour, repeated through the decorations accompanying the gold and pearl white, was a deep burgundy - matching the event branding and marketing.
A balloon arch and a media wall housing the logos of our table sponsors was a special feature where photos were snapped, and antique furniture from the Girls Grammar museum added to the beauty and elegance of the event.
The excitement of the morning grew once the student volunteers turned up to the event dressed in a freshly pressed Girls Grammar blouse and skirt.
Once the Year 12 Prefects set up their raffle ticket stand and volunteers manned the gates - it was full steam ahead.
The buzz grew significantly once guests arrived dressed in their best fashion inspired by the early 20th Century. Each outfit was unique, with some embracing the key attributes of the 20’s flapper look and others embracing a refined approach, inspired by squared lines and below the knee hems of the 30s or 40s.
Overall the day was a big success thanks to all of our student and staff volunteers as well as the parents who came and supported the event or helped get their daughter/s to the event.
A large thank you goes to the large range of local businesses who supported the event:
Table Sponsors | Raffle Prize Sponsors |
Professionals Livingston & Molloy Real Estate Agents and Property Management | Thomo’s Betta Electrical |
South Geldard Lawyers | Johnson’s 4WD Repair Shop |
Programmed Property Solutions | Lowes BP Rockhampton |
Becker & Co. | Repco |
Michel’s Patisserie | Sisters & Co |
Southside Holiday Village | Green Brothers |
The Agency CQ | Great Western Hotel |
RILEC Electrical | Rockhampton Beauty Clinic |
Southbridge Financial Services | CocoBrew |
ClearWaters Financial Planning | Rosenberg Motorcycles |
Parkhurst Quality Meats | Australian Bay Lobster Producers |
Butler Partners | EST - Compund |
Capricorn Survey Group CQ | Scrutiny Strength & Conditioning |
Doblos | Artistic Ink Tattoo Studio |
Aon | |
Fashions prize sponsors | Catering sponsors |
Chapters by Jordie | CQ Commercial Catering Equipment |
Hats by Zarbella | Dawson Road Butchery |
Something Different | PacPlus Rockhampton |
Johnson’s 4WD Repair Shop | Beemart Enterprises Rockhampton |
Thieves and Beggars | M & J Chickens |
Chemist Warehouse Rockhampton | |
Lilly & Lotus | |
Bek’s Lash Bar | |
Reid & Rose | |
Resin the Bar Jewellery | |
D’s Fine Jewellery & Accessories | |
Every Blooming Thing | |
Flowerbox Rockhampton | |
Wendy Mulry Travel | |
The Edge Apartment Hotel Rockhampton | |
The tally hasn’t quite been finalised yet, but we are hoping to raise funds that will ultimately go back into improving the School’s facilities for the girls now and into the future.
Thank you to the Committee for all the hard work and dedication put in over the last six months. There were countless hours volunteered to make the day the success it was.
Congratulations to you all!
Ellouise Bailey
Community, Marketing and Events Coordinator