The Burrell Cup

The daughters of Arthur Cothingham Burrell and Hilda Burrell, Joan and Alison, attended Brisbane Girls Grammar School from 1912-15 and 1915-1918 respectively. Joan was a particularly strong swimmer. In 1913, Joan, as a IVth Former, won the Lower School Championship and was the ‘Breast and Back’ winner. In 1914, Joan was selected in the School team as a member of the Brockway Cup relay team with Grammar placing second. Greater success was to be had in 1915 when Joan with Hedwig Schenhagen, Essie Wilson, and Joan Lilley won the Brockway Cup.

With such athletic daughters, it is no wonder that Mrs Hilda Burrell donated a silver cup in 1915, Joan’s last year at Girls Grammar and Alison’s first.

Research shows that this cup, donated by Mrs Burrell, was for interform swimming and was an aggregate trophy presented to the winning form. It was often referred to as The Burrell Challenge Cup in Annual Report prize-giving lists. So how did it become the Relays Cup?

In 1964, there was a significant organisational change in the School. Houses were introduced under the stewardship of Mrs Louise McDonald. In her Annual Report, Mrs McDonald explained the concept of the Houses and their naming. In doing so she stated:

‘It was very pleasant and fitting that Miss Lilley presented the Cups at our first Inter-House Swimming Carnival. She gave us a new “Lilley Cup” for the House with the highest aggregate points.’

And so, with the awarding of a new cup, the Burrell Cup was relegated to the Interhouse Relay cup which was then engraved on the actual trophy.