THE Ipswich State High School girls proved their class on the rugby league field this season, and in return have received the keys to the city.
Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding praised the school’s entire community – from teachers, coaches, supporters, down to the players – for building a world-class rugby league program of which the city can be proud.
“Council bestowed the keys to the city on ISHS to acknowledge and celebrate the school’s remarkable achievement of winning the Titans Schoolgirl Cup, NRL Schoolgirls Queensland Trophy and the National Schoolgirls Cup,” Cr Harding said.
“ISHS is the only school in the country that has claimed both a boys and a girls national title, with the boys’ team winning in 2022 and the girls this year, in the third year of the girls competition.”
Dating back to medieval times, the granting and presentation of the keys to the city is a symbolic presentation which represents the highest honour a city can confer.
“Ipswich has a deep connection with rugby league dating back more than a century,” Cr Harding said.
“The future is bright for rugby league in our city and as the girls make their mark standing shoulder to shoulder with their male counterparts, Ipswich will continue to be a rugby league powerhouse.”
The Ipswich State High School open girls head coach Alex Nicholson said the girls needed to overcome many challenges to achieve what they did this year.
“From injuries to key players, high-pressure moments in games, and adjusting to a different regime, this group showed everyone that they were up for any challenge that came their way,” Mr Nicholson said.
“Although the national trophy will be a part of this group’s legacy, who they were on their journey will be my fondest memory of them.
“I’m so proud of this group and what they’ve accomplished.
The ISHS Rugby League Program of Excellence head coach Josh Bretherton has honed the school’s league program over many years.
“To be recognised with the keys to the city is such a fantastic culmination to the year for our Ipswich State High School Open girls,” Mr Bretherton said.
Previous recipients include the 2022 Ipswich State High School rugby league national schoolboys champions, Ash Barty, Ipswich elder Aunty Faye Carr, the Ipswich Jets, Shane Watson, Michael Voss, and Kasey Wehrmann.
