Who we are
Over 80 Years of Championing Girls in Sport
Since 1938, the Andrews Cup has been a trailblazer in girls’ sport, created by visionary sisters Isabel and Jessie Andrews to give younger girls a real chance to compete and shine. What started as a simple trophy between two schools has grown into a vibrant sporting community spanning ten independent schools across Brisbane, Ipswich, Gold Coast, and Toowoomba.
The Andrews Cup offers a dynamic program of sports — from Athletics, Cross Country, and Swimming to Netball, Basketball, Cricket, Football, Touch Football, Tennis, Gymnastics, and AFL — all designed to empower girls to discover their strengths, build resilience, and foster friendships.
Rooted in tradition but driven by a bold vision for the future, the Andrews Cup is about more than competition. It’s about creating safe, inclusive, and inspiring environments where every girl feels confident to challenge herself and reach new heights.
Join us as we continue to celebrate over 80 years of championing girls in sport — pushing boundaries, breaking records, and building the next generation of leaders both on and off the field.
A Proud History of the Andrews Cup
The Andrews Cup Competition was founded in 1938, during a time when many of Queensland’s independent girls’ schools were well established but had limited sporting opportunities for their junior students. Isabel Andrews (1898–1981) and Jessie Andrews (1910–2008), two passionate and visionary teachers at Somerville House, recognised that younger girls were at a disadvantage competing alongside older students in inter-form sports. Their solution was bold: create an opportunity just for junior girls.
With support from Miss Marjorie Jarrett, Principal of Somerville House (1910–1940), the Andrews sisters generously donated a trophy to promote sporting competition between Somerville House and Clayfield College at the junior level. Thus, the Andrews Cup was born.
Initially awarded based on points from swimming, athletics, ballgames, tennis and basketball, the competition quickly grew.
In the 1940s, additional awards like the Wilson Kerr Cup (lifesaving) and the Mabel Springfield Cup (still awarded in the Open swimming relay) were introduced. By 1944, Moreton Bay College had joined the Association, followed by St Aidan’s, St Hilda’s and St Margaret’s in 1962. The Glennie School and Toowoomba Anglican School later joined, with Ipswich Junior Grammar and Fairholme College completing the group in 2012.
Over the decades, the Andrews Cup has seen a number of evolutions. A second Cup replaced the original in 1965, and a third iteration arrived in 1992, this time engraved with winners of individual sports.
In 2007, each sport was recognised with its own dedicated trophy, celebrating excellence across disciplines.
The Noel McBride Cup (Cross Country) and Sue Pavish Cup (Athletics) were added in 2017 for relay events.
While softball was officially retired in 2019, the Andrews Cup continues to thrive, today offering a diverse program of competitive sports including swimming, tennis, touch football, cross country, netball, athletics, basketball, cricket, football and artistic gymnastics.
Now involving ten member schools across Brisbane, Ipswich, the Gold Coast and Toowoomba, the Andrews Cup represents not only a celebration of junior girls’ sport, but also a legacy of community, opportunity and spirited competition.
Ten schools. One passion. Together, we create opportunities for girls to play, compete, and grow as young athletes.
The Queensland Girls Primary Independent Schools Andrews Cup Association
Contact us
Access the form to contact Andrew’s Cup Executive Officer.