PFOL News

Good morning everyone, and thank you for attending our Annual General Meeting today. It’s a pleasure to take this opportunity to reflect on the amazing work we’ve done together over the past year and to look ahead to what’s in store for 2025.

Overview of 2024 Activities and Achievements

It has been another incredible year for our PFOL, with a number of successful events that brought our community together and helped raise much-needed funds for Our Lady’s. We’ve seen great engagement from parents, students, and staff, and I’m proud of the role we’ve played in strengthening the sense of community at OLHC.

One of the highlights of 2024 was, without a doubt, our Mother’s Day and Father’s Day events. These occasions provided a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the important role that parents and loved ones play in our children's lives. The breakfast and Morning Tea were well-attended, creating a warm and inclusive environment for families to connect and share a special moment.

The School Disco and Movie Night were also major successes this year. Students thoroughly enjoyed dressing up and dancing the night away in the hall, and the icy poles were a big hit, especially as a refreshing treat on those warmer evenings. These events really help create lasting memories for our kids.

We also continued some of our cherished traditional events, including Shrove Tuesday Pancakes, the Pie Drive, and our ever-popular Christmas Carols. These events are staples of our school calendar, and it’s always heartwarming to see so many familiar faces coming together in support of OLHC.

Twilight Sports has remained a tradition for OLHC. This year, it once again brought together students, parents, and staff in a vibrant, community-oriented atmosphere. The evening featured a mix of fun and competitive sports activities, followed by a BBQ that was enjoyed by all. 

Fundraising and Financial Success

This year, we had several key fundraising events that played a vital role in supporting our school community. Our Bunnings BBQ was once again a huge success, with volunteers working hard to serve up delicious sausages and engage with our local community. The funds raised at this event will go towards further enhancing our school’s facilities and resources.

The Brent’s Pie Drive was another standout fundraiser, offering delicious pies to families and friends. This long-standing tradition not only raised valuable funds but also gave our families the opportunity to stock up on some tasty treats, all while supporting our school.

Of course, our Trivia Night continues to be a firm favourite.  It’s always a fun-filled evening, with parents coming together to test their knowledge and participate in some friendly competition. This event raised significant funds for the school. 

With the funds raised, we were able to purchase much-needed outdoor furniture, including new chair tables for our outdoor spaces and a gaga pit, which has been a wonderful addition to our school yard.

PFOL Contributions 

Throughout the year, PFOL (Parents and Friends of OLHC) has been instrumental in funding key events and activities. 

This included the Preps and Grade 1 Parents’ Dinner, Movie Night, and the Mother’s and Father’s Day breakfasts, which helped strengthen connections within our school community.

Looking Ahead: 2025 and Beyond

As we look ahead, our goals remain focused on continuing our traditional events and building upon the successes of 2024. We will continue to host the Shrove Pancakes, Pie Drive, and the Preps and Grade 1 Parents’ Dinner. The Mother’s and Father’s Day events will remain a key highlight, as they provide an important moment for our students and families to celebrate together.

We are also excited to introduce some new events for 2025, including an Outdoor Welcome Picnic/Family Movie Night. These events will further build community spirit and provide opportunities for families to come together in a relaxed and fun setting. 

Additionally, we’re planning a Pyjama/Crazy Hair Day, which will add an element of fun and excitement to the school year.

The School Disco and Obstacle Course events will remain central to our calendar, as these have proven to be massive hits with both the students and their families. And of course, we will continue with our beloved Twilight Sports BBQ, which brings so much joy to our school community.

Looking ahead to 2025, we are also planning another Bunnings Fundraiser, which we hope will be another resounding success. And we’ll continue with Obstacle Course Day as it’s been such a popular event in recent years.

Acknowledgements

None of this would have been possible without the tireless work and dedication of our 2024 Committee Members. I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to Diana Healy, Michelle Rabbito, Rhiannon Sayers, David Mulholland, and Melissa Bowkett-Hall for their time, energy, and commitment to making this year’s events such a success. 

I would also like to thank Tony Vikram and Lisa McCann for their ongoing support and contributions.

A special thank you goes to Rudy Vail and Liz Cox for their unwavering support, guidance, and understanding throughout this journey. Your leadership has been invaluable.

Conclusion

I am so excited about what lies ahead for Our Lady’s, our students, parents, and the wider community. Thank you all for your time, your support, and your dedication to making OLHC a wonderful place for our students to learn and grow.