Community Engagement
Supporting opportunities for our students to have enhanced experiences at school and increased potential to let their lives speak aligns well with our philanthropic and community values. Our Student Giving Day held in late May, is one way we engage with our students on the value of helping others, reinforcing gratitude and reaffirming that as a collective, we can all make a positive difference.
Thank you to all those who contributed their ideas and thoughts that helped shape and form our new Strategic Plan 2025-2029. We look forward to keeping you updated on the progress and outcomes from this plan that will support the School’s mission, the Purpose and Concerns, and an optimal learning environment for our students, staff and families.
On behalf of the Community Engagement team, we hope you enjoy this edition of the Rose & Waratah.
Student Giving Day for Friends Together
This year’s Student Giving Day has been a highlight of the Friends Together Annual Giving Program. Students from Kindergarten to Year 12 reflected on giving, service and what can be achieved through collective action. They raised money for The Friends’ Fellowship through gold coin donations, a bake sale, hot chocolate stalls and a second hand uniform stall. Together our students raised $3,595 to enable a young person to access a Friends’ education through The Friends' Fellowship bursary.
For more information or to support the Friends Together program, please CLICK HERE
All donations of $2 or more in Australia are tax deductible, and 100% of donations goes to directly support students at The Friends’ School. There are options to donate to scholarships, building developments or library resources.
Philanthropy at Friends’
The Friends’ School has enjoyed a philanthropic partnership with its community since the School was founded in 1887. That partnership continues to this day with our donor community continuing their loyal support for students at The Friends’ School.
Why I Donate to the Friends’ School
Ray Westwood (Class of 1952)
I attended The Friends’ School from 1948 until 1952. Yes, that was a long time ago. At that time, Australia was still recovering from the debilitating effects of WW2. I arrived in Hobart at age 12 after obtaining my early education under the Queensland education system. At that time Friends’ had a long-standing reputation for educational achievement which was enhanced post-war under innovative headmaster W N Oats. I found, however, that transition to the new school environment was very difficult. My problem was not with the school which I enjoyed as a student. At first, I could not understand why one of my preferred subjects, Geography, was not on the Schools’ Board Syllabus.
To read Ray’s full interview click here.
Felicity Ey (Class of 2002)
Mum and dad put the three of us through friends, and I saw the sacrifices that they made to be able to do that. They put a focus on, and made a big decision and commitment for, our education. I think that the holistic education that Friends’ provides is something really special and something that my parents really valued. The opportunity to go to a school like Friends’ is something that should be there for people from all walks of life and not just there for people that can afford the school fees.
To read Felicity’s full interview click here.
Alumni Community
Welcome to Kindergarten From the Friends’ Alumni Community
Earlier this year, attendees at the 50+ Alumni Luncheon were invited to write a special welcome note to our 2025 Kindergarten class - the future graduating Class of 2038.
The cards were delivered on Tuesday 3 June by Alumni Convener, Lucy Loney (Class of 1988) and Alumni Reps Mark Nicholson (Class of 1971) and Trish Groom (Class of 1966). We hope our newest Friends’ students enjoy their cards, and are off to a great start at Friends’. Our alumni pen pals were so excited to think of our Kindergarten students starting their Friends’ journey. Perhaps we will see these students at the 50+ Alumni Lunch in 2088! A sample letter can be found below.
Dear Finnian
Welcome to The Friends’ School! I loved my time at Friends’, as I hope you do too! My best friends were Lindsay, Greg, Rohan and Janez. We played on the monkey bars. We did lots of singing with the Headmaster, Mr Oats. There was a cork tree in the playground and we would pick up cork bark and take it home. My favourite subject was art (painting) and I was encouraged in this. I hope you have a wonderful time at Friends’
Best wishes
Ian Johnson, Class of 1973
Started in Class 1A 1961 - Miss Sargent
To read all the Kindergarten Alumni cards click here.
Class pins
Thanks to Y6 Parent Reps Allison Black and Lauren Pratt, and Y7 Parent Reps Ben Morris and Kate Smith for joining us for a workshop to prepare school pins for the Class of 2030 and the Class of 2031. These pins have each year group’s ‘peer year’ on them and represent our students’ place in The Friends’ School community both while at School and after they graduate. Thanks also to Lindy Gannon for dropping by to help. It was a wonderful opportunity for parents from the Primary and Middle School to connect and learn from each other. School pins are awarded to students in Year 7, with the Class of 2030 scheduled to be presented in Term 3.
Alumni Updates
Congratulations to mountain bike rider Sascha Kim (Class of 2022), twice under-21s winner of UCI Enduro World Cup, for building on his career with an Ambassador role for Giant Bicycles. Check out more about Sascha here
Australian Football League Europe has appointed London-based Lizzy Crotty (Class of 2007) as an Ambassador. Lizzy’s deep ties to Australia and commitment to building community are also evident in her role as the head of the Australian Wildlife Conservancy UK, which raises funding for some of the most ambitious conservation work on the planet. Read more about Lizzy here.
Stephanie Skinner (Class of 2019) has been awarded the Chief of Air Force Award for the “most outstanding performance by a third year Air Force Officer Cadet in the fields of military and academic achievement, leadership, personal example and service ethos during their time at the Australian Defence Force Academy”.
Governor-General of Australia, Sam Mostyn and Chief of Air Force Air Marshal, Stephen Chappell present Officer Cadet, Stephanie Skinner with the Chief of Air Force prize. Photo: Tom Lucraft.
Dr Anna Maynard (Class of 2006) of the Royal Hobart Hospital emergency department has submitted the final manuscript of her second novel, Flowers in July (on sale April 2026), as part of her two-book deal with Echo Publishing. Her first romance, Dancing with Bees, was published in April.
After studying arts/law in Canberra and a master’s in international humanitarian law in Geneva, Isabel Robinson (Class of 2003) worked with the Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement and now works for the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service in policy/law reform.
A diver since he was eight years old, Shane Wilson (Class of 2005) is co-founder and director of the culinary- and enviro-tourism business Tasmanian Wild Seafood Adventures.
Reunions
In April, the Class of 1975 celebrated 50 years since their graduation with a nostalgic tour of the school, followed by a dinner at The Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania. A special thank you to those who made the journey from the UK, Hong Kong, and New Zealand to come back and be amongst old friends.
Click here to see more photos
On Saturday 3 of May a large number of alumni attended reunions for the Classes of 1985, 1995, 2005 and 2015. The day began under beautiful autumn skies with school tours, giving alumni the chance to see just how much the campuses have evolved since their time at Friends’. Thank you to everyone who attended, it was wonderful to see you all there!
Class of 1985 click here to see more photos
Class of 1995 click here to see more photos
Class of 2005 click here to see more photos
Class of 2015 click here to see more photos
Upcoming Events
If you were in the following classes and wish to be notified of your reunion in 2025, please visit our website to update your details to avoid missing yours! www.friends.tas.edu.au/update-your-details
Class of 2020, 5 Year Reunion - Saturday 29 November, Boodle Beasley
Class of 2024, 1 Year Reunion - Thursday 4 December, Boodle Beasley
Bill Avery - Director of Community Engagement