Grove Gazette

2025 Apple Fair

EVENT DETAILS

  • Sunday 16 March 2025
  • 11am – 4pm
  • School Oval 
  • Bring – Gold coin donation, keep cup for coffee, shopping bag and Airtag your kids because they’ll be off living their best life. 😊

Eleven days to go! In today’s newsletter we cover:

  • Bake Sale – The ‘How-To’ 
  • Silent Auction – Now live, browse the incredible items up for grabs.
  • Wristbands + tickets – Pre-sale on now via Flexischools until next Wednesday only.
  • Volunteers – We still need 90 helpers, have you signed up yet?

COOKIES, SLICE AND ALL THINGS NICE!

 

This week in your child’s bag you will have received a cardboard tray and an invitation to get your apron on! Get the kids involved and whip up a batch of goodies to be sold at the Apple Fair Bake Sale. Please drop your items into the staff room on Friday 14th March.

  • You ‘batter’ believe it – Brownies, tarts, cookies and biscuits, cake, banana bread, slice, pastries, cupcakes, muffins etc. 
  • Not this time Nigella – Anything with cream or that needs to be refrigerated such as vanilla slice, sponge with fillings, mousse, cheesecake etc. 

Nuts are ok as long as they’re listed on the ingredients.

 

GOING….GOING…GOING….GONE!

 

The Apple Fair Silent Auction is LIVE! But there’s nothing hush-hush about it. Shout from the rooftops about the 100+ amazing items and experiences up for grabs such as:

  • Geelong Cats Presidents Function Package for 4;
  • Experiences including a pilot boat ride, hot air balloon, snorkelling, surf lessons and golf;
  • A family pass to six different live shows at the Geelong Arts Centre; 
  • ‘Date Night’ packages at local restaurants or up the ante with a weekend in Melbourne;
  • Artwork, books, sports apparel and yes you heard correctly, some Bluey Dollarbucks….for real life! 

Run, don’t walk to online auction here.

 

BE A POWER PARENT! VOLUNTEER TO HELP YOUR SCHOOL.

 

We are getting close to D-Day and still have 92 roles left to fill – check out the available spots below. You can put your name down for any shift – you don’t need a child in that year to help with the grade level activities.

Stall & Roster LinkRoster LinkHelpers needed
Foundation – Book Stallhttps://volunteersignup.org/PR9JJFULL
Grade 1 – Bake Stallhttps://volunteersignup.org/JWQDXFULL
Grade 1 – Silent Discohttps://volunteersignup.org/WBPK7FULL
Grade 2 – Land-a-Coinhttps://volunteersignup.org/E9PR8 FULL
Grade 2 – Splat the Rathttps://volunteersignup.org/YTW8R 2
Grade 3 – Pop Cornhttps://volunteersignup.org/YADWR 3
Grade 3 – Ice Creamhttps://volunteersignup.org/QYPC8 5
Grade 4 – Silent Auctionhttps://volunteersignup.org/PPYKJ 4
Grade 4 – Tin Can Alleyhttps://volunteersignup.org/HXFEB 4
Grade 5 – Sushi by Groovehttps://volunteersignup.org/Y7BQD 7
Grade 5 - Fairy Floss by Cotton Buzzhttps://volunteersignup.org/4PJER 7
Grade 6 – Tattoos, Hair Spray & Hair Feather Plaitshttps://volunteersignup.org/37B4X 10
Grade 6 – Spooky Tunnelhttps://volunteersignup.org/R7MW710
Grade 6 STUDENTS ONLY – Pip Costumehttps://volunteersignup.org/BPXFY1
Float runs (DET Police Check required)https://volunteersignup.org/RKEJRFULL
First Aid Tent (first aid trained or medical professionals only please)https://volunteersignup.org/Q7XQJ FULL
Ticket Booths x 2https://volunteersignup.org/AY7WK 14
Barhttps://volunteersignup.org/J4MLD 1
Dishwashinghttps://volunteersignup.org/QRT9R 6
Entry Gate – Draper Streethttps://volunteersignup.org/HQXQC 2
Entry Gate – Field Street Northhttps://volunteersignup.org/AK7YP 2
Entry Gate – Asbury Sthttps://volunteersignup.org/PAFTBFULL
Take tubs of collected cans home and to CDS collection point in the days after the fairhttps://volunteersignup.org/T39BJ4
Set Up (Sat 15 or Sun 16)https://volunteersignup.org/YRKH8 4
Pack Up (Sunday)https://volunteersignup.org/JBAWA 6

WRISTBANDS + TICKETS – PRE-SALE ON NOW

 

Wristbands and tickets are on sale NOW via Flexischools. The final day to pre-purchase  will be Wednesday 12th March.  After that date you can purchase from the ticket office on the day. Pre- ordered tickets will be distributed Friday 14th March.

 

Here’s a guide on activity pricing at the Apple Fair to help decide the best value for your family.

 

This year we have expanded our ‘ticket economy’ based on your feedback. Now, you’ll be able to use tickets (as well as EFTPOS and cash) at most stalls including the bake sale, popcorn, ice cream, pre-loved books and more. (Great for the end of the day when you find those three random tickets in your back pocket….happens everrrrry time!).

 

Please note that tickets aren’t accepted by external vendors who are visiting OGPS with their businesses, such as the food and coffee vans and some market stalls.

ACTIVITYCOSTAGE GROUP
RIDES  
ScramblerWristband or 8 tickets120cm+
MeltdownWristband or 8 ticketsRecommended age 7+
Inflatable Obstacle CourseWristband or 8 ticketsRecommended age 3+
Silent DiscoWristband or 5 ticketsAll ages
Giant SlideWristband or 5 ticketsAll ages
SIDESHOW ALLEY
Spooky Tunnel2 tickets All ages
Land a Coin2 ticketsAll ages
Splat the Rat2 ticketsAll ages
Tattoo2 ticketsAll ages
Hairspray and Feather Plaits3 ticketsAll ages
Guess the Lollies1 ticketAll ages
Chocolate Wheel2 ticketsAll ages
Tin Can Alley2 ticketsAll ages
OTHER ACTIVITIES
Paint-a-Pot2 ticketsAll ages
Jewellery + Bead Making2 ticketsAll ages
Bebop CircusFreeJuniors (but all welcome!)
Bunnings Craft TentFreeAll ages
Scavenger HuntFreeAll ages
Lawn GamesFreeAll ages

 

FAQS

 

What on earth is the Apple Fair?

It’s the major fundraiser for OGPS, raising over $30,000 each year for much needed projects such as the new outdoor learning space next to the library (thanks to the 2023 Apple Fair!). The event been running now for 27 years….it’s kind of a big deal 😉

 

What happens at the Apple Fair?

Thousands of fun-seekers come together on the school oval to enjoy a family day out. There is a stage with live music, food vans, market stalls, rides, amusements and more. It’s everything you would expect from a community fair but obviously way better….because, well…OGPS! It’s not just for school families either, folks from all over the Bellarine (and as far as Ballarat and Geelong) make the annual pilgrimage to the Apple Fair. Check out the vibe on Facebook or Instagram - @oceangrove_applefair 

 

Who organises the Apple Fair? 

Parents do! Besides the 20-strong Apple Fair Committee of stellar planners, the entire fair hinges on hundreds of parents volunteering their time and good humour on stalls or other tasks. The kids absolutely love being involved and it’s the stuff primary school memories are made of.

 

Why wasn’t there an Apple Fair in 2024?

The Committee played around with dates, testing out the fair in the months of October and March. In 2023, after the October event we decided it to move it back to the traditional month of March. It was too soon to run another Apple Fair only five months later, so there has been an 18-month gap. We intend to stick with March going forward, either every year or second year (depending on volunteer support.)

 

OK this is all good….but just one last question…why apples?

Back in the 1800s the site of OGPS was actually an apple orchard. It’s in our DNA! And who doesn’t love a toffee apple!?