Community Engagement 

140th School Anniversary in 2027

In 2027, we celebrate 140 years, commemorating our people, stories and Quaker values that shape the fabric of The Friends' School.

We are interested to hear from our community, both on how they would like to celebrate this milestone and if they would like to share stories for us to publish next year.

If you have some ideas, would like to help or have a story to tell, please contact us at stayconnected@friends.tas.edu.au, or you can phone our Director of Community Engagement, Bill Avery, on +613 6210 2200.

Stay tuned for more information through the next 6 months!

Enrolments for 2028 and Beyond

With enrolments at The Friends’ School remaining strong, we encourage families to plan ahead for their child’s educational journey with us.

Each year, we see increasing interest in places across multiple year levels, reflecting the strength of our learning environment and community. 

If you are considering enrolling your child - whether for 2028, 2029 or further ahead - we recommend submitting an application or making an enquiry as soon as possible. Early engagement allows us to guide you through the process, discuss availability and ensure your child is well positioned for entry at the appropriate time.

We look forward to welcoming new families into our community and supporting you through this important decision.

Enrolment Tours

Our experienced staff are delighted to offer personalised family tours, along with group tours of the School's campuses. These tours are a wonderful opportunity to get a sense of the community, environment, culture and opportunities that The Friends’ School offers.

Information and bookings are available on the School website.

You can also view our virtual tour of the campuses and facilities via the following link.

Annual Giving 

Annual Giving has reconnected us with past scholarship recipients Zarifa Alizada (2025) and Sharon Vulimu (2011), who are doing so well in their lives since graduating. This year we are raising money for a needs-based Refugee & Migrant Scholarship to enable another young person to be welcomed to the Friends’ learning community.

Philanthropy strengthens our community. I hope you enjoy Sharon and Zarifa’s stories, and, if you are able, donate to Annual Giving this year. Donations are tax-deductible.

Alumni Community Updates

Many will remember former staff member Adrian Dean, who taught Woodwork at The Friends’ School from 1967 to 1985. What you might not know is Adrian also spent a year stationed on sub-Antarctic Macquarie Island as a carpenter. During this time he wrote more than 100 letters to his wife Peggy and their children. These letters are now featured in 'Antarctica', a major new exhibition at the National Museum of Australia, opening on 1 July.

Griffin Hooper (2020) is currently captivating audiences in COME ALIVE Australia, performing under the big top in Sydney before embarking on a national tour. In further performing arts news we were thrilled to welcome back Coey Hung (2025) and Evan Bloomfield (2025) to support the recent Senior School Musical, Legally Blonde the Musical in the orchestra.

Meanwhile Friends' alumnus George Kennedy (2013) has been named a finalist in the prestigious 2026 Hadley's Art Prize (exhibiting 1-23 August) and is the winner of the Bay of Fires Art Prize 2026. Friends' alumnus Dr Alec Thomson (2010) has contributed to research that has produced the largest and most detailed map of cosmic magnetic fields ever created. Watch Alec’s ABC News interview and read more about the research.

Frances Underwood AM (past staff) was appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia in the King’s Birthday Honours, recognised for her significant service to music education, the arts and the Tasmanian community. A richly deserved honour. Listen to her interview on Tasmania Evenings on ABC Radio.

Former Head Boy and boarding student from Ulverstone, Sam Watson (2018), recently shared an unlikely coincidence from 100 years ago while encouraging students to apply to become Tasmania's next Rhodes Scholar.

We wish alumna Caroline Wells (1982) every success in her new role as the new Governor of Tasmania and are incredibly proud to count her in the Friends’ alumni community. 

Congratulations to Friends' alumna (1982) and former staff member Jane Bamford on her recent induction into the prestigious International Academy of Ceramics (IAC) at a ceremony in Jingdezhen, China – a city renowned worldwide for its centuries-old porcelain tradition. You can learn more about Jane's remarkable career by visiting her Facebook page, Jane Bamford.

Reunions

On Saturday 23 May we welcomed back alumni from the Classes of 1986 & 1996 for their 40 & 30 year out reunions. The day began under cool autumn skies with school tours, giving alumni the chance to see just how much the campuses have evolved since their time at Friends’ before relaxing and catching up at Boodle Beasley over drinks and nibbles. 

Thank you to everyone who attended. It was wonderful to see you all there!

Class of 1986 - click here to see more photos.

Class of 1996 - click here to see more photos.

In June, the Class of 1976 marked 50 years since graduating from Friends’, with the group enjoying a nostalgic tour of the school. This was followed by lunch the next day on a surprisingly mild winter day at The Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania where they had the opportunity to reconnect with old friends and share many stories. A special thank you to those who made the journey from interstate to come back and be amongst old friends.

Click here to see more photos.

If you were in the following classes and wish to be notified of your reunion in 2026, please visit our website here to update your details to avoid missing yours! 

Class of 2006 - 20 Year Reunion: Saturday 5 September, Boodle Beasley

Class of 2016 - 10 Year Reunion: Saturday 5 September, Boodle Beasley

Class of 2021 - 5 Year Reunion: Saturday 28 November, Boodle Beasley

Class of 2025 - 1 Year Reunion: Sunday 20 December, Boodle Beasley

If you would like to help with your reunion, please email Jenny Mitchell.

Bill Avery - Director of Community Engagement