Kingfisher Fair and Open Day

What a day!

A result like that can only come together when the whole team pulls together.

I want to start my acknowledgements with the quiet achievers, the people who show up and get it done behind the scenes before the show begins. I'd like to begin with my appreciation and respect for Mr Gary Cross and the Facilities Team. They were involved in the planning of this event and were on school grounds before many attendees were even out of bed on the day.

GSG is lucky to have this team. Their professionalism and 'can-do' attitude have been on display every time I've asked them for assistance over many years. On Kingfisher Fair day, this team set up the grounds, delivered a military-precision parking plan for a record-breaking number of attendees, by a huge margin over any previous fair. They also ran the carriage rides for the majority of the day and attended to ad hoc needs as they arose.

I'd also like to acknowledge my partner in crime for this and previous fairs, Mrs Julia Bairstow. Although Julia was overseas on the day, there were countless hours dedicated to the successful delivery of this fair behind the scenes. You get an idea that someone is working hard when you receive emails from them after 11.00pm on a given night.

Her dedication to GSG's community is second to none, and her delivery of many Kingfisher Fairs is legendary, representing a record I doubt will ever be beaten. We thank Julia for her many years of contribution and wish her well as she has now helped deliver her final successful fair.

There were so many other staff who selflessly gave up their time. The school Executive team were on hand all day, and we even had our Principal cooking sausages at the sausage sizzle.

Special thank you to Mrs Fran Fuller and Mrs Rebekah Henderson, who managed wristband and wine sales, with a queue running out the door for most of the day. Mrs Shannan Beal, Community Development Manager, was also there assisting with the smooth delivery of the fair. Ms Pearl Prior from Finance provided vital support and access to cash throughout the day.

I'd also like to acknowledge all the parent volunteers. When we talk about community at GSG, it is delivered through the P&F and its volunteers. While I don't have the space here to acknowledge everyone who staffed a stall, I'd like to recognise the efforts of Jane Levitt and Mrs Renae Darmody for running the P&F Tea House. They were supported by a team of enthusiastic volunteers.

This stall has been a crowd favourite for many fairs, and it certainly maintained that adoration after today's successful delivery.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Mr Henry Hodge and the family at Albany Air for their donation of a cool room for use by the Tea House, sausage sizzle and bar. Thank you.

I raise a glass to our wine families. The Rowes from Galafrey Wines generously donated wine and ran the bar for part of the day. Thanks to the Rogers family from the Lake House, Denmark, and Paul Nelson Wines for their kind donation of wine for the bar.

There were so many links to GSG's past and present throughout this fair. I don't think you'd find this level of connection at any other fair around the country.

Our wonderful MC on the day was Ms Sophie York, an alumna and former Mokare Captain. Then there were the Warren sisters, also alumni, with their popular bagel van, The Daily Bagel. Representing our current community, Mrs Nana Yeboah, a GSG parent, brought Jollof on Wheels and served up delicious Ghanaian cuisine.

Albany Party Co, another school family business, provided the inflatable entertainment. Their son Oliver is a Pre-Primary student. Lachlan, my Year Nine son, was running the mini golf, while Mr Colin Turner from Laserscape is a former school parent.

There were also students promoting their own side hustles, along with many students who helped man inflatables and assist in other areas of the fair. We thank them for their help and for the pride they showed in supporting their school and helping deliver a successful day.

Previous Kingfisher Fairs were dedicated to raising funds for the P&F. More recently, the focus has shifted towards 'friend-raising' as much as fundraising.

This year, we handed the sausage sizzle over to Boarding to raise funds for the wonderful work undertaken by Mrs Kate Mitchell through The Darcy Effect. Anji and the Boarding team took on the sausage sizzle at short notice and ran with it brilliantly. Well done to everyone involved.

If I've missed anyone, I sincerely apologise.

My reflections only cover the non-school aspects of the fair. Let's not forget the enormous effort put in by our teaching staff. 

What I will say is that it has been our vision for some time for the many facets of our teaching community to join us in this fair as a celebration of our school community. I'm grateful that our Principal shared that vision and helped us bring it to life.

Thank you to everyone who attended and helped make this my final and biggest, Kingfisher Fair on record.

Mr Jason Pages | P&F Coordinator