P&F  Association and 

School Advisory Council

News 

P & F ASSOCIATION

2025/26 Committee Members

President - Christine Fittler

Vice President - Jane Graham

Secretary  - Claire Hammond

Treasurer - Caristain Wall & Jo Ward

BBQ & Catering  - Christine Fittler 

Disco - Jane Graham

2025 P&F Summary

The 2025 P&F year has been one of great success. Our small yet mighty committee has once again been able to pull together some amazing events/fundraisers for our kids. We are though, getting smaller in number as myself and Jane (VP) finish our time at St Mary’s this year. That will leave us with a committee of just 6. which is not actually enough to function in accordance with our constitutional guidelines.  So, as you continue to read about what we have managed to provide for our students this year, I encourage you to ask yourself this question “Can I spare just 2 evenings a term to attend a meeting and help out on the odd occasion for the benefit of our student body?” The role of our Parents and Friends Committee is very simple, to raise community spirit within our school and help with fundraising to support our children’s learning and overall experience at St Mary’s.

This year we have raised funds from the following events:

• Athletics carnival canteen
• Classic car club national rally morning tea catering
• 2 school discos (term 1 and 4)
• Paint & Sip evening
• Annual school fete

Plus, the following events that we provided to give back and build our school community: 

• Welcome BBQ
• Art Show Catering
• End of Year BBQ

As president of our committee, I want to thank you, our parents and friends of our beautiful school for your support of the above events – what we do wouldn’t be possible without the support of each and everyone of you. Our kids have loved the new additions in both theclassrooms and the playground this year, with special mention of the installation of our new turf games– snakes and ladders and chess, which is thanks to our committee for paying for these and so much more.  

With plans to replace our netball goal posts in the paddock and improve even more of our facilities over the next 12 months, our St Mary’s students certainly have incredible facilities and with the continued support of our P&F they will only get better. 

Thanks must go to our 2025 Fete committee – led by Joanne Ward, this committed team of mums (Julie Clark, Elise Barnier, Belinda Swift, Frances Miller, Nenneh Lahai and myself) pulled together an incredible event that our children and the wider Armidale community loved!  Together, along with our many stall holders, amazing sponsors and everyone who turned up on the day, we managed to raise over $16,000!! AMAZING!  

This money along with the other funds raised throughout the year leaves us in a very healthy position financially to bring more enhancements to our school in 2026 and beyond.  

I would like to personally thank our committee for their support and help throughout the year, I may have been president, but I could not of done it without you all. Thank you to Jane Graham (Vice President), Joanne Ward (Treasurer), Claire Hammond (Secretary), Frances Miller, Bernadette Garrett, Nenneh Lahai and Emma Dunne. It has been a pleasure working alongside you all, even in the pouring rain while cooking sausages last Thursday. Please note we are not a women only committee, it has just worked out that way at the for the last couple of years – Dads we would love to have you too! I wish you all a very happy, safe and blessed Christmas with your loved ones and pray God’s blessing be upon you throughout 2026.

Christine Fittler

2025 P&F President

SCHOOL ADVISORY COMMITTEE

2024/25 SAC Committee Members:

President - Amanda Worthington

Secretary  - Frances Miller

Committee members:

Father Damien

Joseph Brown

Cairistain Wall

Natalie Mellowship

Louise Reinke

Belinda Burton 

Meetings for 2025:

Term 4 - Monday 1st December (week 8)