Community Engagement
As the school year finishes, we wanted to take the opportunity to thank students, staff and families for their engagement with and support of the School during 2025.
I would also like to thank our Parent Year Group Reps and volunteers who have helped foster strong connections, disseminate important information and who have supported our community throughout the year.
We recently published the bi-annual Focus magazine, which features a new look, along with fantastic articles by staff and students, highlighting the School's values in action.
The School's Yearbook, Echoes, has been provided to students in the last week of the Term. If school families have not received a hard copy of either publication, you are welcome to obtain one from the Main Reception.
Back to School in 2026 - below are some important links. A full email will be sent in mid-to-late January with further details:
Term Dates and Main Reception Open Dates
School Shop and Uniform Information
Years 7 to 12 Booklist Information
Congratulations to our Year 12 Leavers for their support for one another and commitment to School life this year and during their time at Friends'.
Best wishes to you and your family for a peaceful, restful and enjoyable summer break. We look forward to seeing students and families in the new year.
School Fair 2026
We are pleased to confirm that the date for the next School Fair will be Saturday 21 March 2026.
This date coincides with Harmony Day, so we will aim to incorporate this important theme into the day and with various activities. We look forward to bringing the wider community together for this enjoyable event. The Fair will also raise some funds for a worthy cause - details to be advised soon.
The Fair Organising Committee is seeking assistance with the following:
- The Pantry Stall Coordinator, Allison Black, is looking for donations which can be made into jams, preserves or relishes. Fresh produce, including; tomatoes, lemons, quinces, apples, plums, rhubarb, berries and most welcome. Please contact Allison if you can assist.
- Donations are also sought:
- Books in good condition - suitable for children & adults
- Friends' School Uniform - in good condition, with proceeds being donated to a charity.
- Bottles of wine – for win lucy dip
These can be dropped at The Friends' School Main Reception at our Commercial Road Campus (enter at 23 Commercial Road, North Hobart).
Please advise our Events & Marketing Coordinator Emma Gilligan if you have any queries.
Enrolments for 2027, 2028 and 2029
If you have other children or friends who may be considering enrolling their child/ren at Friends’ for 2027, 2028 or 2029, please ensure you/they have submitted an enrolment application. The application form can be accessed from the School’s webpage.
Currently, there is strong demand for certain intake year groups, so we encourage families to ensure they have submitted an application, which places them on the waitlist.
Movers and Quakers Art Show | Expressions of interest
Calling all Friends’ alumni artists! Movers and Quakers, a Friends’ alumni art exhibition is coming to Penny Contemporary, Hobart, 2–9 September 2026. If you're a former Friends’ student creating art in any form, we’d love to hear from you—spaces are limited, so get in quick! Send us your expression of interest by 31 January 2026 by filling in this form.
Alumni in the news
It has been a terrific time for Friends’ alumni in the arts, with Alice RG (2004) winning the overall 2025 Sculpture Prize, Mahalia White-McColl (2014) receiving the 2025 Kingborough Council Acquisitive Prize, and ceramicist and current Year 12 student Hazel Jennings (2025) being awarded the 2025 Emerging Sculptor Prize—all part of the Art Farm Birchs Bay 2025 Sculpture Prize.
Meanwhile, architect Jane Hilliard (1999) featured on ABC Radio in October as part of the November Open House Hobart series.
Keep an eye out for Samuel McLennan (1994) if he docks in your town during his slow journey from Hobart to Sydney aboard a boat he built from discarded marine debris. We continue to admire conservation biologist, zoologist and author Nicole Gill (1994) and her three much-loved dogs, who help her explore and answer environmental questions.
In agriculture, Dugald Close (1992), Professor in Horticulture and Deputy Director of the Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture, has been working with PhD students to investigate the sustainable development of Chinese herbs in Tasmanian food production.
Lastly, the next time you fly Jetstar, it may well be with Captain Finnian Stronach (2008), who was inspired to pursue flying after former Friends’ teacher Jon Bath helped his Year 6 class build rockets!
Reunions
We closed out a successful year of Alumni reunions, highlighted by our first Sydney event in more than 10 years and reunions for the Classes of 2020 and 2024.
Thank you to everyone who has attended all their reunions over the course of this year, it has been wonderful to see you all there!
Sydney
Despite the rain, it was a lovely evening on Saturday 22 November when Principal Esther Hill met with alumni aged 20 to 93 at The Library Bar on top of The State Library of NSW. On the following morning, a heartfelt welcome was extended to alumni who visited Sydney City Local Meeting in the CBD for Meeting.
Sydney Reunion
Sydney Reunion
Class of 2020
Under sunny skies on Saturday 2 November, the Class of 2020 were welcomed back to Friends’ with a tour of WN Oats and The Revell Sports Centre, marvelling at the impressive facilities before relaxing at Boodle Beasley with their old classmates.
Class of 2024
On Thursday 4 December, the Class of 2024 celebrated their 1 Year reunion catching up with their school friends on a warm but windy afternoon at Boodle Beasley in North Hobart.
Upcoming Events
50+ Alumni Luncheon, Ninja Stadium, Bellerive
Bookings for the annual 50+ Luncheon on Sunday 22 February are now open!
Click here to book: https://www.trybooking.com/DGSET
Save the Date - 2026 Class Reunions
Have you got a reunion coming up in 2026? Make sure you mark your calendar - invitations will be sent in the new year. To make sure you don’t miss out, update your details here.
Class of 1976, 50 Year Reunion: Saturday 13 June, Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania
Class of 1986, 40 Year Reunion: Saturday 23 May, Boodle Beasley
Class of 1996, 30 Year Reunion: Saturday 23 May, Boodle Beasley
Class of 2006, 20 Year Reunion: Saturday 23 May, venue to be advised
Class of 2016, 10 Year Reunion: Saturday 23 May, venue to be advised
Class of 2021, 5 Year Reunion: TBA
Class of 2025, 1 Year Reunion: TBA
If you would like to help with your reunion, please email Jenny Mitchell.
Giving
Friends Together 2025
As the year draws to a close, we extend our sincere thanks to the Friends’ community for generously donating a total of $128,527.46 during this year’s annual giving program, Friends Together. Of the total amount donated, $5,220.00 was raised for building developments and facilities, $3,173.00 for library resources, and $120,134.46 for the needs-based scholarship, The Friends’ Fellowship.
Thank you to all who donated this year, especially our students who took action and raised funds during annual giving as part of the 2025 Student Giving Day. Through bake sales, hot chocolate stalls and gold coin donations, our students raised $1,877.97.
In addition, Friends’ families raised $1,717.64 through two Second-Hand Uniform Pop-Up Stalls (with all clothing items donated by community members), and the Matilda Cast and Crew raised $1,161.70 from program sales.
The Primary School Environment Council also registered the School as a Donation Partner with Recycle Rewards, with all proceeds going to The Friends’ Fellowship. In its early stages, funds raised so far total $29.70, with further growth planned for this community and sustainability initiative in 2026. If you’re keen to donate over the summer, look for ‘The Friends’ Fellowship’ at your local container collection site.
A key outcome of the Student Giving Day is to practise Active Hope and role-model for our students the positive impact of collective effort for a shared purpose. Thanks to the combined efforts of Friends’ students, staff, families and our alumni community, new students will be able to commence at the School who may otherwise have been unable to attend Friends’.
Bill Avery - Director of Community Engagement