Community Engagement 

Thank you to those who attended the recent Quaker Beliefs, Values and Practices sessions in the Hobart Meeting House.  We look forward to organising more sessions in 2026. In the meantime, the Hobart Regional Meeting is hosting some Quaker Quest sessions each Wednesday in October.  Details have been shared in this section of this eNewsletter.

School Fair 2026

We are working towards hosting the next School Fair towards the end of Term 1, 2026.  I invite parents, guardians, grandparents and friends to start making some food items for our stalls. This may include jams, preserves, sauces or relishes. We will have the ever-popular Book Stall and School Uniform Stall, so please gather up your good-condition books and a secondhand Friends’ uniform during Term 4.  

More information, including a call-out for Committee members and volunteers, will be shared in early Term 4.

Parent Year Group Reps

A number of Parent Year Representatives have organised social activities and provided updates in various communication platforms (E.g. Facebook Group pages).  Thank you to those Reps and parent volunteers who are assisting other families and the School.

If you would like more information, including the Parent Rep Purpose and Role Statement, please visit the School’s webpage.

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.

Alumni in the news

Make sure you drop into the solo exhibition of talented past student and ‘sculptor to the world’ Oliffe Richmond (1936) at TMAG - on until 12 October 2025. Meanwhile, golf enthusiasts are anticipating the opening of 18 hole 7 Mile Beach golf course by pro golfer and former student Mathew Goggin (Class of 1991). Brothers Max (2013) and Ned (2011) Clarke are Head Coach and Academy Director together at the South Hobart Football Club - winners of silverware in 2025: NPL Tasmania Champions, Lakoseljac Cup, and Pre-Season Cup.  You can watch the match highlights here and good luck to the team in the Australian Championships. Rupert Bullard (2024) cites his love of music as being instrumental (pun intended!) in his life which you can read more about in this Tas Weekend liftout of The Mercury (via Facebook).

Across the generations - Year 10 interview our Alumni

As part of Year 10’s Creativity Activity Service (CAS) Day on 11 August 2025, five alumni volunteered to be interviewed by students wanting to develop their interview techniques. The conversations flowed, and all enjoyed learning more about the School across the generations. Click these links to read interviews with Greg Hill (1962)By Tobiasz Kozlowski and Wilson Deng and Ben Jones (1997) by Alexander Swain.

Class of 2030 awarded their School Pins by Alum Sam Steven (1995)

The Class of 2030, currently in Year 7, received their School Pins recently, symbolising their connection to The Friends’ School and each other now, and after they graduate in 2030. Prepared by Year 7 Parent Reps Kate Smith and Ben Morris, and presented by Alum Sam Steven (1995) it was an opportunity to reflect on community and belonging now and once students graduate.

“I sent my children to Friends’ so that they could have the same enduring friendships, experience of community and sense of family that I had at School and afterwards.” Sam Steven (1995)

Reunions

We still have a few reunions to run before the end of this year, including one to be held in Sydney. If you wish to be notified of your reunion in 2025, or 2026, please visit our website to update your details and receive the details.

• Sydney Reunion: Saturday 22 November, The Library Bar at The State Library of NSW - Click Here to book
• Class of 2020, 5 Year Reunion: Saturday 29 November, Boodle Beasley - Click Here to book
• Class of 2024, 1 Year Reunion: Thursday 4 December, Boodle Beasley - Click Here to book

Giving

Friends Together 2025

Active Hope

Whilst donations to Friends Together continue until the end of the year, we are humbled to report that the Friends’ community has so far raised over $125,000 during the School’s annual giving program. We welcome all who have not yet contributed to consider a donation today as part of our shared commitment to the Quaker testimonies of Community and Service. 

The Friends’ Fellowship

As a community if we all contribute a small amount we can make a big impact on a young person’s life, and we all benefit from investing in the diversity of our student population. Of the total funds raised so far this year, $114,909.06 has been allocated to The Friends’ Fellowship needs based scholarship, and there is already one young person who has been given the news they will be commencing at Friends’ in 2026.

Recycle Rewards - The Friends’ Fellowship

Thanks to the advocacy of the Environment Council (Classroom Representatives from Years 2-6), The Friends’ School has registered with the Recycle Rewards container deposit scheme as a Donation Partner. Select Friends’ when you recycle your containers and all proceeds will go to The Friends’ Fellowship. This needs based scholarship supports families who can least afford the tuition fees, enabling a young person to access a Friends’ education. 

"It's nice knowing that you're actually donating it to someone to get a good education." Ahviya, Year 3

"It's important that we return and refund these otherwise they all go to landfill." Reya, Year 3

"It would be sad to see bottles and cans reaching the ocean". Evelyn, Year 5

VET students launch donated Combi Oven with delicious Mille Feuille

It was a happy day celebrating the inaugural ‘turning on’ of the new Combi Oven installed in The Farrall Centre commercial kitchen co-funded through a generous donation from current parent Shirin Fernandez, and the School. The gift was inspired by Shirin’s late aunt, Eliza Warren, a baker and florist that Shirin says “took the mantra of service to others to a whole new level”. The upgraded equipment offers students much broader options and efficiencies in their learning and cooking.

Learn more about Eliza Warren in Impact of Giving 2023, p.9

Bill Avery - Director of Community Engagement