Development Office

Prospect Spring Fair

Saturday 26 September, 9am to 3pm

The highly anticipated Prospect Spring Fair returns this Saturday 26 October at Broadview Oval / Yarnta Tutu Yarta. With over 7,000 people in attendance last year, this is a great community event that showcases a range of live music, free activities, animal rides, come and try, roving performers, market stalls, amusement rides, arts and crafts, food trucks, pop-up bars, kids’ activities and so much more.

Blackfriars will again be present on the day reprising the Prospect Pawtrait Prize at our main display marquee, where we invite children to draw a picture of their pet or their favourite animal. A group of our senior music students will be appearing on stage during the event. The Senior Jazz Combo will take to the Community Stage from 11.50 am to 12.35 pm. And Ernie Luongo will also be part of the day highlighting the Blackfriars Soccer Academy with a Come ‘n’ Try Soccer experience in the new Sport Zone from 12.00 to 3.00 pm.

If you’re heading along to the Fair, please pop by and say hello to us at any of our displays.

Tuesday / Friday Morning Coffee

Unfortunately, Jonathan Lava is unable to continue his regular coffee service at Blackfriars on Tuesday and Friday mornings. Jonathan, and his Lavalicious trailer, had become a regular fixture for many families and staff and we'll miss him!

Jonathan has passed on his sincere thanks to all for supporting him this year.

Jonathan's departure has meant we are now on the look out for a replacement barista with their own setup. If you know of anyone who might be interested, please contact me in the Development Office.

Annual Appeal

It's not too late to make your contribution to the 2019 Blackfriars Annual Appeal.

As the end of the year approaches, we are about to engage contractors to commence the main project of our 2019 appeal - the installation of a new video screen in Frassati Hall. This project has been made possible with the help of generous contributions from our community to this year's Annual Appeal.

If you've been thinking about making a donation to the appeal, either targeted towards the new screen or the Ax Scholarship Program, please know that it's not too late. Every dollar contributed assists the projects and reduces the call on the school's finances to enhance the Blackfriars experience provided for our boys and the  broader community.

See details of the Annual Appeal elsewhere in this newsletter, including a link to our secure online donation web page. Donations can also be made over the phone or in person. Please contact the Development Office for details at development@bps.sa.edu.au or on 8169 3900.

Donors to the 2019 Annual Appeal will be acknowledged in the Autumn 2020 issue of The OPtimist.

Building Project

A little more than three weeks into site works at Blackfriars and the Highbury Street houses and Kingston Laboratories have already come down. Earthworks are already well underway for construction work to begin soon.  Following is a short time-lapse movie of the work so far...

Academic Assembly Guest Speaker

Sam Barrett (BPS'93)

The occasional address at this year's Academic Assembly will be given by Blackfriars Old Scholar, Sam Barrett.

Sam is the Social Impact Bond Program Manager at the Hutt Street Centre and is an experienced leader in the not-for-profit sector. After Blackfriars, Sam worked in youth homelessness services in Adelaide before heading to Flinders University where he graduated with a Bachelor in International Studies in 2001.

In 2006 Sam moved to Sydney, building significant experience in management, leadership and governance in the community and homelessness service sector as Executive Officer of the Auburn Youth Centre. In 2010, Sam relocated to Melbourne to take up the role as Manager of Youth Refuges at Melbourne City Mission. During this time, Sam was Co-Chair of the Victorian Youth Refuges Network and engaged in high level homelessness policy development.

Sam returned to Adelaide with his family in 2014 and moved into a senior management role in Community Mental Health at Mind Australia before seeking a return to the realm of homelessness services in 2016 securing a policy role with Hutt St Centre. Sam is now applying his significant operational and policy experience to his current role as Program Manager for the Aspire Social Impact Bond at Hutt St Centre.

Patrick Kelly (BPS'90)

Director of Development & Community Relations