Thank you to all the St Catherine’s community who supported our 2018 PFA Christmas Fair last Friday. We were blessed with sunshine and a perfect late Spring evening.
This year’s Fair had something for everyone. Our marketplace hosted a vibrant selection of stalls selling cakes, honey, sustainable wraps, baked Christmas delights, jewellery, plants, candles, clothing and hair accessories/bows. Some of our enterprising Year 10 girls ran philanthropic stalls for Kids Under Cover and a Sri Lankan Orphanage. The Creative Arts Auxiliary gave children the opportunity to post a Santa letter as well as selling beautiful handcrafted ceramic Christmas decorations and goodies.

Mr Tim Collins and his merry band of performers thrilled the crowds with their singing and playing. Carnival for Kids once again provided face painting and a live stage show. In between singing Christmas carols and dancing, the children enjoyed the jumping castles, spin-out ride and the animal farm. It was lovely to see so many happy, smiling faces….not to mention the long queues at the Jolly Bag Stall. Thank you to all the Junior School families for making this such a success!

The food trucks proved popular as did our new Dainty Sichuan Dumpling Stall. The dumplings were so in demand they sold out early.

As always, family and friends enjoyed the opportunity to share a champagne, wine or Aperol, whilst sitting at our smartly decked tables surrounding the fountain. The Boarders’ families wowed with their fresh produce, wine and sock stall. Who didn’t love their packaged smoked trout and home baked doggie treats?

This year there were also many new attractions on offer – our farm gate peonies, roses and poinsettias; the inflatable Photo Booth; the Senior School Mum’s cake stall; the Second Hand Books and Toys as well as the special lighting of our Christmas Tree and the reading of a story by Santa and our 2019 School Captains.

This year we were incredibly lucky to have a wonderful group of generous people willing to donate both their time and money to make our Fair such a success. We wish to express our sincerest gratitude to our sponsors:

• WeXchange and Kiss Printing who were our major Fair sponsors
• Dainty Sichuan for their generous dumplings donation
• Monjon for supporting our security requirements
• Carnival for Kids for the wonderful Stage Show and face painters
• Jellis Craig for their market umbrellas (and for lending us Lachie Fraser Smith for the night to be our MC)

Once again, the St Catherine’s staff provided endless support and guidance and we owe our thanks to Mrs Michelle Carroll, Ms Meredith Taylor, Mrs Pauline van der Poel, Mr Tim Collins, Mr Peter White, Mr Jay Montgomery and Ms Sally Jack.

Finally we wish to thank the amazing team of Class Rep volunteers and our tireless PFA Committee – Angelina Barber, Mandy Coupe, Cathryn Dunlop, Susie Farrer, Kirsty Gilmour, Mich Howitt, Lisa James, Sarah Low, Renee Morton, Rowena Mytton, Danielle Podolak, Lara Stocco, Michelle Wang, Pauline Wang, Jane White, Samantha Wood and Sherrie Zeng. Without your enthusiasm, energy and commitment to make it happen, we wouldn’t have enjoyed such a special evening.