Parents’ Association

The Parents’ and Friends (P&F) Hall, the gathering and performance space adjacent to the McIntyre Gym, is one of the earliest and most visible examples of parent ‘friendraising’ and fundraising at Trinity.

From small-scale projects to supporting the larger priorities and strategic objectives of the school, embedded in the Trinity parent community is a desire to help through projects that benefit the students.It was so lovely to have so many of our school community come together during our first week of Term 1 for information evenings and the school’s Parent Welcome Drinks. It is our first opportunity for the year to re-engage and welcome new families to our school. These moments remind us that we are all working towards a common goal, to support the growth and success of our children.

In its early days, the Parents and Friends Auxiliary (now known as the Trinity Parents’ Association) was the umbrella group for the Dads’ Club and the Mothers’ Committee. In the 1950s, this group had a goal to build a shelter shed – an all-weather play area for junior students. However, after a particularly financially successful 1953 Carnival (forerunner to the Founders’ Day Fair), they had the funds to be more ambitious.

With the school’s blessing, they decided to support the replacement of the open-sided gym with a hall to provide shelter for the juniors and a gymnasium for the seniors. Drama performances, a radio concert, a flower show, paper recycling and a square-dancing competition were among the many events held to successfully raise the funds required.

The Parents and Friends (P&F) Hall was opened by then-Prime Minister Robert Menzies on 23 July 1954, and is today home to theatre classes, rehearsals and performances across the school.

In recent years, the Parents’ Association’s focus has been on the Small Grants Program, which facilitates small yet intentional opportunities for positive improvement. This initiative has created opportunities for bespoke offerings during a period between larger campaigns.

In the Junior School, the Small Grants Program supported a Costume Resource Room; a place for theatre and play costumes for ELC – Year 6s to be organised, stored and easily accessed. Many of the costumes, used for Drama subjects, classroom plays and the annual Junior School Musical, have been an accumulation of the hard work and generosity of parent and staff working bees.

“We now have brand new tubs, shelving and ladders to keep our resources organised and user-friendly,” Head of Junior School Library Services, Amy Jackson, said.

“This has been a fantastic example of how our school values of ‘service’ and ‘community’ have been implemented to enrich the education of our students”.

On the rugby pitch, the initiative has supported a Veo Camera that enables the recording and analysis of matches.

“Since receiving this equipment through the Small Grants Program, the team has gained valuable insights into gameplay and strategy,” Teacher in Charge (TIC) of Rugby, Ewoud Botha, said.
“Coaches can now review footage with players to improve positioning, decision-making and teamwork”.

On the tennis court, students have acquired a ‘SpinFire’ tennis ball machine. With 21 settings of speed, spin and direction, Teacher in Charge (TIC) Tennis Shaun Lusby calls it a ‘game changer’.

“With a Bluetooth remote control operation, players and coaches can, at their discretion, pause the drill patterns to enhance hitting techniques, further develop strengths and work on nearly any and every facet of a student’s tennis game,” Shaun said.

To elevate the many music performances held throughout the year, the Music Department has also received a set of branded music stand banners.
“We have been excited to secure music school banners as part of the Small Grants Program,” Director of Music Jan Blazejczak said.
“These banners have been used on a number of occasions to highlight the profile of the Music Department at our events”.

These projects, amongst many others, reflect the Parents’ Association’s ongoing intention to improve the experiences of students in a way that carries through the warm, giving nature of the parent community.

As the Trinity Masterplan comes to life, and with this edition’s announcement of the capital campaign to support the Bulleen Pavillion (pg 24), there will be intentional opportunities over the coming months and years to directly support the future vision of the school through Parents’ Association events and initiatives.