Every two years, the St Paul's Collegiate School community plans, organises and hosts the Community Gala as part of its Over The Fence initiative to support the fantastic work of Fairfield and Bankwood Primary Schools.

Thank you to the Parents' Association for their help with the monster garage sale and to our sponsors for making this event such a success:

• VCE - Vision Complete Earthworks
• Colourform Joinery
• The Rolton Family
• NZ Sure

This amazing event was held on Friday 16 September this year, and huge crowds arrived to support and enjoy the gala. Having raised in excess of $18,497, this will be shared amongst our two partnered primary schools after the deduction of expenses.

Planning starts over six months in advance, and whilst the students have good support from the staff, particularly Rev, Mrs Bromwich, Mr Foot, Mrs Hay and the marketing team, the entire event is student-led from planning to delivery.

It was a great afternoon with the whole of the rugby fields filled with food stalls, activities, bouncy castles, inflatable slides, a dunk tank, zorb football, and so much more. Staff, students and many members of our local community had a wonderful afternoon. All of these activities with the amazing food on offer, coupled with bargains galore at the monster garage for sale ensured the event was a phenomenal success

A whole range of music was performed by the school bands and orchestras alongside other talented individuals. We had visits from our local MPs and the opening ceremony was performed by Mayor Paula Southgate, Headmaster Mr Skeen and the school concert band.

With the sun shining, it was a very special occasion which reminded us that we are a part of a much wider community and enabled us to open our doors, our hands and our hearts to the wonderful community that we are a part of.

Thanks go to all those involved, especially our sponsors, the mission outreach and service council and many other staff and students involved. We will be back in 2024!