Teatime for pupils’ play space

IT’S time for tea in support of Invermay Primary School.

A high tea will be held at Invermay Bowls Club on Sunday, 2 April at 2pm to raise funds to cover the replacement of a 40-year-old fence surrounding the school’s newly acquired play courts.

Invermay resident, and former school parent of 13 years, Sharon Clark, said at least 99 attendees are set to sip and snack in their Sunday best.

“It will all look elegant with the tea pots, all the crockery, and three-tier stands,” she said. “Every table will have a nice floral arrangement.

“We’re doing sandwiches, a few pastries, scones, jam, and cream, and eight little sweet treats. The Invermay Primary School Parents and Friends have been wonderful in helping me organise it.

“As it’s a small school, having other people contribute to their fundraising instead of them having to do it all is really helpful, and the high tea has been a really good team effort.

“All the catering is being done in-house, and 100 per cent of profits are going to the school.”

Principal Justin Marshman said the school was able secure a land-locked 1300-square-metre vacant block next door, which had been unused for 40 years.

The Department of Education purchased the old tennis club site from the City of Ballarat for $180,000, and the school is gradually refreshing the space with the installation of synthetic all-weather play courts and the replacement of the old fence.

Mr Marshman said the courts are set to be an asset, while beautifying the southern entry to the school.

“It’s something we’ve worked really hard for as a school community over the last four years, and something we’ve saved a lot of money for,” he said.

“After flipping sausages at Bunnings, running cake stalls and pie drives, comedy and trivia nights, we’ve saved $40,000 to put some synthetic grass down, but that’s only half of the court, as we’ve still got 40-year-old bitumen, and the 40-year-old ugly rusted wire fence around it.

“It’s really important for safety, and for us to maximise use during the wetter months, that they can have a new fence around it, so that’s what we’re doing now.”

Mr Marshman said fundraising support from the Invermay community is gratefully appreciated in what is a milestone year.

“It’s really timely because it’s the school’s 150th anniversary this year,” he said.

“It’s special having Sharon organising it, whose kids came through a generation ago, and others involved who have been in the P&F in decades gone by.

“The southern end of our school is going to be in ship shape for our 150th celebration in term four, but most importantly, safe and engaging for our kids.”

Ms Clark said it was important for her to organise the fundraiser and give back the community that has given so much to her family, including her three children.

“The school is such a valuable early start for local children,” she said.

“All of my adult children have gone on to college and their preferred profession, and I think it was the foundations that Invermay Primary School set up that helped them to achieve.

“The high tea is also a chance to catch up with some ex-parents in the area we haven’t seen for a long time.”