St Mary’s School fete celebrates 25 years

0
St Mary's Catholic Primary School Concert Band
Tom Walsh, Chase Taylor, Mya Gardner and Lily Bielenberg prepare for St Mary's School 25th anniversary fete.

The homemade jams are set and the instruments are tuned and ready for celebrations at St Mary’s Primary School’s 25th Anniversary Fete on Saturday, 31 August.

The significant milestone celebrates community and fellowship with a huge fete packed full of stalls, fun and entertainment, including performances by St Mary’s concert band students and alumni, who will return to play alongside the current students.

This year marks 25 years since the school opened in its Frank Gilbert Drive location after the former St Mary’s Primary School in Barolin Street and the Holy Spirit School in Elliott Heads Road were combined in 1994 under the banner of St Mary’s Catholic Primary School.

Even though this is the 25th anniversary in the current location, the St Mary’s school has been part of the Bundaberg community since the 1950’s.

School Principal Madonna Davitt said the occasion marked a wonderful opportunity for the community to come together and celebrate.

“Whilst we anticipate seeing many past and present St Mary’s students and their families, everyone in the Bundaberg community is welcome to join us for a day of family-friendly fun,” said Ms Davitt.

“I am hoping thousands of people will come along and a lot of planning has gone in to this event.”

Fete returns after a decade

Ms Davitt has been the principal at St Mary’s since 2006 and said the fete was once on the annual calendar, but it hadn’t been held for the last decade and it was nice to bring it back for such an important anniversary.

St Mary's Catholic Primary School Concert Band ready for St Mary's School 25th anniversary fete.
St Mary's Catholic Primary School Concert Band are getting ready to perform at St Mary's School 25th anniversary fete on August 31.

“We have decided to bring back the fete for the special 25 years since the school has been in this location,” Ms Davitt said.

“We hope the Bundaberg community will come down and enjoy the celebration with us.”

Ms Davitt said there would be rides, raffles and entertainment by St Mary’s students along with several community groups joining the school for the 25th Anniversary Fete.

She said members of the school community have been working overtime to bring together lots of interesting stalls for the St Mary's School 25th anniversary.

Year 4 students Chase Taylor and Mya Gardner said they were excited for upcoming festivities and had spent weeks learning new dances to perform on during St Mary’s 25th Anniversary Fete.

The St Mary’s Concert Band Year 5 and 6 students have been practicing for the celebrations and will entertain the crowd by performing songs including the Star Wars theme song and We Will Rock You by Queen.

The St Mary's School 25th anniversary fun starts at 11am this Saturday and goes through until 5pm at St Mary’s Catholic Primary School in Frank Gilbert Drive off McCarthy Road.

  • In February Catholic Bishop Michael McCarthy visited St Mary's