Meet our ‘Friends of’ Groups

Meet the amazing parents of our many ‘Friends of’ Groups we have at Camberwell Grammar. Learn what each group is all about and how you can become involved.

The Parents’ Association was established as the umbrella organisation and provides support to the various parent groups as they ‘friendraise’ and fundraise within our community. The PA meets a few times a year and has an executive team that manages the various groups and connections within the school executive. The CGS Auxiliary provides opportunities to get involved in the community through friend and fundraising activities. Volunteers can help by assisting in the cafeteria or baking for the Cake Stall on Open Day. You can also join us in making the much loved CGS Christmas Puddings. With a proud tradition dating back to 1888, the Camberwell Grammar Cadet Unit is one of the longest-established units within the Victorian school system and is the largest volunteer school Cadet Unit in Victoria. Made up of cadet parents, we meet each term and work to encourage the boys, promote the unit and raise funds.

Stuart Harker Parents’ Association

Allison Guerrieri CGS Auxiliary

Friends of Basketball’s key objectives are to promote the basketball program and to assist with developing a CGS basketball community by engaging family’s involvement. To do this we organise social opportunities such as BBQs, a season launch and a presentation night.

Josie Hunting Cadet Auxiliary

Friends of Cricket aims to support the school’s cricket program. We do this by organising various social functions including free BBQs, the annual post season First XI dinner, the Season Opener and End of Season function. Friends of Cricket also runs a stall and raffle at Open Day; with great engagement from parents across the Middle and Senior School. Friends of Cycling aim is to support the cycling team, staff and parents, as well as promote the sport of cycling at CGS. We hold social events, as well as promote cycling at Open Day.

All parents are invited to participate, either by getting in contact, attend races, social events or joining Friends of Cycling.

Michelle Haintz Friends of Basketball

Martin Ross Friends of Cricket

Maria Stambe Friends of Cycling

Friends of Football’s vision is to provide financial and social support for the CGS football program. We do this through promoting and organising social events in collaboration with the school. Typically, this is through a season launch and presentation night as well as running the weekly canteen. Our vision is that all boys wishing to take up and play hockey are able to do so, to enjoy their school experience and to continue to be involved in hockey beyond school.

Our aims, working with the Sports Department and Sports Academy, are to stage events that provide foundational skills-training led by senior/elite players for our junior years, provide specialist skillstraining for all who desire it, create leadership and mentorship opportunities for senior players and opportunities to participate in a regional tour in middle years and an international tour in senior years. Fiona Lewis Friends of Kayaking

Friends of Kayaking provides support for boys who paddle, and a social network for their families. There are lots of ways people can become involved – coming to our social dinner, coming to or helping at our welcome BBQ breakfast by the river, volunteering to tow boats to a meet, packaging up croissants for our annual fundraiser or joining the committee.

Debbie Cheong Friends of Norge

Friends of Norge is a parent group that supports Junior School activities and is open to all parents. We strive to foster a spirit of community and enhance a sense of belonging within the Junior School. Parents can either volunteer as a class representative or as helpers at school events such as Mother’s Day and Father’s Day breakfasts, Open Day and the weekly book covering.

Melissa Kuti Friends of Tennis

Friends of Performing Arts (FoPA) promotes and fosters music and drama in the CGS community. FoPA members volunteer at school performances by serving refreshments and assisting backstage. We welcome all parents of boys with an interest in theatre or music to become involved with our friendly and supportive group. Friends of Tennis aims to bring exciting events, guest speakers and opportunities that showcase tennis to our CGS players. You can participate by volunteering at our events and attending any of the Friends of Tennis meetings. We are especially keen to hear from anyone who has skills in sports photography, auctioneering, graphic design, or has connections at Tennis Australia!

Tim Rigby Friend of Baseball

It’s amazing how complicated a simple game involving a bat, a ball and four bases can be but as the great Yogi Berra once said: “Ninety percent of this game is half mental”. Our goal in Friends of Baseball is to help with the ‘half mental’ and promote community spirit amongst the CGS baseball families. This is a great game that you and your boys will enjoy and we are always happy to see new families involved. Welcome to the 2020 season and see you at the ball game.

The Pre-Loved Uniform Shop (PLUS) provides a place for parents to buy and sell second-hand school and sports uniforms. It is a busy, volunteer/ parent run operation. PLUS is always looking for new volunteers as it would not be viable without this valuable help! The commitment is minimal and provides a great opportunity to meet other school parents and often bag a bargain!

Karen Ellwood-Branson and Jennifer Bite Friends of Performing Arts

The Friends of Soccer group play a pivotal role in supporting all the players by building a soccer community of parents which raises the profile and awareness of our global sport. You can become involved in our season launch, presentation night or Open Day. Feel free to join us at one of our social events or committee meetings.

Vivian Lathouras and Tracey Guorgi PLUS (Pre-Loved Uniform Shop)

We aim to support both the Senior and Junior libraries by providing financial assistance where possible, to improve the quality of learning, and facilities within the libraries. We also assist parents with the purchase of textbooks through our annual book exchange.

Vicki Gazis Friends of Soccer

Vivienne Katsoulotos Friends of Library

Simon Meers Friends of Aquatics

Friends of Aquatics has been established to support various aspects of the school’s swimming and water polo program. Through social and fundraising activities, we aim to offer support to the school, the teaching staff and coaches and most importantly the boys. Funds raised will assist in purchasing and subsidising extra equipment, awards and presentation nights.