Welcome to our Parent and Citizen Journal
THE P&C FEDERATION is dedicated to representing and supporting P&C Associations and working on behalf of publicschool parents, carers, students, and school communities.
To stay up to date with us, subscribe to our fortnightly bulletin. It contains the latest news, events, grants, and information for P&C Associations. Log into our website to subscribe.
If you need support in running your P&C Association, you can find all our resources by logging into our website. If you’re still looking for help and support, you can email us or call Monday to Friday from 9am to 4pm – we’d love to hear from you.
ANSWER KEY
COVER IMAGE
The Friendship Garden is a special outdoor play and learning area located within the grounds of Gulmarrad Public School.
SHARE YOUR STORY
We love to hear your stories. The Parent & Citizen Journal is published once a term and is a great way to showcase what your P&C Association and school community is up to. If your school, parents or P&C Association is doing something special this year, share your story and photos with us and fellow school communities. Scan the QR code to share.
SNAP PRINT SOLUTIONS
Printed with Snap Print Solutions Phillip Street, Parramatta, a certified Sustainable Green Printer.
We’re proud of the great work P&C Associations do throughout NSW public schools. If you have any feedback on the journal or need a resource that doesn’t currently exist, just get in touch and let us know. Enjoy this journal and share it with your school community.
CONTRIBUTIONS & FEEDBACK journal@pandc.org.au
QUESTIONS & SUPPORT 1300 885 982 mail@pandc.org.au
LOST & FOUND
Your child has once again come home from school missing a few things. Throughout this journal, see if you can spot their lost: trumpet, backpack, apple, book, hat, and water bottle.
President's Message
BY KAITLIN SERRANO President of The P&C Federation of NSW
There are moments that stay with you. The morning my son walked through the gates of the same school I once called my own was one of them. Watching him shoulder his bag and straighten up — that mixture of nerves and excitement he can never quite hide. I realised I wasn't just watching him begin something. I was watching something begin again.
That sense of old foundations giving rise to new chapters is exactly the theme of this issue of our P&C Journal: Old & New.
It's a theme that sits at the very heart of the P&C Federation and what it has always stood for. Founded over a century ago, the Federation was built on a simple idea that parents and citizens, working alongside schools, could meaningfully shape the quality of education their children received — as genuine partners, advocates, contributors, and a vital check on behalf of families. That founding principle has never wavered. What has changed, excitingly, is the breadth and sophistication with which it is now being expressed.
Consider the conversations currently driving education in NSW: student wellbeing, inclusive learning, school funding transparency, and community engagement. You will find P&C voices at every one of those tables. The Federation has spent generations building credibility, relationships, and structures to ensure that parent and community perspectives aren't treated as an afterthought. Today, those decades of patient groundwork are coming to fruition. The old investment is producing new influence.
The same dynamic is visible at the local level. The fundamentals of a well-functioning P&C — turning up, listening, advocating, and rolling up your sleeves — are as old as the movement itself. But today's P&C associations are applying those fundamentals in ways that previous generations couldn’t have imagined: grant applications, digital engagement strategies, policy submissions, data-informed advocacy. The modern P&C operates with a professionalism and reach that reflects just how much the role has grown. The mission is old. The tools, and the ambition, are gloriously new.
This tension come harmony between the inherited and the innovative is something to be genuinely proud of. It would be easy, in an era that prizes novelty, to treat our history as background noise, tempting, in uncertain times, to retreat into the familiar and resist change. The P&C associations that thrive do neither. They draw on a proud tradition as a source of confidence and direction, while remaining curious and open to better ways of doing things.
This issue is a celebration of that balance. In these pages you will find P&C associations across New South Wales honouring what has always worked, while embracing what is possible now. Some stories will feel timeless. Others will reflect the energy and ingenuity of a movement that refuses to stand still.
And perhaps, nowhere is that conversation more alive than at my son's own school, Jannali East Public School, which this year celebrates its 70th anniversary. Bringing together students and volunteers to honour the school's legacy, to me, is everything this issue is about. Old stories, newly told. For me, it is the theme lived, not just written.
Old and new. Legacy and possibility. That is the P&C Federation, and that is what we celebrate in this issue.
Minister's Message
BY JODIE HARRISON, Minister with responsibility for Volunteering
Welcome back! Term 2 has rolled around quickly and I’m sure everyone is now getting on with the year, preparing for the winter sports, athletics carnivals and various fundraising events.
Of course, P&C Associations do so much more than that...
P&Cs are the eyes and ears, heartbeat and lifeblood of our schools. You see and hear what could be improved, create a strong sense of community and unite everyone, from students to teachers and other staff.
You keep our schools vibrant and inclusive, making sure everyone can thrive.
At their heart, P&Cs are made up of passionate parent, carer, and citizen volunteers. These volunteers come from all walks of life, bring different experiences, skills and knowledge to help shape the culture and future of the schools they support.
We know volunteers are a powerful force for change.
Indeed, the latest NSW State of Volunteering Report highlights the scale, value and impact of our sector.
We have 4.9 million volunteers across New South Wales contributing 1.3 billion hours, worth $205.3 billion to our State’s wellbeing – driven by a sense of purpose and to help others.
Without the efforts of our volunteers, our lives and society would be less resilient, poorer and more isolated. The same could be said for our public schools. As P&C volunteers, your passion and commitment to public education help shape the culture and future of our schools.
Whether it is in fundraising BBQs, canteen duty, out-ofschool hours care, band programs, or advocacy, you contribute to school culture in ways that we might not see but our students reap the benefits.
It’s no secret volunteering is facing challenges on multiple fronts – and I know this is being felt by P&Cs as well. This includes increased demand and limited capacity to train new volunteers. I have heard stories of burnout, cost, and budgetary pressures on volunteers.
Many of you already work full-time, and have other care responsibilities in addition to your roles on the P&C.
But I’ve also heard volunteering provides opportunities to have fun, connect, get active and enhance wellbeing.
We need to balance the pros with the cons – so that we can grow volunteering in our communities for the benefits it provides personally and to our society.
The NSW Volunteering Strategy sets out a framework for our work to enrich the lives of volunteers and strengthen local communities. Our vision is for everyone to be able to volunteer, more often, throughout life and their contributions are celebrated.
The government works closely with the Centre for Volunteering to boost our understanding of what volunteers need, enhance the recognition of volunteers and their contributions and grow participation and support.
I know there is more we can do, and more that will be done to ensure volunteering thrives into the future.
P&Cs are part of our wider volunteer ecosystem and the work we are doing to promote volunteer recognition, and build a more inclusive and sustainable future for volunteers will support you too.
Finally, it would be remiss of me if I didn’t also point out here that nominations for the Centre for Volunteering’s Volunteer of the Year Awards are now open. This is the perfect opportunity to recognise someone you know to celebrate their contributions.
Thank you again for all you do.
Term 2 brings a welcome sense of momentum in our schools. The year is well underway, routines are established, and families begin to see the progress their children are making in their learning.
The theme of this edition, ‘Old and New’, feels particularly fitting. NSW public education has a proud history spanning more than 178 years, with generations of families walking through the gates of their local school with the same hopes for their children to reach their potential.
That shared purpose continues to guide us today. We stay focused on what we know works in classrooms but continue to find new and improved ways to expand opportunity and strengthen success for school communities.
That’s why the Inspire program for high potential and gifted education is such an important focus across our schools in 2026 and beyond. It recognises that students thrive when their talents are identified and nurtured. This can take many shapes, whether it be stretching students through academic enrichment, helping them discover a passion in the arts, encouraging them to step forward in leadership, or pushing their limits on the sporting field.
Just as importantly, we want those opportunities to be available to every learner in every postcode. In public education, equity and excellence belong together. When students have genuine access to opportunity and are encouraged to aim high, they grow in confidence and capability. Families can then trust they are part of a system built on inclusion, high expectations and opportunity. And they deserve to carry that trust from the first day of Kindergarten through to the final years of high school.
We’re proud that ambition is being matched with significant investment in our infrastructure. Across NSW, 230 new builds and upgrades are currently underway, including 99 new public preschools — the largest capital program in our history. Many of these projects are opening where families are putting down roots, particularly across Western and South Western Sydney. Every new building signals greater opportunities for learning and gives families confidence that their local public school is ready to help their children thrive.
We also began Term 2 with a strong focus on inclusive practice in our classrooms. Every one of our 2,200 schools participated in a School Development Day on disability, neurodiversity and inclusive education.
It’s important that every learner can participate, feel supported, and experience success to the fullest extent.
Building on the work already happening in many schools, teachers and school staff explored practical
strategies to support the diverse strengths, interests and learning needs students bring into classrooms every day. Schools were also able to design their own programs using departmental resources so the learning reflected the needs of their unique communities.
From week 2 of this term, I’m packing my bags for our annual Schools Roadshow. The department executive and I will be visiting communities across the state – including Broken Hill, Goulburn, Port Macquarie, Lismore, Forbes, Griffith, the Central Coast, and some of our Sydney metro suburbs – to connect directly with schools and hear how the system can keep best supporting their work in shaping young lives.
These visits are always a highlight for me. They are a reminder that while our public education system is large, its strength lies in the individual communities that bring it to life every day.
It has also been terrific to welcome the Deputy Premier back. Last term we released a short video sharing what’s ahead for the year and answering some of the questions we often hear from parents and carers. If you haven’t seen it yet, I encourage you to take a look on the Federation’s website.
Thank you, as always, for the trust you place in your local school, the role you play in supporting your children’s learning, and for championing public education. I look forward to another term of productive collaboration with parents and carers.
BY MURAT DIZDAR,
Friendship Garden
Gulmarrad Public
The Friendship Garden is a special outdoor play and learning area located within the grounds of Gulmarrad Public School. It is thoughtfully designed to foster inclusion, creativity, and social connection among all students. This vibrant space incorporates natural elements and imaginative features to support diverse modes of play and learning while celebrating our local culture and environment.
A highlight of the garden is the incorporation of three laser-cut panels, which depict important landmarks and animals relevant to the local area. These panels were created with valuable input from our Aboriginal students, ensuring the design respectfully reflects and honours Indigenous knowledge and stories.
Key features of the garden include a dry riverbed that meanders through the garden, crossed by a charming bridge, encouraging exploration and imaginative adventures. The mushroom-themed table and chairs, shaded by a giant mushroom structure, offer a unique setting for group activities and quiet reflection. The garden also incorporates a yarning circle, providing a welcoming space for storytelling, discussion, and cultural sharing.
Accessibility is a core consideration, with shaded seating areas designed to comfortably accommodate wheelchair users, ensuring all students can engage fully
in the garden’s offerings. Musical instruments in the form of a flower and reeds invite sensory exploration and creative expression, while oversized sculptures of a snail, tortoise, and caterpillar add whimsy and tactile opportunities for imaginative play.
Looking ahead, future additions to the Friendship Garden will include an arbour, outdoor game boards, and sensory boards. These elements are currently being constructed by members of the local Men’s Shed, with generous donations of many supplies provided by Bunnings, demonstrating strong community partnership and support.
The Friendship Garden at Gulmarrad Public School is a vibrant, inclusive, multi-sensory environment where students engage deeply with nature, build meaningful connections with one another, and ignite their imaginations. It fosters social interaction, celebrates cultural exchange, and creates joyful learning experiences, making it a cherished cornerstone of our school community. This wonderful space would not be possible without the invaluable support and generous financial contribution of our dedicated and hardworking P&C, whose efforts have truly brought the garden to life.
Lynda Keigher
P&C President, Gulmarrad Public School
Past & Present
EDUCATIONAL EXPENDITURE IN VARIOUS STATES
Government Schools State and Territory Government Expenditure 2023-25
Source: Report on Government Services, Real Australian, state and territory government recurrent expenditure, 2023-24 dollars
INCREASING YOUR P&C'S MEMBERSHIP
Back in 1957, the journal included an article for publication in local papers. Newspapers were used to list P&C meetings dates. Today P&C Associations advertise upcoming meetings on digital signs at their schools, through social media, school newsletters and on their website. Many P&C Associations use WhatsApp and Facebook groups to keep connected.
While we are on the subject of WhatsApp, the Federation has created a new WhatsApp Channel. It’s designed to make your P&C life easier. Follow us there for:
• Ready-to-share P&C resources
• News and upcoming events
• Advocacy updates and quick polls
• Videos, webinars and ways to get involved
Share helpful links straight to your P&C WhatsApp chats and support advocacy by taking part in polls when they pop up. If your P&C uses Facebook, everything will continue to be posted there.
INCREASING YOUR P&C'S MEMBERSHIP
Back in 1957, the journal included an article for publication in local papers. Newspapers were used to list P&C meetings dates. Today P&C Associations advertise upcoming meetings on digital signs at their schools, through social media, school newsletters and on their website. Many P&C Associations use WhatsApp and Facebook groups to keep connected.
While we are on the subject of WhatsApp, the Federation has created a new WhatsApp Channel. It’s designed to make your P&C life easier. Follow us there for:
• Ready-to-share P&C resources
• News and upcoming events
• Advocacy updates and quick polls
• Videos, webinars and ways to get involved
Share helpful links straight to your P&C WhatsApp chats and support advocacy by taking part in polls when they pop up. If your P&C uses Facebook, everything will continue to be posted there.
NEW IDEAS
Many P&Cs are looking for new ideas for fund-raising. Perhaps you have recently tried something new? Send along your ideas to to share with other P&C associations. We love to hear your stories. Scan the QR code to share.
Before & After
Over the past 19 years at Hayes Park Public School, our P&C-run canteen has grown into something truly special.
From humble beginnings with volunteer supervisors and end-of-term treats to becoming a fully P&C-operated canteen supporting over 600 students, it has continually evolved. Through changes like the Healthy Canteen Strategy, COVID restrictions, and the introduction of online ordering via Flexischools, one thing has remained constant — the dedication of our volunteers.
Today, with one paid supervisor and around 20 incredible volunteers each month, the canteen operates 5 days a week and continues to give back in meaningful ways. Since 2023 alone, over $40,000 has been contributed towards excursions, helping ease costs for families while also supporting school resources, playground upgrades, and essential equipment.
And now in 2026, thanks to our amazing P&C team and talented artist Jez, of Midwest Art, the space has been transformed with a vibrant new mural. What was once a quiet corner is now a standout feature of the school — noticed and loved by students, staff and families alike.
The canteen isn’t just a place for food — it’s a place of community, connection, and support. This mural truly is the icing on the cake.
Tip: Use the canteen to promote your P&C
Thank you to our P&C team, our volunteers, and everyone who continues to support the canteen.
Renae
Wilson Secretary, Hayes Park Public School P&C Association
This new outdoor seating area at Pennant Hills High School is a standout example of what strong collaboration between a school and its P&C can achieve. Initiated and championed by the P&C, the project was made possible through a combination of dedicated fundraising, including proceeds from the school’s Winter Carnival, and school support. The result is a beautiful, versatile space that now serves as both an outdoor classroom and a welcoming place for students to relax and connect.
Welcome
New P&Cs!
• York Public School P&C Association
• Cessnock Public School P&C Association
• Cambridge Park High School P&C Association
• Busby Public School P&C Association
• Govenor Phillip King Public Shoool P&C Association
• Glen Alice Public School P&C Association
• Box Hill Public School P&C Association
• Green Square Public School P&C Association
Before & After
ASHFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOL P&C
In 2023, one of Ashfield Public School's P&C members was successful in receiving a Community Building Grant to build a half size Multi Court. Thanks to the input from the school Principal Damien Moran, Office Manager Janine, and the P&C, Ashfield Public School now has a full sized Multi court!
This court now allows for basketball, netball, volleyball, pickleball, tennis and more!
Required Record Keeping
Who What to Record
P&C Associations registered as a charity
Operational and financial records Financial records can include:
• Bank statements
• Audit reports
• Cash books recording cash transactions, including money received and spent, and money deposited and withdrawn from bank accounts
• Invoices and receipts
• Register of assets
Operational records can include:
• Meeting minutes and reports
P&C Associations not registered as a charity
P&C Associations that run a school canteen
P&C Associations with workers who work in close contact with children (to work out if your P&C has any such workers, see Working with Children Check resource for more detail)
P&C Associations running a raffle
P&C Associations that run an out of school hours care (Note: record keeping requirements for out of hours care are complex, so we recommend referring to the Regulations to confirm what specific records to keep and for how long)
Any documents related to your P&C’s income and expenses; records of all transactions relating to tax, superannuation and registration affairs.
For each delivery, the date, food received, and food temperature, or time taken to deliver the potentially hazardous food (PHF)
• The temperature of PHF storage + display + transport of PHF
• That the time taken to process, cool or reheat ready-to-eat PHF does not make the food unsafe.
• That eating and drinking utensils and food contact surfaces have been cleaned and sanitised when required.
For any child-related worker requiring a Working with Children Check (WWCC), P&Cs must record:
• Full name and date of birth
• WWCC number or application number of current application
• Expiry date of each clearance
Unclaimed prizes
• Incident, illness, injury, trauma or death of a child while being educated and cared for by the service
• Children’s enrolment, attendance, medication and assessment records
• Quality improvement plan
• Service compliance history
• Record of staff, responsible person, volunteers, students, and educators working directly with children
RECORD KEEPING FACTSHEET
The P&C Constitution and legislation does not have any specific record keeping requirements for P&C Associations, but P&Cs are bound by the same record keeping requirements as other non-profits and businesses. This resource provides a general overview of record-keeping requirements for P&C Associations.
The types of records to keep can vary depending on the size of the P&C, and what sort of services it runs. In general, there should be a clear record of what the P&C’s financial position is at any given time, how it spends and receives its funds, and how the P&C operates generally.
5 years
3 months
For the period in which the worker carries out child-related work, and at least 7 years after worker ceases carrying out child-related work
3 months (after which a new winner may be chosen)
Refer to the Regulations
Inspirational Record Keeping
What to Keep Why it’s Helpful
Photos from events, meetings and projects
Fundraising stories
Event posters, flyers and social media graphics
Supplier and contact lists
“Lessons learned” notes
Traditions and milestones
Media mentions and newsletter stories
Volunteer stories and photos
Keep it simple:
Captures the life of the P&C and helps future volunteers promote events (“Look how much fun last year’s disco was!”).
Record what worked: profit made, stall ideas, best sellers, suppliers, and tips. Note the most profitable stalls, crowd favourites, and what sold out first at events. Future P&Cs can repeat the winners!
Saves future volunteers time designing materials and shows what messaging worked. In twenty years, they might make for a trendy retro poster.
Saves details of DJs, food trucks, face painters, printers, raffle prize donors. Future volunteers won’t have to reinvent the wheel.
Records what to start earlier, what not to repeat, and clever hacks discovered along the way.
Keeps an historical record of when events started, memorable moments, major achievements (new playground, big grants).
Nice record of the P&C’s impact and useful for future grant applications.
Recognises the people behind the work and builds a sense of community over time.
How to Store
Shared drive folder organised by year, or a labelled USB/drive kept in the school office.
Simple one-page template saved in a shared drive folder called “Fundraising Handbook” or “Event Summary”
Folder of editable files on a shared drive or cloud storage.
Spreadsheet with notes on cost, reliability, and contact details.
Add a short “What we learned” section to event summaries.
Create a “P&C History” document updated once a year.
Folder called “Media & Stories”
Folder or short document titled “Our Volunteers”
Shared drive or cloud folder (Google Drive, SharePoint, etc.) organised by year and event
One physical archive box in the school office for printed items or memorabilia
Event summary templates so each committee records the same useful information
A “handover folder” for incoming committees with the most helpful documents
A yearly 10-minute update at the end of the year to add photos, highlights and lessons learned
“Things We Tried Once” list so future volunteers know what flopped
Before-and-after photos of projects the P&C funded (playgrounds, gardens)
Doubled Enrolments for Gilgandra Public School
Families in the Gilgandra community are discovering new ways to connect with their local school. At Gilgandra Public School, a few simple initiatives have helped more children and families feel confident and excited about starting school.
Located on Wiradjuri, Kamilaroi and Wailwan Country in central NSW, the school has seen Kindergarten enrolments grow significantly - from 19 students in 2024 to more than 35 students starting in 2026. The growth has been driven by activities designed to help children and their families become familiar with the school environment before the first day of Kindergarten. These include:
• a community picnic day and school tour, giving families the chance to explore the school and meet staff
• the Little Mudyi’s Playgroup, where children can make friends and become comfortable in school spaces such as the library and wellbeing room
• a year-long transition to school program, helping children gradually build confidence before starting Kindergarten
• connections with local support services, including Aboriginal Medical Services, Barnardos, school wellbeing staff and community partners.
Principal Michael Darcy said families particularly valued the chance to visit the school and spend time together.
“The main highlights for the parents were the picnic day and school tour,’ he said. “Parents were grateful for the opportunity to see our site and what we offer, and they really enjoyed watching their children integrate with other children while they talked with other parents.”
Programs like Little Mudyi’s Playgroup also help staff get to know children early and identify any support that might help them settle into school more smoothly.
Early Stage 1 teacher Terri-Lee Naden engages children in the transition program at Gilgandra Public School, inviting curiosity and evoking conversation through story time.
Booragul Public
Celebrated 70 Years in 2025
On the shores of Lake Macquarie, Booragul Public School celebrated its 70th Anniversary in 2025. Principal, Mrs Kristy Luff opened the school to welcome the community, ex students and teachers to celebrate the special milestone.
Visitors and guests were treated to fabulous performances and artworks by the students and joined together in the school library to view an extensive collection of photos, archives and memorabilia.
It was a wonderful opportunity to share stories and memories from times gone by and a delight to see the laughter and smiles reverberating around the space. Current students guided our guests on tours of the school to reminisce and observe the changes that have occurred over time. It was a wonderful afternoon of celebration and thoroughly enjoyed by all.
Photo: L to R Pat Korsman, Kaye Robertson (nee. Randall) Colleen Hodge (nee. Gill) Denise Patterson (nee. Griffiths) Trish Everleigh. 4th Grade from the original intake in 1955
Outdoor Learning Starts Here
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Outdoor seating, shade, bins and custom solutions for schools.
Installed at The Ponds High School
100 Years of Community at Caringbah Public School
In 2025, the community of Caringbah Public School came together to celebrate a remarkable milestone — the school’s 100th anniversary. It was a year filled with pride, connection and celebration, with the P&C Association proudly supporting a series of centenary events that brought the community together.
The highlight of the celebrations was the Centenary Fair, which transformed the school grounds into a lively festival atmosphere. Families, students, alumni and local residents gathered to celebrate a century of education, friendships and memories. A special moment for many was welcoming former student and Australian actor Daniel McPherson back to the school, adding an extra sense of excitement and nostalgia to the day.
Centenary celebrations also included a cocktail night for the school community and a major community raffle, which alone raised $10,000. Across the year, the P&C raised close to $79,000 through a range of events including the Centenary Fair, school disco, Mother’s Day and Father’s Day stalls and the much-loved Colour Run.
Beyond the impressive fundraising result, the centenary celebrations were a powerful reminder of what makes public schools so special — the strength of community. Generations of families came together to honour the school’s past and celebrate its future.
It was truly a year to remember for Caringbah Public School.
"Generations of camefamiliestogether to honour the school’s past and celebrate its future."
75th Anniversary Celebrations
In 2025, Como West Public School proudly marked its 75th anniversary with a vibrant community celebration, Como West Fest Night Markets. More than a fundraiser, the event was a powerful reflection of the partnerships and shared history that have shaped our school over three-quarters of a century.
The grounds were transformed into a lively festival space, welcoming current families, alumni, staff and the wider community. A special highlight was Memory Lane, a curated display of photographs spanning from 1950 to the present day. This visual journey sparked conversations across generations, with former
students, parents and teachers reminiscing and sharing stories while current students gained a deeper appreciation of their school’s history.
The evening featured live music groups and outstanding performances from our school band and dance groups, showcasing the talent and confidence of our students. Market stalls run by small local businesses, students and parents sat alongside merchandise tables, a much-loved cake and crêpe stall, a slushie machine and a variety of food prepared by parents. These collaborative efforts not only raised valuable funds but also strengthened community connections.
Entertainment was plentiful, with a silent disco keeping students active and a Ninja inflatable obstacle course proving a major attraction. The silent auction drew strong support, with generous contributions from local businesses.
Como West Fest demonstrated the vital role a proactive P&C plays in bringing large-scale events to life. By combining fundraising with celebration, the night honoured our past while building momentum for the future.
As we move beyond our 75th year, the relationships strengthened through this event will continue to support our students and sustain the strong community spirit that defines Como West Public School.
Reverse Garbage
Established in 1975 by a group of passionate teachers and community workers, Reverse Garbage began with a simple but powerful idea: keep useful materials out of landfill and put them back into the hands of creative people. Today, we’re an internationally recognised notfor-profit creative reuse centre based in Sydney’s Inner West, still driven by that same mission.
Every day, we divert commercial and industrial discards and give them a second life—whether that’s through community projects, artistic practice, or hands-on workshops for school-aged students. At Reverse Garbage, we believe reuse isn’t just a creative choice; it’s a key step toward a circular economy and a meaningful way to respond to climate change.
A key part of our work is connecting with students to deliver powerful workshops on not only the importance of reuse, but a range of other sustainability issues. A recent addition to our slate of programming has been “Sea Waste Sculptures” where students explore material waste in Sydney’s waterways and consider the steps we can take to minimise human impact on our environment.
Through discussion and hands-on making, they investigate the challenges facing marine ecosystems
before creating their own sculpture of a local waterway animal using reclaimed and community-collected litter.
With plastic continuing to be a major pollutant in our waterways, creative reuse becomes a powerful learning tool. By celebrating sea life while working with reclaimed materials, students connect personal action with positive environmental change. Our educators introduce the waste hierarchy in an accessible way, then guide students through a design process where they select a sea creature and experiment with commercial and industrial discards to mimic its anatomy. The session concludes with a reflective conversation about the making process, advocacy, and how we can protect our local waterways.
As part of a Port Authority–funded project, our team recently visited Balmain Public School to deliver this program to K–6 students. From the outset, students spoke thoughtfully about their concerns for marine ecosystems, particularly animals ingesting plastic or becoming entangled in debris. They were fascinated by the diversity of life in our local waterways—from sea urchins and blue bottles to bottlenose dolphins.
Throughout the workshop, students demonstrated strong creative thinking as they reimagined reclaimed materials into detailed sea creatures. Teachers noted their growing understanding of reuse and sustainability, as well as their persistence and problem-solving when working with unfamiliar materials. By the end of the session, students were proudly sharing their sculptures and discussing practical ways they could help prevent waste from entering our waterways—an encouraging reminder of the power of creativity to inspire environmental responsibility.
Yasmin Andrews Education Programs Director, Reverse Garbage
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SYDNEY BOYS HIGH SCHOOL P&C CELEBRATES 100 YEARS
The Sydney Boys High Parents & Citizens was founded in 1925, with Herbert Egerton Hulme elected as the first president. Mr Hulme’s term was said to be marked by ‘his steady and persistent advocacy of our claims for a new school for the boys of Sydney High School’.
Over the years, the P&C has supported the school and the community though fund raising activities, sporting and academic enrichment support and community events. Some key highlights over the century include:
• From the mid-1930s until 1960s, the P&C organised sport and social functions, including many Dance Committee events for students and parents.
• By 1936, the P&C spent $4000 on the school (well over $400,000 in today’s terms) which went towards equipment, the supply of books, and financial support for various school activities. This support enabled the school to participate in the Head of the River Regatta.
• In 1947, the P&C Ladies’ Auxiliary established the Ethel Killip Memorial Prize, presented to the Dux of Fourth Year in recognition of the work done by Mrs Killip in helping to found that organisation.
• In 1952, following collaboration between the School Council, the P&C and the OBU, and the inspiring leadership of Jim Budge, trustees acquired land at Teviot Avenue, Abbotsford. That land is now the site of the Outterside Centre, owned by the Sydney High School Foundation Limited.
• In August 1954, the P&C began publishing the P&C High Notes to keep parents informed of its work. The first issue detailed the P&C’s streams of income: the Headmaster’s Appeal, the Ladies’ Auxiliary, the Dance Committee and the Annual Fete. While P&C High Notes ended in 1999, High Notes continues in its new iteration as a means of communication from the school to parents.
• More recently, the P&C supports the school through the operations of the on-site canteen, funding for a school bus, a teacher laptop refresh program, new books and equipment for students, cocurricular committee support, car parking fundraising events and organising parent communications using technologies such as SZApp and WhatsApp.
Sydney Boys High celebrated the efforts of the P&C through a morning tea gathering in the Great Hall, a building steeped in school history. The event honoured a century of service and brought together past and present parent volunteers, including former P&C presidents and subcommittee members. With speeches from the Principal, Dr Kim Jaggar, and the 2024-25 P&C President, Mrs Tania Kirkland, the event was supported by the 2025 Prefects with entertainment provided by the school string ensemble. It was an opportunity for P&C contributors to reconnect, reflect, and celebrate the legacy of parent involvement at Sydney Boys.
- Ms Jocelyn Yem
2026 P&C President
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SPOT THE 9 DIFFERENCES
This is a photo of the Federation Shop from the 1988 P&C Federation Conference. There were some nice looking triangular badges and lots of books for sale.
The 1988 conference was attended by 600 registered parents and citizens, drawn from 2060 schools in the state, representing the interests of some 750,000 students. At this event it was resolved that:
• funding for maintenance of school grounds should be based on the needs of each school rather than on the classification of schools
• the Department of Education be requested to fund the purchase of photocopiers for schools
• we urged that Government and the New South Wales Teachers' Federation to sit down together and negotiate a solution to their impasse
HOW MANY PENS CAN YOU FIND IN THE IMAGE BELOW?
