What we built
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For local primary schools, the annual Folk Festival provides a fund-raising opportunity that would take many fetes and sausage sizzles to match. Port Fairy's two primary schools are not the only ones to benefi t, with schools in other neighbouring towns also gaining valuable funds and an appreciation of the arts.
Port Fairy's Consolidated and St Patrick's primary schools have long taken advantage of the festival. The consolidated school starting its fund-raising efforts in the early 1980s with a food stall but nowadays rents out the school buildings as a bed and breakfast thanks to staff member Wendy Smyrk's bright idea offering accommodation to about 110 people.
The $9000 the school makes each year has paid for new programs,
equipment and maintenance at the school, principal Michael Keyburn says. But Port Fairy Consolidated as well as St Pat's also benefit from an artist-in-resident program. Michael says a performer is chosen each year to visit the schools during the year, leaving students with homework to practice before the festival. We have been so grateful that we have been able to tap into the talent (of festival performers) and use it to harness the children's talents and confi dence, Michael says.
The Folk Festival committee has also given funds to the consolidated school funds, making a substantial donation to the building of its hall.
St Patrick's Primary School raises about $20,000 a year through a barbecue stall inside the festival arena and through hiring out the school grounds for camping.
œIt's a heck of a lot of lamingtons I can tell you, principal Kevin Waterhouse laughs. Its a terrifi c contribution to the running of our school and it's money that we then don't have to request of our parents. Woolsthorpe Primary School principal Ray Phillips says his school has run a pancake tent on Railway Place for the past few years, reaping about $2000 each time that has helped pay for extra equipment, maintenance and work in the school garden.
Other local schools have taken part in the festival in different ways. In 2000, students from Grassmere Primary School were part of a parade that told the Aboriginal dreamtime story of the rainbow serpent, and Hawkesdale College has benefi ted from the festival committee providing performers to give concerts at the school.
(from the forthcoming festival history - 30 Festivals On)
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Production
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Guitar Factory Theme at 2010
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