From the Parents' Association

Reach out, connect, encourage

On 21 May, the sold-out Green and Gold Ball took place. This event, a highlight of the Trinity calendar, enabled the community to enjoy a fantastic evening together for the first time since 2019. In 2023 the event will be held at a larger venue to ensure everyone can attend.

This year, I also had the honour of being the Ball Convenor and I would like to extend a warm thank you to the committee, Suzanne Smith, Melanie White, Sally Childs and Felicia Trewin. With the support of the Trinity Community Engagement staff, Lucy Cohen and Felicity Quilty, we worked together to organise the event. Please see some wonderful images of the night on Page 22.

Of course, imperative to our fundraising success is the support of our community through generous donations, bidding and purchases of the Silent Auction and Live Auction items. We offer a very sincere thank you to all who attended and supported the fundraising element of the Ball.

Funds raised from the Ball and the annual Founders’ Day Fair are used to provide ‘Small Grants’ back to our school, benefitting students currently at Trinity. In 2021, the PA Committee allocated funds to various areas of the school, including to portable goals for lunchtime play, a riverside shelter for the Friends of Kayaking, a smart bike trainer, rugby training equipment, and a double bass and flute for the Music program. Initially in 2021 and again this year as part of the Small Grants allocations, the PA provided funds for the purchase of Indigenous artwork. This is to ensure a visual representation of the commitment to Reconciliation and because these artworks are valuable teaching resources for staff and students across the curriculum. The collection will be called the Parents’ Association Collection. One of these artworks, by Hayley Millar Baker, is pictured opposite.

In March this year at our AGM, the PA voted in an energised committee. Trinity is incredibly fortunate to have a committee of dedicated parents working behind the scenes for the benefit of the school community. The PA meeting details are included in the Trinity newsletter, email notifications and on the desk calendars. I warmly invite you to join us either online or in person. Our meetings always include an update from Trinity’s Senior Leadership Team and information about events at the school. The volunteer opportunities at Trinity are as diverse as the community so please contact us to learn more.

One PA volunteer group integral to the school community is the Class Representatives. Their role is twofold: to plan and organise opportunities for parents to connect, and to disseminate information from the school that is helpful for parents as they support their sons through their Trinity journey. We currently have close to 50 Class Reps for the Senior School, and 30 for the Junior School and the ELC. Some of the Class Reps cover multiple classes as their sons started one after the other at Trinity. Last year, the Class Reps performed a vital connecting role during the Trinity quarantine period by disseminating information and also representing parent concerns for resolution. Melissa Gallace, Class Rep Coordinator for the Junior School, describes the Class Rep role as ‘a great opportunity to support your son in his early schooling days. Being a Class Rep is an indirect way to be part of your son’s educational journey.’ Lisa Williams, Class Rep Coordinator for the Senior School, adds ‘If you need information, advice, or have queries to solve, become a Class Rep – you get to learn so much!’

Recently, at the Senior School Class Rep meeting, Rachelle Liosatos, currently a Class Rep for Year 8, but an experienced one having been volunteering in this role since 2008, summed it up beautifully when she explained that Class Reps are a vital part of the Trinity community: ‘They reach out, they connect with parents, they encourage others to volunteer, and in doing so, events are organised, fundraising efforts are supported and lasting relationships are built.’

A big shout out to all our Class Reps for being the superglue that binds the community. Over the course of the year, through email, year level WhatsApp groups and the fortnightly Trinity News, parents and guardians will be sent details of class and year level events.

Looking forward to whole school events later this year, please mark your calendars for the Spring Luncheon on 21 October and the Founders’ Day Fair on 13 November.

Heidi Pfeffer

President of the Parents’ Association

Hayley Millar Baker, Even if the race is fated to disappear, digital photographic montage on paper

Cross-cultural artist, Hayley Millar Baker (Gunditjmara), is a research-driven, contemporary artist based in Melbourne. Utilising her mediums of photography, multimedia, and research, Millar Baker examines human experiences of time and memory, resulting in monochromatic photographic works — often in series that divulge her storytelling methodology.

By digitally assembling photography and archives, she is able to construct complex visual insights into past, present and future realms.

Sarah George, Art teacher