A spectacular fireworks display and a five-hour schedule of live music, carnival rides, gourmet food and wine and roving entertainment will mark the return of Gippsland Grammar’s renowned school fete known as ‘STAGGfair’ this November.
Longstanding Gippsland Grammar leadership staff member and chair of the STAGGfair organising committee Kate Ray said it’s time for the much-loved biennial event to return after a pandemic hiatus and the fireworks at sunset – sponsored by Nethercote Contracting and CaterCare and supported by Dyers Distribution – will signal the end to the independent school’s centenary celebrations, which have taken place throughout this year.
“Our centenary year feels like the perfect time for us to re-introduce this event to our school calendar as the grand finale to our centenary celebrations,” Ms Ray said.
The Centenary STAGGfair will be held at Gippsland Grammar’s St Anne’s Campus at 52 Raymond Street, Sale, on Saturday, November 16 from 4-9pm and all 1100+ students and 280+ staff from the school’s three campuses in Sale and Bairnsdale will be involved in planning and hosting the event, with the school’s Old Scholars and the wider Gippsland community also invited to attend.
The five-hour STAGGfair schedule includes live music performances on the Dobson’s Music Stage, including 2021 Voice Australia runner-up Mick Harrington, and Groove Cartel. Gippsland Grammar music students will also be busking around the site.
Carnival rides include the Dysons Dodgems, the Sale SignTorque inflatable ‘Maze Runner’ obstacle course and the Gippsland Lakes Medical Imaging Bucking Bull. An ‘animal zone’ includes a petting zoo, yabby races, shearing demos and dog agility while the food and wine area includes gourmet food trucks and the Foundation Wine Bar, pouring the school’s centenary wine.
Roving entertainment includes a reptile show and fire twirling and big prizes can be won at the spinning wheel and the ‘lucky duck’ race. There will also be a Roulette display and, of course, what’s a school fete without a dunk tank.
The Seaside Growers Sideshow Alley includes more than a dozen different low-cost family-friendly amusements, such as Lucky Cups, a chocolate toss, a treasure hunt and a donut game.
Children and teens who need a place to escape the noise of the event can make use of a sensory inclusion space and the Kevron Constructions Creation Station includes the Bricks to the World LEGO Zone, a centenary cake decorating and competitions for paper planes, colouring and decorated carrots. There will also be market stalls and an Archives display showcasing Gippsland Grammar’s 100-year history.
Ms Ray said thanks to the generosity of a number of local businesses, it was the school’s pleasure to confirm that many of the entertainment options will be free or available at a discounted rate.
And while outside vendors, such as the food trucks, will require cash or card payment, the event will largely be ‘cash-free’ with payment for the subsidised school-organised events accepted via ‘Grammar bucks’.
Each ‘Grammar buck’ token will cost $1 and there will be a number of sites where cash or EFPTOS can be used to purchase the ‘Grammar bucks’ throughout the event. The tokens can also be purchased in $10, $20 and $50 bags from Monday, November 11 at each of the school’s campus receptions.
