Parents’ Association

Women’s Association

Whilst some of our events do raise funds our main objective is to generate goodwill and support for the School by involving parents and friends in a variety of ways.

The funds we do raise go towards the annual Women’s Association Scholarship. We also make contributions to assist with books and uniform for boys on means-tested scholarships. Further funds go towards the provision of equipment to sporting groups or clubs as requested.

We run the Grammar Shop, the Weigall canteen, the Second-hand book sale and we organise volunteers to work in the School tuckshop. Our social events include: First Form Parents’ Dinner; Leavers’ Dinner; Literary Lunch; Form Parties and New Mothers’ Morning Tea.

We have meetings regularly and our activities are reported in the Grammar Newsletter. We are a volunteer and service-based association, totally dependent on the generosity, dedication and talents of our committee and membership group.

Please feel free to contact the Women’s Association at any time especially if you would like to join the committee or have good ideas for us to consider sgswa@sydgram.nsw.edu.au.

MEMBERSHIP

Membership is open to all mothers and guardians who currently have boys at the School. For membership details please contact Penny Burton at sgswa@sydgram.nsw.edu.au or download the Women’s Association Membership form below.

Women’s Association Membership Form

VOLUNTEERS

We need volunteers in the Tuckshop, the Grammar Shop and the Weigall Canteen. We encourage Grammar mothers to become volunteers. This is a great way to catch up with friends, meet new people and make an incredibly valuable contribution to the Grammar School community. Please contact us if you can help.

SECOND-HAND BOOK SALE

In the first week of December each year the Women’s Association runs a very successful sale of second-hand textbooks at the School. Boys can deliver books which they no longer need to be sold on. The books sell at 55% of their original price. The Women’s Association keeps 25% of the sale price to donate back to the school and the remainder is sent via EFT to the boy selling the books. This is always a hugely popular event and offers a more economical alternative to buying new textbooks at retail prices.

For all enquiries please contact sgswa@sydgram.nsw.edu.au. Or go to the Women’s Association new website: sgswa.com.au

Fathers’ Association

The Fathers’ Association was formed in 1961. Its mission is to give support to activities for boys outside the classroom. We also provide an informal link between the School, boys, Masters and parents.

ROLE AND CONTRIBUTION

Contributions by the Fathers’ Association cover every aspect of School life and include:

• Arranging informal functions which provide parents with the opportunity to meet others at the School, discuss issues and make friends;
• Support of the arts, sport, cadets and many other activities offered at the School;
• Providing the boys with tangible support through the provision of the BBQ at home games at Weigall.
• Fundraising events to provide for funding of a wide range of activities for the boys at the School.

Every father of a boy at the School is encouraged to join the Fathers' Association. Even if you have time constraints and are not able to contribute as a committee member, your membership will be rewarded through seeing the activities of the Association continue to flourish.

OUR PLANNED ACTIVITIES THIS YEAR INCLUDE:

• Hosting the Prefects’ Dinner
• Providing support at the Welcome to Form I Parents Evening
• Providing support at the Careers Convention
• Hosting the Staff Dinner
• Running the Weigall barbecue, considered to be the best barbecue across all GPS venues!

To show your support for the Association, please join the Sydney Grammar School Fathers’ Association by visiting here for Life Membership. Upon registration, you will also be able to indicate your support to help in any of the following: Committee, Weigall Barbecue, Fundraising or Functions.

Please join us for our meetings on the first Thursday of every month during term time, beginning at 6:00pm. Meetings generally last no longer than an hour and are held in a convivial and constructive atmosphere

Music Association

For over thirty years, the Music Association has supported practical music in all its forms at the School. Performances such as the Scholars’ Concert, the Term Concerts, Form V Competition Finals Concert, the HSC Recital, and the Chamber Music Concert are a wonderful inspiration to the younger boys, and always provide engagement and stimulation for parents as well.

All money raised is used to help the Music Department to buy items needed or to help provide music tuition for boys when required. Concert tours, scholarships and prizes for boys are areas that receive great support from the Music Association. In recent years, the Music Association has contributed to the purchase of the School’s harpsichord, the new Bösendorfer grand piano in Big School and they sponsored the 2005 and the 2009 Opera House Concerts. The Association recently contributed to the funds to purchase the Steinway Model D concert grand piano for the John Vallance Hall.

We hope you will be able to join us. Please complete the attached form.

The Music Association offer two family membership types

• $60: Two Year Membership
• $150: Lifetime Membership valid for the entire time your son/s are at College Street.

Membership entitles ALL members of the family, including brothers and sisters, to attend all Music Association concerts. Please note that a nominal charge may apply for admission to other School concerts.

For any enquiries about the Music Association please email musicassociation.sgs@gmail.com.

Music Association Application Form

Parents and Friends of the Boat Club Association

AN INTEGRAL PART OF ROWING AT GRAMMAR

The Parents and Friends Association started in an informal way in 1949 on the sidelines of a football match at Weigall. Mr MB Moore and Mr RC Purrett, both parents, learned that a new eight was urgently needed and started fostering moral and financial support amongst the wider School community. However, it was not until 1952 that the Boat Club Association was named, a constitution was adopted and Mr F Ludowici was elected as its first President.

In those days, the Association played a much more prominent role in providing boats, speedboats and oars, covering the running costs of repairs as well as establishing the rowing pool (a tank big enough to fit a four complete with rowers).

We are now fortunate that the School and the Trustees are generous in providing not only the boats but also a whole range of ancillary equipment. Hence the role of the Parents and Friends of the Boat Club Association is now primarily one of support: support for the boys, the masters and outside coaching staff. The importance of this support cannot be underestimated as it is fundamental to creating an atmosphere of good will and cheer which in turn helps each boy to row to the best of his ability and to maximise the benefits that only rowing as part of a team can bring.

SUPPORTING THE BOYS ON SATURDAYS

Parents are always welcome in the shed, especially on Saturday mornings, whether dropping off, picking up, helping out or just having a chat! Saturday tends to be the day when much “sorting out” is carried out; be it clothing, crew times and so on. We encourage parents to talk to others and find one of the Committee members who will be only too willing to help with anything.

Showing your support at the regattas held during Term I is one of the most important ways of maintaining the atmosphere of the shed, and is definitely appreciated by the rowers. Regattas usually start around 8:00am and the School staging the regatta provides food and drink for sale on the shoreline.

Most regattas are held in Hen and Chicken Bay and the spectators gather at Bayview Park, Canada Bay. Directions can be found in the Boatshed. A sizeable Grammar contingent is always there. Don’t forget your hat, sunscreen and binoculars.

The rowers tend to be nervous before their races and are best left alone with their coach for last minute preparations. After the Regatta or training session is therefore a great time for parents to show their support their sons and the whole crew.

BREAKFASTS

During term it is important to send each rower off to school ready for his invariably busy day. As such, on mornings scheduled for Senior crew training, we support the boys by preparing breakfast. A modest charge for this is levied in the School fees. A few key helpers are also needed from both Form IV and the Senior shed. Offers of help for 15 minutes perhaps on a morning you are already dropping off your son would be greatly appreciated.

SATURDAY BARBECUES

Each Saturday there is a barbecue at the shed for the boys when they have finished training or racing. They may purchase a burger (or two, or three!) and a soft drink.

The barbecue operates on a volunteer basis and parents always needed. We try and contact most parents to help out for at least one session during the season. The barbecue coordinator will most likely contact you by phone to arrange a spot on the roster.

CURRENT OFFICEBEARERS

President - Alexandras van As
Secretary - Nick Slack (sgsboatclub@gmail.com)
Treasurer - Simon Snow