A news article from a few months ago

Local school ends their fair with a big ‘Bang’

Kimberley Valkanis | 29 March 2016

Fireworks display on Brentwood Secondary College oval, on the night of the ‘Big Bang Fair’

Fireworks and rides was Glen Waverley’s attraction last week, as money raised from a primary school’s fair, went towards a community garden.

Glen Waverley South Primary School held a ‘Big Bang Fair’ on the 19th of March, raising a great deal of money for the benefit of their school.

The day comprised of the many stalls held by volunteered parents and teachers, selling a combination of plants, food, and even an auction to give away family tickets to Sovereign Hill.

Event manager Helen Higgins, said a mock Elvis Presley was a “special favourite” to take the stage of many performers that “successful” night. But that didn’t stop the children running off to the rides, particularly The Cyclone.

The night finished with a loud ‘Bang’ as the community crowded around the school’s oval to watch fireworks explode above them.

Even locals living nearby and cars driving past, stood in the streets to see what was happening that day.

Having about 1300 turn up to the fun filled night, a favourite stall seemed to be the souvlaki hut, where they raised around $1800.

However, the Asian stalls did have a shortage of electric supply at one point, having the stall stop operating halfway through the event.

Higgins has spent the last few times as an event manager for past occasions for the school, analysing the successes and issues to create an abundant atmosphere.

“I got the idea of the fireworks from Brandon Park Primary School. I went to other fairs to get ideas on how to make this one better”, Higgins stated proudly.

The primary school managed to raise $23,065, going towards the school’s garden produce and future programs.

The school is also targeting to renovate the old canteen into a brand new kitchen, where the children can utilise the garden’s produce to cook and learn the food process.

The well-known local bazaar, Caribbean Market, has been bringing a variety of entertainment and local food for the past fifty years.

School mum and stall owner, Veronica Kong proclaims that “as a consumer, I love the Caribbean Market, but it caters for everyday life and is business competitive. While as the school fair catered for one day, having things donated, and not situating private sales to benefit oneself. The fair was suitable for locals”.

A local neighbour had personally written to the school a couple of days later, providing positive feedback of the night.

Kong views the “culture diversity of local markets as a large demand, because if there is diversity, local traders will help the business to survive by providing donations”.

She also believes that “markets attract tourists, because they like to find various cultures within it. They like to perceive things as much as possible when they visit places”.

On the contrary, Higgins suggests that “the fair has benefited the school by bringing families together and have the school socialise with any newcomers”.

“Here at Glen Waverley South, we try to create a warm atmosphere and a community bond between the school and its visitors”.

The school is already planning for its next big extravaganza, starting with saving up for the fireworks.