Huge crowds attended Gippsland Grammar’s STAGGfair on Saturday, which finished with a spectacular fireworks display to mark the end of the school’s centenary year.

With inspiration taken from school fetes from decades gone by, the event was strongly supported by families from across Gippsland who connected and reconnected with each other while listening to live music and indulging in gourmet food and wine.

More than 3000 people, from babies to grandparents, embraced the variety of activities on offer, including face painting, an animal petting zoo and free roving entertainment. Attendees also tried their luck at the Lucky Cups stall and spinning wheel, cheered on the yabby races, patted a baby crocodile at the reptile display and feasted on carnival food, including fairy floss, milkshakes and home-made treats.

A highlight of the school fete was the yabby races which saw the crowds flock to cheer on the crustacean competitors.

“It was great to see our some of our oldest students dressed up in inflatable costumes having fun with our youngest students in the Early Learning Centre, while their parents connected on the lawns of oldest campus,” principal Michele Wakeham said.

An early burst of summer weather meant slushies, the icy poles and strawberry ice creams were a sell-out and there was a long line of students lining up to attempt to ‘dunk’ the school’s principal and teachers at the dunk tank machine.

The Gippsland Grammar Foundation – the fundraising arm of the school – served the school’s limited-edition centenary wine at the Foundation Wine Bar.

Development co-ordinator Sarah Guinness said it was lovely to see so many parents and former students enjoying the school’s hospitality.

Melanie Jones, mother of grade one student Kate, described the event as “phenomenal”.

“We just loved the family-friendly and festive environment,” Mrs Jones said.

“There was a huge variety of food, a diversity of children’s activities that catered for all interests and a wonderful opportunity to connect with the community.”

An early burst of summer weather meant the dunk tank machine was the coolest place to be. A student hits the bullseye on Gippsland Grammar’s director of people and culture Belle Deacon.

Stradbroke’s Kirstin Hams said her family of five also had “an amazing day”.

“It was what you hope every similar event will be like but so often you’re disappointed,” she said.

“But STAGGfair was the opposite; it far surpassed expectations. It was so community-focused and everyone was kind and happy. Everyone we spoke to shared the same feedback and being able to sit on the lawn eating and chatting with the live music was great.

“We feel so lucky to be a part of this community, a massive thanks to everyone who was involved.”

Even though the St Anne’s Campus, which hosted the event was a hive of activity, there were also pockets of calm throughout the day and evening.

St Anne’s learning support co-ordinator Linda Cooper-Lothian oversaw the Quiet Zone, which was open to all attendees who needed a break from the carnival atmosphere.

“It ended up being a great spot for our neurodiverse students from about years three-to-seven,” she said.

“Some students popped in more than once to recharge before heading back out, which was great because it meant these students could stick around for the whole evening, just like their peers. During the fireworks the space was used by a group of year five boys, who were happily working on a puzzle together. I think having Quiet Zone made a real difference to ensuring the event was inclusive for all.”

The decorated potato competition and paper plane competition were also popular. Saxon Long, elder sibling of grade nine student Tynen, won the prize in the open division of the paper plane competition with amazing flight distance of 24.2 metres.

Teacher Cloe Rogerson congratulates Saxon Long who won the prize in the Open division of the paper plane competition with amazing flight distance of 24.2m.

Head of science Kylie Lambert said the competition saw “a lot of trial and error and family rivalry”.

“And it was also pretty special to have the Roulette display happening in the sky above us while we were flying our paper planes on the ground,” she said.

“Everyone had a lot of fun.”

Gippsland Grammar’s STAGGfair has traditionally been held every two years, however, Saturday’s event marked its return after a six-year hiatus due to the pandemic. The school’s 1100 students and 280 staff from across its three campuses in Sale and Bairnsdale were involved in planning and hosting the event.