By Alex Crowe
Humble school fetes are transforming into mini Melbourne Shows, attracting big crowds with an array of amusement park rides, popup bars, gourmet food stalls and valuable prizes.
The schools transforming ovals into festival sites this spring spend big on the events to raise funds for facilities, with the biggest profits coming from sponsorships (particularly from real estate agents), ride tickets and silent auctions.
Parents sip on their drinks at the bar at the Hampton Primary School Twilight Fete.Credit: Simon Schluter
At a primary school in Hawthorn East last year, fete auction prizes (donated by parents) included seven nights at a luxury Balinese hotel and a dinner for 10 at Chin Chin.
This year, Lloyd Street Primary School parents in Malvern East keenly bid on a four-day grand prix ground pass ahead of its fair in October.
Principal John Painter said the biannual event had two aims: fundraising for a new playground and fostering a sense of community.
“It creates these amazing memories for all our kids,” he said. “And it makes money for the school.”
The bungee trampoline was popular with Hampton Primary School students.Credit: Simon Schluter
While Painter would not reveal how much money the school spends or receives from its fairs, profits from school fetes can be in the tens of thousands.
Fintona Girls’ School, which is fundraising for its new multimillion-dollar performing arts centre, raised about $50,000 from Fintona Festival in 2022.
In 2023, the Trinity Grammar School Parents Association reported it spent more than $96,000 putting on the Trinity Fair.
Ride passes, which cost up to $60 per child, cover some of the expenses.
Lloyd Street Primary School parent and non foods stall coordinator Nikki Feld.Credit: Simon Schluter
Trinity’s fete brought in more than $117,000 in revenue, putting the school about $21,000 in the black.
Advanced Amusements co-owner Tyson Evans, who rented rides to about 100 school fetes across Victoria and NSW this year, said he knew of at least one school that spent about $60,000 on rides. He said the school should make about three-quarters of that money back.
Due to competition for rides, Evans said some schools book up to three years in advance.
“The fete scene in Melbourne is quite large. In the busy time, there can be between 10 or 15 school [fetes] a day,” he said.
Rides are set up at Lloyd Street Primary School every two years to turn the grounds into a festival site.Credit: Simon Schluter
Melbourne school fetes, which have fewer egg-and-spoon races and more petting zoos and climbing walls than yesteryear, often require a huge time commitment from parent volunteers.
Lloyd Street Primary School’s fair committee – made up of two dads and nine mums – began planning their October event last December.
Lloyd Street Primary School fair committee head Helen Franzi bumping in ahead of show day.Credit: Simon Schluter
Committee head Helen Franzi, a bookkeeper, said parents in marketing and advertising, project management and hospitality had made crucial contributions.
Outside the committee, Lloyd Street fair takes a village to put on.
Two days before show day, Franzi’s mum flew down to babysit to allow her to do fete preparations.
Franzi said that for her, and other committee members, organising the fair becomes a full-time job in the final weeks.
“The things that keep me up at night will be, what if there’s a thunderstorm? What if all the power goes out? Or the EFTPOS network crashes?” she said.
EFTPOS machines being charged ahead of the Lloyd Street fair.Credit: Simon Schluter
Franzi said Lloyd Street had become so big because parents were committed to continually improving the school.
“The bar gets set and then the next slot tries to meet it or even improve on it a little bit if they can,” she said.
“I don’t think there’s any competition. I think it’s just people who are really committed to doing the best that they can for their kids’ school.”
Sponsorships from local businesses – particularly real estate agents, whose signs are as common as candy floss at school fetes – cover some organisational costs.
Some real estate peak bodies encourage agencies to get involved in school fetes because it’s good “both for sales and your soul”.
Children walk around the Hampton Primary School fete.Credit: Simon Schluter
Westgarth Primary School raised $62,000 by auctioning a real estate marketing package earlier this month, which was expected to contribute to more than $100,000 in total fundraising.
Parents in Elsternwick looking to sell their homes can bid $500 for a commission-free auction worth $25,000 ahead of the St Joseph’s Christmas fete in November.
At Hampton Primary Twilight Carnival last Friday, morning rain cleared to make way for a sunny afternoon.
Not long after the gates opened, parents sipped craft beers and sparkling wine while lines grew for the bungee trampoline and giant inflatables.
Organiser Leanne O’Brien said the fete might be the last time older students got to celebrate with their friends before going off to different schools.
“It’s just a great way to end the year,” she said.
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