By Tyler Wright and Parker McKenzie
Mater Day returned on Thursday 18 August after a three-year hiatus, with the local school community coming together to raise funds for the Good Samaritan Foundation.
The day, organised and led by students from Mater Christi College, included a Feast of the Assumption of Mary in the morning, followed by the House Performing Arts Competition, food and market stalls, face painting, bubble soccer and teacher dunking carnival games.
College Captain Jasmine Andrews said the students left with a huge buzz at the end of the day.
“The past few months, the other college Captain Siena and I have been working with our student representative council to plan the day and have a voice in deciding what activities in terms of food trucks and rides and stalls,” she said.
“Things like formals and college events have all been cancelled over the past few years. We’ve been able to do all of them which has been really great.”
Aside from food stalls including fairy floss, dumplings, popcorn and a sausage sizzle, students also organised an online auction where younger year levels could win access to the Year 12 Polding Centre.
Deputy Principle Shae Mayes said the community day was focused on raising money for the Good Samaritan Foundation and all the work they do.
“We haven’t been able to have it for three years, it was a really big deal this year that we’ve been able to do it again,” she said.
“We’ve sort of planned things over the last couple of years and we’ve had to cancel. The way we did it this year was a bit of a carnival and stalls.”
Students from all year levels took part in the House Performing Arts Competition, showing their hidden talents to their peers.
Ms Mayes said the competition was a beautiful display of support for Mater Day.
“We haven’t had anything like that for a while, there were a lot of year sevens who got up and performed,” she said.
“It showed that they feel really comfortable in this community to get up and share their talents and the students really supported them as well.”
