By Mikayla Van Loon
Kilsyth’s Gladesville Primary School hosted its biggest annual fundraiser on Friday 17 March, drawing crowds of people for the show n shine.
In its sixth year, the event went bigger, bolder and better than ever, changing from just a school fundraiser to a community event.
Parent committee organisers and power couple Russell and Sam spent countless hours and late nights bringing the event to life and were extremely pleased with the turnout all round.
“It’s bigger than we expected for the markets. For the cars, it’s about on par with where we have been in the past but what’s really pleasing is there’s a lot of new cars,” Russell said.
“For a small school of 75 kids, to get a turn out like this, that’s pretty impressive.”
Sam said she wanted to change this year’s event slightly to what had been done in the past to offer more variety and activities for everyone to enjoy.
“These guys have come from Ruccis circus performers, who are local, so it’s just awesome just to have them. It gave us something else other than just the cars as well,” she said.
“We just really focused on this year and the wording of putting it out there trying to make it like a community event. It’s not our school’s event, we’re just hosting a community event for everyone. We’re so small so we need the exposure and people to come in.”
As the biggest fundraiser of the year by far, Russell said in the past it has gone towards the school’s IT program, purchasing equipment for the children to learn with but this year the attention will be taken outside.
“This year the end goal is to do some of the work in the outside area, the sandpit and the playground to bring up the outside a little bit,” he said.
Gladesville will return with a community trivia night and Christmas carols towards the end of the year to contribute even further to the refurbishment of the outdoor area.
“We’re just pushing more towards a community-style event. There’s nothing [school wise] in this little triangle so we’re just trying to provide a home for everyone… and to get more kids in the school.”
