Apples for everyone

Pip the Apple Fair mascot with Audrey Hepburn, Asha Boyd and Ruby Hepburn, all in Year 6.

Pip pip hooray! It’s happy birthday to Ocean Grove Primary School’s Apple Fair, which celebrates its 25th birthday this year.

Friday 6 March will see the school grounds – which were once an apple orchard in the 1880s – transformed into fun and festivities.

From humble beginnings, with its very first Apple Fair in 1995, the event has grown from a small school fair to a highly-anticipated community event.

The twilight fair will run from 4pm until late, with food and live entertainment and activities for the whole family.

This year the Apple Fair is introducing, for the first time, OGPS Has Got Talent. Students have been busy honing their special skills to perform live on stage from 4pm.

The ever-popular lucky jars will be back, as will all the favourite show rides including a new one called, ‘Freestyle 180’.

Students are excited about setting up their own grade activities, such as mini apple golf, the chocolate wheel will be spinning and a reptile zoo will be there where you can meet a crocodile.

For those who will be hungry, there will be a range of delicious foods the whole family will enjoy from their famous curries and mouth-watering apple strudel to tasty vegetarian options.

OGPS is encouraging everyone to take part in Zero Waste, asking families to BYO their own plates and cutlery to help reduce waste by using less plastic.

Cindy Murphy has been on the Apple Fair committee for 10 years and is excited to be joining in the 25th year celebrations.

“It’s such a fantastic event for our students, families and wider community,” she said.

“We create such a welcoming atmosphere on the night where everyone can come together to support our school, listen to live music, bid on our silent auction and enjoy a meal with family and friends.

“This year we are aiming to raise much needed funds to help boost our school’s library, finish our bike shed and invest in solar panels.

Being the start of the long weekend, we’d love to see as many Ocean Grove folk enjoy the entertainment at our school, so come and join in with our birthday celebrations”.