The sun was shining, the flags were waving and the homemade lemonade was flowing as family, friends, Old Boys and New Boys spilled through the gates at the Stanmore Campus for Back to Newington Day 2015 on Saturday 5 September. 

After months of preparation from our dedicated Parents and Friends Association, the College looked its finest with the Wyvern painted onto the bottom of Johnson Oval ready for the day to begin.

There is no amount of money that can buy the support and dedication that comes from having a sterling Parents and Friends Association and for this reason, we are grateful to them and thank them for their efficiency, generosity and professionalism throughout the day and in the lead up to the event. The Cake Stall, Cafe, Market Hall and Auction from New Women were huge successes this year with tables overflowing with cakes, biscuits and slices. A big thank you to all the Mums and Dads from every Supporters Group and Association who helped out – whether you turned a steak, a kebab, a pancake, a sausage, a cob of corn or a prawn on the very big barbeque, your contribution was felt and we thank you!

While you might have seen several Newington staff working hard on the ground, you might not have known that there were others busily working behind the scenes to make sure that nothing short of perfection was on offer. The Community and Development team for example hosted a lavish High Tea for MOONs (Mothers of Old Newingtonians) at midday, the boys and staff of the Music Department provided the soundtrack for the day, and the College Print Room and Graphic Designer worked overtime in the lead up to the day to produce every program, menu, voucher and sign.

Back to Newington Day was a day to show off our community spirit and Newington had it by the bucketful!

Post Script: 

Sometimes we are too close to see ourselves the way others see us – so how lovely it is to receive a comment, like the one below, about our community and our boys, from one of the external stall holders in the New Women Market Hall. 

I would like to pass on my compliments to the Newington school community.

Both the parents and the boys that I came across over both Friday and Saturday were a credit to the school. There was a generosity of spirit and a warmth within the school community that is rare and something to be proud of. Without exception, the young men who helped me with the stall, or bought gifts for their mums, were polite and confident. 

Fair days like the Back to Newington Day are not only great for the existing school community, but they give people outside of the community an insight into a school. Saturday was a great advertisement for Newington. 

I hope the day was a resounding success for the school.