On Friday 20 June our school prefects hosted the annual Friends of PHS Morning Tea. This was a special occasion as we were also celebrating our school's 90th anniversary with particular emphasis on the school's long tradition of supporting worthy causes.

From our inception, students of Parramatta High School have shown themselves to be generous to a fault when it comes to a good cause.

With the onset of World War I, Miss Crouch mobilised the students to knit, collect foodstuffs and the like in order to prepare care parcels for those boys fighting at the front and for their families. Regular donations were made to the fund for widows and orphans.

Parcels sent to former students and staff who were serving always included the lastest issue of the school magazine. In return they would write letters, some incredibly poignant, of their experiences. Many of these were published in the school magazines.

In 1920, Auntie May Crouch wrote to the Lord Mayor of Parramatta, to advise him that Parramatta High School would be establishing a children's cot in the Parramatta District Hospital. A dedication ceremony took place and each year the school raised funds to provide a sick child of poor circumstances with a hospital bed.

Many other organisations and charities have benefitted from our students willingness to help others. It is a tradition which continues today. A "gold" coin was collected from guests as they entered the hall. Proceeds from these donations were presented to the Children's Hospital at Westmead.

As well as a delicious morning tea, guests viewed the school's heritage/archive room.

Students from the Student Representative Council delivered an impressive display recreating the Parramatta March and House war cries. The school song A Goodly Company was heartily sung.

The day was also an opportunity to acknowledge some special ex-students: Marjorie Brown (LC1920) and Jim Daly (LC1920) who celebrate their 100th birthday this year.

Congratulations also to Noel and Bobbie Hill celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary and Ray and Barbara Thompson (see photo at left)celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary.

Bobbie Hill was known to her school chums as Dorothy Pinfold - another of the Pinfold family who were well represented at the school. Pinfolds was a well-known jeweller in Parramatta prior to WWII and were regular advertisers in the school magazines.