Mary Mags Dinners

Over the weekend, I had the privilege of volunteering at Mary Mags for the fourth time. Mary Mags provides meals to people experiencing homelessness, but what makes the experience truly special is the sense of community it creates. Each time I volunteer, I find that engaging with guests through conversation gives me a greater appreciation for life and the importance of genuine human connection.

One particular moment stood out to me. A large man came in, asking for meals for his family. At first, I felt slightly taken aback by his presence, but as I served him and spoke with him, I realised how important it was to look beyond first impressions. I was eager to continue serving him and even prepared his dessert, but by the time I returned, he had already left. This brief encounter left quite a mark on me and reminded me how meaningful even the smallest interactions can be.

Volunteering at Mary Mags has not only deepened my empathy but also encouraged me to keep returning, eager to build more connections and continue supporting the community. I am grateful for these opportunities and look forward to serving again in the future.

Hugo Browne
Year 11, Woodcock House

The Collective of St Mary Magdalene has a long-standing relationship with SPSC. In 1912, the School built the Mission Hall, which still hosts the Mary Mags Dinners today. For over 20 years, the School has supported this annual dinner service. Three times a year, with both financial and hands-on support from parents of the Mission Guild, SPSC runs a Saturday evening dinner for about 120 people experiencing cost-of-living pressures in Adelaide. These dinners provide senior students, supported by staff and parents, with the opportunity to prepare, serve, and clean up meals in an environment of care, friendship, and mutual respect.

On Friday, a group of students helped prepare and cook meals for the Saturday night main event. It was also a good chance to meet the parent volunteer and lead supervisor, Toula Tsamandanis. With Toula’s guidance and support from others, everything ran smoothly. The boys enjoyed the afternoon working together, building friendships, and helping with the jobs that needed to be done. One of the main dishes prepared was a minestrone. Everyone worked as a team to make sure the food was cooked properly and to a high standard.

On Saturday, 20 September, the group met at the Mary Mags on Moore Street at 4:30pm to finish preparations before dinner service at 6:00pm. We heated the food, set the tables, and were given a run-through of the evening by the coordinator, who also spoke about the history of the Mary Mags Dinners. Once service began, the boys were split into different stations and took on jobs like plating, serving, and washing dishes.

The first course was minestrone soup with buttered bread, which showed the boys how busy and fast dinner service can be. The main course followed, and the boys made sure guests had plenty to eat. Dessert was apple crumble with vanilla ice cream, which was a favourite with everyone. At the end of the night, the group was thanked for their hard work.

The night was a special experience that the boys will remember. They learnt how something as simple as sitting down for a meal can mean a lot to people, and they felt grateful to be part of the event. A big thank you goes to Toula Tsamandanis for supervising and all her incredible work this year at the three Mary Mags Dinners.

Thank you to all those involved below:

Students:

William Roger (Year 11)

Franco Quaini (Year 11)

Michael Gleeson (Year 10)

Charlie Angus (Year 11)

Hugo Browne (Year 11)

Tiger Liu (School Vice Captain)

Sabiq Haque (Year 10)

George Tsamandanis (Year 10)

Oliver Coleman (Year 10)

Seb Harms (Year 10)

Ned Noakes (Year 10)

Louis Bizot (Year 10)

Jake Barclay (Year 10)

Parent and staff support:

Toula Tsamandanis, Mrs Bianca Harms, Rev Julia Denny-Dimitrou, Mrs Geraldine Waldron, Nicola Fraser, Meegan Addison & Lucy Croser and the St Peter’s College Mission Guild.

Franco Quaini
Year 11, Farr House