Mary Mags Dinners

On Saturday 7 September, students took part in the Mary Mags Dinners event, supported by parents in the Mission Guild and staff. It was a wonderful chance for us to lend a hand to those in need. The event was a great success, and we all had a positive experience, spending two nights preparing, cooking, serving, and connecting with the people we helped.

The menu started with a warm chicken and vegetable soup, followed by beef rissoles with rich onion gravy, sautéed roasted potatoes, herb-roasted veggies, and a roast vegetable pasta bake for the vegetarian option. For dessert, we served chocolate mousse-filled doughnuts with ice cream. Many of us who served on Saturday also helped out with the cooking on Friday, making it a full team effort.

A special shoutout to Nicola Hughes, who guided us on both days, ensuring we all knew what to do and felt comfortable throughout the experience. It wasn’t easy, as we were making everything from scratch, but Mrs. Hughes did an amazing job keeping the eight of us on track as we juggled different tasks in the kitchen.

Being part of the Mary Mags Dinners was an eye-opening experience. We learned about the history—how it’s grown from simple sandwiches to full three-course meals—and saw firsthand the impact it has on those receiving the food. I’d encourage all the boys to get involved in this initiative, as it’s a great way to better understand the lives of others and contribute in a meaningful way.

Emerson Cooper
Year 10 Student

——————————–

Three times a year a group of our students run a dinner service on a Saturday evening for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness here in Adelaide. It is an opportunity for our senior students to prepare, serve and clean up meals in an environment of mutual respect, care and friendship.

St Peter’s College has a long-standing relationship with the Collective of St Mary Magdalene. In 1912, the School actually built the Mission Hall, where the Mary Mags Dinners are served today. The School has continued to volunteer with this dinner service annually for over 20 years.

I’d like to acknowledge the following boys who volunteered their Friday and Saturday evenings across the year to participate in this service activity:

·         Seth Irwin, Year 10

·         Oliver Maung, Year 10

·         Alexander Chan, Year 10

·         Jonathan Balasis, Year 10

·         Colin Chau, Year 10

·         William Roger, Year 10

·         Shaarav Reddy, Year 10

·         Franco Quaini, Year 10

·         Vinh Lam, Year 10

·         Seth Irwin, Year 10

·         Lachlan Kamencak, Year 11

·         Hugo Maslen, Year 10

·         Craig Kurunawai, Year 11

·         Nathan Randeniya, Year 10

·         Matthew Liu, Year 10

·         Will Foreman, Year 10

·         Kassra Noushabadi, Year 11

·         Glen Li, Year 10

·         Henry Peng, Year 12

·         James Hattingh, School Captain

·         Emerson Cooper, Year 10

·         Archie Bater, Year 12

·         Jake Tory, Year 10

·         Andrew Hattingh, Year 10

·         Adan Khurran, Year 10

·         Thomas Teh, Year 10

I would also like to thank the Mission Guild for supporting this initiative, with particular thanks to Nicola Hughes with the support of Wayne Hughes, for all their hard work buying all the groceries and supporting our students in the lead up to and on the night. The food we served received incredible feedback and your clear direction and support helped to make the evening a great success and positive experience for all involved.

And to the incredible staff and parents who have supported this initiative. Thank you for your time, commitment and contribution – Melissa Foster, The Reverend Julia Denny-Dimitriou, Leo Taylor, Melissa Follett and Ed Ruediger.

Please email me if you would like to learn more or are interested in volunteering.

Ashleigh Day
Service Learning Coordinator