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St Stithians hosted a successful Taste Extravaganza on 3 August, welcoming over 180 people to an evening of wine and food tasting at the Dace Hall in aid of the upgrade of the new girls’ sports pavilion.
The hall was buzzing with parents and food vendors, trying out varieties of wine, champagne, gin, chocolate, nougat, whiskey, kimchi, ice cream, confectionery, coffee, meats and much more.
Event organiser Carmen Isaacs said, “We wanted to create an event where parents and staff could socialise in the Saints community. We lack areas to socialise and want to build a community here for a greater purpose.”
The extravaganza followed last year’s successful event, which welcomed a variety of vendors to share their delicacies with parents and associates of the school.
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Deputy head of St Stithians Girls’ Preparatory, Alison Jennings, said they hope to transform the function room within the pavilion into a cafeteria-style space that can function as a hospitality venue where supporters can enjoy a cup of coffee while watching sport. The pavilion is situated between the netball courts that fit between the two girls’ schools and includes sports offices, a function room and much-needed change rooms and showers for the girls.
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Last year, the event raised R114 000, which was put towards the building costs of the pavilion. Isaacs said she hoped to raise over R100 000 from the recent event this year.
Guests were given a wine tasting glass and shopper bag when they entered the venue, where they could browse the stalls and take part in a bottle pull and auction. Auctions gave away prizes including a two-night stay for two in a luxury room at the Cradle Boutique Hotel in Maropeng at the heart of the Cradle of Humankind and a breakfast in the sky for 22 people.
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