In the last newsletter, you were introduced to the WestMAC P&F including the Friends of the Arts, a small sub-committee dedicated to supporting the College’s fabulous arts programs. Best known as FOTA, the group was established about nine years ago and was the brain-child of Mr Neil Flottman, Head of Performance Music, and Mrs Susan Boyle, a mum of three past WestMAC students, who dedicated herself to helping the College in any way she could. The group is now headed up by Allyson Hodgson as Chairperson, Emma Mitchell as secretary, Karlie Bulow as treasurer, with Natalie Reeve and Natasha Wicks as the Music & Arts Liaison Officers, while the Dance Liaison Officer is currently vacant.

The aim of FOTA is to support students in the arts – dance, music, drama and visual art – both in the classroom and as extracurricular activities. We do this by raising funds which then goes directly into the various initiatives set out by the College. In the last few years, funding raised by the group has enabled the music department to purchase 20 new keyboards; contributed to the costs associated with musicals, music camps and dance eisteddfods throughout the years; aided the arts department to showcase student artworks at art shows; and provided all dancers with costume bags, just to name a few.

Funding is raised through a variety of activities including BBQs, bake sales, doughnut stalls and refreshment stands at other College events such as Live at the Lostroh. Not all our activities are about raising money though - we also hold the much loved and very fun Junior School disco, provide breakfast to our dancers each morning, and put on morning or afternoon teas for guests at Junior School music immersion events. FOTA is there for the community and we’re happy to help wherever we can. And have a lot of fun in the process too!

Our first event for 2025 was the annual Bake Sale was Friday, 21 February in the OLA. Our bake sale is only successful thanks to the generosity of the College community so thank you!

If you would like to join FOTA, take on the Dance Liaison Officer role or just find out more about our activities, we’d love to hear from you! Feel free to contact any of the executive mentioned above or email info@WMAC.com.au. We look forward to a fun and successful 2025!