General News
5 September, 2025
Rainforest school spring fair
THE Rainforest School will welcome the community this Saturday, September 6, with a fundraising Spring Fair at its new home in Frog’s Hollow, South Mission Beach.
The school, originally based at Dundee Park, was forced to relocate after devastating floods in early 2024. A second major rainfall event in 2025 confirmed the school board’s decision not to return. Instead, the community hall at Frog’s Hollow, already approved by the Cassowary Coast Council, has become its permanent base.
The Spring Fair will feature coffee and cake stalls, face painting, a crystal dig, and a guest talk from a visiting palaeontologist. Acting Principal Carolien Franken said the event is about more than just raising money.
“I think it’s important that people know we are here. We want to work together with the community,” she said.
Funds raised will go towards the school’s master plan, which includes two additional classrooms, an outdoor play space, and a cooking and crafting area. These improvements will allow the hall to once again be used by local groups such as the Mission Beach Cubs and Scouts, along with art and fitness classes, during evenings and weekends.
Surveying has already begun on land surrounding the single-room hall that currently serves as both classroom and office. In the meantime, staff and students are working to develop the site with sustainability in mind. Environmental stewardship remains central to the Rainforest School’s curriculum, with children encouraged to learn outdoors and protect their natural surroundings.
On August 21 students, parents, and teachers planted trees as part of the school’s Green Canopy project, a symbol of the school’s ethos and community spirit. Parent involvement has been key since the school’s opening in 2019.
“We are like a family here,” Franken said. “Our parents are incredibly supportive, which helps us continue to deliver the highest quality of care and education.”
The Rainforest School is also working with Council to secure a 30-year lease for the Frog’s Hollow site, which is awaiting rezoning from recreational to educational use. Franken said the transition has been met with strong support.
“The entire community and Council are very supportive of our work to transform what was once an underutilised site into a thriving community hub,” she said.
The Spring Fair runs this Saturday, offering a day of family fun and a chance to support the school’s future.
Read More: Mission Beach