School of rock

By WARREN JONES

THE days of the lamington fundraisers are dead and gone at Thirroul Public School.

Why settle for baked goods when the parents of your pupils include the lead singer from seminal Aussie rock group Radio Birdman and a swathe of other professional musicians?

"Hellraiser 111 - doing it for the kids" is a fundraising event for Thirroul Public School, (also known as School of Rock or Rock and Roll Primary), which features parents of Thirroul Public students, many of whom happen to be members or ex-members of successful underground Australian bands.

This is the third time parents have put on a show to raise money. The first two in 2005 and 2006 sold out and ticket sales are already going strong for this year's show, which will be held at Bulli Heritage Hotel on March 10.

The musical parents, all of whom will be performing on the night, include:

- Rob Younger, front man of Radio Birdman, performing with his other band Plastic Flesh;

- Greg Appel (Lighthouse Keepers, Widdershins), a producer on ABC's Dig TV;

- Jodi Phillis (The Dearhunters, The Clouds), who writes and records songs for children's TV;

- Tim Oxley (The Verys, The Dearhunters), who is also writing and recording music, and

- Johnny Bachelor (the Dropbears), who also still performs.

Two other Thirroul primary parents will also perform as part of the band Jessemae, as will Speedwell, whose frontman is a teacher at Thirroul Primary.