Published on: 22 October 2013







The future of philanthropy is in good hands if the recent efforts of the Christ Church community are anything to go by. Service in Action (SIA) is on track to reach its goal of raising $30,000 for the Cambodian Children’s Fund (CCF) while three Senior School Houses raised almost $20,000 combined for their respective house charities.

Service in Action Director Canon Richard Pengelley said fundraising efforts across the School were on target for the inaugural SIA trip to Scott Neeson’s CCF facility in December. SIA, thanks to the combined efforts of Christ Church and St Mary’s, will fulfill the CCF’s request for 33 iPad 2s along with additional funds towards medical and educational equipment.

In the Prep School, the Pre-Primary to Year 2 Lapathon raised more than $8,900 for CCF, Stirling House created 100 educational packs through donated stationery items from parents and on Wednesday, boys wore free dress for a gold coin donation to the fund.

In September, 57 members of the Walters Residential Community walked a marathon around Swan River raising $6,500 to sponsor a child from a Cambodian orphanage through the CCF. On the following weekend, more than 120 people attended a Sri Lankan curry night fundraiser, held in Sandover Dining Hall. The evening raised $6,500 and was co-ordinated by Christ Church parents Padma and Dumidu Gammanpila, who enlisted the help of more than 20 friends and family in cooking, entertainment, lighting and music for the night.

Come rain or come shine, three Houses walked, climbed and ran to raise money for their respective house charities last month.

On Saturday 7 September, over 100 Noake boys along with parents, younger siblings and dogs took part in the Noake Novelty Walk for the MS Society from Matilda Bay to Christ Church. The walk, in which participants win prizes for the best novelty outfit, raised more than $7,000. Noake’s best effort in the event’s five-year history. At the conclusion of the walk, parents were invited to morning tea in Sandover Dining Hall and to farewell Head of House Marguerite Crawford at her final house event. The gathering honoured Ms Crawford’s 12 years as Head of Noake with speeches by House Captain Patrick Burton, Head of Senior School Roger Bayly and owl cookies made by Noake parent Janet Barron.

After a period of wintry weather, the sun shone brightly for the annual Queenslea Stair Climb. Held on the morning of Sunday 8 September, the event was well attended with 68 boys from Years 7 to 12, prepared to climb up Central Park Tower’s 53 flights of stairs. Head of Queenslea House Digby Gibson said it was becoming a tradition for many Queenslea parents, who supported their sons in the event, to climb to the top of the stairs or take the lift to join their sons on the observation deck. The winner of this year’s stair climb was William Sutherland (Year 10) in a brisk time of 8:58 minutes. The current total of donations for the stair climb is $7,023 – a record collection over the six year-history of climb.

They may have copped the brunt of the wet weather on Monday 16 September but it did not stop 122 boys from completing the Wolsey Walk from Matilda Bay to Christ Church. Head of Wolsey House Gareth Phillips said despite the rain pouring down the boys kept going and remained cheerful. Angus Barber (Year 10) managed to run back in a time of 33 minutes while Year 10 boys sported their hiking boots to get in some early practice ahead of Venture. About 50 parents joined the wet walkers in the Old Boy’s Gallery for some warm food after the event. Mr Phillips said Wolsey was still collecting donations but looked certain to meet its target total of $5,000.

This week, the Parents’ Auxiliary also presented cheques for $6,000 each to youth charities Therapy Focus and LADS WA raised from the annual Passion for Fashion fundraising event held in August.