These were the exact words the whole school community proclaimed on Ash Wednesday. On this day, we launched our annual fundraiser for Project Compassion. For those unaware of what Project Compassion is, it is a fundraiser operated by Caritas Australia, that calls out to all Australians to donate and raise much-needed funds to help alleviate poverty, promote justice and uphold dignity in the most vulnerable and marginalised communities around the globe. These communities are worldwide in places such as Nepal, Zimbabwe, regional Australia and Vietnam. The money raised provides education for schools or first aid, clean drinking water facilities, farm animals such as chickens to provide food, medical supplies or educational resources such as pencils just to name a few.

Our 2023 focus for the year is ‘Love of Neighbour’. The school community has openly embraced and taken this up through our season of Lent by donating to help our neighbours and providing them with basic and simple support, that we all take for granted in our day-to-day lives. As a school community, many initiatives have been implemented and planned to unite us all and bring some fun to the end of the term. Last Friday, we participated in crazy sock day. It was a beautiful day which we celebrated with a teacher vs students tunnel ball competition, along with a fun Friday at lunch to finish off. Upcoming this Friday (31 March), we will be running a five for Friday where students are encouraged to bring in 5 coins to donate. However small or insignificant our actions may seem to us, God our heavenly Father sees them all and will reward us.

Project Compassion will conclude at the end of our term, so I highly encourage all girls to donate and practise the act of almsgiving this holy season to help those in our communities who aren't as fortunate as us. So far we have raised over $2500 which is absolutely amazing and fantastic to see, however, please don’t stop and continue to donate even if it is just a couple of dollars more, because this small act for us has a big recurring impact for others who will forever treasure our acts of kindness. Our actions will remind those in our community how much they are loved and treasured, and that we all care for one another just as Jesus wanted us to
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:37-40)

Cara M - Benedict Captain