By Cam Lucadou-Wells and Brendan Rees
Beaconhills College’s history of generosity has earned it a Casey Australia Day Award.
The school’s students volunteered 2200 hours to community service last year, earning the title of 2017 Casey Community Group of the Year.
Their good deeds are too long to list. But they include raising $50,000 for the cancer fundraiser Relay For Life, cooking muffins and for Berwick Vinnies Soup Van and donating solar lights to East Timor.
Students also donated 850 kilograms of rice and pasta – enough for 5000 meals – for Feed Melbourne, made tactile picture books for Insight School for the Blind and Vision Impaired and gave to Casey North CISS’s winter coat appeal.
“Kids learn and appreciate by taking action themselves,” says the school’s citizenship and service head Clare Tuohy.
“It’s very easy to put your hand in your pocket and give $10 or $20 but it’s not the same as putting your hand in.”
It was wonderful the school was recognised as a local organisation that cared about the needs of others, Ms Tuohy said.
“It’s a great opportunity to bring to life the college values of compassion, empathy, and respect,” she said.
“Our dream is that every member of our community whether it be staff, students or parents give back to their community in some way.”
She said the award inspired the college to undertake even greater deeds.
“In particular, I’m learning more about my local community in Casey and Cardinia.
“There’s a great need in our local community.”
