The Centenary Gardens were a sea of pink yesterday as our Year 12 Health class in collaboration with the Student Welfare Committee, held a Valentines Day bake stall and fundraiser.
Our Senior Years students were asked to ‘wear it pink’ for Valentines Day, and to pull on some crazy socks in support of diminishing the impacts of homelessness. Throughout recess and lunch, all of the girls got involved in the facepainting, baked goods, pink clothes, crazy socks and music.
The day was a great success as the girls raised much-needed money for Protea Place, which supports women in vulnerable situations.
In their words
“There is no one definition for Homelessness, however, the Australian Bureau of Statistics defines it as an individual who lacks adequate accommodation, or whose current state of living has no tenure (About Homelessness, 2023). Homelessness in Australia is an issue that does not receive adequate recognition, supported by Harris (2023) who claims that “the rate of homelessness is increasing faster than Australia’s overall population growth.” This rapid increase displays the significance of the matter, and preventative methods regarding homelessness must be promoted and acted upon to establish a decline in these numbers.
In Year 12 health we have been studying what defines homelessness, what the causes are, and what can be done to minimise the issue. For our IA1, we were required to devise an innovative strategy with the aim of reducing the burden of homelessness in Toowoomba. In collaboration with the Student Welfare Committee and their Valentines Day celebrations, we held a free dress event where students were asked to ‘wear it pink’ for Valentines Day and wear crazy socks in support of diminishing the impacts of homelessness. Students were asked to bring a gold coin donation to support the cause. The Year 11 and 12 Health classes contributed home-baked goods to the bake sale run by the year 12’s, with prices ranging from $1 to $2.50. The SWC also sold pink lemonade for $2, as well as lollipops and freddo frogs for $1. All funds are being donated to the Protea Place Women’s Support Centre in Toowoomba. Their mission is to “…provide a safe and welcoming environment for vulnerable women who may be experiencing homelessness or disadvantage,” and we thought that this would bring us one step closer to lessening Toowoomba’s homeless population.”
Annie Cory
Murrays Bridge
“This week we as the year 12 health class were fortunate enough to be a part of the SWC’s valentines day raising money for women in vulnerable situations and helping to support Protea place. The day was a huge success as we raised heaps of money and the girls had an absolute blast with music and home-baked goods. We can’t thank everyone enough for their donations and support for the day. Being able to raise money for women in vulnerable situations had everyone feeling like they achieved something. As well as the girls, the year 12 health class had an absolute blast at both morning tea and lunch, chatting and mingling with the girls.”
Elsie Stewart
Goondiwindi
We can’t thank everyone enough for their donations and support towards the day. Being able to raise money for women in vulnerable situations had everyone feeling like they achieved something.
Elise Stewart – Goondiwindi
“Being a part of the Bake Sale Innovation has made me feel like a better person knowing that I’ve done something as an act of kindness by baking some goodies to sell and raise funds for the domestic violence women’s shelter. Seeing other girls take time out of their weekend in the boarding house or time after school to help with the baking or bringing gold coin donations on the day also brings me happiness.”
Lashontae Mosby
Thursday Island
“It was amazing to see so many girls involved and supporting such a great cause. The money donated will be provided to vulnerable women in Toowoomba and makes the day so much more rewarding knowing it will be helping our own community.”
Jane Butler
Toowoomba
