SENIOR SCHOOL
charity
Houses for
School House – Youth Focus
Two years ago School House’s charity
changed from Surf Life Saving Australia to
Youth Focus.
This change was motivated by the tragic
loss of a deeply loved member of the School
House community, Ben Davies.
Youth Focus is an independent not-for-profit
organisation designed to prevent youth
suicide, depression and self-harm. It provides
free counselling services with experienced
and professional psychologists, social workers
and occupational therapists. In 2013 over
1500 young people were supported by Youth
Focus counselling sessions.
Over the past year, School House has held
several fundraising events to support this
worthy organisation. In Term 3 of 2013 the
then Year 11 students held a bacon and egg
stall, followed promptly in Term 4 by the Year
10 students hosting a sausage sizzle. On top
of that with donations at the annual School
House service, in 2013 alone, more than
$2400 was raised. We hope that this year we
can continue these events and protect youth
in our community who may be vulnerable to
depression, self-harm and suicide.
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Each House in the Senior School selects a charity to
support each year, which becomes the focus of their
fundraising for the year. Information on each of this
year’s House charities is below.
Ben’s loss two years ago gave me a
realisation that anyone is vulnerable, and it
isn’t always noticeable if someone is suffering
from depression. If you know someone
suffering, or you yourself are, contact Youth
Focus for support through their website http://youthfocus.com.au.
Roberta Notte
Head of House
St George’s House –
Anglican Board of Missions
Prior to 2011, St George’s House was
supporting a number of charities such as
the Cancer Council and Diabetes Research,
so in 2011, it was decided by the Head of
House and the House Prefects to focus on
supporting one charity and also to think of a
charity associated with the Anglican Church.
After discussions with Father Phillip, it was
decided that St George’s House would
raise funds to support the Anglican Board
of Missions (ABM). The ABM believes in a
world where all people enjoy God’s promise
of love, hope and justice. We work to see
this belief become a reality.
ABM is the national mission agency of the
Anglican Church of Australia working with
overseas and Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander people and communities. They have
a holistic view of God’s mission. They work
with Anglican Church partners and others
to see lives empowered and transformed
spiritually, materially and socially. They
help the Anglican Church and the wider
community realise and respond to the
invitation for all to be a part of God’s hope
for the world.
Throughout the years, since beginning our
association with ABM, St George’s House has
run sausage sizzles each year and along with
a retiring collection at our bi-annual services,
the House has been able to annually present
a donation of approximately $1000. It is
hoped that in the years to come St George’s
House can continue to develop close ties
with ABM and raise much needed funds,
thereby assisting a charity organisation that is
able to help people in so many ways.
Mel Weston
Head of House