Finish as a team

Finish as a team...what a great concept. And so reflective of the modern world. No longer is it the greatest to come first - it's better to work collaboratively, support each other and finish the job together, as a unit, as a whole.

And so the Kokoda Challenge for our kids - The Kokoda Youth Foundation focuses on changing the lives of disadvantaged youth. The challenge is to train for and then run 15 gruelling kilometres - and finish as a team. Our school has had a team of students supported by their teachers running in this event for the last two years. Gradually we've all gotten involved even if we're not all running. We now wear green to school the day before the team head off to the challenge and all the money raised is donated to the Foundation to assist a group of youngsters get to Papua New Guinea and walk the Kokoda track visiting villages and honouring our veterans along the way. The program involves the youth doing what they thought was impossible, creating lifelong bonds and experiencing history and culture to prepare them for giving back to the community on their return.

There is a special story behind this year's team involving one of our teachers, Susie Lefevre. In 2014 after beating breast cancer, Susie conquered the Kokoda track, honoring her father and maternal grandfather who were both WWII Kokoda Track heroes. It was one of the most grueling yet rewarding challenges Susie has ever completed. She shares a message of persistence, endurance, hope and facing whatever life throws at you with grace, confidence and a huge smile and our team considered this message as they ran yesterday.

All Kokoda school cups are in honour and memory of Australian Veterans, not only keeping their spirit alive but helping to educate all of us about our diggers and the sacrifice they made for our freedom. In 2019 our Peregian Springs State School teams were named after Susie's father and maternal grandfather.

• Frank Freckelton - Craftsman 247 Light Aid Detachment
• Ray Edmonds – Militia 55/53 battalion

What an honour for our 2019 team! How proud these brave men would have been of you.

 

Our children are so very lucky!

Today I collected the keys for our new Indoor Sports Centre and the two new classrooms underneath. It was quite overwhelming to see this wonderful facility finished and ready for kids to learn in. The builders proudly took Cam (our PE teacher), Mark (our School's Officer), Jill (our Business Services Manager) and I for a tour. We were all smiling from ear to ear!

The facility is beautiful! Just beautiful!

It's big and bright and airy. It has amazing sound proofing on the walls for acoustics - I couldn't stop touching it!) It has properly installed automatic basketball hoops - it has an international standards rating.  Yes, we could actually host an international basketball carnival in our very own Sports Centre. The space is aerated with massive fans (there is a rude name for these!). There's a kitchen and very generous amenities.


The classrooms underneath are stunning - long rooms with muted colours just screaming out for colourful art works; tinted windows and air conditioning (yes, air conditioning! I'm now conducting an auction at Staff Meetings for teachers wanting to move to these rooms!)

We can move in on Monday.

A friend of mine recently spent seven weeks working in Tanzania and spent most of that time in classrooms with children who walk up to an hour each way just to go to school.


I wonder if our children realise how very lucky they are?

Image courtesy of Africa Geographic