Kick for a Cause Loreto Toorak vs St Kevin’s Gaelic Football

Caritas Australia is the Catholic Church’s international aid and development agency in our nation and, through Project Compassion and the generous support of our community, is able to make a life-changing difference for those in vulnerable communities around the world.

As part of Lent each year, Loreto Toorak students and their families are offered several opportunities to donate to Caritas Australia through Project Compassion.

One such fundraiser for is the annual Gaelic Football match between our School and St Kevin’s, held in the closing weeks of Term 1. St Michael’s Green is painted with colour; a sea of Loreto Toorak Blue marks the boundary line, while the hues on the pitch include the gold, green and navy jerseys of St Kevin’s. Year 12 students from both Schools form the teams, reflecting a mix of genders and abilities.

The match is thrilling; each spectator watches in awe as the athleticism of the players is displayed through leaping and kicking, throwing and catching. The competitive spirit rises to the surface as goals are scored by each team. At half-time, the coaches—also recognised as the Principals from the two Schools—stride onto the pitch with important messages to evoke in the huddle. Mostly, though, the teams are told to go hard for the win!

The lunchtime match finishes and students return to class. Peers from our partnering school clamber aboard the bus to be driven to their precinct. The game is shrouded in success: a fun and active lunchtime football match with friendly competition, underpinned by a crucial reminder of including, where possible, an element of social justice actions in all we do.

It is particularly pertinent in the Loreto Year of Justice that we are mindful of those in vulnerable communities, and that we each leverage what we can from our own circumstances to make a positive impact to those who experience poverty, abuse, neglect, and violence. This year, we raised over $4000 for Project Compassion through the Gaelic Football match, a cookie sale, and via donations to the traditional Project Compassion money boxes taken home by our Rathfarnham students. Earlier in the year our students also contributed $2000 to the Caritas emergency appeal following the devastating earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria.

The School is grateful for the ongoing support of our families; in all fundraising efforts, we know our wider community builds on and believes in this ethos.