CREATING AN UNEXPECTED DIFFERENCE

One of the most wonderful characteristics of the Ruyton community is our connectedness As the 2020 school year began, there was a flurry of fundraising around the world in support of Australian bushfire victims. Bushfire does not play favourites and flora, fauna and people across our country were devastatingly impacted. Responding to the crisis, Ruyton joined as one to support the many affected by the crisis in Victoria. Early in Term 1, our School Co-Captains Bella Eames and Mia Waters and Community Service Captain Maddy Truong collaborated and organised an outdoor cinema fundraiser in support of the Gippsland Emergency Relief Fund (GERF). What was to follow was an outpouring of support from our community. Junior School families donated bags (many bags!) of popcorn, staff donated hamper goods to raffle and Senior School students organised lolly bags and baked goods to sell. Event tickets were flying out the door and everyone was excited about the event and the difference it could make. With over 350 Ruyton families purchasing tickets it promised to be a wonderful community event, supporting an important cause. What we hadn’t planned for was the pandemic. As it rapidly unfolded with restrictions and lockdowns in March, the outdoor cinema fundraiser was postponed. With plans to reschedule the event, the second lockdown began and social restrictions remained at play. With focus firmly on the girls, their wellbeing and the continuity of their education; the weeks rolled by and we still had popcorn, hamper goods and donations to distribute. By the start of Term 4 there was no end to the pandemic in sight and with the guidance of the School leadership team, it was decided that the valuable work towards the outdoor cinema would not go to waste. The funds raised from the tickets (over $4,800!) was donated to GERF as intended. The perishables were donated to a charity, Servants Community Housing. Passionate about breaking the cycle of disadvantage and social exclusion, Servants Community Housing provides not only a roof over heads but a place vulnerable residents can belong, a ‘house family’. CEO of the organisation, Amanda Donohoe, was grateful to the Ruyton community for our donation. Making a difference to the men and women living in the Servant homes, she said our gifts brought an extra dollop of joy at Christmas after a year filled with so many challenges. As we move forward with the lessons of the most unpredictable year, we will continue to embrace change, always being mindful we can make a positive difference, even if not the way we expected. We know our girls will bring the Outdoor Cinema to our oval one day but in the meantime, it is heart-warming to know that our girls’ bushfire fundraiser still made an impact to people in need. Sally de Guingand Director of Community Engagement