Charity events bring HQ staff together

The cuddly koalas wrapped around a donation jar amid a sea of Australian snacks set the scene for SKA HQ’s most recent charity fundraiser.

Organised by our Australian staff, the event was an opportunity to show support for SKA’s friends and colleagues affected by the country’s ongoing bushfire crisis. With 18 nationalities represented at SKA HQ, it was also the first time some had experienced Aussie cuisine, including Vegemite sandwiches, lamingtons (a chocolate and coconut cake) and fairy bread (bread, butter and sugar sprinkles). The donations were distributed to charities supporting firefighters – almost 90% of whom are volunteers in Australia – and animal welfare charities. Above: Funds were raised to aid charities working on bushfire relief efforts.

Funds were raised to aid charities working on bushfire relief efforts.

Credit: SKAO

A few weeks earlier HQ staff had gathered for the now annual tradition of Christmas Jumper Day, a nationwide event organised by charity Save the Children to support their life-saving work in more than 100 countries around the world. The day coincided with a large meeting at the HQ and some of our international visitors got into the spirit by wearing festive knits! Among the most inventive outfits was that of Federico Di Vruno, RFI and EMI Domain Specialist, who stuck Post-It notes to his jumper in the shape of a Christmas tree.

Together the two events raised close to £1,000 for the charities involved.

Visitors to the HQ joined staff in donning festive attire for SKAO’s Christmas Jumper Day.

Credit: SKAO