25 August 2023: St Rita’s students ‘rock the chop’ in support of the Cancer Council’s Ponytail Project
Clayfield, Brisbane
Students from St Rita’s College annually participate in the Cancer Council’s Ponytail Project. The ‘big chop’ event took place on Friday 25 August and every ponytail chopped aims to make a difference to the lives of people affected by cancer.
The project empowers people all over Australia and within the College community to make a direct difference as all chopped hair is used to make wigs for cancer patients and all monetary donations fund life-changing research and support communities going through their cancer journey.
The students support of the Ponytail Project confirms that Mission in Action is alive and well at St Rita’s College.
August 2023: A surgery “staycation” to remember for Mr Lu
Brisbane
Mercy Community Aged Care Services team have shown yet again that Mission in Action motivates them to go above and beyond.
Mercy Community care worker, Frances Roberts has assisted an 81-year-old Rockhampton client, Mr Lu, who had no family to care for him, travel to Brisbane to undertake some surgery. Mercy Community facilitated his pre- and post-operative care, organising paperwork for his travel to Brisbane (for the first time) and also taking Mr Lu out to see the local sights including the view from Mt Coot-tha which Mr Lu was appreciative of as he had never been to Brisbane previously.
 |
 |
| Mr Lu enjoying the sights of Mount-tha. | Frances Robert receiving flowers for her commitment to mission and Mr Lu. |
7-13 August 2023: All Hallows’ students support Kitty’s Room
Brisbane
The theme for the 2023 National Student Volunteer Week (7-13 August) is Give. Grow. Belong. This year National Student Volunteer Week coincided with National Homelessness Week and at All Hallows’, the two fit perfectly together as the students are always looking for opportunities to extend a helping hand to the many in their community who experience homelessness.
Through the Mercy Action Group, Kitty’s Room (named in honour of Catherine McAuley as she was affectionately known as Kitty) the students are committed to getting involved and making a positive impact on their community. Students from years nine to 12 in their lunch breaks help organise and pack Home Starter Packs that are donated to people in need and include refugees and newly arrived families, people experiencing domestic and family violence, leaving prison, sleeping rough or moving into supported living.
The Home Starter Packs are made up of new and donated items such as plates, cutlery, pots, pans, mugs, cups, sheets and pillows and towels and provides the community groups with dignity to start a new chapter with the donated items and basic comforts that help them to settle into their new homes.
The Home Starter Packs are distributed through Vinnies, Community Corrections, Romero Centre, Sisters Inside, Family Crisis Response, Kathleen Noonan for CV Connect and Micah Projects.
The work of Kitty’s Room is only possible with the support from Religious of Queensland Social Justice Grants and the staff and students of All Hallows’ who work together to provide support to those people in the community experiencing homelessness.
Kitty’s Room is another example that our mission is in our heart and a key focus of the staff and students at All Hallows’.
