In a Matthew Flinders Anglican College first, all funds raised by each of the Houses in the Secondary School will go toward the one charity in 2023, The Board Meeting Surf Charity, to help make life better for children living with disabilities on the Sunshine Coast.
Students across the Secondary School are fundraising for the charity throughout the year through non-uniform days, a wellbeing festival and special events, such as the recent Thiele House Valentine’s Day rose fundraiser.
And to encourage more students to volunteer in the community, the Flinders Prefect Service Committee is organising a series of service events, starting with a beach clean-up at the Mooloolaba Beach Spit Park from 9am on Sunday, 5 March in support of Clean-Up Australia Day.
Year 12 Captain Zoe McKenzie said students were excited to be of service in the community and to donate to a local charity doing important work.
The Board Meeting Surf Charity was started in 2005 by a group of surfers looking to help Sunshine Coast kids with disabilities through a variety of surf-related events.
House Captains at Flinders pitched a variety of local and national charities for the eight Houses in the Flinders Secondary School to choose from, with the successful nomination coming from Thiele House.
Zoe said, “The Secondary School decided to support the Board Meeting Surf Charity this year because it is family based and focused on those children and families in the local community who aren't getting the support they need from government funding.
“The Board Meeting is incredibly inclusive and run by a committed team of volunteers who want to see their positive impact spread throughout the community,” she said.
“The programs they run and the opportunities to volunteer are also fun and engaging, which means our work with this charity could inspire our peers and other young people to get involved.”
Last year at Flinders the Senior students and College community raised more than $16,500 for the Pony Tail Project and the Cancer Council, and more than $2,800 for the Beautiful You Program, a Buderim-based charity supporting women through their cancer journey.
Head of Senior School, Mr Gary Davis said all students at Flinders were learning the value and personal reward of contributing to their community.
“We want our Year 12s to graduate with far more than strong academic skills and a friendship and support network for life,” Gary said.
“We also want our students to become informed citizens who have the capability, awareness and willingness to contribute to the wider world and make it a better place,” he said.
“Our students at Flinders have an incredible opportunity to lead and be of service, and it all starts with fundraising and volunteering to help support people in need.”
To donate to The Board Meeting, visit https://www.theboardmeeting.org.au/
