This is an extract from the Peterborough Evening Telegraph (UK) on 8th April 2009, reporting on our fundraising event for Strathewen Primary. We raised approximately £300.

CITY primary school children have been given a heartfelt thank you by residents they have never met on the other side of the world.
Pupils at Nene Valley Primary School in Woodston held an Australia Day to raise money for a school that was destroyed in wild bush fires in the south east of Australia.

Youngsters were sponsored to go to school dressed in the green and gold national colours of Australia, tied corks to their hats and even had a go at playing the didgeridoo, to help pay for new books for Australian youngsters.

Last year, teachers from Glen Iris School in Melbourne visited the Peterborough youngsters to explain what life was like on the other side of the world.

The Glen Iris School has forged close links with the near-by village of Strathewen, and specifically the Primary School there, in recent years.

Lewis Brock, councillor for the Bunjil Ward of Nillumbik Shire Council, which includes Strathewen, paid tribute to the fund-raising efforts of the children.

Stuart - Nene Valley Primary School

Rapid Bay Primary school, SA.(40 students) sent a beautiful book of art, poems, care and concern back in March to Strathewen PS. King Lake. (Their postal address. Would love to know if they received it.)

We also want to have a trading table or another fundraiser for this school soon.

I am the CPS worker (chaplain) at the school.

Deb - Rapid Bay Primary S.A.

Seven Hills North Public School students are making pedlar’s trays to sell at our Easter hat parade in 2009. They are being sold for between $6 and $9 each and all proceeds will go to Strathewen Primary Scool in Victoria.

Graham - Seven Hills North Public School

My small organisation, Australian Friends, supports and educates 100 children in a hostel in India through Australian and British sponsorship. Our hostel girls have read about the fires and I have a number of letters written by the girls to the children affected by the fires expressing sympathy and love. Our Indian girls feel a connection with all Australians.
I have had the letters translated and I did not know to whom to give them to ensure that eventually they will make their way to the schools affected. Are you able to give me any suggestions?

Dianne - Australian Friends

The students, staff and families from St Andrew’s Anglican College on the Sunshine Coast raised over $3000 and sent a truckload of goods to the fire areas.The younger students have made a book of wishes and prayers which we are sending to the Dept of Ed.

We are thinking of you all!!

Sharon - St Andrew’s Anglican College, Peregian Springs, QLD

I am a Library Technician at Good Shepherd Lutheran Primary School in Croydon, Victoria.  My school community is donating NEW books for the three schools and three kinders which have been destroyed.

I am also available if any of the schools need help to organise their library if they don’t have library staff e.g. covering books, cataloguing etc.

Wendy - Good Shepherd Lutheran Primary School

The school captains, along with the student who suggested it,  have made a podcast message of support to those affected.

It can be listened to at
http://www.sussexinle-p.schools.nsw.edu.au/

A fundraiser has also been held.

Neil Bramsen - Sussex Inlet Public School

We collected over three hundred teddy bears.  Each student wrote a message of hope and care on a decorated note attached to each of the teddies.

We also raised $625.00 through our casual dress day.

Gretta Lynch - Grovedale West PS

With only 19 children we created our own Pancake Parlour with up to 7 types of Pancake on our menu, and over 60 visitors, we sold our pancakes for a gold coin donation and raised $286.40 for the bushfire appeal.

David Taylor, Principal, Nungurner PS