Fundraising initiative leads to new bus for primary school

  • 2013-12-28
Fundraising efforts at the St Benedict’s Catholic Primary School near North Lakes have turned a dream into reality.

Recently, Principal Mark Creevy took delivery of a new 34-seater school bus, purchased with $80,000 which had been raised by a small team of dedicated volunteers during a three-year campaign.

The bus will be used to transport students, of which there are 570, to school-related events such as sporting fixtures, swimming and excursions.

It is also expected to be used for community outreach projects.

Mr Creevy said the school community, led by the Parents and Friends Association (P&F), had raised the funds in several ways, including the establishment of annual dinners and a community market. He added it was a long term goal set several years ago and no one expected to reach it so quickly.

Regular flyer printing is one of the popular means of advertising fundraising events in the local area and the school also benefitted from word-of-mouth and networking gatherings.

The dedication of parents and supporters paid off in a big way for the future of the students and teachers. It was also a great example of what commitment and sheer determination can achieve, Mr Creevy said.

He explained that the new bus will take a huge burden off the school, which was established in 2008, by putting a reliable vehicle on site for use whenever required.

The vehicle, which will service students from prep to Year 7, is scheduled to hit the road officially for the first time in term one of 2014.