Cobram Anglican Grammar School

COBRAM ANGLICAN GRAMMAR SCHOOL

LACHLAN’S GREAT BIG HEART

Cobram Anglican Grammar School student Lachlan Ross knows firsthand how hard it can be spending Christmas confined to a hospital bed.

Finding himself in hospital at the end of 2020, the experience influenced Lachie to run a fundraiser to purchase toys for hospitalised children and show his appreciation to the hospital.

Lachie has faced his fair share of health challenges and spent a lot of time in the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne. Despite this, the 17-year-old VCE student just wants to help others as much as he can.

Last year Lachie set out on a mission to hold a fundraiser to help two organisations that he cares about greatly - HeartKids Victoria and ANZ Fontan Registry.

A heart teen himself, last year Lachie organised a toy drive in association with the Katamatite Lions Club, to collect new toys for HeartKids to provide the children and their families impacted by coronary heart disease (CHD) with something wonderful for Christmas. Lachie also organised a gold-coin, casual clothes day at Cobram AGS, raising more than $1000 for the cause.

Due to the 2020 COVID restrictions, Lachie and his family have only recently been able to present the success of their Christmas toy drive and his school fundraising efforts to staff from The Fontan Registry and his Clinical Care Team at The Royal Children’s Hospital.

His magnificent display of citizenship has continued in 2021, with Lachie increasing his commitment to raise money for toys for Melbourne’s Royal Children’s Hospital.

Despite suffering a recent stroke while working on his family’s dairy farm, Lachie plans to again gift new toys to the children spending Christmas at the Royal Children’s Hospital.

As part of his goal to raise funds and gather toys for the Royal Children’s Hospital, Lachie approached his school to ask for their support.

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3 “I knew if I reached out to the school they would help me and it’s sort of that school where you know if your heart is in the right spot they will help,” Lachie said.

“I reached out to the principal Keith Willett and he and the school embraced the idea with open arms.”

Principal Keith Willett said the school became involved to raise money, but to also raise awareness for the hospital.

“Lachlan is a very genuine, compassionate and insightful young man,” Mr Willet said.

“He approached me about creating an opportunity to raise funds for the hospital and we identified our last day of school as a casual clothes day.

“We’ve had fantastic contributions, for example, one of our Year 7 classes, instead of having their own Kris Kringle where they give gifts to each other, they actually raised $150 for Lachlan and his cause.

“It’s just great seeing young people being prepared to forego something for themselves and donate to a good cause.

“The fact that we raised that amount of money in a difficult year is a real credit to Lachlan but also demonstrates the awareness of our school community around being generous and supportive of others less fortunate than themselves.”

Lachie and his mum Simone Ross plan to purchase more toys including board games and cards from local stores in Cobram and will once again deliver them to the Royal Children’s Hospital in time for Christmas this year.

Mrs Ross said it was their turn to give back to the people at the hospital who had helped them.

“You know they are bored and there’s nothing to do, but leaving your child in ICU is really horrible because you don’t know what’s going to happen,” she said.

The Ross family are planning to run their fundraiser as an annual event, with Lachie the main driving force.

Mr Willet said so many people in the region were in awe of Lachie’s drive, commitment and compassion for others.

Images 1. Lachie on the family dairy farm with CAGS Principal, Mr Keith Willett. 2. Lachie with the toys collected for HeartKids . 3. Undergoing treatment at the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne. 4. Lachie at the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne.