Responding to the world

In psychiatrist Victor Frankl’s words, “Between the stimulus and response, there is a space. And in that space lies our freedom...In our response lies our growth.” Read below how our students have responded with bravery and compassion to events around the globe.

The history between Tonga and MLC is long and rich, spanning over 120 years. Queen Salote herself laid the foundation stone for our new Junior School in 1953. The current Queen of Tonga attended MLC and was dux of her class. In 2017, we celebrated twenty years of cultural exchanges between groups of MLC and QSC students. At the start of this year, however, Queen Salote College faced overwhelming damage from the volcano and tsunami that hit the island back in February. In response, the MLC community held an Appeal for Queen Salote College and our staff, Old Collegians and students gave generously. We were able to raise $7,400 to assist them in their recovery. The funds raised have been used to replace damaged computers and photocopiers, library books and windows and plumbing damage throughout the school.

MLC’s Senior Student Leaders initiated a whole-school fundraiser for the town of Lismore in NSW, one of the communities that were devastated by the unprecedented floods which ravaged parts of NSW and Queensland earlier this year. A school-wide event, held one lunchtime, saw close to 250 students and staff participate in teams of spin cyclers on the NLC Terrace, or walking and running laps around the Sports Oval, raising $6,585. Following discussions with Lismore City Council, our students decided to donate the funds to the Lismore Girl Guides and the Lismore Toy Library.

The Ukraine Community School supports many people who have fled the war and recently arrived in Melbourne on humanitarian visas. When MLC heard of UCS, we were eager to help them continue their important work. Each year, students are invited to donate their pre-loved notebook computers to charity so, with the support of the Centre for Computing and Communications, we were able to donate 72 laptops for the new arrivals. These laptops will help them access educational resources, learn English as a second language, and stay connected with their family and friends, some of whom remain in the Ukraine. Furthermore, our Junior School students donated boxes of books and activities for younger children.

Ashley Ward (Year 12) and Clare Beaton-Wells (Year 12), organisers of the 2022 Lismore Flood Appeal

MLC students donated 72 laptops and a number of books and activities to the Ukraine Community School.

The Lismore Flood Appeal successfully raised $6,585 for flood affected families in Northern NSW.