Edmund Rice Outreach

Mrs Marya Stewart Director of Christian Service

Edmund Rice Outreach was very capably led this year by Ryan Soares (12.1), Liam Flynn (12.7), William Colreavy (12.3), Daniel Tomasi (12.5) and Thomas Coltrona (12.6). The number of Year 12 students involved was outstanding and they participated with enthusiasm and generosity in the many events held throughout the year.

The Winter Sleepout was the highlight of the year with over 80 students taking part. Activities to raise awareness of homelessness during the evening were organised by the Year 12 leaders and Mr Peter Stewart shared stories of his work with homeless and marginalised people at the Christian Centre for Social Action. Our meal for the evening was the leftover soup and bread served from the Red Cross Soup Patrol van and everyone ’slept‘ on cardboard in the covered area of the Tracey Centre or around the Senior Quad. A total of $2,682 was raised through sponsorship by the students who took part and this was donated to the Christian Centre for Social Action for their work with the homeless.

Edmund Rice Outreach helped to raise awareness during Lent with Project Compassion activities. On Shrove Tuesday members sold pancakes before school and in Holy Week they took part in a 12 hour Fast for Faith. Both these activities raised funds for Project Compassion. This year, donations from all students at the College for Project Compassion amounted to $7,144.

Red Cross Soup Patrol continues to give many students the opportunity to serve marginalised people on the streets of Perth and Fremantle. Most weeks during the school terms, a team of one staff member and four students travel in the Red Cross soup van to various places in the city where people wait for an evening meal. It is always an eye-opening and rewarding experience.

Helping to promote and coordinate activities for Unfair Day and the Fun Run, which are the major fundraising events for the projects we support in India, was also a part of the commitment of Edmund Rice Outreach members this year. The total amount raised for India was $27,920. Year 10 Edmund Rice Outreach leaders coordinated an appeal for food and toiletry items for the The Shopfront in Maylands, after Br Peter Negus came to talk to the group about the work that is done for marginalised people in the area.

Sid Sharma (’11) and Jack Dewsbury (’11) also spoke to the group about the work of The Oaktree Foundation and the Live Below the Line campaign with a view to students being involved next year. Volunteering for community activities, such as Anzac Day Parade, the City to Surf and street appeals was also taken on by members of Edmund Rice Outreach.

The St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal, which was conducted over one week in Term 4, collected an amazing number of 47 Christmas hampers loaded with food items for needy people. Edmund Rice Outreach members, who happened to be in school for Peer Ministry training, helped to collect baskets from the classes. An emergency appeal for victims of Cyclone Haiyan in the Philippines raised over $1,400 and Year 10 members helped to count and bag the money raised.

Due to the involvement and commitment of so many senior students in Edmund Rice Outreach we hope to organise a Middle School group to coordinate activities for younger students next year.

Mrs Marya Stewart Director of Christian Service