Ut Prosim

The spirit of Ut Prosim has never shone brighter at Wenona than in 2022, as we wound back up after the COVID hiatus, and reintroduced our regular calendar of social justice activities, either in their usual format or as close to it as possible.

With the pandemic and climate change escalating the global hunger emergency, it was the 40 Hr Famine that captured our attention in August. Organised as a competition between Houses, Wenona donations skyrocketed over the course of several weeks, putting us in second place in the country, with a tally of more than $25,800 raised. “This is such an important cause, and the Wenona students’ contribution is nothing short of inspiring,” says 2022-23 Service Learning Prefect Valentina Holland (Year 11). “Almost all our teams met their $1,000 goal, which will go a long way in helping World Vision and its work. I believe service is particularly important for students in independent schools. Otherwise, it would be easy for us to exist in a sort of bubble.” Lucy Mathewson in Year 7 gave up eating for 40 hours and raised one of the highest totals. “My two friends Tilly and Belle came over for the weekend so that we could motivate each other. It wasn’t hard. I am lucky enough to have access to all the food I need, so it was a small thing to give it up for 40 hours to support all the people in the world who do not have enough,” she says. Other students encouraged friends and family to sponsor them to walk 40 kilometres, give up the activities they enjoy for 40 hours or perform 40 acts of kindness. “The Wenona community is extremely generous. We have participated in the 40-Hour Famine since 2013 and raised tens of thousands of dollars each time. There is enormous enthusiasm for charitable giving at the School,” says Ms Seale.

The homelessness crisis crept deeper into the north shore during 2022, and our efforts for the Amnesty Sleepout for Homelessness in October were a chance to raise funds and awareness. The donations went to Taldumande Youth Services, which provides shelter for tens of homeless young people every night in St Leonards, around the corner from the School. The students camped in the Big Gym using sleeping bags (forgoing sleeping mats), shared a meal and listened to a speaker from Taldumnande Youth Services explain the scope of the problem and how to help.

The list of other charities and causes that garnered the students’ support throughout the year is almost too long to detail. They shone a light on positive mental health with RUOK Day, wore denim for genetic diseases on Jeans for Genes Day, sparred in sumo suits to raise money for the Armenian Children’s Fund, prepared meals for the homeless with Our Big Kitchen, played their instruments to inspire people in aged care homes and schools for children with disabilities, wore pink for breast cancer research and joined their families for the Mother’s Day Classic (winning the prize for the largest number of participants for the third year in a row). In June, the staff held their own charity event, the Push-up Challenge, performing 3,139 push-ups over a week for the Push for Better Foundation and its efforts to support people with poor mental health.

During the September holidays Years 9 and 10 service learning tours set off for the outback, pouring cement, clearing sheds and building nurseries to support Indigenous people and their communities (see page 16). As is traditional, our 2022 efforts concluded with the Red Stocking Appeal which brings Christmas joy to children and families in need. Each House collected food and groceries for a different organisation, from the Artarmon Family Centre to Mary’s House Women’s Refuge, filling green and red bags to the brim.

External recognition for Wenona’s efforts came in August, when the School was nominated for the NSW Young Volunteer of the Year Award.

Thank you Ms Seale

Wenona’s inaugural Director of Community and Service Learning Ms Kate Seale, is synonymous with giving at Wenona. She began at the School back in 1986 and after a short break, took on the service role in 2013, overseeing House activities and building up a framework for social justice that harnessed the enthusiasm of both Wenona’s Houses and clubs. A strategic thinker, she linked each activity to the students’ interests and over time, drove a philosophy that saw service become increasingly student-led. It was also during Ms Seale’s time that overseas learning trips expanded, including memorable journeys to Cambodia and Vietnam to build houses for the victims of agent orange. A relationship with the Sydney Children’s Hospital was another highlightthe students helped fundraise at its gala events, resulting in a significant uptick in donations for this very worthy cause.

Ms Seale says she is as grateful to the Wenona community as it is to her. “When they get enthusiastic about something, the Wenona community goes absolutely wild,” she says. Ms Seale retired at the end of 2022 to spend more time with her husband.