IT started off as an idea Ignatius Park teacher Jacky Armstrong had to get the students involved in a project that would assist drought affected graziers of the North West and ended up ten weeks later with two trailer loads - $6000 worth - of hay being transported to Hughenden and Richmond last weekend.
MS Armstrong volunteered to coordinate the effort and all Ignatius Park students were challenged to donate to buy the hay. Using Facebook and newsletters, students and their families were invited to “buy a bale” at $35/bale.
Some did a lot more than buy a bale such as student Mitchell Zohn, son of a butcher, who bought an incredible none bales. To make it more interesting every bale bought by a student had to be matched by that student’s home teacher.
After realising the success of the campaign, Ms Armstrong contacted Dave Coleman of Coleman Stockfeed, Charters Towers to find out how the school might get the hay delivered.
Dave volunteered to cart the hay free of charge. He told the North Queensland Register that Coleman’s Stockfeed was only too willing to assist graziers in the grip of this shocking drought.
“When Jacky Armstrong rang me I didn’t hesitate to offer to transport the hay to what have been very loyal clients of Coleman Stockfeed over many years,” Dave said.
There are reports that other Townsville schools are now conducting fund-raising activities to assist those farmers and graziers suffering as a result of the drought. The Mayor of the Richmond Shire organised the distribution of the hay in that shire and said it was a wonderful act the students have done.
“That school does not have borders so very few, if any, have much connection with the outback and that makes it an even greater act. That these young men would go to so much trouble for people they have never met, is remarkable and on behalf of all the graziers I offer our thanks,” Mayor Wharton said.
