Last weekend, students and staff from Clarendon participated in a working bee at Cave Hill Creek, a school camp located in Raglan, an one hour drive from the Sturt Street campus. Many of our students are familiar with Cave Hill Creek, as it hosts our school camps annually. The Chandler family, with four children currently attending Clarendon and one who has graduated, has a deep connection to both the school and the community. In February, when bushfires swept through the area, they were fortunate to have their house spared, though much of the campgrounds and surrounding forest was destroyed.
Most of the students who participated are boarders, with some joining from the day school. Transported by a Clarendon bus, they arrived at Cave Hill Creek last Sunday to help with cleanup, fencing, re-establishing walking tracks, mulching and tree planting.
“The students enjoyed the opportunity to step out of the boarding houses, and for many of our rural students, it was a chance to engage in hands-on work and help out. We even had one of our international students participate, experiencing the beauty of the Victorian countryside,” said Head of Boys Boarding, Michael Searl.
“I loved the atmosphere – having people around us that supported their school mates and the community. Everyone just helped any way they could,” said Charles Chandler (Year 12). “It was fun being out there soaking in the beautiful surrounds. Despite the cold, everyone was comfortable and had a great time!”
Ange Chandler expressed her gratitude, saying, ” The students were a huge help cleaning up fire damage, spreading mulch, planting trees and clearing tracks. We are so grateful to Ballarat Clarendon College for their support.”
“Contributing to the wider community cultivates unity, strengthens bonds and brings about positive change. The Chandler family’s longstanding relationship with our school made it a natural choice to support them after the devastation of the bushfires,” remarked Michael.
Through their collective efforts, students were able to learn the spirit of community and had fun.
