NUDGEE College students have rallied to support a small Fijian village devastated by flash flooding in April.
Semo village, home village of Merewai Gordon – mother of Nudgee students Joseph and Connor Gordon – was one of the hardest hit in the floods with only the church and two houses remaining intact.
The other 56 houses in the village were significantly damaged, leaving them uninhabitable and with most of the possessions of the residents washed away.
The college’s director of Justice and Peace Mark Ellison said college parents and staff decided to hold a special college-wide appeal to help Merewai’s village and, after Joseph and Connor described the Semo devastation, donations came thick and fast.
Mr Ellison said each student was asked to help the people of Semo by donating items which were in greatest need such as manchester, shoes, school bags and bedding.
Marketing manager Tanya King said support from the Nudgee College community, particularly members of the junior school was “fantastic”.
She said two companies also made significant contributions with the father of a Year 8 boy arranging to have packing boxes and tape donated for items to be packed for shipment.
Ms King said the father of a Year 5 student would fill the remaining space in the shipping container with pipes to help restore village water services.