SETON College, Mt Gravatt East, has turned its attention and fundraising experience to the plight of 120 children in a remote orphanage in East Timor.
Following on from its successful efforts at the annual MS bikeathon, the college community raised $2000 in an amazing effort for the Santo Domingos Savio orphanage, located in mountainous Veniale in Baucau district.
The orphanage, run by Portuguese, Italian and Timorese Salesian Sisters, houses 120 girls between the ages of six and 17 years and relies solely on donations of generous overseas benefactors.
Cake stalls, hot chocolate on cold days and strawberry kebabs were just a few of the fundraising initiatives embarked upon by enthusiastic students to raise the money.
Australian Army and Australian Federal Police chaplain Gary Stone, who regularly visits East Timor, was alerted to the difficult conditions in the orphanage by East Timor-based Australian Federal Police officer Morag McGowan.
Deacon Stone was invited to Seton College and delivered an inspirational talk, accompanied by stark photographs, that brought home to students just how much extra young Australians had every day and how little the people of East Timor had to survive on.
His first-hand knowledge of the poorest country in the world, right on Australia’s doorstep, was an eye opener for staff and students.
He told them fierce resistance fighting took place in the area during the war of independence and many of the orphaned children endured great trauma and suffering.
He said the orphanage received no regular donations and one of the big problems in East Timor was the spiralling cost of rice and other foods and fuel.
Seton College students and staff were proud to send practical help to their sisters in East Timor, living out the school motto “Sursum Corda: Lift up Your Hearts”, by lifting the spirits of the disadvantaged children and easing some of the hardship they endured.
