Service

Upcoming Event (tomorrow!): Indigenous Literacy Foundation: The Great Book Swap 

The Great Book Swap and Bake Sale to support the Indigenous Literacy Foundation is happening this Friday 1 November at lunchtime. It is a student-led initiative that will contribute to the Community-led, meaningful programs that the Indigenous Literacy Foundation runs.  

Donate to our Redlands Great Book Swap

On Tuesday, during our Secondary School Assembly, we heard from two of the Year 12 students running the event. This is what they had to say about why they want to support the Indigenous Literacy Foundation: 

Kosta:

“After visiting Arnhem Land in Year 9, I gained a newfound interest and appreciation for Indigenous culture. It was personally one of the best camp experiences I’ve ever had, and upon returning home I found myself researching about the lives of Indigenous people and discovered that only 40-65% of Indigenous Adults are literate, which is insane in the 21st century in a country like Australia. As I was researching, I also came across the Indigenous Literacy Foundation and was impressed by their programs where they are partnering with Communities to meet literacy needs. I also really like that they are providing the resources for Community members who want to publish their stories in their languages. For example, at least one of their books has been written by the Yolgnu People whose stories I found incredible to listen to and I think it’s wonderful that people across Australia can now read them.” 

Lauren:

“Our partnership with the Indigenous Literacy Foundation is a step forward into a more inclusive and connected Australia. I believe that we are helping to build a bridge to provide more space for indigenous voices to be heard in their own language and to support an organisation that is importantly and powerfully Community-led. It’s important that it’s Community-led because Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should never be told what they need. They should be able to shape their own present and future. We are just lucky to contribute to this.  

So, Secondary School students, please come with cash and/or a physical debit/credit card tomorrow (no phones). It will be great to see long lines for the Bake Sale and if you’ve forgotten to bring in a book for the swap, it’s okay, you can still purchase a book from the stand! 

If you would like to donate to our Redlands Great Book Swap to raise money for Indigenous Literacy Foundation, please go to this link.

Mary’s House Walk: Reflection from the Service Captains Lachlan Green and Charlotte Humphreys

This past Sunday, approximately 40 Redlands students, staff, and parents came together to form our inaugural Redlands team for the Mary’s House Walk. We walked 8.8 kilometres through North Sydney and the surrounding Lower North Shore, aiming to raise awareness, show our support and fundraise for the impactful work of Mary’s House. The walk started with a speech from the CEO Yvette Vigando, and was officially opened by the Governor of NSW Margaret Beasly. The walk was a great success with over 800 people getting involved and raising over a total of $140,000 through various fundraising teams and sponsors.

Mary’s House Services is a community-founded refuge dedicated to supporting women and children affected by domestic and family violence. Established in 2015-2016 by residents of Sydney’s northern suburbs, the organisation addresses gaps in government-funded services by offering safe, secure accommodation and personalised case management. Beyond its shelter, Mary’s House also provides therapeutic and wellbeing programs through the Daisy Centre, promoting empowerment, emotional and physical safety, and social support for women seeking to rebuild their lives. Mary’s House is dedicated to creating a safer, more hopeful future for women and children in need.

In the final week of last term, we (Charlotte and Lachlan) had the privilege of interviewing CEO Yvette Vignando and meeting with Philanthropy Director Janine Wood. A powerful point that stood out was their emphasis on the insidious inclusivity of domestic abuse. Yvette highlighted that domestic abuse doesn’t discriminate and can impact anyone, including “put together business owners” and people with “the nice front doors.” She also shared a startling statistic: while 9 out of 10 Australians believe domestic violence is a serious issue, only 3 out of 10 think it’s a problem in their own local area. This socio-economically relevant discrepancy highlights a critical gap in awareness and recognition, underscoring the need for broader education and localised support to break down stigma and encourage community accountability.

Ultimately, we are incredibly proud of Redlands participation and engagement with this event. As a team, we raised just over $300. More broadly, we are proud that our School cares about the cause. As we confront the devastating reality of high domestic abuse numbers, our community’s unwavering dedication to raising awareness and supporting initiatives like Mary’s House serves as both a powerful statement and a vital step toward change.

We would like to thank and acknowledge students and staff who walked with us: Eloise Allen, Katherine Arena, Eleanor Blankenstein, Clara Blackstock, Imogen Burns, Eliza Draper, Aibe Elsworth, Jesse Forest, Remie Gibbs, Lachlan Green, Krishna Gupta, Sara Hamori, Charlotte Humphreys, Chiara Kallianiotis, Megan Kirkpatrick, Remy Morris, Liam Petersen, Mia Phipps, Chloe Phipps, Aashray So, Abbie Sewell, Sela Tea, Juliet Treloar, Daisy Williams, Georgina Williams, Millie Winton and Mr Callaghan, Ms Kang, Ms Peterson, Ms Philips, Ms Renard, Ms Zaferis

And a final thank you to all the parents and friends of Redlands who came with us on the walk as well as those who donated to Mary’s House or sponsored their child, thank you.

Charlotte & Lachlan
Service Captains

Ms Rosanna Peterson
HSIE Teacher
rpeterson@redlands.nsw.edu.au