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Kalgoorlie School of the Air P&C hosting bush fundraiser tomorrow

Kelsey ReidKalgoorlie Miner
Kat James, Brigid Wood, 4, Tallaya Wood, Tanner Prosser, 6, Shannon Prosser, and Maity Prosser, 4, are in Kalgoorlie-Boulder this week for the annual school camp and Friends of the Bush fundraiser.
Camera IconKat James, Brigid Wood, 4, Tallaya Wood, Tanner Prosser, 6, Shannon Prosser, and Maity Prosser, 4, are in Kalgoorlie-Boulder this week for the annual school camp and Friends of the Bush fundraiser. Credit: Kelsey Reid/Kalgoorlie Miner, Kelsey Reid

If you’re looking for a fun way to start the long weekend the Kalgoorlie School of the Air P&C are hosting their third annual Friends of the Bush fundraiser tomorrow.

The annual get-together of pastoralists and parents in the greater Goldfields region raises funds for the region’s isolated students.

Set to be a ripper night with drinks, music, food and fun the event raises money for annual camps to give remote students a chance to socialise with their peers and experience life outside a station.

SOTA P&C president Kat James said about 50 students, parents and teachers had spent the last week in Kalgoorlie-Boulder at the Goldfields Camp School, one of three school camps held each year.

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The Friends of the Bush was their opportunity to catch up with everyone after the week in town, and raise money for a good cause.

“It started three years ago on the back of reversing the school closure,” she said. “We’ve got some amazing sponsors coming on board and it’s gaining a bit of momentum, so for us that’s great, it’s a way to let our hair down after a week of camp.”

Money raised through ticket sales and raffles on the night helps fund educational resources.

“We mainly raise funds for our school camps. Because the kids are isolated it’s a really important part of our schooling that they get to hang out with other kids,” Mrs James said.

“They get to see their teachers and people in person, it’s something that normal schools have every day — so one of the main things is we get to financially support the school and the parents, enabling everyone to come to the camps and have that quality time.”

After a tough few years of drought for farmers and pastoralists in the district the money raised at last year’s fundraiser went a long way to helping some afford the camps.

“Last year we had our Canberra camp for Year 4-6s that we do every three years,” Mrs James said. “That’s our thing that we always build up to. In 2019 we were able to pay for that for the parents in full.”

With families travelling up to 1000km for the event, the fundraiser will host people from places such as as Warakurna, Eucla and Esperance. Tickets are $65 and include food and a drink.

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