L-R: CHAC 2021 college captains Matthew Stoward, Sam Clark, Juliet Munro and Penelope Spears
The outgoing student leaders at Cannon Hill Anglican College are leaving a charitable legacy for the school’s future leaders.
As their parting gift, the year 12 students and college captains Penelope Spears, Juliet Munro, Sam Clark and Matthew Stoward chose The Lady Musgrave Trust as a major recipient for their annual donations.
In choosing the Trust, they were inspired to help women experiencing domestic and family violence, the leading cause of homelessness for women in Australia.
In particular, the school and the associated community were impacted by the death of Hannah Clarke and her children, when they were killed by Hannah’s estranged husband in 2020.
“I have a close friend who knew Hannah, and her mum taught her children at the school, so she was deeply impacted when it happened, and I know she felt quite powerless in that situation,” Juliet Munro said.
“So that’s what I was thinking when I suggested we help a charity that addresses domestic and family violence.”
Funds were raised from a major whole-of-school fundraising event – Denim Day – where students were invited to wear denim and contribute a $5 donation to do so. It was a part of the school’s fundraising event, called the Awesome Month of August.
The Student Council said almost all of the school’s close to 1200 students participated, raising a sizable sum for the school to donate to charities of their choosing.
When asked what they hoped the funds would contribute to, the students said that education was on the top of their list, as well as support services and information about domestic and family violence for women.
The Lady Musgrave Trust recently announced a project with Small Steps 4 Hannah, a foundation set up by Hannah Clarke’s parents and friends to halt domestic and family violence and take the steps required to do it.
In particular, Small Steps 4 Hannah is helping The Lady Musgrave Trust create a digital resource for women in crisis, with a particular focus on assisting women experiencing domestic and family violence. Find out more here.
The Lady Musgrave Trust is Queensland’s oldest charity and a champion for homeless women. The Trust receives no ongoing funding from government, and relies on charitable donations. You can help support The Lady Musgrave Trust by making a donation.