During terms 3 and 4 of 2009, students at Parade College, Bundoora embarked on a project to make up special shoe boxes with gifts and surprises for orphans in East Timor.

This project is ongoing.

Student Raymond Pastoors and Teacher Anne-Marie Morella

Student Raymond Pastoors, Teacher Anne-Marie Morella and President Alex Shaw at Bundoora

Click here for Shoe Box concept

The school's Community Action Program set out to find ways of assisting those in need of a lift at Christmas time and decided on the project and, with help from Coles supermarkets, University Hill and Officeworks Bundoora, they were able to obtain sufficient materials, goods and surprises to fill 50 boxes. Each box has a value of approximately $50 and all were handed over to the Rotary Club of Bundoora and subsequently shipped to East Timor in time for Christmas giving.

The project was conceived when Rotarian Kevin Fernandes (R.C. Pascoe Vale) heard a presentation on projects about Donations in Kind at his Club. At a family gathering over the dinner table, they decided to get involved with their contacts at Parade College, Bundoora. Teacher Anne-Marie Morello was enthusiastic. The boys involved became enthusiastic and the project became a reality.

There was an official handing over of the boxes on Wednesday 2nd December at the Rotary Club of Bundoora. President Alex Shaw received the boxes from student representative, Raymond Pastoors. The boxes were passed on to Peter King (R.C. Riddells Creek) who organised air freighting them to Dili, East Timor in time for Christmas giving.

Rotary can make a difference!