If you can make a difference, you should.
St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School students fully embrace opportunities to share the Christian message by setting an example through the spirit of love, compassion, hope and charity; demonstrating their faith by service to those members of the wider community who need assistance. A recent student-led initiative – the Ponytail Project - truly brought these values into focus.
The Ponytail Project was launched last year in response to the news that a member of the school parent community had been diagnosed with breast cancer. The St Margaret’s girls rallied around to support a fundraising drive by students, who had elected to cut off their ponytails to make wigs for chemotherapy patients.
So successful was the Ponytail Project in its inaugural year, that it was adopted as an annual fundraising and hair-raising event. The project gathered extraordinary momentum in its second year, with 36 girls donating their beautiful, healthy locks to Variety's Wigs for Kids Program and the community got behind them to raise almost $32,000.
Sadly, this year, there were too many reasons to support the initiative and one in particular was very close to home – the passing of a beloved staff member and past student Amanda Minotti in May from cancer. The funds raised from this year’s event was split between the Queensland Cancer Council and the Minotti family trust, which is assisting Ms Minotti’s young family.
St Margaret’s Principal Ros Curtis said she was very proud the students had enthusiastically continued such a meaningful initiative.
“In a society sadly so focused on appearance, the girls have been completely focused on helping others. They realise it’s a small thing, really, to lose these substantial lengths of hair, when it can make such a big difference to someone else facing a huge life challenge,” Ms Curtis said.
Lauren Butler (Year 11) from Blackall said she committed to the cause because it was something small she could give children who can lose their self-esteem along with their hair when undergoing chemotherapy.
“It's an easy way our school can contribute something to them to help make them feel better throughout their day. It really took nothing to give something so special,” she said.
Boarding Captain Monique Mallyer (Year 12) from Leichhardt agreed.
"If I can give someone a little happiness by giving them hair for a wig, then I'm happy to do it and help make someone feel a little better about themselves when they need it most."
Ms Curtis said the school has always tried to instil in its students that if they can make a difference, they should.
“We are very proud that they have taken part in such a wonderful act of generosity, and I know they will continue to seek ways to help others,” she said.