Community stories: 30 September 2024
Thallon State School P&C is dedicated to supporting the local school, and in turn the vibrancy and sustainability of their small town.
After severe drought, a mouse plague and then COVID, student numbers were dwindling, so the P&C decided to upgrade the school playground, hoping to encourage new families to join. But first they needed to raise some funds. This led to the annual Thallon Team Truck Pull event. In its first year alone, the event drew 300+ attendees and raised more than $17,000 for the school playground project.
To make the event even more comfortable for those attending the Truck Pull – and to provide vital sun protection to students – the Thallon State School P&C Association received an $8,577 Small & Vital Strengthening Rural Communities grant, funded by Hand Heart Pocket – The Charity of Freemasons Queensland, to buy new shade structures. They are designed to be set-up with ease (just 60 seconds) and are 100% waterproof and UV protected, ensuring the safety and comfort of students and the wider community. The covers are also branded, showcasing the Thallon State School logo, which creates a sense of identity, wellbeing and place for its users.
The structures are also now available to the whole community for a variety of purposes, including swimming days, athletic carnivals and community events such as ANZAC day and Christmas in the Park. To the Thallon community’s delight, the structures arrived before ANZAC Day, ensuring that they could be used for both the in-school and community service.
P&C representative Janna Spierenburg said, “This is one way that the school can offer support back to the community, as a thank you for their continued support.”
