Vinnies Update

On Friday 22 August, our Vinnies group held the annual Winter Sleepout, an event aimed at raising both awareness and funds to support people experiencing homelessness. 

Around 50 students, along with 17 staff, came together to brave the cold night and share in a meaningful experience. The evening kicked off with a warm cup of soup at 7 pm, followed by a beautiful liturgy in the chapel that encouraged everyone to reflect on the purpose of the night. After that, we had plenty of games and activities to keep everyone entertained. Marshmallows and snacks were also provided, making the chilly night that little bit sweeter. Everyone who attended agreed it was a great time, and most of them are looking forward to doing it next year! 

We would like to thank the Nazareth community for supporting our fundraising efforts. So many donations were made over the course of the evening from family members, peers, staff and the broader community. We exceeded our goal, by raising just over $3100.00, which will be donated to homelessness via the SVDP organisation. 

Josh Kosior (Year 10) 

On Friday 22 August, we held the Comfy Clothes Day for the second year running, done by getting everyone to donate $3 to Beyond Blue in exchange for wearing comfy clothing. It was fantastic to see everyone get involved, and we managed to raise just over $2000.00 for mental health – roughly $500 more than last year! 

Thanks to everyone who participated and donated – we greatly appreciate everyone who contributed to a great cause. 

If you ever need any mental assistance, please do not hesitate to speak to a trusted adult, the school counsellors, Beyond Blue, Kids Helpline, Lifeline Australia, or anyone else you trust. Everyone deserves support, so please, reach out if you need help. 

Danny Farr (Year 11) 

On Wednesday 27 August, a team of our Vinnies members took a trip to Our Lady of Sion to participate in the SVDP School Conferencing Event. 

The Vinnies group has participated in this event for the past three years, but this year was the first that we travelled to another school where we got to interact with several other Catholic Secondary Colleges. Our team consisted of Mariam, Josh and me (year 10), Daniel F (Year 11) Annabelle (Year 8), Audrey, Madison and Rochelle B (year 7). Our team created a presentation focusing on our most recent fundraiser- Comfy Clothes day and linked this to the Winter Sleepout.  

Our day consisted of a guest speaker who shared their incredible impact of being involved with Vinnies. We then had an opportunity to connect with students from six other high schools involved in their own St Vincent de Paul conferences through a short icebreaker game followed by some dynamic presentations from each school, showcasing the initiatives they run, the reasons behind them and the amazing impacts that came from it.  

During our morning tea and lunch breaks, we were able to socialise with different students and established better connection with them, creating a real sense of community. Later, we were split into mixed school groups and were challenged to come up with our own initiative, which we then pitched to everyone.  

Overall, the day was an amazing experience and a fantastic opportunity to learn, share ideas, build friendships, and feel part of something bigger. It was both eye opening and inspiring to see the collective impact we can make through Vinnies.  

- Sophie McKinlay (Year 10)-Vinnies President & Mariam Kaginyan (Vice President) 

Ms Lisa Douglass 

& The Vinnies Team