Invictus Games

Goodwill Hampers

In October 2018 a team of Shepparton HS VCAL students delivered goodwill hampers to each of the eighty Australian Invictus Team athletes.

This week we were notified by the Department of Education and Training that our students were awarded the 2018 VCAL Student Achievement Award – Senior Team Achievement. Congratulations to these students for your great efforts.

Liaqat Ahmadi

Taylah Cavanagh

Loughlin Long

Stephen Mark

Joshua Ringrose

Brandon Stoll

VCAL Invictus Games - The Project

For their integrated Personal Development Skills and Work Related Skills project, Liaqat, Taylah, Loughlin, Stephen, Josh and Brandon decided to create eighty welcome hampers for the Australian Invictus Games athletes. The hampers would contain goods all donated from Shepparton businesses, helping to promote the town.

The team worked tirelessly throughout the year on their complex project. They contacted Shepparton businesses to source items for the hampers, and received generous donations of food products, reading material and souvenirs. The students communicated with the Invictus Games Organising Committee and gained the support of Wing Commander David Worrall, the Australian team manager.

The students were keen to travel to Sydney in October so they could deliver the hampers in person, but there were a few hiccups along the way, particularly with getting departmental approval for an interstate excursion at relatively short notice. It was a big boost when the students were successful in their application to Fairley’s IGA supermarket for a $1000 Community Grant to help with travel and accommodation costs. Similarly, they were excited when a local transport company Fords Coach Travel donated the use of a minibus and trailer.

As well as promoting the project via social media, the students contacted media outlets such as Shepparton News and Sydney WIN TV. Nine News was also on site the day the team delivered the hampers, and covered the story.

As noted by Wing Commander David Worrall, the effect on the Australian Team in receiving such a gift from Shepparton High School was most significant, some being quite overwhelmed by the students’ dedication and thoughtfulness. I assure you, all of the hamper contents were gratefully received and enjoyed.

At the conclusion of their project, the students organised a ‘thank you’ event at the school. They invited all their sponsors and one of the Invictus Games athletes, Stephen Hayes travelled from Swan Hill. Stephen attended and thanked everyone on behalf of the Australian team and presented the school, with Sergeant Carter, a Defence Force teddy bear that was used to promote the games.

This award is selected from more than 2500 State and Non-Government schools in recognition of excellence in their studies. I’m so pleased and proud of the students efforts, and it’s great to see them formerly recognised by the educational leaders as the best team project in the State for 2018. This is huge award that the students have earned and I’m certain they will remember this for the rest of their lives.

Finally, the project would not have been possible with the generous support from all of the businesses that we approached and we really appreciated the support for “The Invictus Games Project”

Thank you again to:

SPCA Coca Cola Amatil

Fords Coach Travel

Fairley’s IGA

Visy Packaging

Bauer Media Group

Lovells Newsagency

SPC Factory Sales

Greater Shepparton City Council

Campbell’s Soups

Danny Lythgo

VCAL Co-ordinator