MEDIA RELEASE

OCTOBER 2022

Gisborne students pitch in to help the Pat Cronin Foundation end the Coward Punch

Year 12 students at Gisborne Secondary College are “paying it forward” by raising more than $700 to assist Melbourne-based Pat Cronin Foundation as it rolls out a powerful anti-violence program to hundreds of schools.

Inspired by one of the charity’s educational presentations, a group of around 35 VCAL students devised a series of fundraising ventures throughout Term 3 as part of a special project to help ensure other students in Victoria get to share the experience.

The Foundation was established following the death of 19-year-old Pat Cronin from a Coward Punch attack while on a night out in 2016 and aims to help young people avoid violence by making wise decisions. This year alone it hopes to reach about 60,000 young people in schools and sports clubs.

After months of school barbecues, a competition to guess the number of lollies in a jar, and even securing and raffling a signed Carlton football guernsey, the Gisborne students this week (Thursday, 13 October) finally presented a cheque to the organisation.

“The Foundation’s educational presentation to the College earlier this year was extremely moving and really struck a chord with the students,” said VCAL (Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning) teacher Nathan Mills, who guided them in the fundraising, along with fellow teacher David Butler and support staffers Anne-Maree Coundon and Kate Austin.

“Seeing the value in the presentation, the students wanted to help and took it on as a project within their curriculum. It has been a lot of hard work and I think they can be very proud of themselves,” he said.

“As Year 12s, they’re reaching an age where they’ll be going out and finding themselves in a variety of different social situations, so the messages from the Foundation were very relevant.”

Pat Cronin Foundation Education Development Manager Nadine Curphey, on hand to receive the donation, said she was “absolutely delighted” with the result and thanked the students for all their efforts.

“We’re passionate about giving young people everywhere an understanding of Pat’s story, raising awareness of the impacts of violence and offering practical tips and strategies to avoid violence and aggression,” she said.

“The students at Gisborne have really embraced that and this highlights why our work is so important and rewarding.

“Their donation is a wonderful example of paying it forward and will certainly help us as we continue to bring the program to schools right throughout Victoria and interstate.”

Schools and sports clubs are still able to secure bookings for the presentation this year through the Foundation website, which also includes online resources for teachers and parents.

In addition to Victorian Government funding for the second year in a row, the Foundation is sponsored by the Barry Plant Real Estate Group and Le Pine Funerals.

For more information, visit https://patcroninfoundation.org.au. You can also follow the Foundation on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/patcroninfoundation/

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About the Pat Cronin Foundation

The Pat Cronin Foundation is dedicated to ending the Coward Punch. Through awareness, education, research and tools, it works with schools, clubs and community groups to empower young people to never to use violence, to be wise, think carefully and act kindly.

For more information, please contact:

Darren Grant Matt Cronin

Smart Arty Content Pat Cronin Foundation

M: 0400 065 068 M: 0419 508 858

E: darren@smartartycontent.com.au E: mcronin@patcroninfoundation.org.au

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