Walkathon Update

The Marist College Ashgrove Walkathon is the largest whole school fundraiser on the College calendar.

On Sunday 6 June all students from Years 5 to 12 will come together with the College community to complete a 10-kilometre walk through the range of the Enoggera Hill located within the Enoggera Barracks.

In keeping with the College tradition, the Walkathon is set to raise money for the Marist College Ashgrove Parents and Friends Association who will use the funds raised this year to support the College to enhance the Champagnat Centre facilities.

This year is a very special day of celebration as the walkathon falls on the Feast Day of Blessed Marcellin Champagnat. I encourage all families to come and join us on this special Marist community day.

There are great prizes to be won for students who raise a significant amount of funds so please donate generously.

Thank you for your support!

Donation Progress

Target = $100,000.00

Total raised so far = $10,577.00

Student Prizes

$50 RAISED: (Primary only – These balls are to come) Squishy mini football/rugby ball

$100 RAISED: Football/Rugby ball (all students)

$200 RAISED: 1 x ticket in raffle (additional tickets for every $50 raised after initial $200)

Prize = Origin tickets (2 tickets for Year 8 to 12 and 2 tickets for Year 5 to 7)

STUDENT WHO RAISES THE MOST MONEY EACH WEEK IN EACH HOUSE/PRIMARY: Gets to colour the progress chart/thermometers on display in the Main Yard

PIZZA PARTY: For PG group and Primary class that raises the most money

FANCY DRESS: $50 voucher tuckshop voucher

How to donate

Donations can be made via the below link or by scanning the below QR code. 

Parent Volunteer Registration 

The success of the Walkathon is very dependent on parent volunteers and spreading the load. We have been so grateful for the contribution by the parent volunteers in the past and we hope that we can continue at this year’s Walkathon.

We are now seeking parent volunteers for the day. Parent volunteers are vital to the running and success of this event so please consider giving some time to support the Parents and Friends Association on Sunday 6 June. Please register for a volunteer position via the link below: 

Your support on the day is greatly appreciated.

Walkathon: From the Archives

Welcome to the “Walkathon: From the Archives” section of the newsletter. This section will showcase archived photos from the Walkathon throughout the history of the College for the duration of this year’s event. Keep your eyes peeled for familiar faces! If you have any information about the photos that are shown, or have your own Walkathon memories or photos from the past that you would like to share, please contact Madeleine Tong at tongm@marash.qld.edu.au.

The first two photos in this week’s collection are from the 1969 Walkathon. 1969 saw the first man land on the moon with the Apollo 11 mission and the last ever public performance from The Beatles. John Gorton was Australia’s Prime Minister, Gough Whitlam was in opposition, mini-skirts were all the rage and Marist College Ashgrove ran its second Walkathon. Both of these photos show students signing in at checkpoints along the route and getting much-needed hydration for the journey. If you look closely at the sign in the second photo you can read “4 miles to Jollys”. In the early days of the Walkathon, the track was a staggering 28 mile (45 kilometres!) trek to Jollys Lookout on Mount Nebo. Now, our students, parents and staff walk approximately 10 kilometres through the Enoggera Defence Base that borders College land.

The third photo in this collection is from the 1973 Walkathon. In 1973 the United States withdrew from the Vietnam War, the world experienced a crippling oil crisis and global inflation, Gough Whitlam was Prime Minister of Australia, and the Sydney Opera House was opened. Back in Ashgrove, the Walkathon was in its sixth year and a great MCA tradition had been established. This photo shows some staff and very young walkers pausing for a photo opportunity along the track.

Stay tuned for more photos from the past in next week’s newsletter.

Tally Update