Advance Ceramics

The Beaufort Secondary College 2020 Advance class have assisted various community groups and charities, and worked with council to write letters to older people in the Beaufort community.

Unfortunately, with lockdown restrictions, their ability to interact with members of the community and having face-to-face contact with community groups was impacted greatly. After a number of brainstorming ideas, and a generous donation from Skepsi Ceramic Gallery in Melbourne, the students created a KDS (Keep/Donate/Sell) project. The students were able to make a number of ceramic pot plants with the idea to keep one, donate one, and sell one.  

This was a large logistical task to ensure that all the bowls were constructed in the short break between lockdowns. The students managed to make just over 70 pots. These pots were then fired in the kiln while the students were in remote learning at home. The students jumped straight back into glazing their work at the beginning of Term 4, and the pots were then re-fired in the kiln with an overglaze. The pots were then potted up with a range of donated succulents from the community.

It was decided that each resident of Beaufort Hostel and the Beaufort Nursing Home would receive a pot each to brighten up their day. Katrina Doodt and Rhonda Cowell (Lifestyle and Leisure Coordinators) came to the school to select the ceramic pot plants for each resident. They also met with some of the students that made them for the hand over.

I was able to go visit the Nursing Home to meet with the residents that received the pot plants. It was such a great experience to see their faces light up. Because of the lockdown, it really impacted on the students being able to interact with the residents due to restrictions on visitors. It was a really big effort from the students to work to a tight timeline to get such a big project completed, and it gave them great satisfaction to see the finished products and know that their pot plants were being donated to people that may have experienced loneliness during lockdown.

Katrina Doodt said, 'It was lovely to see our residents' smiles and they are a talking point at meal times. Some residents have taken one back to their room and others have chosen to keep out in the main room. We are looking forward to being involved with more projects with the Advance class from Beaufort Secondary College.' 

The feedback from the residents was really positive and showed the beneficial impact that the project has had:

‘They are just beautiful’ said Alma.

'Wow, the students have are very clever, and they brighten up our day!' said Sheila.

The remaining pots were then sold, and the profit was donated to the Christmas appeal for the Beaufort Food Pantry to assist members of our local community. The students had researched various charity and community organisations during the program and wanted to donate the money raised from this task to help people in the local Beaufort community. The students raised a total of $215, which is a fantastic effort after such an interrupted year. Geoff Anderson from the Beaufort Food Pantry said the donation was very much appreciated. 'The Food Pantry relies on fundraising efforts, and this has been greatly affected by the restrictions and lockdowns.' 

With Christmas being a tough time of year, but especially after the year that has been - it has been excellent to complete a project that has directly benefited our local community.