The stationery pack gifts containing pens, pencils, compasses, protractors, rulers and a couple of well selected toys totalling $20 each were presented to each student at assembly last week and from the happy look on every student’s face the presents were keenly accepted and appreciated.

Six small country schools have benefited from the generosity of pupils attending Tara Anglican School, Parramatta, whose country boarders suggested the concept in recognition of the the plight being suffered in many areas from the prolonged drought.

In their annual fundraising activities Tara students this year raised $15,000 and through discussions decided school students within drought affected areas throughout the state would be the beneficiaries.

Country boarders at Tara proposed funds could buy gifts for students at primary schools which they had first attended and included Gunning, Braidwood, Walgett, Dunedoo and Marra Creek.

Former Dunedoo Central School student, Gabbi Johnston (centre of photo) of Oranmore, just north of town, called into her old school last week with boxes full of gifts.

The Year 8 Tara student said the the money raised at school enabled the filling of 500 gift packs which were being distributed prior to the schools breaking-up for Christmas holidays.

“We know how communities in rural areas are suffering from the prolonged drought and we wanted to show our support,” she said.

“The best way we thought we could do this was by giving each student in schools we had attended a gift that would set them up for the year to come.

“So that’s why we purchased and packed basic school needs such as notebooks, protractors and those sort of things which each would use.”

Miss Johnston said her friends at Tara acknowledged that country students at each school came from differing sectors of their communities, all of which had been affected by the drought in some way.

“It was wonderful to see all those 170 big smiles as the packs were presented during assembly,” she said.