Avid readers of our newsletter may recall previous articles regarding Mrs Beryl Neilsen and the incredible work of the Winchester Foundation in creating educational opportunities for country kids.
In addition to awarding hundreds of scholarships to rural students to attend high school and university, the Winchester Foundation also provides primary school students from remote schools across the broader Central Queensland region with the opportunity to attend the annual Whitsunday Voices Youth Literature Festival held at Whitsunday Anglican School’s campus in Mackay.
The Foundation has been bringing students and teachers to the festival since 2013, and the recent festival held on the 13 – 15th July marked nine years of Winchester’s involvement. In that time, the Foundation has brought over 3,700 primary school students to the festival, paying for each child and teacher’s Winchester shirt, food, accommodation, transport and admission to the festival.
All of this would not be possible without the preparation, dedication and assistance from Judy Harris, Ruth Bethel, Leanne Fordyce, John Smith and John and Kate Formosa as well as the staff from Whitsunday Anglican School in the lead up to the festival including Jamie Novosel and various other volunteers and BBQ chefs during the festival itself.
With approximately 500 Winchester students and teachers to coordinate each day, our volunteers ensured that everyone was fed between sessions. It is always a privilege to be a part of an incredible event which has a positive impact on so many students’ educational outlook.
On behalf of the volunteers, our sincerest thanks goes to Mrs Neilsen for her continued support and dedication to the Foundation.
2022 Winchester Schools that attended the Whitsunday Voices Youth Literature Festival:-
- Bloomsbury State School
- Capricornia School of Distance Education
- Carmilla State School
- Charters Towers School of Distance Education
- Clarke Creek State School
- Coppabella State School
- Eton State School
- Eungella State School
- Finch Hatton State School
- Gargett State School
- Homebush State School
- Kilcummin State School
- Koumala State School
- Mistake Creek State School
- Nebo State School
- North Eton State School
- Oakenden State School
- Pindi Pindi State School
- Pinnacle State School
- St Lawrence State School
- Swayneville State School
- Valkyrie State School
