Two Walcha students have come home from Fiji with a new sense of gratitude after giving up their holiday time to help at an orphanage in Suva.
Eva Haselwood and Mark Grayling were among 14 Year 8 students from The Armidale School (TAS) who took part in the school’s 26th Christian service trip to St Christopher’s Home.
Students and staff from TAS have been visiting the home for almost 30 years. Most of the children who live there are orphans.
Past projects have ranged from weeding vegetable gardens to installing a solar hot water system.
Maintenance is an ongoing focus. This year, one of the key projects was a revamp of the home’s sick bay, which had not been in use since Covid.
Students cleared out the broken furniture that had been stored there and cleaned every surface and the many-panelled louvred windows. They made new curtains and installed brand new beds. Tamworth’s Hugo McDonald was among those sewing curtains for the medical centre.
“We connected with the kids by spending time talking and singing with them, and doing creative activities, particularly with the buddy we were paired up with,” said TAS student Eva Haselwood.
“I learned that even with so little you can be just as happy and that we should all be more grateful for what we have and for the good people around us.”
Mark agreed, saying the trip changed how he saw life at home.
“I think we all learnt to appreciate how lucky we are in Australia to have solid houses and the things we have in life, but they were all happy even without that,” he said.
“It was really rewarding to see what we had achieved, but perhaps the most challenging part of it was saying goodbye to my buddy.”
The reward of serving others was clear to everyone who took part, according to trip co-ordinator Fiona Taber, who first visited St Christopher’s in 2011.
“They really do sense the reward of serving others, not just the Home’s residents, but for cooking and cleaning for each other as well,” Ms Taber said.
“The way the students grow and develop as more informed and compassionate young people, building relationships without the distraction of mobile phones and other devices, is also wonderful to see.”
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