General News
17 December, 2024
Foundation aids local schools
Dunolly Primary School has received a grant of $500 towards sports equipment and two scholarships recognising academic achievement thanks to the Terry Floyd Foundation.
It has been nearly 50 years since 12-year-old Terry Floyd went missing along the Pyrenees Highway, last seen waiting for a lift in Avoca.
The foundation was established in 2019 by his brother, Daryl, who has spent many years supporting young students to have the opportunities Terry didn’t have.
The school’s principal, Katie Lovel said this grant means the school can have ongoing support for resources to keep students active.
“We are so fortunate to have that sort of sponsorship from the foundation,” she said.
With the help of the foundation, the school has been providing students with free fruit every Friday and new sports equipment.
This year, the students were each given a basketball, football, tennis balls, and a netball.
But this grant has been used for two new scholarships, with one awarded to a junior student in prep to grade two and another for a senior student in grade three to six.
“Those students are awarded for their learning growth and are those who have made the most of their education,” she said.
“For the students who received these scholarships, sometimes that’s the difference between being able to attend camps or excursions. That makes a huge difference for families.”
She said the school truly values the support from the foundation and every student benefits from the their help.
“What seems to be a little thing like free fruit, to something major like a scholarship, it’s helping all students across our school and lets them know that they are valued members of the community,” she said.
The foundation’s Neil Wood presented the grant to the school on Friday, acknowledging the impact the foundation has had.
“Hopefully we can contribute to giving the kids a better future,” Mr Wood said.
“It’s tremendous that the foundation can do this. We are appreciative that the school is grateful and may it long continue.”
A number of other schools across the district also received funding from the foundation, including Timor Primary School locally.