Across the Coral Sea! How a uniform change has stitched two school communities together

St Augustine’s Parish Primary School, Currumbin Waters, is looking towards the Coral Sea ahead of Catholic Education Week (26 July to 1 August).  

When the school decided to upgrade its uniforms, the community could never have predicted the ripple effects this change would have beyond its own schoolyard.  

Guided by the words of Saint Mary MacKillop, “never see a need without doing something about it”, St Augustine’s Parish Primary School chose compassion over convenience, donating its pre-loved uniforms to a small school, Hauhui School in the Malaita Island (Solomon Islands).  

Principal John Cameron said, rather than discarding the old versions of their school uniform, many still new with tags, the school saw an opportunity to act.  

“It was our Year 1 teacher, Fran Wallace, who encouraged families within our community to donate their uniforms, with the response from our families overwhelming,” he said.  

“Not a single item was thrown away, from hats to shorts, dresses, and shirts, anything without a hole or stain was sent to Hauhui School.  

“These uniforms were not only saved from landfill, but they will also offer dignity and hope to families who need it most.”  

Hauhui is located on a remote part of the island, a three-hour boat journey from the provincial capital, Auki.   

The community has no roads, electricity or running water, with families relying on a nearby stream for their daily needs.  

Fran Wallace said donations like these make a significant difference in the lives of children, some of whom have never worn a school uniform before.  

“For some of these children, having a simple school uniform is a dream come true,” she said.  

“It is easy for us to take such a small thing for granted.  

“But to these children, it could be the only piece of new clothing they receive this year.”  

Fran adds that the initiative was also shaped by her father, Trevor, who worked in the Solomon Islands as a nurse with peacekeeping forces for 14 years.  

“During his time there, my Dad became familiar with the challenges faced by remote schools and health clinics and was able to identify a community that would benefit most from the donation, helping ensure the uniforms reached children who truly needed them,” she said.   

“Dad always spoke about the resilience and warmth of the communities he worked with.   

“When our school changed uniforms, it just made sense to share what we no longer needed with children who would truly appreciate them.”  

St Augustine’s Principal, John said he is proud of the connection that has been made between his school and Hauhai School.   

“It was truly heartwarming to see the photos of the children at the Hauhai School wearing our uniform,” he said.  

“The work that Trevor and Fran did in facilitating this link between the two schools is appreciated and highlights how lucky we all are to live in Australia.”  

For more information about St Augustine’s Parish Primary School, Currumbin Waters or to enrol click here.  

Our Lady of Mount Carmel School, Coorparoo 

The same spirit of generosity is also being embraced by the Our Lady of Mount Carmel School community. 

Over the Term 2 holidays, six families from the Coorparoo primary school travelled to Mount Saint Mary’s School in Nadi, Fiji, where they delivered donated educational resources, all donated by the school community. 

The donations included 500 First Holy Communion gifts, five laptops, stationery for teachers and students, handballs, soccer balls, and footballs to support the school’s learning environment. 

The visit provided an opportunity to strengthen the connection between two Catholic schools and demonstrate how shared faith can inspire service beyond local communities. The warm welcome from the Mount Saint Mary’s School community and the joy shared by students from both schools highlighted the power of Catholic education to foster meaningful relationships, generosity and partnership across borders. 

For more information about Our Lady of Mount Carmel School, Coorparoo click here. 

Did you know? 

Catholic education has been part of the Gold Coast community since 1926, when St Augustine’s Primary School in Currumbin Waters first opened to support local families.   

Today, Catholic schools across the Gold Coast reflect a region known for its coastal lifestyle, diversity and ambition. From established schools in central suburbs to growing communities in the north, families can choose learning environments that value connection, high expectations and strong foundations from the early years through to senior schooling.  

Find a Catholic school on the Gold Coast today! Click here.  

Main image caption: St Augustine’s Parish Primary School, Currumbin Waters students wearing their school's new uniform design. ©Brisbane Catholic Education (2026).

Image caption: Hauhui School in the Malaita Island (Solomon Islands) students wearing the donated uniforms. Images used with permission.

Image caption: Our Lady of Mount Carmel School, Coorparoo students with Mount Saint Mary’s School in Nadi, Fiji students. Image used with permission.