WHILE smoke from fires across the Scenic Rim may have led to the cancellation of St Mary’s School, Beaudesert’s weekly swimming lessons, it offered the school community an opportunity to help hardworking firefighters (firies) battling the blazes.
As the smoke haze caused concerning pollution levels, the school made the decision to cancel regular swimming lessons at the local pool.
The reason - to reduce students’ exposure to air pollutants during the walk to and from the pool.
The school community decided to use the money they saved from the swimming lessons to help the local firies appeal.
It was also an opportunity for the school to help struggling local store owners where they purchased delicious and nutritious food items to create a “care” package for the hard-working firies.
School Officer Amanda Stubbings presented the special delivery on behalf of the school community to the grateful firies when she volunteered at the firefighters Boonah checkpoint.
Principal Kevin Billion said the firies were doing an amazing job in fighting the fires and protecting people’s proprieties and livestock.
“These amazing people are out there every day and night fighting these fires currently devastating the Scenic Rim,” he said.
“We just wanted to show support in some way.”
Mr Billion said the thoughts and prayers of everyone in the school community were with all those who had been touched by the catastrophic fires.
“We are praying every day for rain so our exhausted firies can catch their breath,” he said.
He thanked the school and wider community for their continued generosity in supporting the hard-working firies.