WHETHER it’s helping the elderly or drawing attention to the plight of the poor, students from St Stanislaus’ College are happy to carry on the work of their Vincentian forbearers.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The school has two St Vincent de Paul Conferences – day students and boarders – who are actively involved in the community; providing practical support where it’s needed.
The conferences have two programs underway; the Stannies’ Green Team who provide the elderly or those in need of assistance with gardening help on a fortnightly basis and the student’s iPad for the Elderly Program which helps older people get up to running speed with today’s technology.
Lachlan Barrett, who is part of the Boarders Conference Green Team said the group provides practical help and has also resulted in students forging friendships with their clients.
“Some of our clients might be getting old or might have a disability, and we are able to help out a bit with their yards,” he said. “It’s also a bit of a friendship.”
Lachlan got involved with St Vincent de Paul because he believes it is good to help other people.
“I think everyone involved gets a buzz out of it and it’s good to help others, it feels right to do it,” he said. Nathan Germech, in Year 11 at Stannies’, is part of the iPad program which run classes to help elderly people struggling with technology.
“It could be an iPad, Kindle or laptop. The boys share their skills and show people not familiar with the technology how to use it,” he said.
Head of College Dr Anne Wenham said the iPad program initially began to help the nuns understand the technology, and it was so successful it was opened up to the community.
“We advertised it last year in the Parish Bulletin and a number of people came. This year the response has been overwhelming,” she said.
Dr Wenham said she was also delighted to confirm that Dominic McCrossin, who is part of the day student conference, had been asked to launch the city’s St Vincent de Paul Winter Appeal in Bathurst. Dominic said he was honoured to be chosen and thought it was great the students were involved so they had an understanding of life without privilege.
“It’s good we get an understanding of what it means to be homeless and in need of support,” he said.
