At Queen Margaret College, our values of Generosity, Resilience, Respect, Integrity, and Courage guide us to give back to our community. In times of difficulty, we come together to support those who have been impacted, and the recent Cyclone Gabrielle disaster was no exception. As news of the devastation spread throughout the North Island, we felt the need to help in any way we could. In response to this tragedy, our students realised that the most pressing need was money, rather than clothes or household items. They carefully considered various options and likely outcomes and decided that a fundraising campaign would have the greatest impact. With this in mind, they launched the "Give FIVE for the Floods" initiative, which raised a QMC record-breaking $7,470 for those impacted by the cyclone.

The entire school participated in this multi-faceted fundraiser that included a raffle with a variety of prizes such as access to the Principal’s Car Park for a week, $100 QM Café credit, Bring your Dog to school Day, and tickets for upcoming events. Our Year 9 cohort, with the help of their Dean Ms Johns, organised a Bake Sale, which helped to raise further funding for those impacted by Cyclone Gabrielle.

What sets this fundraising campaign apart is the fact that it was entirely spearheaded by our students. Led by our Service Prefect, Charlotte Horner, these young leaders demonstrated exceptional resilience, generosity, and integrity as they worked tirelessly to raise funds for those affected by Cyclone Gabrielle. It has been truly inspiring to see how our students took ownership of this initiative and poured their hearts into making it a success. As a school, we couldn't be prouder of their dedication to service and their unwavering commitment to giving back to the community.

"I am incredibly proud of the way our school community came together to support those affected by Cyclone Gabrielle. Our students showed exceptional leadership in running this fundraising campaign, as well as exceptional generosity,” said Charlotte Horner “through our collective efforts, we were able to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those impacted by the disaster."

Of course, our students did not embark on this fundraising campaign alone. The wider Queen Margaret College community, including parents, staff, and supporters, all played an integral role in making this effort a success. Their contributions, whether in the form of donations or simply lending a helping hand, helped to create a sense of unity and shared purpose that was truly remarkable to witness. We extend our gratitude to everyone who played a part in this fundraising campaign, whether you donated $5 or $350 (our largest donation), you helped to make a difference in the lives of those affected by Cyclone Gabrielle.