Last month, the Nambour Special School was presented with $10,000 in funding from the Sundale Community Foundation at a ceremony at the Nambour RSL.

Kylie Pitt, Treasurer of the Nambour Special School P&C said the money would be used to upgrade the school’s much-loved bike track  and  purchase some new equipment. The bike track is a really important facility because it allows the students to enjoy a broader and more rounded range of experiences. It is really vital that the Special School students are also able to access activities that are available to students in the mainstream education system.

“When our son first started at the school, he was not particularly fussed about the academic side of it, to be honest,” she said. “We basically persuaded him to go to school so that he could use the bike track! He is really enjoying school now.”

Like many organisations, the Nambour Special School’s fundraising activities were badly impacted during the COVID restrictions last year. “It is already a real challenge for our P&C because we are such a small school with a tiny P&C committee,” said Kylie. 

“So grants like this one enable us to enrich the learning environment of our students with special equipment and facilities that they would not otherwise have. Hopefully we can get on with our regular fundraising activities this year so that we can keep the momentum going.”

Previously, the biggest fundraising activity for the school each year has been the Island Charity Swim.

“We have been raising money through the Island Charity Swim for a number of years now,” Kylie said. “Initially, the Nambour Special School entered a team in the event and over time the Currimundi Special School also got on board. Unfortunately last year’s event was cancelled due to COVID, but on average, between $40K and $60K is raised each year. This year the money raised will also be shared with the Palmview Special School as well, so we are keen to exceed our past results,” Kylie said.

This year the swim will take place on Saturday the 8th of May. The course is 11kms, from Old Woman Island to Mooloolaba Bay and there is also the option to do either a 2.5km or 5km swim in the bay, for those who are not confident out in the open water.

“You don’t have to be a swimmer to support this cause though,” said Kylie. “We are always looking for people who can paddle alongside our swimmers, and we have even had people donate the use of their boats to sail alongside the swimmers and ensure they are safe.

“In the past we have had private sponsors and it is a fantastic opportunity for businesses to offer support as well, through a corporate sponsorship. But at the end of the day, the more swimmers we can get, the more money we can raise.”

• You can find out more about this year’s swim, or you can register to participate by going to the Facebook page @islandcharityswim