And St Joseph’s Primary School students’ wish became a command for Rochester Lions Club — which not only supplied them for Charlotte’s school, it spent a total of $1500 buying them for Rochester and Nanneella primaries as well. With each school able to choose what sporting equipment it wanted.
It all sprang from the annual regional junior public speaking competition and Charlotte being asked what would she do with $1000 to improve her school or neighbourhood.
Her impromptu response rapidly spread from the speaking stage to the school sporting field.
Charlotte highlighted the broken tennis racquets and a shortage of tennis balls, and Rochester Lions Club heard the message.
The Lions donated $500 to each of the three schools.
Club secretary Anne Chirnside said the donations were directly inspired by Charlotte's answer.
The money was raised through the club’s container deposit scheme, and presented to the three schools by Rochester Lions on September 9.
The donations followed the regional junior public speaking competition, hosted by Rochester Lions Club and involving primary schools from Echuca, Lockington, Rochester, Tongala and Numurkah.
More than 80 family members, friends and Lions club members attended, with students competing in Years 3 to 4 and 5 to 6.
Year 3 to 4 students were asked to deliver a three-minute speech on where they would holiday in Australia, with Lockington's Billy Lees taking the honours.
Year 5 to 6 students had to give a four-minute speech before answering an impromptu question about who they would invite to dinner and what they would serve. Tongala's Amelia Mocink was the winner.
The junior public speaking program has running in the district since 2007.
18°C