School of Rural Health Supports Loud Shirt Day [14 May 2009]

Thursday 14 May saw staff and students gather in their brightest and best outfits to raise money for Loud Shirt Day. Research staff, Karen Paxton and Evie Nangle coordinated the day and added a little “LOUDNESS” to the usually quiet campus.

Lyndsay Lowe and Lou Graham helped rally support and photograph the visual fashion feast. Peter Foran set up the BBQ and sectioned off the car park in readiness for the anticipated crowd. Andrew Bagnall provided IT support by replacing the IPOD batteries so we could have background music.

The car park sausage sizzle was well supported by all, including staff from Dubbo Private Hospital. “Gourmet” sausage sandwiches were delivered to the hungry theatre, ward and office teams.

The Stage 3 and 4 medical students joined the BBQ activities as they completed their exams earlier that morning with many then heading off for a one week break.

Family members also made the journey to our car park with some coming from as far as Millthorpe.

Kim O’Connor levied fines against staff that did not wear a Loud Shirt and for any other reason determined appropriate at the time. Donations for the barbequed sausages and the sale of bottled olives harvested from our courtyard trees boosted our donations to just over $200. The beneficiary on the day was the Shepherd Centre in Sydney which supports deaf children.

A fabulous effort was made by Dr Bruce Harris who personally designed and printed his shirt for the day, bearing the “fruits” and “flowers” from the school gardens.

A big thank you goes to the staff who donated money for the food and to the local businesses, Triple A Meats and the Village Hot Bake who provided the meat and bread at generously discounted prices.

6 kilos of sausages was all the meat,

with 5 dozen buns thats a lot to eat.

Add in onions and 5 tubs of coleslaw,

and that bought many back for more.

But eating until you could hardly walk,

was all worth it to get deaf kids to talk.