It was a sea of colour at St Mary’s Primary School in Bairnsdale last Friday for their Pyjamas for Farmers Day.

The staff and students got into the spirit of the day wearing their favourite pyjamas to school.

The Pyjamas for Farmers Day was an initiative that originated from a letter Michelle Garbutt, principal of St Mary’s Primary School, sent out to the St Mary’s Primary School community.

The letter was about increasing awareness and empathy in the school community for a number of primary producer families directly impacted by the drought and recent fires and experiencing hardship at this time.

The letter sparked an overwhelming response. She received many emails offering sincere messages of support and lots of ideas for fundraising.

Mrs Garbutt spoke of her enormous sense of pride at the genuine concern the school community has for those families affected.

Students, parents and staff have all been rallying for the Drought Relief Fundraiser.

It is the students, parents and staff who have driven the fundraising initiatives to help families.

The ideas were taken to the advisory board for discussion and then an action plan was established for moving forward.

“Pyjamas for Farmers Day was one of the initiatives as well as a Body Shop hamper raffle, which Misha Taylor, one of the parents donated; a disco next term; the year six students will be cooking for the Parish again; with the intention of providing support to farming families and they will hold another raffle next term with a prize donated from Websters,” Mrs Garbutt said.

It was also decided that project compassion funds, an internal fundraiser over Lent where the students do jobs to raise money for third world charities, will be donated to the primary producer families hit hard in the school community.

When Mrs Garbutt spoke to the students at the assembly to inform them of the fundraising, it sparked an immediate interest in the students to help.

It has been the students’ reaction and genuine concern for the primary producer families that Mrs Garbutt has been particularly proud of.

and raised money during recess and lunch. Year five student, Ellie Smeal, developed a student newsletter, which is issued fortnightly at a cost of $1.50. She has been selling them at recess and lunchtime. Claudia Blandford, Chelsea Eddie, Chelsea Foy and Molly Hogan, from year four, performed karaoke for the students and teachers and managed to raise $51.25 for their efforts. They even performed in front of the whole staff at morning tea.

Jack Paterson, Jack Hebbard and Cedric Taylor, from year three, formed a band and brought their own instruments to school to perform.

Families are also invited to make cash donations at the school.

Mrs Garbutt spoke to the local Rotary club, but wanted to ensure the money raised went directly to the families in the school community affected.

It was decided any money donated will be used to purchase Coles/Woolworths gift cards and will be distributed confidentially to affected primary producer families.

To date the school has raised close to $2000 with further raffles planned for next term.

Mrs Garbutt hopes that as a school community they can make a difference to those families directly impacted.

PICTURED: Staff and students at St Mary’s Primary School got into the spirit of the day wearing their favourite pyjamas to school for ‘Pyjamas for Farmers Day’ last Friday.