PIRATE DAY:
Magnetic Island State School students celebrate Pirate Day
MAGNETIC Island State School embraced their inner scallywags on June 8 as the class dressed up like pirates for children’s brain cancer research.
The 4th annual “Pirate Day Friday”, is a national fundraiser that encourages kids, office workers and whole towns to dress up and give a gold coin donation for the privilege.
All funds raised from the campaign, in collaboration between The Adventurers and The Kids’ Cancer Project, are directed to funding vital childhood brain cancer research.
Since Pirate Day Friday started in 2015, over $ 300,000 has been raised by pirates Australia- wide for medical research to help kids with brain cancer. This year it’s hoped the day will raise $ 150,000.
Col Reynolds OAM, founder of The Kids’ Cancer Project, is delighted with the initiative.
“It’s great to have a bit of fun to fundraise despite the serious nature of kids’ cancer,” he said.
“Many people aren’t aware that cancer is the leading cause of death of children by disease in Australia.
“Science is the only way to improve treatments and survival. The Kids’ Cancer Project is an independent national organisation supporting childhood cancer research.
Since 1993, the charity has managed to contribute more than $ 34 million to go towards research projects to help children with many types of cancer, thanks to strong community support.
Director of The Adventurers Matt Fitzgerald, is also father to 9- year- old Abby, who has been in remission from brain cancer for 3.5 years, and encouraged all people to get on board with the fun initiative.
“Pirate’s Day has a serious positive impact on funding,” he said.
“The most significant issue for families affected by childhood cancer is the continued existence of a disease for which there are no solid answers.”
The focus of The Adventurers and The Kids’ Cancer Project is the same — to find the answers and cure.
“That is why we fund medical research,” Mr Fitzgerald said.
“Getting involved in Pirate Day Friday allows everyone to become a contributor in making possible the medical research which ensures the improvement of diagnoses, treatment and ultimately cure of childhood brain cancer is in the foreseeable future.” WILLIAM Ross State High School had the pleasure and privilege of hosting a special masterclass workshop from international Chinese chefs from one of Townsville’s sister cities, Foshan.
Lucky students from the Year 11 and 12 Certificate II in Hospitality class, Year 10 Food Technology and Design and Year 9 Chinese Language classes were selected to participate.
Mr Ma Denggen is the Executive Deputy President of Foshan Chef Association and Mr Chen Wensheng is the Senior Executive Chef of Foshan Crowne Plaza Hotel.
These highly experienced and skilful chefs came into our commercial kitchen and demonstrated two different meals for us.
There was a traditional four cup chicken from Foshan and a shrimp dish with egg noodles.
It was very interesting to see the use of ingredients that we had never seen before and some of the interesting techniques they used to prepare and cook the food.
After they had finished cooking the meals we tasted them, some of us attempted to use chopsticks while the others just used a fork.
After we had finished trying the delicious food the visitors sat down and started enjoying the afternoon tea that we had prepared for them.
We were lucky enough to have the chefs sign plates for us as a memory of how lucky we were to have participated in this amazing experience.