Bernardi’s frock shock raises $60k

AN ADELAIDE primary school’s “wear a dress day” has been labelled as absurd by South Australian Senator Cory Bernardi, but his comments have pushed the fundraising event to national prominence and far above its goal.

Senator Bernardi has hit out at a proposed Craigburn Primary School fundraiser that encourages staff and students to wear a dress to school on the last day of term.

“One school in SA now has ‘wear a dress day’. This gender morphing is really getting absurd,” he tweeted.

The leader of the Australian Conservatives and a vocal supporter of traditional marriage also questioned the timing of the fundraiser.

SA Education Minister Susan Close defended the decision, saying the student-led fundraiser had nothing to do with the same-sex marriage debate.

“As much as I was appalled by the Senator’s tweet, I am thrilled so much money has been raised for this very important cause,” she said yesterday.

“Craigburn Primary School is raising money to help girls in Africa have access to education. The funds will go towards books and other resources.

“This is a student-led initiative and is completely unrelated to the current marriage equality debate.

“Senator Bernardi should check his facts before incorrectly naming and shaming a school undertaking charity work.”

Senator Bernardi told The Advertiser the fundraiser was “entirely inappropriate” and “bordering on the absurb”, and he did not understand why the tradition of casual dress day had suddenly become “wear a dress to school day”.

“In the midst of a debate about the safe school gender ideology program, the redefinition of marriage and attempts to de-genderise society, it seems this school is playing into a political cause rather than an educational one,” he said.

“Why are we suddenly encouraging boys and male teachers to wear a dress?”

Senator Bernardi’s comments drove people to pledge money to the fundraiser, with prominent gay ABC comedian Josh Thomas tweeting his support and a link to the fundraising page.

The original goal was $900, but at 4.10pm yesterday the sum had exceeded $60,000. Thomas told The Advertiser he’d donated $2000.

SA’s top education bureaucrat, Rick Persse, supported the fundraiser by tweeting a photo of himself in a dress raising money for charity as CEO of the Attorney-General’s department – and said he’d be “happy to do it again”.

Parents of children at the school took to social media to back the fundraiser.

Mark Sansome wrote: “What an amazing lesson for the kids! The power of social media wins and a great fundraising effort. Well done Craigburn, so proud of my kids’ school.”

A school blog post promoting the fundraiser says for a gold coin donation, staff and students can come to school wearing a dress or casual clothes.