Our Community News

The Mabel Fidler Building

View our Mabel Fidler Building project website for the latest news. http://www.ravenswood.nsw.edu.au/fidlerbuilding

See the EVOLVE NEWSLETTER - SEPTEMBER 2009 for an update on the exciting new Fidler Building development at Ravenswood.

Upgrade to Science Laboratories with Federal Government Support through the BER

During the July school holiday break work was undertaken to upgrade the Science laboratories at Ravenswood.

The school was extremely fortunate to have received a grant from the Federal Government

Through the National School Pride Program – one element of the Building the Education Revolution (BER) initiative. The grant of $200,000 enabled the school to carry out a number of necessary works, including the repair of bench tops throughout the laboratories, the installation of new plumbing where required and the provision of eye wash and safety showers.

Rio Comes to Ravo!

Thank you to our many generous sponsors.  To view the list of sponsors please Click here

ANZAC Day Ceremony

Two exchange students from New Zealand, Beth Brodie and Henrietta Thomas recently arrived as part of Ravenswood's Global Experience Programme.  On arrival in the last week of the Easter holidays, they were met by Stephanie Lade and her family, then Stephanie and the girls travelled to Amelia Judson's family farm at Bogan Gate.  The four girls participated in the Dawn Service on Anzac Day, with Beth and Henrietta placing a wreath for the New Zealand servicemen and women, and Stephanie and Amelia one for the Vietnam Veterans.  The service was held at Bogan Gate which had the highest enlistment on a per capita basis during the Great War.  Bogan Gate is in he heartland of central NSW and is a place of strong tradition and community spirit.

Ravenswood in Peru

On a recent visit to Peru, Ravenswood students marvelled at the skill of the Inca’s while visiting Machu Picchu, and saw a five minute old baby lama.  Despite rain, sleet and snow they survived the trek over the 4,650m pass.

Their community service project in a rural village was to upgrade the kitchen and start to build a wall around the school. With his civil engineering background Mr Draper was foreman material and the girls were his willing workers. The kitchen was cleared of rubbish, the walls sanded and replastered before we started painting. The girls used picks and shovels to dig foundations for a wall and removed very heavy quartz boulders. They slept on the floor of the school room, once again forfeiting showers and reliable toilets to get the job done. They were well looked after by the cook who even managed to produce roast turkey for New Year’s Eve, a complete mystery as there was no oven in his make shift kitchen! The girls experienced the excitement of do it yourself fireworks and yellow confetti to celebrate New Year with the village.

It was impossible to nominate a ‘best’ moment however one that stands out is when one mother stepped forward to thank them and said ‘I cannot believe that young girls would give up their holidays and come so far to make a better school for my children’. Yes, 10 Ravenswood girls, 2 teachers and 1 Antipodean  leader can make a very big difference to the lives of others.   In addition, the generosity of the members of the Ravenswood community, enabled the girls to raise the money needed to renovate the kitchen.