Salary deduction contributor to Stewart House Brian O'Rourke (right) with Edgeworth Public School student Sarah McClymont, Stewart House School assistant principal Meg Dione and Samuel Gilbert Public School student Ardian McNeill on South Curl Curl Beach.

Donations turn to smiles

By Kerri Carr

Donating to Stewart House via salary deduction for more than 30 years has been money well spent, according to teacher Brian O'Rourke.

Stewart House, which overlooks South Curl Curl Beach, accommodates students from primary, SSP and secondary schools who are in dire need of a break from their day-to-day life.

Mr O'Rourke said he began making contributions when teaching at his first permanent school, Blackett Public School at Mount Druitt, where the school supported Stewart House by fundraising.

"You choose an amount to contribute each pay packet," he said.

"You don't miss it and it just becomes part of your budget."

As it turns out, Mr O'Rourke now teaches at the nearby Harbord Public School.

"When I was at some of my previous schools some students came to Stewart House, so I was able to see the benefits to individual students, in particular to their confidence."

He said this was due to the fact that for some of the students it was the first time they had received individual care and attention, with some students coming from large families.

"They get fussed over for 10 days," he said.

"Their health and wellbeing is checked out thoroughly."

"For some it's a real turning point," he added.

There is also a fun side to the students' 'holiday' with excursions to places like the Sydney Aquarium, Taronga Zoo, Sydney Kings and NRL matches, movies, and the filming of Funniest Home Videos

. Working nearby, Mr O'Rourke has had personal experience seeing exactly what goes on at Stewart House.

"I see the buses heading off on excursions and see the friendly interactions in a very relaxed and supportive environment.

"It's a child-centred place," he said.

In summing up the value of Stewart House to the students, Mr O'Rourke recalls a Stewart House presentation day he attended where a student who had come to collect the Small Schools fundraising award looked out at the ocean view and summed up Stewart House with: "How good's this?"

Would you miss $4 a pay?

Stewart House needs a two or three fold increase in the number of Department of Education and Training employees contributing by way of salary deduction as the rising costs of food, petrol for buses and maintenance on buildings are not being matched by increased income.

While the Department provides infrastructure and staffing for the school, the supervision out of school hours, all facets of respite care, the transport and entertainment for these children across their 12 day stay are sourced from charitable contributions. These costs amount to $2.5 million each year and do not include provisions for asset maintenance or urgent breakdowns.

Currently, Stewart House receives $820,000 annually from school staff salary contributions.

www.stewarthouse.com.au

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October 2007 contents