By Kath Gannaway
Healesville High School’s senior VCAL students have raised more than $3000 to support the Rotary Milking Cow and Goat Project.
It is the second year that the VCAL students have organised the Rotary Trivia Night which was held at the Darron Honey Centre in Healesville on Thursday, 10 August.
With the support of VCAL teachers Trent Morrison and Gabby Plunkett the students organised a raft of prizes donated by local businesses, promoted the event and worked front of house on the night.
Healesville Rotarian Wilma Guest has for more than a decade championed the Milking Cow and Goat Project, which raises funds to purchase cows and goats for underprivileged villages in Kariakomo, Kenya.
She said the program, which has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars, is transforming lives.
In villages where a generation has died of HIV-AIDS, leaving hundreds of children orphaned, Mrs Best said the animals provided milk and in some cases a small income for grandparents left to care for the children.
A substantial part of the $3000 raised came from the auction which saw keen and competitive bidding, with former Healesville High student and veteran auctioneer Val Nichols taking every opportunity to push the bids higher.
Mrs Best congratulated and thanked the VCAL students and everyone who supported the night.
“These young people are wonderful people and they are our future,” Mrs Best said.
“They are so harmonious; there was a lot to do and they got it done.”