A history of service

Christ Church Grammar School is committed to building a culture of empowerment and a strong commitment to service among its students.

A number of students participate in the Service in Action program in which they travel to remote regional areas and work as teachers’ aids in classrooms. There are also numerous student-led charity initiatives for various not-for-profit organisations. The relationship between the School’s values of Care and Compassion, Respect, Integrity and Excellence and its longstanding relationship with Anglicare WA is palpable.

In recent years, students, staff, and the wider Christ Church community have been involved in numerous Anglicare initiatives, including the School Sleep Out for Youth Homelessness and the Christmas Appeal. The School has a series of events that it conducts with all proceeds going to Anglicare. These events include the Prefect Push and an initiative titled ‘Wolsey at Work’ where students seek paid work in their community, such as walking pets, cleaning cars and mowing lawns, to connect with local community members while fundraising for Anglicare WA.

Within the School, there are dedicated Anglicare Ambassadors, who inform their classmates of upcoming programs and rally for contributions. It is not always a donation of money – sometimes goods – as with the recent Anglicare collection for personal hygiene items, such as clothing, bedding, and toiletries. The School’s Anglicare Ambassadors sort the items into boxes to send them to Anglicare WA for distribution to the community in need.

The Christ Church Alumni are also involved. The School’s oldest group of Alum, who are affectionately referred to as the ‘Unforgettables’ continue to give back to the community. The group make and buy toys which they donate to Anglicare WA at their annual Unforgettables’ Christmas lunch. The gifts are distributed to families in need, so that children have a gift to open on Christmas morning.

This tradition was started by Old Boy Roger Metherell, class of 1948, who was a member of the Melville Woodturners for almost 20 years. He would lovingly hand craft and paint toys at home throughout the year, including wooden building blocks, trains, and riding horses on wheels, in the lead up to the Unforgettables Christmas lunch.

The Old Boys’ ongoing involvement with Anglicare WA, some 70 years since they left the school, is testament to the culture of Christ Church Grammar School.

Image: Christ Church Old Boy Roger Metherell (’48), showcasing his handmade toys to donate to Anglicare WA (2017).