Sisters Inside Bake Sale

Amnesty Day and Sisters Inside Bake Sale and Cookie Decorating 28 May and 6 June.

For Amnesty Day on Wednesday, May 28, the Amnesty Committee ran an information table for Sisters Inside and collected coin donations for the charity. This marks the date in 1961 when lawyer Peter Benenson published an article entitled “The Forgotten Prisoners” which told the story of various people imprisoned for their beliefs and called for their release. The article formed the basis of Amnesty International, an organisation which continues to protect and promote human rights.

The Amnesty Committee researched various charities which shared this aim and ultimately decided on Queensland-based Sisters Inside. The organisation advocates for the rights of women and girls in prison to transform criminalised womens’ lives and provide services to address their needs. Fuelled by her loss of family and a home during her time in prison, the founder, Debbie Kilroy, believes that the prison system triggers complex challenges for those incarcerated rather than effectively controlling crime. Sisters Inside recognises the external factors which may have contributed to the behaviour of prisoners and the racism that causes the  immense over-representation of First Nations women in prison. 

At the information table, Fortians were encouraged to take part in a quiz about the charity to enter a guessing competition for the number of lollies in a jar. This attracted many students to the table and thus spread awareness about the cause. Members of the committee also visited classrooms for the collection of coin donations during class time, offering the students another opportunity to show support. 

On 6 June, the committee also ran a bake sale and cookie decoration table for Sisters Inside. Members brought in a wide variety of homemade cookies, donuts, cupcakes and brownies to sell to the student body and fundraise further for the charity during break time. The group also organised a stall which allowed customers to decorate home-baked sugar cookies with icing, sprinkles, lollies and edible charms. Both of these initiatives were popular amongst students and teachers as many wanted to enjoy a sweet treat in support of Sisters Inside.

A total of $1,176.58 was raised between the coin collection, bake sale and cookie decoration, marking a major success for the Amnesty Committee. Profits were donated to Sisters Inside, and this money will help the charity further support incarcerated women.

By Evie Cairns (Year 9).

To find out more information about Sisters Inside https://sistersinside.com.au/