SONY Camp

For the fourth consecutive year, St Patrick’s College Townsville together with Ignatius Park College, have hosted the Sony Foundation Children’s Holiday Camp during the start of the September school holidays. The Sony Foundation has been staging camps throughout Australia since 1999. As an initiative first brought to Townsville by St Patrick’s College in 2016, we are excited to continue this rewarding tradition of community support in 2019.

This year saw 17 children with special needs experience the joy of participating in the three-day camp program supported by 27 Year 11 students from St Patrick’s College, and 15 Year 11 students from Ignatius Park College. 

Highlights of this year’s Camp included a group trip to the Strand Waterpark, baking, yoga, dancing and of course the Gala Day. 

The Camp is such a unique and rewarding opportunity for our girls, teaching them to be responsible for another person’s wellbeing,” said Ms Skerman. “As Mercy Girls we are all about responding to human need in a life giving and positive way.

Robyn Fanning, one of the amazing nurses who volunteered at this year’s SONY Camp said of the event:

I have been involved with SONY for the last few years now in nursing role. Such an amazing weekend for all involved. Well done to those incredible students – you were all awesome! To the organisers – thanks for giving the kids such an incredible weekend and the parents some much needed down time. Looking forward to 2020 Camp!

Another Nurse, Cherrie Vitali, said:

St Patrick’s College Townsville, you should feel so proud of each of these fine young women and men, I had the pleasure of volunteering as a nurse over the weekend, and I was I awe of the students. The schools and their parents must be so proud of them because I certainly was and the children loved them.

We would like to make a special thank you to all of the staff involved, especially those who volunteered their time. Senior students Jonelle Mel and Skye-lee Cowan and former Ignatius Park College student Bailey Crump, who gave up their entire weekend to assist with the event. 

Johanna Smith and Patrick McMahon from Ignatius Park College, and Joanna Pacey from St Patrick’s College Townsville, were onsite throughout the entire camp and tirelessly worked for months leading up to the event.    SONY Camp would not have been possible without their support.

Thanks also to Reef HQ for their generous donation, Carolyn Seri at Zing Pin Me for her time during the Gala event, and also to Sporty Kids Australia who donated all of the sporting equipment used during the camp.