West Norfolk school's fundraiser for australia

A West Norfolk school with longstanding ties to Australia is holding a huge cabaret fundraiser to help in the aftermath of the recent bushfires which have ravaged the country.

Springwood High School is hosting a very special evening to raise money for the victims of the fires and former students are returning to King’s Lynn to take part in the event to raise money for a school in Mallacoota, a town devastated by recent events.
Alongside a choir of more than 50 students, the school’s Big Band will be performing and it is hoped around 100 students, past and present, will be taking to the stage on Saturday, February 1 to help raise money for their Australian friends.
The Mallacoota Mash will take place in the Peter Hopkins’ Hall at the school and it is hoped the final total will top £2,000.
“When we heard about the terrible fires, several students who had visited Australia wanted to express their concern and wanted to raise money for Mallacoota in particular,” said Springwood’s Head of Arts Alun Bliss.
Springwood High School has taken a musical production on tour to Australia every three years since links were first forged down-under around 20 years ago when a call was received from the Sandringham College in Melbourne.
“They wanted to visit Sandringham House and our school was nearby so they asked if we could host them,” said Mr Bliss.
That relationship has continued and West Norfolk students have also been to the Blue Mountains Grammar School and Plumpton High School in Sydney. In 2005 they went to Mallacoota P-12 College for the first time and it’s this area which has been particularly badly hit.
The small town on the coast of Victoria lost around 100 homes in the fires and made international headlines when residents and visitors were forced to take refuge on the beach as the blaze raged around them.
Year 10 student Keira Samways will be singing during the evening and she said that she wanted to help those affected.
"I'm glad to be taking part in this fundraiser after hearing of all the terrible events happening in Australia. It's a tragic event I could never imagine happening, but my heart goes out to all those affected by it. Those who lost homes and family. "They need everyone's help to save the environment and animals around before it's too late. I'm very grateful for what I have and want to contribute to giving back to those in need."
Former Springwood student, and now a teacher in Leeds, Ella Bliss said: “It is incredibly upsetting to hear of our friends living in a nightmare. We wanted to do something for them and although the money raised from our event will undoubtedly help the community to rebuild, it is the messages of love and support that will be heard the loudest out there.”
Ella, whose father is Alun, added that her former host family, from 2011, had been in touch to say how grateful the community was for the help and messages coming from King’s Lynn and Springwood High School.
Tickets for the evening, which starts at 7pm and includes a meal, are £15 and further details are on the school website https://thelittleboxoffice.com/shsptfa