Community
27 February, 2025
Slater makes an impact
MORTLAKE College students were awash with pink to rally behind a student-led fundraiser supporting the McGrath Foundation this week.
Mortlake College Endeavour House captain Josh Slater, a Year 12 student, yesterday (Wednesday) led a fundraiser combining his love of cricket and one of the nation’s most beloved causes.
Funds were raised for the McGrath Foundation through gold coin donations as the student cohort donned pink from head to toe and participated in a whole-school game of cricket.
“We’re hosting a Pink Stumps Day for the McGrath Foundation, raising money for breast cancer research,” Josh said.
“Glenn McGrath was one of Australia’s most famous cricketers and his wife, Jane, passed away with breast cancer.
“It’s good to raise money for a good cause.
“I’m pretty passionate about cricket so it just sort of tied in.”
Josh had raised $750 before the day even began and was optimistic the tally would soar thanks to the support of the student cohort.
“We made about $750 before the Pink Stumps Day so I’m hopeful we could even get as high as raising a couple of thousand dollars,” he said.
“I didn’t think it was going to be this big – we’ve done really well as a school.
“A lot of the students are even outdoing me, and I’m running the event.”
Josh said the decision to raise funds for the McGrath Foundation was an easy pick, as it combined his favourite sport with supporting a worthwhile cause.
“There’ll be a big game of continuous cricket through all grades of the school,” he said.
“It’ll run all day with two teams led by our school captains – team Goddard and team Fowler – and the winner takes all the bragging rights.”
Mortlake College assistant principal Anne De Manser said she was please to see so much student support, with almost all the students donning vibrant pink colours.
“It’s awesome – I think it’s probably one of the highest percentages of support we’ve had for one of our fundraising dress-up days,” she said.
“Looking out on the sea of fairy floss pink was pretty awesome.
“It gave me a sense of what it must be like at the Sydney test.”
Mrs De Manser said she was pleased to see the students unify behind a cause which meant so much to a senior student, with Josh Slater being one of the region’s most talented young cricketers.
“It’s great to see,” she said.
“Josh is quite a skilled cricketer himself, so I think it struck a chord with him and it’s been a good way to bring together a love of sport with fun fundraising.”
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