Camryn Simpson has a heart of gold and is a dedicated volunteer and fundraiser for a number of organisations. Her kindness was recognised when she received the Fred Hollows Foundation Junior Ambassador Award for showing outstanding care and compassion to others.
You’re only 12 years old and now in Year 7, but I’ve already done a couple of stories about your fundraising.
You are the eldest of four children, what do you like to do?
I love dancing and I also love helping around the farm with all the animals, mostly the babies.
What sort of animals do you have?
We’ve got guinea pigs, goats, sheep, cows, dogs and cats.
What do you do with the guinea pigs?
I actually take care of the guinea pigs. I breed them and I sell them to Petbarn. I’ve been doing it for two or three years.
Growing up you went to Kindy and then Prep at Canungra school. How did you like it?
I loved it there. It was a small school but very family friendly and it felt close to all the teachers. You built such a special bond with your grade and the teachers around you.
While you were at Canungra school you taught some students sign language. How did that come about?
[Camryn’s youngest sister Blakely is hard of hearing and non-verbal so the family communicates with Blakely through sign language]
When Blakely started Prep last year I decided to teach the kids around the school some signs so if they ever ran into Blakely they’d be able to help communicate.
It was definitely helpful for her last year. If someone wasn’t with her interpreting every single thing, there were kids who could communicate with her using the little bits that they knew.
They have kept doing that at the school?
The two new school captains have taken it on and have worked with her teacher aide who knows sign.
It’s a bit of a legacy…
It is really good that I’ve made a change and that is something that hopefully keeps going on even once she’s left.
You also donated your hair for charity
When I was in Grade 4, so 2020.
I donated all that to kids’ cancer. I cut off about 35 centimetres.
I was in a team and we raised a certain amount, then another company came along and doubled it. I think we got to about $45,000.
How does it feel to have achieved so much?
It feels really special to know that I helped a little child in need and helped make them a wig so if they were feeling self-conscious they have a wig.
Can you tell me about the Fred Hollows Award?
That was an award I got for all the work I did at the school and all the work I did chopping my hair, raising the money and I also sold raffle tickets at that time.
It is such a special award to get because it’s all about you cared, you made a difference in the community, you didn’t make a big scene about it.
How do you get time to do all this – is everything scheduled in?
Yes (laughs). I have to set alarms to get up because sometimes we’ll leave early and go to the gym or do homework.
Is it all fun?
Yes, I enjoy doing it all, there’s not a thing there that I don’t enjoy doing.
What do you want to do when you grow up?
When I finish school I want to go travelling with my friends for a year.
Once I’ve done that I want to go to uni and be a neurologist or a marine vet.
