SIXTY students from Canungra State School are covered in sun safe style thanks to a generous donation from the Community Bank Canungra & District – Bendigo Bank.
The local bank donated $2000 to the Lions Club of Beaudesert, supporting them to offer swim shirts to Canungra children for the first time.
Lions, who have been providing short sleeved swim shirts to prep and grade 1 students for 18 years, this year managed to up the ante to provide long sleeved shirts.
It is a gesture well-appreciated by locals.
“It’ll make a huge difference because for students to partake in swimming lessons, they have to have rashies,” said Canungra State School Principal Cindi Dare.
“So, especially with preps because you could imagine trying to get them ready every morning for their swimming lesson, it’s one less thing for parents to worry about because it’s already supplied and it’s great quality.”
Bank chairperson Chris Watkins said the Community Bank Canungra & District – Bendigo Bank was proud to support the initiative.
“As parents and grandparents, we see the necessity for not only the swim classes but the sun safety of students while they learn,” she said.
“Kids have to learn from an early age how important sun safety is, and we live in Australia where sun cancer is the big killer so we at the bank all recognise how important it is.”
In a strong and very visible display of community teamwork, the back and sleeves of each shirt is covered in the logos of the local sponsors who make the project possible.
Thanks to the generous donations of those sponsors, the club was able to provide more than 300 long sleeved swim shirts to children across the region.
Lions President Steve Roberts said sun safety was important.
“Long sleeved shirts are the way we’ll be going from here on in, because it’s a matter of caring for our kids,” he said.
“We get a sense of enjoyment when you see kids out there with our shirts on. They last a long time and it’s good to see them being used and wanted.”
