Slinging snags for travel

The Year five and six students at Moulden Park School in Darwin are one step closer to jumping on the plane for their first Canberra excursion.  

It’s all thanks to Monos’ rigger and scaffolder, Chris Mackie – the father of one of the trip attendees – who asked local butcher, Palmerston Quality Meats, if they would consider raffling off meat trays in the name of travel and education. 

“We buy all our meat from them, so when we asked if they’d be open to donating, they said they were happy to support the local community,” Chris said. 

Through the raffles, more than $3,000 has been raised to help make the trip happen. But the support has gone far beyond a raffle ticket; it is helping to break barriers and create opportunities that many of the students never thought possible. 

“For several students, this will be their first time leaving the Northern Territory or even flying on a plane. One family even shared that this will be the first time anyone in their family has ever left the NT – a powerful and emotional first,” Moulden Park School Principal, Sylvia Gregory said. 

“While in Canberra, our students will visit Parliament House, the Australian War Memorial, Questacon, and other national institutions. These experiences will help bring their learning to life – deepening their understanding of Australian history, democracy, science, and culture,” Sylvia explained. 

Chris and his daughter Ruby have been keeping busy encouraging people to buy raffle tickets for the worthy cause, with the winners of each prize being announced via the school’s Facebook page. 

“Thank you to everyone who has rallied around us. We really appreciate the support,” Chris said. 

For some, a raffle may have been about winning a meat tray, but for Moulden Park, the real prize is opening their students’ eyes to a bigger, brighter future.