Term-two school fees were waived at Catholic primary schools in Longreach, Barcaldine and Blackall.
Some of Brisbane’s elite Catholic colleges with long histories of helping country boarders have extended the time for school fee payments and offered bursaries to keep country students in school.
“Our Catholic schools have done a really good job of looking after isolated families,” Australian Boarding Schools Association executive director Richard Stokes said.
That tells you it’s bad,” he said.
“It’s not that the families want handouts.
They just want opportunities to be able to make sure their kids still get an education and that they can have support along the way to make that happen.
“The families haven’t got a lot of money for anything extra.” In Rockhampton diocese, primary schools and colleges have contributed to drought fundraising with lamington drives and “dress as a farmer” events with proceeds used to buy vouchers for families to spend at local food and grocery stores.
“The spirit and generosity of our Catholic Education family has certainly shone through during this appeal,” Rockhampton Catholic Education director Leesa Jeffcoat said.
The main fundraiser involved a team of 10 students competing in “The Great Wheelbarrow Race”, covering 133km from Mareeba to Chillagoe in the Atherton Tablelands.
“It fits in with our values of keeping an eye out for others,” Nudgee College director of identity Anthony Connellan said.