Learning how to be strong, compassionate and effective members of a community is vital to the girls’ learning at Fairholme.
We recognise that serving others is an important aspect of our everyday experience as we live and learn within this community. Understanding how to be strong, compassionate and effective members of a community is vital to everyone’s experience at Fairholme.
Service is seen daily through considered and intentional care of others. Moreover, Fairholme consciously reaches out to serve those beyond our immediate community - locally, nationally and globally. Girls may be involved at many levels, whether as direct participants, as supporters of particular projects or through leading service campaigns for the community.
Fairholme recognises that our girls are already members of many communities and will engage in many more in their lifetime. We aim to enable girls to not only understand and appreciate their participation in such groups, but to step well beyond that to be a critical influence through purposeful contributions and leadership, all the while serving with humility, compassion, strength and without prejudice.
Will you let me be your servant; Let me be as Christ to you…
The Servant Song by Richard Gillard
Service Learning Opportunities
Service learning opportunities in the Middle and Senior Schools include programs such as:
Cambodia Service Trip
Each year, students in Years 10 and 11 are offered a life-changing opportunity to travel to Cambodia exploring its wonders and working alongside RAW Impact to support generational change for vulnerable communities.
This trip is a truly transformative adventure. It offers students the chance to experience a vibrant and enriching culture while serving generously within a bamboo village community in Cambodia.
Service News
Our Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award girls experienced the true spirit of adventure on board the South Passage Sailing Expedition for their Practice and Qualifying Adventurous Journey. From the moment they stepped aboard, the girls were immersed in life at sea. They quickly developed practical sailing skills, mastering essential sailing knots, learning navigation techniques, and taking part in the daily routines that keep a vessel moving, including hoisting halyards, steering the vessel, and stepping up for night watch duties. Beyond the technical, there were also opportunities to enjoy snorkelling and swimming in beautiful Tangalooma Bay. Designed to be challenging, rigorous and enjoyable, this Adventurous Journey certainly delivered on every level. To their credit, the girls presented with great courage and grace under pressure. Rod Burgess, President of South Passage – Adventure Under Sail, praised the group’s conduct and spirit. ‘Moments like these highlight the value of experiential learning and the purpose of the Duke of Edinburgh Adventurous Journey. Sailing places young people in a dynamic environment where teamwork, communication, problem-solving and resilience are not just concepts but essential life skills. The Fairholme students supported one another, remained composed, and continued to engage positively with the voyage despite the challenging conditions. Please pass on our sincere thanks to the students for the way they conducted themselves on board. They represented Fairholme College exceptionally well, and our crew commented on their positive attitude and willingness to rise to the occasion.’ For the students themselves, the experience left a lasting impression. Year 9 student Emaya Fegan reflected on the journey with gratitude. ‘I just wanted to properly thank you for all that you did for us over the weekend. Although the weather was a bit crazy at times, with the rain and wind, it actually made the experience more exciting and memorable. I really appreciated the time and effort that you put in for us—it made a big difference, especially in those tougher moments. Your support, guidance and willingness to help everyone did not go unnoticed. It truly helped make the whole trip a success.’ Experiences like the South Passage expedition and the Duke of Edinburgh program are a great reminder that learning extends far beyond the classroom. Through challenge and adventure, students discover not only new skills but also their own strength of character. We are incredibly proud of these future leaders and their tremendous effort and contributions throughout the voyage.
Across 13 to 15 March, Fairholme College was proud to be involved in and support the Motherland Australia National Conference held in Toowoomba, an event dedicated to strengthening connection, wellbeing and support for rural mothers across the country. Motherland Australia is a nationally recognised charity that works to reduce isolation and improve mental health outcomes for women living and raising families in regional and remote communities. On Saturday, a group of Fairholme boarders attended the conference, facilitating a bracelet making workshop and connecting with more than 300 rural mums from across Australia. Many girls made connections with people from their home towns or those that knew their families. The activity created a warm, welcoming space for conversation and creativity, reinforcing the importance of community, shared experience and mutual support among rural women. For Fairholme, one of Australia’s largest all-girls boarding schools, the Motherland message is one of great importance. Our students and families come from all over regional and rural Australia, and we see firsthand the challenges distance and isolation can present. Supporting initiatives that bring rural women together aligns strongly with Fairholme’s commitment to community, wellbeing and leadership. The experience also provided our boarders with a meaningful opportunity to serve others, develop empathy and engage with the broader rural communities they proudly represent.
How long have you been a student at Fairholme? I joined Fairholme in 2021 as a Year 7 Day Girl, so I am now in my sixth year at the College. What drew you to the role of Prefect for Service? I have always been involved in service activities at Fairholme, and over time it became something I was really passionate about. I was always inspired by the work that Interact does and the positive impact it has both within Fairholme and in the wider community. Watching older students organise and lead initiatives such as Shave for a Cure and Share the Dignity motivated me and seeing their courage and commitment made me want to contribute in the same way. Do you have a favourite or most memorable service activity you’ve been involved in? Definitely, Homework Help. I participated in it during both Year 10 and Year 11, and it quickly became one of the most rewarding experiences I have ever had. Being able to engage with children from various backgrounds and build friendships with them was really special. Seeing their faces light up when they achieved something made the experience incredibly fulfilling, and it truly felt like we were making a meaningful difference in the community. Has there been a particular influence on your passion for helping others? I would say my grandma has always set a positive example as she was always very involved in helping her community at Warra, whether through volunteering her time or organising local events. Seeing the impact she had on others shaped the way I think about service and ultimately shaped my passion for helping others. What advice would you give to students who might be unsure about getting involved in service activities? My advice would simply be to just sign up and give it a go. It can sometimes feel a little daunting trying something new, but service activities are always welcoming and enjoyable experiences. Not only do you get to spend time with friends and meet new people, but you also gain a lot of perspective about the world around you. It really helps you appreciate what you have and understand how much even small efforts can mean to others. Once you get involved, you quickly realise how rewarding it is. Do you hope to continue volunteering after school? I would love to. I love volunteering and I am hopeful to volunteer all around the world when I am older and get the opportunity to travel. It would be really special to make a significant difference in both my local community but also in communities around the world. What’s a random fact about you that most people might not know? A random fact about me is that I danced for fourteen years of my life. It was a huge part of my life growing up. I started when I was three years old and continued all the way until the end of Year 11, when I finished at seventeen, training in the disciplines of Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Irish and Contemporary.
How long have you been a student at Fairholme? I’ve been at Fairholme since I was in Year 10, so I’m beginning my third year here this year. What made you want to become the Prefect for Ministry? I wanted to become Prefect for Ministry to really help draw girls closer to God, but to also help girls to learn more about the Bible in a more relatable and interesting way that would make them enjoy learning about God and the Bible more. What part of the role have you been enjoying most? The part of my role I enjoy the most would definitely be the messages I get to write for Chapels. It’s been quite enjoyable to be able to take a Bible story and retell it in a more modernised or entertaining way to get people more engaged during Chapels. It’s also helped me learn more about the Bible as well, which has been good. Who has been your biggest influence or inspiration in your faith journey? The biggest influence in my faith journey would have to be some of my old church friends or Mr Cavanough. Having chats about faith and religion to either has been really helpful in deepening my understanding and beliefs. But of course, the biggest inspiration would have to be Jesus and God themselves. Can’t get more inspiring than them. What advice would you give your Year 7 self? I would tell her to just trust what God has in store for you, and that everything would work out for the best in the end. And also to just go to bed instead of pulling all-nighters on assignments; it really never was that serious. Go enjoy your life with your friends instead. Do you see faith or serving others continuing to be part of your life after school? Yes, absolutely. My faith will definitely continue to play a big part of my life after I leave Fairholme. While I may no longer be a Ministry Prefect - unfortunately - I will still keep my faith central in my life long after I finish school. What’s a random fact about you that most people might not know? A random fact about me would be that I don’t have pets in Australia, but I have five pet chickens in Zimbabwe.
