09 Oct 2011
Friday, May 7 will remain a memorable day for the students at the Chester Hill Intensive English Centre with 56 OPTUS middle management personnel volunteering for gardening, mural painting and mini Olympic sports. The day reflected a great sense of teamwork, responsibility and delegation, showing the many benefits of cooperation between OPTUS and the community.
Student leaders were involved in planning the day with the staff. The students, staff and the OPTUS volunteers refurbished the gardens and put in new plants. They also constructed a huge mural and painted postcards on the outside wall of one classroom. The postcards represent the many countries of IEC students.
OPTUS generously sponsored the special day, paying for all the expenses, including "a wonderful morning tea and a sumptuous lunch for everyone".
The IEC has benefited from the partnership with OPTUS since 2009, through the 100 Faces mentoring program and there have been many expressions of interest from OPTUS mentors for voluntary reading support. Bankstown Council had donated 100 native seedlings and Greenhaven Garden Centre of Leppington donated about 50 potted plants for the school gardens. Bunnings Villawood too had assisted generously with a kind donation of some gardening tools.
The day culminated with students, staff and OPTUS managers taking part in mini Olympic sports in the afternoon, with lots of fun and enjoyment, especially with the tug-of-war between the OPTUS staff and the IEC students. "We have never had a day like this before. We are so grateful to OPTUS," the students said.