Title

Survivors of devastating bushfires supported by fundraiser

Document Type

Media Release

Publication Date

Spring 7-9-2011

Publisher Name

The University of Notre Dame, Fremantle Campus

Publication Place

Fremantle

Abstract

A creative sponsorship program developed by Public Relations students at The University of Notre Dame Australia's Fremantle Campus has contributed to raising more than $100,000 for the Toodyay Lions Club and the Royal Flying Doctor Service.

The Toodyay Community Bank Postie Bike Run involved a touring party of 44 people travelling over eight days from Toodyay, in Western Australia's Wheatbelt region, to the Kimberley town of Broome.

The innovative event was coordinated by Lions Club member Alan Rose to raise money for the Toodyay community which was devastated by a bushfire in December 2009.

Members from the Toodyay Lions Club presented Senior Lecturer in Marketing and Public Relations, Ms Vikki Baldwin, and the Public Relations students with a commemorative plaque for their contribution towards the event.

Notre Dame student, Laura Toft, speaks about being part of this rewarding project.

" I am one of the 25 Public Relations students from The University of Notre Dame Australia who worked on a special project for the 2011 Postie Bike Run, lead by our lecturer, Ms Baldwin.

Our team worked with Max and Millie Heath, members from the Toodyay Lions Club, for more than two semesters creating a sponsorship program to support the Bike Run.

We designed letters as part of a sponsorship pack to seek cash and in-kind donations from local and national businesses. We were very excited when our efforts contributed more than $1000 to the total funds raised from the event.

This was a fantastic opportunity and the assessment was extremely beneficial for our professional development.

Having the opportunity to work with the Toodyay Lions Club was a really rewarding experience and it was really great to know that as a student we were able to help the Toodyay community as well as gaining valuable workplace experience.

This project gave me a strong sense of direction in regards to the career path I want to follow when I graduate from university."

The assessment, created by Ms Baldwin, was designed to give students the opportunity to apply their knowledge of public relations in a 'real life' context.

"I believe the more real I can make a learning experience for my students, the richer their study experience becomes," Ms Baldwin said.

Mr Rose said the proceeds will be divided between The Royal Flying Doctor Service and the Toodyay Lions Club to help the Toodyay community "get back on their feet".

Media Contact: Leigh Dawson (+61) 8 9433 0569, Mob (+61) 0408 959 138

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