Farewell of Farrar Public School for the Deaf

Rest In Peace

1946 - 2000

History - 1971

Six-year-old deaf pupil Ward Tooker, of Auburn is seen here presenting a cheque for $140.50 to Mr. J.H. Rorke, National Director of Austcare.

The presentation was made at the Farrar School for Deaf Children, Croydon Park.

(Sydney Morning Herald photo)

THE SUNDAY Australian asked, when it published this picture of a little Pakistani girl on June 6, if anyone cared about the Bengali refugees.

The answer is: Yes, Australian children did and do care.

One fact that emerges from the Austcare appeal for the victims of the Pakistan civil conflict is that Australian children have a heart.

And that it is bigger than the heart of their parents, whether they are company directors of trade unionists.

The national director of Austcare, Mr John Rorke, believes the appeal will reach $500,000. He gives a lot of credit to children.

"Kids take a purely humanitarian attitude," he says. "There is definitely an increasing awareness among them - more so than with their parents."

"Parents say they cannot be sure their donation will get to the right people. Kids say, the more you send the more will get there."

"If we had gained tax deductibility for the appeal we would be taking in millions."

Austcare sent letters to 58,000 companies who gave "a surprising number of replies." But donations were small.

No letters were sent to unions. Some has sent donations but there were modest.

"I know the unions are interested," say Mr Rorke, "Bob Hawke is going to meet General Paul; Cullen, Austcare's National president."

Two points to qualify the kind-hearted kids' argument: presumably unionists and company men often give as individuals; and some children's donations are simply passed on from parents.

But the response from schools is expected to be more than $100,000 - more than one-fifth of the total. And nearly eight letters were send to companies for every one sent to schools.

The children's donations included $140 from the Farrar School for the Deaf Children in Croydon Park, Sydney. The children's average age is 6½ and they worked for their money.

It was handed over by Ward Tooker, six. His seven-year-old sister accompanied him on his fund-raising mission - to make sure he would do the job properly and as his safety escort.

There are only 48 children at the school. The headmaster, Mr Ross Shaw, says: "Deaf children often receive. They wanted to experience the warmth of giving."

The Methodist Ladies College, Melbourne, raised $2400 and several schools collected $1000.

Latest figures from the Australian Council for Overseas Aid show a total of $762,264 in cash and kind has been raised for the refugees. It is expected this figure will reach about $1 million, included the Austcare cash appeal.

Austcare's general doorknock appeal has reached more the $700,000. About $100,000 of this will probably go to the refugees.