Firing up: Cherrybrook Rural Fire Brigade delivered their annual raffle prize — a wheelbarrow full of presents — to the Sullivan family of Cherrybrook. The raffle raises funds for fire fighting equipment and renovations to the station. The other raffle prize was a beautiful handmade quilt, won by Erica Mann of Coogee. The brigade then prepared the truck for the annual Santa run through the streets of Cherrybrook to collect donations for the Children’s’ Hospital at Westmead.
Hard work pays off: Students of Castle Hill’s Latch On graduated with a Certificate II in Literacy and Technology recently. The students, who have an intellectual disability, participated in the two-year program for two days each week. The course work includes literacy, communication and computer skills and also helps develop students’ self-confidence, interaction and employability. Pictured are students Cameron Mathewson, Daniel Brotheridge, Sandesh Nayagar, Lisa Jaffrey, Nick Jones, James Meagher and Courtney Talbot and Lynne Gardner from the Talbot Family Foundation.
Recognition: Hills mayor Michelle Byrne presented The Hills Shire Council’s Local Government School Citizenship Awards to students in kindergarten to year 12 in schools across the shire. She is pictured with one recipient Charlotte Rafter, nine, from St Gabriel’s School at Castle Hill.
Volunteer fun day: Students from the Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children enjoyed a day of activities and fun hosted by 30 Vodafone employee volunteers last month. Students enjoyed the kindi farm, face painting and craft activities. The institute’s chief executive, Chris Rehn, said he was extremely grateful. ‘‘As a charity, [the institute] relies significantly on the generosity of the community to make a difference in the lives of children with vision or hearing loss,’’ Mr Rehn said.