Community & Business
14 June, 2023
High School students wear flannel for farmers
The Oakey State High School Student Representative Council held a successful “Flanno for Farmers” free dress day supporting Drought Angels.
The Student Council raised several hundred dollars for the event, which was well supported.
Participants came in their best-dressed denim jeans and flannel shirts with a gold coin donation.
The event was run in support of the Drought Angels charity based in Chinchilla, which raises money for care packs, food hampers and mental health support as well as basic financial support.
According to a 2021 study on the charity website, one farmer completes suicide every 10 days, a rate much higher than average.
Student Council Environmental Chair, Charlotte Densley worked with Drought Angels, who provided some prizes for the Young Farmers Challenges which students with which were involved.
Acting Principal Lachlan O’Connell told the Champion that the event was a “whole lot of fun”.
“There were 3 x heats – 7/8s, 9/10s, 11/12s,” he said.
“A teacher team competed for fun (not in the running to go to the Grand Final) – the teacher team won their heat.”
The Year 9/10 team (“The Boys”) took out the prize, with the Year 11/12 team (“The Haybale Committee”) coming in second and the Year 7/8 team (“The Dusties”) coming up as wooden spooners.
The event consisted of four legs.
Leg 1 involved gettting out of the swag and rolling it up (to simulate a farmer waking up in the morning).
Leg 2 involved an egg and spoon race (the farmer collecting the eggs in the morning).
Leg 3 was a wheelbarrow race (farmers using a wheelbarrow around the farm).
Leg 4 – was the eating challenge (e.g. eating a dried Weet Bix and a spoon of Vegemite – diet of a farmer).
