Colour run brightened a dull school year

Gorokan students getting ready to get messy at the school’s inaugural colour run

Gorokan Public School has brightened what’s been a dull school year for many through its inaugural colour run.

The special whole school event was held on August 21 and saw each year group take to the school’s oval in tutus, fairy wings, clown wigs and various other novelty wear to tackle the colour explosion obstacle course.

Teachers and staff also got in on the fun and were stationed throughout to douse students in coloured powders as they ran the course.

Principal, Jesmond Zammit, said the colour run was held to give students a positive memory in a school year dominated by the coronavirus pandemic.

“The run came about as we were looking for a way to give something back to our Year 6 kids who’ve missed out on so many of the traditional Year 6 experiences due to the pandemic.

“We wanted to make sure that they had something to remember their last year at Gorokan by other than just Covid,” Zammit explained.

“And it was such a wonderful day.

“I’ve had students coming up to me and asking ‘Mr Zammit can we do this every Friday’ and the kids have all had so much fun getting colourful.

“It’s definitely something we’ll consider making a regular event,” Zammit said.

The event also acted as a major fundraiser for the Year 6 cohort with the funds raised to be put towards their end of year gift to the school and their farewell, should current COVID regulations change to allow such events to go ahead by the end of the school year.

“We have raised around $20,000, and while a portion of that will be kept by our sponsoring partner, Australian Fundraising, this is still an incredible result.

“Even though we couldn’t have them come along to the colour run today, I want parents to know that we appreciate how supportive and understanding they have been of the changes to our school and their children’s education due to COVID restrictions.

“They have been so positive.

“I can’t praise them enough,” Zammit said.

Dilon Luke