Chanel College students Tayla-Cade Gerrard (left), Lucy Britland and Odette Bayliss with some of the dresses donated for their fellow students to wear. PHOTO/JAKE BELESKI
By Jake Beleski
Three Chanel College students have spent the last three weeks adding the finishing touches to their own fairy tale story.
Year 13 students, Tayla-Cade Gerrard, Odette Bayliss and Lucy Britland, have been working hard to ensure all Year 12 and 13 students will have the chance to attend this year’s school ball, being held at the Copthorne Hotel and Resort on Saturday.
When it became clear that some students would not be able to attend due to financial issues, the trio decided to act.
For head girl Tayla-Cade, it was about giving everyone the chance to enjoy the event.
“We were just talking to some of the girls and asking if they were coming to the ball, and lots of them were saying they wouldn’t come because it was too expensive.
“It kept happening for a few weeks and we just thought ‘this isn’t cool’.”
Tickets for the ball are $75, and Odette said they had spent the last three weeks thinking of ways they could help their fellow students.
“In the first week, we got people to bring in dresses, jewellery and shoes, so the girls who didn’t have dresses had some options and that sort of thing.
“Each class has also done a bake sale for the past couple of weeks.”
The bake sales had raised over $100, and that would be spread around students in need, she said.
“The school has identified which girls can’t afford to come and we’ve discussed that as well.
“We’ll spread it around and take it off their ticket prices where we can.”
Students from the University College of Learning would be helping out by doing students’ makeup for free on the day of the event.
It was important nobody missed out just because of money, Odette said.
“One of our values is community, and we had a really good time at the ball last year when we were Year 12, so we really wanted the other girls to be able to have that experience.
“We want it to be a big ball so everyone is all together and included.”
Lucy said the ball provided an opportunity to not only have a great night, but also to interact with fellow students outside of the classroom.
“You get to interact with everyone and it ends up being a really good time.”
