Boorowa boy praised for a bottler of an initiative

Mr Wes Raymond, the Youth Liason Officer for the Canberra/Goulburn St Vincent De Paul’s Society with St Joseph’s Boorowa student John Bromham. Photo supplied.

In 2018 John Bromham wanted to raise funds for the St. Vincent DePaul Society, via Mini Vinnies at St. Joseph’s School Boorowa.

He made a decision to raise funds using the new “Return and Earn” bottle system, as his project to raise the funds. 

John set up a bin at school to collect the juice bottles and containers students had from their lunch orders, as well as encouraging staff and students to fill it with their bottles and containers from home.

John also went to various functions and sporting fixtures throughout the year and collected bottles from these events. People from around the town also donated their bottles, dropping them off at the school or house and John also collected contains from his contacts’ work environments. 

With the support of his family, John would then spend time in the afternoons and on the weekend putting the bottles into bags of 50 and take them down to the local Boorowa Recreation Club to deposit and collect the money.

His initial aim was to raise $500. Midway through the year John reached his goal which he was very excited about, however he was so excited that he changed his goal to $1000. By mid-December he had raised $1015 which was donated to the St. Vincent De Paul’s Christmas Appeal.

On Wednesday February 2019 27, Mr Wes Raymond, the Youth Liason Officer for the Canberra/Goulburn St Vincent De Paul’s Society, visited St. Joseph’s Boorowa and presented John with a special award recognising his efforts and support. Mr Raymond also gave John a personal letter from the Chief Executive Officer, Mr Barnie van Wyk, acknowledging his hard work and devotion and generous donation to the Appeal.

John has decided to continue his fundraising efforts in 2019 and would encourage those who wish to help to save their bottles and containers that are refundable.

These can be dropped off at St. Joseph’s School Boorowa in the designated Yellow Recycable Bin under the covered outdoor area.

John would also like to thank all those who have and are supporting his fundraising campaign.

• Brendan Maynard is the Principal of St Joseph’s, Boorowa.
• “Bottler” is Australian slang for something excellent. Fair dinkum!