Washington school comes together to support Australian bushfire relief fund

Holley Park Academy Australian PE teacher Chris Rodger (left) and football boots donations from Gary Sykes (R) at Australian bush fire appeal fundraiser event

Children at Holley Park Academy, in Washington, raised more than £1,000 for the Australian bushfire appeal after their teacher Chris Rodger, from Adelaide, decided he wanted to do something to help his countrymen Down Under

PE teacher Chris, who left Australia 10 years ago to come to the UK, felt deeply affected by the bushfires which have ravaged his home country.

The event included children at the school taking part in a number of sporting activities throughout the day, with the help of Jon King of Sport King Coaches who provided a speedcage for the event.

Holley Park Academy Australian bush fire appeal fundraiser event

Jon said: “Hearing that Holly Park Primary School in Washington were supporting this awful disaster we wanted to help.

“Seeing all of the people and wildlife suffering is so upsetting, this is the least Sports King could do.”

Chris’ home city of Adelaide has been one of the worst affected areas of the fires as they swept across the country killing 28 people, destroying over 3000 homes, affecting up to a billion animals and forcing people to evacuate their homes.

Other large Australian cities including Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra have endured dangerous air quality levels due to smoke from nearby fires.

The New South Wales Rural Fire Service announced on Monday that for the first time in 240 days there were no active bushfires in the area as cooler temperatures begin to take affect.