Stone cold Des Hudson

WHAT started out as a way of keeping staff at Phoenix P-12 Community College connected during COVID-19 lockdown has ended with City of Ballarat councillor and Victoria Police Senior Constable Des Hudson having 12 buckets of icy water dumped on his head.

Along the way the school community has raised about $2500 for cancer charity Love Your Sister.

“It started off as what I called an iso challenge,” said organiser Brendan Johnston. “You could sense that teachers were felling disconnected from the school during remote learning.

“The staff have just taken it on board, and it’s been a lot of fun. The fundraising’s been great, but the way teachers have been involved in it has been absolutely fantastic.”

Out of about 190 teachers, aids and support personnel, 90 per cent took part, with each nominating a colleague once they had taken the chill ride.

Senior Constable Hudson, who visits Phoenix as part of the Police in Schools program, was nominated by his wife who works at the P-12 collage as a teaching aid.

Originally, he considered going for a very large tub of cold water and trying to raise $1000, but ultimately went with 10 buckets at $100 each. They sold out quickly.

“Clearly I have annoyed a lot of people over a long period of time,” he joked. “But really they are just supportive of the community event and the cause. We’ve probably all known someone that’s succumb the dreaded cancer.

“I just a chance to do your bit and know the money will go to a great cause.”