Fashion fundraiser returns for 25th year

The St Joseph's Vocational School has been established thanks to the fashion fundraising event. Photos: SUPPLIED

MORE than 200 people will come together tomorrow evening (Friday, October 11) to raise funds for the Kensekka community in Uganda at St Joseph’s College Geelong’s Parent Network Fashion Dinner.

The fundraising event at Mt Duneed Estate will feature a live fashion show, a two-course meal and plenty of raffles and auctions to support the cause.

St Joseph’s College has been working with the Kensekka community in Uganda for 25 years.

The Geelong institution has since established the St Joseph’s Vocational Secondary School in Kensekka and has supported the delivery of a local dam, a bore and water purification devices.

School principal Tony Paatsch said the fashion dinner has had a huge impact since its inception.

“Over its 25-year lifespan, it’s been hugely successful and grown from real humbling beginnings,” he said.

“The community at Kensekka are incredibly poor with almost no source of income, it’s pretty much just subsistence farming.

“This event provides essentially the majority of the funds for the school to run. That’s the teacher salaries, the paper, and most importantly a meal for every kid every day.

“The fashion dinner itself is obviously a lot of fun, but it’s also a heartening display of community support.”

Staff from St Joseph’s College Geelong with students from the St Joseph’s Vocational Secondary School in Kensekka, Uganda.

Mr Paatsch said the event had raised between $20,000 to $30,000 annually over the past eight years and a whopping $300,000 since its inception.

“The support goes along way,” he said. “Thanks to our community and sponsors, the school has two classrooms, a toilet and qualified teachers.

“It now provides bricklaying and tailoring and students are now starting to make product to sell to other schools to make some income.

“Hopefully we can raise in the vicinity of the $20,000–$30,000 mark again this year.”

Eyewear on Pako, Pearls and Roses Bridal, Ghanda, Elm Lifestyle, The Luxe Closet and Ena Pelly will be among the fashion houses to be exhibiting tonight.

Gartland Properties and The Ponds will again be the presenting partners for the event.

Last-minute tickets are on sale for $120 per person with tables of up to 10 guests available.

For more information, head to events.humanitix.com/sjc-parent-network-fashion-dinner-2024