The recent global financial crisis hasn’t dampened the generosity of the University community, says Curtin’s Campus and Community Life coordinator Maureen Meredith.
A generosity to the tune of $52,433.
‘Our fundraising during 2009, in a recession year, was up $20,000 on the previous year – it’s been our best year yet,’ Maureen said.
‘The World’s Greatest Shave alone was up $10,000.’
Maureen helps coordinate a range of fundraising activities during the year- including several annual events like the World’s Greatest Shave for the Leukemia Foundation – both on and off campus.
‘We’ve supported the Cancer Council’s Daffodil Day for many, many years … and this year Movember was a new one,’ Maureen said.
Maureen said she greatly appreciates the assistance of the two US interns recruited by Campus and Community Life each semester.
‘The first day I have them working is Guild O-day and they’ll say, “Yeah, Mo gave us this job and we had to go around the University and we had to try to get people to shave their head – and that was our first day,” ’ Maureen said.
‘It’s pretty confronting for them, but we get the benefit of their enthusiasm and I give them every opportunity to contribute new ideas.’
‘They organised the Zoolander Walk Off for the Princess Margaret Hospital fundraising day, and they really motivated some of our local students to participate.’
Maureen said in addition to the one-off fundraising events, Curtin staff supported The Make a Wish Foundation and Wheelchairs for Kids through regular salary deductions.
Maureen also coordinates the Parkerville Children’s Home Christmas gift program, which has been running for eight years.
‘I get in touch with Parkerville in October and they give me a list of 50-60 names and a list of what the children would hope to get,’ Maureen said.
‘The interesting thing is that for the last two years Curtin’s Financial Services have taken on the whole 60 children.’
Maureen says she tries to work closely with the Curtin Student Guild who were always willing to support on-campus events.
‘Everybody’s worked so well together.’
Maureen said she was proud the University supported a position such as hers and was so committed to supporting community-orientated projects.
‘We can provide an environment in which students are encouraged to think about doing things for people other than themselves,’ Maureen said.
‘I love my job – it’s the best job in the world – I love working with these people every day.’
‘It’s a snowball effect too, they’ll effect other people in their lives and pass on the stuff they’ve learned and they know.’
