Teachers make a splash for cancer awareness

By Owen Sinclair

Sep 23, 2024

Jane Grenfell’s daughter Stephanie Arundel, Jane’s partner, Wayne Grenfell, and daughter Montana Sheafe and her partner, Mark Sheafe. Photo: Anne-Marie Hindle.

Students and staff at Cobram Secondary College rallied together to raise awareness around cancer on Thursday, September 19.

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Named after beloved mother and educator Jane Grenfell, the Grenfell Cup is an annual event on the CSC calendar in the last days of school term.

The late Mrs Grenfell’s daughter, Stephanie Arundel, said the eventful day was exactly what her mum would have wanted.

“Mum was fiercely competitive — loved sport, loved her dress-ups. So, the whole school dressing up in her name and playing dodgeball and competing for something in this fun, meaningful way is exactly down to a tee what she would have wanted.

“Right to the end she just fought, fought, fought — she just never gave up.

“I think it’s a great legacy they’ve put together ... in memory of everybody who is suffering or suffered cancer that’s been connected with the school.”

This year, students and staff participated in a range of activities, from dodgeball to beanbag curling and everything in between.

A highlight of the day’s events was the dunking of the teachers.

It was an activity not to be missed.

For a gold coin donation, students lined up for the opportunity to plunge their teachers into a corrugated iron tank of bracing water fresh from the hose.

All funds raised went towards cancer research.

Teacher Marley Chia after a plunge into the dunk pool. Photo by Owen Sinclair

Year 7 student Isabelle Foster led a petition to convince her teacher Adrian Ried of student support for him to enter the dunk tank.

After Mr Ried challenged the students that their petition would get no more than 50 signatures, it came as a surprise to some when no fewer than 150 students signed the petition.

For Mr Ried, the students’ concerted efforts meant a refreshing dip into the plunge tank.

For Ms Foster, the effort to garner signatures paid off in the end.

“He’s a good teacher and all ... it felt really good to finally dunk him,” Ms Foster said.

“We showed him what would happen.”