Mountain walk raises funds for water security
By Damita Whiteley, Catholic Education Tasmania
Physical and mental endurance was pushed to the limit when a group of students carried a sink to the summit of Mount Wellington—all in the name of water security.
Grade 9 students from St Aloysius Catholic College in Kingborough participated in the Sink To Summit Challenge on 27 February.
The students walked 10 kilometres at 1,190 metres in elevation, from the Waterworks Reserve to the summit, to raise funds and awareness for Project Compassion’s ‘The Big Water Walk for Schools’.
Funds raised from the water walks are used to support people in Africa, Asia and the Pacific who have to walk long distances to collect clean water every day.
“Having done the Sink to Summit, I am more grateful for what I have. I can go to a tap in my house anytime to get clean water and not have to walk a long distance to a river,” Charlie Ricciardello said, a Grade 9 student at St Aloysius.
Students raised in excess of their $1,000 target for the Sink to Summit Challenge.
“This would establish a domestic water collection point in rural Tanzania, providing safe drinking water to 400 people—that’s more than the Senior Campus staff and students combined,” St Aloysius Mission Director Polly Marriott said.
Project Compassion is an annual fundraiser run by Caritas Australia during the Lenten period, which raises funds to assist those living in poverty across the world.
The 2026 fundraisers are focused on challenges surrounding global water security, and Catholic schools across Tasmania have been participating through holding fundraising events that focus on walking and water scarcity.
“Project Compassion is our major charity fundraiser for the year. It runs for the 6 weeks of Lent and is a huge eye-opener for students as they watch videos of people around the world and the daily struggles they face because of poverty,” Polly said.
“By experiencing just a little strain or discomfort with the Sink to Summit challenge it gives students just a tiny insight into the daily struggles felt by millions all over the world, including their peers.
“This experience will hopefully help build empathy for others, highlight how they can make a change and inspire our students to take more action to make the world a better and more just place for all.”