LOCKED behind bars and with the key thrown away, Reidy Park Primary School teacher Jess Magarey gave back to the South East community in a unique way yesterday.
As a prelude to tonight’s Whitelion Bail Out fundraiser, Ms Magarey was cuffed by students and thrown into an Old Mount Gambier Gaol cell yesterday as a community learning activity.
Ms Magarey was initially asked join a long list of South East identities for tonight’s charity event – which requires each participant to raise $1000 or risk a night behind bars – but the primary school educator wanted to include her students in the process.
“I chatted with Old Mount Gambier Gaol owner Mel Stephenson and the event organisers about the process and we came up with the idea of Lock Up Your Teacher,” she said.
“It was a fun way for the kids to be involved and raised the same awareness.
“As well as locking me up, the kids were exposed to a development session to understand talking about problematic situations can actually help.”
Students raised over $600 for Ms Magarey’s bail with all proceeds donated to at-risk youth charity Whitelion.
Ms Magarey said students developed a sense of independence through the fundraising process.
“The children ran the fundraising process on their own at school through a causal clothes day,” she said.
“I think it is beneficial for students to be aware of Whitelion and how people are more disadvantaged than they are”.
Tonight’s Bail Out event starts at 5.30pm and will run until 11.30pm.
