A Tuart Hill primary school community has come together to honour a beloved teacher by funding life-changing mobility for children with disability in Africa. St Kieran Catholic Primary School recently made a $1500 donation to Wheelchairs For Kids Australia in memory of Sally Hart, who died this year after a short illness. The donation funded five wheelchairs bound for Malawi, each carrying a memorial plaque in remembrance of Ms Hart, placed by her husband Steve and former colleagues.
A tribute to a passionate advocate
Ms Hart was an assistant principal at the school and was known as a passionate advocate for children with disability. St Kieran’s acting principal Anthony Davis said the school was proud to recognise and pay tribute to Ms Hart through this gesture, given she had made a profound and positive impact on so many students’ lives, especially those with diverse learning needs.
“Sally, a dedicated and faith-filled educator for 30 years, including nine years as assistant principal at St Kieran, was a passionate advocate for inclusive education,” Mr Davis said. “She believed every child deserved the opportunity to participate fully, inspiring the school’s partnership with Wheelchairs For Kids.”
Continuing a legacy of kindness
The school said it believed the tribute captured Ms Hart’s kindness and advocacy. “For the St Kieran community, this gesture reflects Sally’s enduring commitment to inclusion, compassion, and opportunity for all,” Mr Davis said. “Her legacy will continue to make a difference not only within the school, but in the lives of children around the world.”
The five wheelchairs were built in Wangara by volunteers at Wheelchairs For Kids Australia, with each one costing $300 to produce. Wheelchairs For Kids Australia CEO Greg Hebble said it was incredibly special for the organisation to be part of tributes like this.
“While every wheelchair we send changes a child’s life, knowing that these five wheelchairs have also become part of Sally Hart’s legacy makes them especially meaningful,” he said. “Sally’s school community have created something lasting and practical in her memory, giving children in developing countries the gift of mobility, independence and opportunity. As a schoolteacher, Sally was only too aware of the importance of children attending school, and a wheelchair makes this possible for children in developing countries with no other access to mobility aids.”
