Chappy Knight

Dear Supporters,

Welcome to the Walkerston State School Chaplaincy Service, located in the Pioneer Valley outside of Mackay in Central Queensland.

My name is Chantal, and I am known as Chappy Knight, or just Chappy to our school community. 

Over the past 20 months of being in the school, I have been very privileged to work with an amazing team of staff who have been exceptionally welcoming to me from the beginning of my time in the school. Throughout the past (almost 2 years) I have enjoyed spending time with them in their classrooms getting to know all of the students where these strengthened relationships have enabled me to support not just the students, but also the teachers and teacher aides too.

At Walkerston, I am truly honoured to have been given the opportunity to get to know all of the wonderful parents on the P&C who have been so kind and generous in their support. It is amazing to especially see how much they value the Breakfast Club in their school, which began many years ago through previous chaplains in the Chaplaincy Service by SUQLD, that they have continued to move forward with managing and running the program themselves with the ongoing support and sponsorship of local businesses. At Walkerston State School, this is called, 'The Scrubby Way!' which is an old endearing term for the strength and unity of the Walkerston community named after Scrubby Creek dating back to 1860 when the town was established... pretty cool hey :)

In the time that I have been at this school, I started with just humble beginnings. A few colouring books I brought from home, and some colouring-in pencils that were purchased by the previous chaplain, I began with a few students colouring-in by the fairy garden at lunchtimes which has now grown into a full classroom of students that are able to engage in different activities in their lunchtimes on Mondays and Wednesdays.

Whilst this is only one facet of the Chaplaincy Service, I look forward to sharing the many other facets with you in this BLOG to keep you updated on the progress, growth and the life that the service brings to the school.

So, I would like to thank you for your support throughout the years for this service. It is because of you and your support, through many ways of giving such as prayer and financial donations that help keep chappies in schools, that together we are able to support the Walkerston State School community's needs whether social, emotional, spiritual, educational, and even their everyday basic needs, by bringing God's love, hope and good news to the students, and their families.

Because of your generous donations and with the help from Australian Government funding that supports chaplaincy in schools, the fruit of this service at Walkerston is now beginning to blossom and there is still much work to do. For this reason, I thank you in advance for your ongoing support and donations, and also I would like to say "Welcome and Thank You!" to any new supporters of the Walkerston Chaplaincy Service, as we do rely on community donations to keep this service to the school and families in need going.

Thank you in advance again.

God Bless you and may the peace of God be with you.

Chantal - Chappy Knight