DEDICATED: Parent of the Year Rhonda Ward takes it in her stride. Photo: JUDE KEOGH 1026mum1
RHONDA Ward does not believe she is anyone special, but anyone who has had anything to do with Cargo Public School disagrees.
Ms Ward recently picked up the Western NSW Region Parent of the Year Award.
Ms Ward is a foster mother of two children, aged 12 and three, and she adopted two children who are now 24 and 21.
Ms Ward has been a dedicated P and C association member since her daughter took her first steps inside the school.
She believes she is just doing her bit to help out a small school.
“You have to help out in a small school,” she said.
“If people don’t help out things start to fall apart.”
One of her biggest achievements for the school was obtaining a mini bus.
Ms Ward spent many hours helping to raise about $6000 for the bus, which also benefits the wider community.
“It’s great for everybody because we hire it out to the community,” she said.
“We can take the students to terrific places on excursion and it means the parents don’t have to drive out.”
Ms Ward went to all sorts of interesting lengths to raise the funds.
In a small town, raising that kind of money can be extremely difficult, she said.
“We had an auction at Cargo Road Wines and a tasting,” she said.
“That was a bit interesting.”
Ms Ward was elected president of the P and C about four years ago.
Her 12-year-old will head to high school next year, but she assured she will still stick it out with Cargo Public School.
“I probably won’t be president though,” she said.
She said she nearly died when principal Sharon Hawker told her of the nomination for the award.
She believes the award is more of a team effort.
“We have a really good P and C group,” she said.
The Parent of the Year Award acknowledges parents, guardians and caregivers who have made a significant contribution to their government school community.
nicole.kuter@fairfaxmedia.com.au