The 2009 year six/seven class put together about 50 school backpacks equipped with items needed for the school year.

In each backpack there was also a note to the child receiving the bag.

Students at Allanson have now received letters of appreciation from the students in Victoria and one got a phone call.

Year seven student Adela Gadenne got a call from a 12-year-old girl called Jessica.

“She said the school bag really helped,” Adela said. “Her family lost their house and they lost two dogs in the fire. It is good to hear back from them about what happened.”

During last year’s bushfires the school wanted to do something to help youngsters in Victoria, teacher Danielle Cain explained.

“We knew they had lost all of their belongings, and it was just before the school term started, so we knew they had lost all of their school belongings,” she said.

“The community got together to donate pencils, pencil cases, lunch boxes and bags. A couple of grandmothers sewed library bags as well.”

Bluewaters helped contribute to the cause and Collie Freight Lines took the filled bags to Bunbury to be shipped to Victoria.

“All the bags had a note to the student to show their support, we looked at it as one bush school helping another bush school,” Mrs Cain said. “We know something like that could happen here.”

Mrs Cain said it was good to hear from the recipients of the school bags. “The kids see that they have done something worthwhile.”