Glen Innes Public School teacher Carla Bryant has been recognised with the Red Cross Humanitarian Partner Award for her exceptional commitment to the Red Cross Youth program. The award, presented at the New South Wales Red Cross Annual General Meeting in Sydney, celebrates Carla’s dedication to inspiring young people to help others.
Margaret Kiehne, President of the Glen Innes Red Cross branch, attended the AGM to witness Carla’s honour. She expressed her admiration, saying, “The award was presented to Carla for the work she does above and beyond her teaching hours bringing her local group of Red Cross Youth, children aged five to twelve years, the value of helping others.”
The Glen Innes Red Cross branch’s nomination lauded Carla’s efforts, highlighting her work to embed the values of Red Cross in her students. For the past three years, she has organised an annual RED Day, inviting all students to dress in red and bring a gold coin donation. The day includes various activities, and sometimes features short, child-friendly Red Cross documentaries. The initiative has raised over $3,000 to date.
In 2022, Carla and her Junior Red Cross (JRC) members also contributed to flood relief efforts across New South Wales. The young members gathered tinned food donations and creatively arranged them in the shape of a large “Christmas tree” for the Glen Innes branch’s annual fundraising Christmas Trees competition. The food, along with $300 raised by the group, was donated to the town of Eugowra to support flood-affected communities.
Their remarkable efforts led to the group receiving the 2023 Australia Day Community Organisation of the Year Award.
This year, Carla and her students participated in the Race for Humanity, where they spent their school breaks running laps in a sponsored event to raise funds. She recently organised another RED Day and is continuing to collect donations from the event.
Carla’s contributions extend beyond fundraising; she instils a strong sense of respect for tradition and service in her students. On ANZAC Day, Glen Innes Red Cross Youth members join the adult branch members in the march, proudly wearing Red Cross armbands, carrying a Red Cross banner, and laying a wreath with solemn respect.
“Carla deserves recognition for all the research and work that she puts into Junior Red Cross both behind the scenes and throughout the school year, and she always stresses to her young charges the importance of kindness to others,” her nomination concluded.
