VSV staff raise record amount at Biggest Morning Tea event

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Sara Tacey – biggest moring tea (2)

Virtual School Victoria (VSV) staff recently joined together to raise $1,308 at Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea, an event that raises funds for the fight against cancer.

This is the largest amount VSV has ever raised for the event.

Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea has been a fixture on VSV staff’s social calendar for around eight years. This year’s event was hosted virtually for the first time due to COVID-19 social restrictions.

‘The Biggest Morning Tea provides a wonderful opportunity for staff to informally catch-up for a good cause,’ enthused one of the event organisers, Helen Stearman, who is an Instructional Leader at VSV.

Helen noted that this year’s Biggest Morning Tea was especially meaningful for staff.

‘A year ago we lost a highly valued and much respected staff member, Katherine Hawken. Katherine was a talented Dance teacher and a young mum who bravely battled breast cancer. To honour her memory, we planted a special camellia in her favorite colour – pink – at the school’s entrance.’

Colleague Belinda Saltmarsh-Kram remembers Katherine as someone with a great sense of humour and vibrant personality.

‘The students loved her positivity and sparkly personality. Katherine would always wear a sequined hat to the VCAA Season of Excellence Top Class event – this was the first time she’d meet her students. Katherine wanted her students to be able to quickly recognise her in the foyer so she could wish them well.’

Katherine radiated kindness. She would sing the Frozen song ‘Let it goooo’ to calm others in stressful times!

I think of Katherine often and the world is a poorer, less vibrant place without her,’ said Belinda.


Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea is a community event to raise funds that will make a big difference to those impacted by cancer.

Special thanks to Sara Tacey (pictured in photo) and Helen Stearman for organising VSV’s Biggest Morning Tea and staff for their generous donations.

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