The idea for the project grew out of a challenge set by Archie’s Year 4 teacher – the ‘awesome’ Mrs Caldwell – to create something to promote the belonging concept.

“We had to create a hat or something like that to make people feel they belong, but me and my mate Oscar thought, ‘why not create a day and call it Belonging Day?’” Oscar said.

While the idea has taken several month to bring to fruition, Archie had expected Belonging Day to happen next year. School principal Anna Starcevic, however, was so impressed with Archie’s proposal she made it a feature of end-of-year celebrations.

Preparations then really ramped up and Archie said the school’s community liaison officer Kim Rhodes organised the donations while he got busy creating thankyou certificates. The pair then did the rounds on Wednesday, December 13 to collect the donations before putting on the special Belonging Day lunch.

Everyone was encouraged to wear green, and Archie was thrilled to see all the kids in green on Wednesday.

“They did a good job,” he said.

The Rotary Club of Tenterfield kicked in $100 (and had volunteers on hand to man the barbecue), Matador Meats and Premiers Meats donated the sausages and Buttercup provided the bread. Joel Soper has put up his hand to construct the two new play areas and once the sandpits are ready, Thomas Rural has agreed to donate the sand.

“I was surprised and happy to hear Rotary Club was donating $100,” Archie said.

“All the money will go to building the two sandpits. There’s only one at the moment, in the Infants, and it’s a bit yukky.”

The existing sandpit is plagued with drainage problems.

Further cash donations from community members and students together with sales from the sausage sizzle combined to arrive at the healthy sum.

Work on the sandpits is expected to progress over the Christmas break.

Ten-year-old Archie may have a future in the public arena, if his interview prowess is anything to go by. Check this out...