ARNDELL Anglican College hosted the inaugural B Kinder Day on Friday, June 22, celebrating acts of kindness in memory of Billie Kinder - an ex student who was killed in a horse accident in 2016.
Billie’s mum, Danny Mayson-Kinder, said the purpose of the day was to empower the children to make a positive difference in the world.
“Billie's sister, Charlie, her dad, Dave and me spent the morning at Arndell Anglican School and took part in the day. We were joined by Dr Cathie Harrison an Education consultant and Councillor Sarah Richards,” said Ms Mayson-Kinder.
Small acts of kindness form ripple effect for B Kinder Day
SUPPORT: Dr Cathie Harrison, Cnr Sarah Richards, students Bree Layton, Charlie Kinder and Callum Ayres, and principal Keith Peterson. Picture: Supplied
Jetta Catts with the card she wrote for someone she cares about. picture: Supplied
Logan Webb helped-out the Hawkesbury Helping Hands team by making cookies for the homeless. Picture: Supplied
A kindness card written by one of the Arndell students. Picture: Supplied
Some of the students' ideas about how to be kinder. Picture: Supplied
Jetta Catts, Natasha Lowe and Charlie Kinder planting sunflower seeds. Picture: Supplied
Animal toys donated to an animal welfare league in Queensland by Liz Spong, who wrote: "For B Kinder Day I felt inspired by Billie's love for animals, so I decided to donate some warm coats, blankets and bowls to the Animal Welfare League in QLD. Now the animals will be trendy and warm when they go to their forever homes. I left a card and the gifts signed simply.......... with love from Billie X". Picture: Supplied
Animal toys donated to an animal welfare league in Queensland by Liz Spong, who wrote: "For B Kinder Day I felt inspired by Billie's love for animals, so I decided to donate some warm coats, blankets and bowls to the Animal Welfare League in QLD. Now the animals will be trendy and warm when they go to their forever homes. I left a card and the gifts signed simply.......... with love from Billie X". Picture: Supplied
Locals wearing B Kinder Day shirts. Picture: Supplied
Each class discussed the meaning of kindness and got involved in activities they thought would help them ‘be kinder’ – from writing on Billie’s range of gift cards and giving them to a loved one, to planting sunflower seeds.
“Every child in the junior school wrote or drew a picture for someone they thought would benefit from the card that is not at the school (a family member, a friend outside school, a coach, or someone they think need the card),” Ms Mayson-Kinder said.
“The students then took the cards home to show their parents/carers and these will be posted from home adding to the ripple effect of kindness.”
Three other schools around Australia embraced the concept, Numerous people also got involved via social media, posting photos of themselves performing little acts of kindness, using the hashtags ‘flyhighbillie’ and ‘bkinder’.
“We had everything from people smiling at someone, to helping neighbours clear out sheds, people giving away free coffee vouchers, children making cookies for the the homeless to handing out sunflowers to random strangers,” said Ms Mayson-Kinder.
“Since then, I have a list of schools, companies and organisations wanting to take part next year. My goal is to spread an annual B Kinder Day around Australia and hopefully worldwide.”
Fly High Billie is a foundation set-up by Billie’s family following her death. The charity has donated funds to a number of causes including sick children, guide dogs and depression awareness. Donate at flyhighbillie.com.