No age limit to empathy at Blackfriars
Schools
In a powerful show of compassion and community spirit, Blackfriars Priory School has turned its attention to one of life’s most difficult stages, proving that empathy knows no age limit.
Since 2021, the school has raised more than $68,000 for The Mary Potter Foundation and the end-of-life care provided by the Mary Potter Hospice. Almost half of that amount has been collected in 2025 alone.
Through initiatives such as Blackfriars Greatest Shave and the Walk for Love, the school has made fundraising for the Mary Potter Foundation an important annual focus.
Principal David Ruggiero said the fundraising had become a cornerstone of the school’s values in action.
“Supporting the Mary Potter Foundation gives our students the chance to learn about compassion in a very real and meaningful way,” Mr Ruggiero said.
“End-of-life care is not something many young people think about, but our boys have embraced this cause with maturity, empathy and enthusiasm.”
He said the school’s continued involvement had become more than just a fundraising effort.
“It’s about teaching our students that dignity, care and love matter at every stage of life. We’re proud to stand alongside the Mary Potter Foundation in the work they do.”
Mr Ruggiero also praised the school community for its consistent support.
“Parents, staff, old scholars and students have all rallied behind this mission. It’s a whole-of-community effort, and that’s what makes it so powerful.”
2025 Head Prefect Eli Scharfbillig was one of 13 students to lose their locks as part of this year’s prefect-led Blackfriars Greatest Shave, which raised more than $14,000.
“Going into 2025, the prefect group wanted to be part of something that would make a real difference,” Eli said.
“We really valued the efforts of the prefects before us to raise money for the Mary Potter Foundation and we were proud to be able to continue that work.
“We set what we thought was a very ambitious target of $12,000 and I still can’t believe we eclipsed that.”
So important is the focus on palliative care at Blackfriars, one student has started his own community group to support the work of the foundation.
In 2024, now-Year 11 student Nathan Bishop created Pals for Palliative Care, a group dedicated to raising money for the foundation and awareness of palliative care.
This year, the Pals for Palliative Care team was among the highest Walk for Love fundraisers in the state and the highest school-based group.
“When we participate in charity events and serve our community, we are doing so expecting nothing in return, nor seeking accolades,” Nathan said.
“Mary Potter has a very special personal connection to me and my family and I just really want to publicise and raise awareness about what they do and encourage not just our school, but the Adelaide public, to support them.”
Meanwhile, Blackfriars raised more than $16,200 for Mary Potter through its inaugural Colour Run, held as part of its St Dominic’s Day celebrations in early August.
“As a school community, this is a cause close to our hearts and we are delighted to find another fundraising avenue to support Mary Potter,” assistant principal Religious Identity and Mission Angela Collins said.
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