General News
14 October, 2025
‘Shining light’ schoolgirl
A FAR North Queensland student has been recognised for her compassion and leadership, earning a nomination for the prestigious Fred Hollows Humanity Award.
Cairns School of Distance Education year 6 student Pippa Plant has gone above and beyond to support her peers in the online learning environment and contribute to her wider community.
Known by her teacher, Paul Tierney, as a “shining light” among her classmates, Pippa is always the first to log in, the last to leave and consistently submits exceptional work.
“She consistently shows praise, compassion and support for others in the online world, making learning better for all, including staff,” he said.
Pippa’s acts of kindness extend far beyond the virtual classroom.
Earlier this year, she donated over 30cm of her hair to Wigs for Kids, a charity that creates wigs for children undergoing cancer treatment.
“I donated my hair because I wanted to make a little girl who was sick, smile,” Pippa said.
“I would like other young people to know that by contributing to your community, fundraising donating or simply helping others out, you can have a huge impact on someone else’s life,” she said.
“Even the littlest helping hand can make a big difference.”
Fred Hollows Foundation communications director Alison Hill said Pippa exemplified the qualities Fred Hollows valued most.
“At his heart, Fred believed the basic attribute of mankind was that we look after each other,” she said.
“Pippa absolutely reflects those values. She embodies that spirit of Fred.”
