Deni High edging ‘Toward $250k’

Those corporate pledges have already reached more than $80,000 in the past few weeks.

Combined with funding already donated through the Deniliquin High School’s P&C’s Toward 501 campaign and initial donations made following the November 2025 arson attack on the school, P&C president Vince Kelly said support so far comes to just over $220,000.

The Toward 501 campaign is designed to support improvements that drive enrolment back to 500 students and beyond.

The amount raised does not yet include proceeds from Deni Ute Muster fundraising activities, which are still being finalised and collated.

And Mr Kelly said more corporate pledges are coming in at regular intervals.

The additional fundraising partnership emerged through Abergeldie, the construction company currently delivering weir replacement works in the Billabong Creek system as part of the Sustainable Diversion Limit Adjustment Mechanism program.

Eight Abergeldie employees temporarily based in the region volunteered to operate a food truck throughout the Muster weekend, donating all profits to the P&C.

“It's an incredibly generous action by a group of people who are only living within our community for a short period,” Mr Kelly said.

But the company's support extended beyond the food truck, with Abergeldie sharing the story of the Deniliquin High School fire and the Toward 501 campaign with construction partners and suppliers, encouraging direct donations to the P&C.

“That had already resulted in about $86,500 in pledges before the Muster, and more are coming in all the time,” Mr Kelly said.

“And as a result of their generosity, GME also pledged to donate its profits from the Deni Ute Muster too.

“GME is a proudly Australian, family-owned manufacturer of radio communications and safety equipment which has had a long association with the Muster, so that’s just amazing.”

The P&C’s campaign will also receive a financial boost from the inaugural Grand Pavilion performance at the Deni Ute Muster.

“We are incredibly grateful to have been named the Muster's charity of choice for 2026,” Mr Kelly said.

“The Thursday night Ultimate Superstars of Country tribute show was fully booked and the P&C receives $5 from every ticket sold.

“That in itself was a significant outcome for our group.”

The recent fundraising builds on the $140,000 the P&C had already been donated, through private, anonymous donations, community fundraisers and as a result of its concerted Towards 501 Community Champions campaign in August.

Community Champions signed up during that time were the Deniliquin Pastoral Times, Ray White, the Fellows family, Navorina, Purtill Group, Switched On Mobiles and Seymour Accounting.

Mr Kelly said all funds will be used to support the current and future needs of the student body, and is not necessarily tied to the physical recovery efforts following the fire.

“It’s for if we see a need for anything to support the school community,” he said.

“As we all know, public education is incredibly underfunded.

“And while there has recently been a commitment to rebuild the damaged parts of the school, we still have to wait to see what the gaps will be.

“Our expectation is the government will fund the rebuild and standard refurbishment, but it could be some time before we know exactly what that will cover.

“This money allows us to respond to needs as they arise now, while also retaining a good amount for any shortfalls after the rebuild is complete.”

Mr Kelly said the goal is to stretch the money as far as possible, which may include leverage for some dollar-for-dollar funding.

He said one project on the P&C wish list is refurbishment of the school’s two outdoor basketball courts, and the addition of a shelter.

The project is intended to support the students who have “lost so much recreational space” because of temporary facilities required to accommodate the return to campus.

• To become a DHS Towards 501 Community Champion, go to https://bit.ly/DHS_CommunityChampions.