Students and musical star join forces for tsunami victims

Anglican school students have joined forces with one of Australia's biggest names in musical theatre to help victims of the South Asia tsunami.
Students at the Sydney Church of England Co-Educational Grammar School (SCECGS) in Cremorne have prepared and supplied care packages for the "Operation Christmas Child' appeal of charity Samaritan's Purse.
Marina Prior, well known for her Christian faith, is the charity's new Australian Ambassador and her first official presentation was on Friday when the singer addressed a Chapel Service for 360 Middle School students from SCECGS at St Peter's, Cremorne.
Ms Prior sang two items and shared a reading from Matthew 25: 42-45 with the SCECGS students.
Leigh Brown, the Executive Director of Samaritan’s Purse, Australia and Trevor Adams, the National Manager of Operation Christmas Child, voiced their appreciation to the students who had prepared and supplied the gift boxes which decorated the church.
The Principal of the Middle School, William Doherty brought the service to a close, thanking visitors and challenging the students to be concerned for the less fortunate.
Samaritan's Purse was founded by evangelist Billy Graham. His son Franklin now heads its international operations.
It is anticipated that Operation Christmas Child will send 300,000 boxes from Australia and New Zealand to children in need in Cambodia, PNG, Fiji, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Solomons at Christmas.
A destination of particular need will be the devastated areas of South Asia following the Boxing Day tsunami.
Globally, Samaritan's Purse sent 7.4 million boxes last year.
“Australians are generous people, and Operation Christmas Child is a simple way for all members of our families to not only bring hope and joy to a hurting child’s life, but to also teach our own children about giving and compassion," said Leigh Brown.
"What better time to do it than the time we celebrate God’s greatest gift, the birth of Jesus Christ.”
Marina Prior is known for her lead roles in musicals including Cats, Les Miserables, Anything Goes, West Side Story, The Secret Garden, Showboat, Witches of Eastwick and her best known, The Phantom of the Opera.