Hillwood Primary opens new computer lab after community fundraising drive

Hillwood Primary School in Lavender Hill has opened a new computer lab equipped with 36 computers and interactive whiteboards, following a fundraising campaign that raised R200 441.

The campaign, Murray for Mountains, was launched in memory of Murray Carlyle, who had previously raised more than R160 000 for the school on behalf of Fella’s Army.

He died in September last year after suffering a heart attack while hiking Table Mountain.

Fella’s Army is a group of friends and family of Ian ‘Fella’ Macdonald, who died in a car accident in 2018.

The group continues its legacy of supporting Hillwood Primary and other community projects.

Mr Macdonald had worked with principal Gavin Alkana through the Partners for Possibility programme, which pairs business leaders with school principals to help strengthen schools.

Murray’s brother, Rob Carlyle, said fundraising for the school had long been close to his heart.

“Murray used to raise funds for the school by doing a push-up challenge, which he got a whole bunch of people to do and get sponsored for,” he said.

“We then donated that to the school for a couple of years.”

After Mr Carlyle's death, friends and family decided to continue that work in his name.

“We did a little walk to raise money in his honour and in his name and all that sort of skyrocketed, with donations coming from basically his friends all around the world,” Mr Carlyle said.

The family and supporters raised just over R200 000, which they agreed would be used to upgrade the school’s computer centre.

“Having lost him, it’s nice that in his name his good works can carry on forward,” he said, adding that they hope to continue supporting the school in future.

Rob said the group chose Hillwood Primary because of the role it plays in the community.

He described the school as “a haven for the kids there to get learning and some hope and opportunities going forward” and “a beacon of light in the area”.

Leanne Kinghorn, Mr Carlyle’s sister, said her brother was deeply loved.

“He was the kindest person who helped anyone he met, and he adored his three sons, Liam, Cole and Jude, dearly.”

Suzie Allderman, Ian Macdonald’s cousin, reflected on the importance of continuing a legacy.

“I know the importance of a legacy,” she said.

“After my brother died when I was 14, my parents started a small section in his school library. It’s wonderful to be opening this room - our future starts with the kids, and making sure that they have a proper education. This is a good step. It’s a privilege to have worked with principal Gavin Alkana for the last eight years.

Mr Alkana said the donation would significantly expand learning opportunities for pupils and the wider community.

“For the last three, four years, I’ve only had 10 computers, and now we have 36,” he said.

The new lab will expose pupils to ICT skills “which they have never been exposed to” before.

He said the computers would also support literacy and numeracy development.

Pupils will be able to take part in the department’s Green Shoots maths programme, which also involves reading. “It will help to improve numeracy and literacy skills,” he said.

Mr Alkana added that the facility would also serve the broader community.

“The intention is also to open this hub for the community,” he said, explaining that parents, including those applying for high school places for Grade 7 pupils, would be able to use the space.

“So really it’s opening opportunities, learning opportunities to grow and to develop for the Lavender Hill community,” he said. “We are truly, truly thankful. We are blessed and we feel humbled as a community.”