Sausages and Smiles at Sacred Heart

L to R - Samantha van der Spuy, Sophie Brereton and Freya Walsh

Every Wednesday during Terms 2 and 3, something special is cooking just across the road from Roncalli College. Armed with tongs, aprons, and plenty of energy, a group of students steps up to run the Sacred Heart Primary School sausage sizzle serving up more than just lunch.

When we caught up with Year 11 students Samantha van der Spuy, Sophie Brereton, and Freya Walsh, they were hard at work cooking over 80 sausages for a line of eager primary school students.

“It gets pretty busy, but that’s part of the fun,” Sophie laughs. “You’ve got to keep up!”

The tradition has been running for several years, with Roncalli students taking over the role from teachers and parents. Now, it’s a well-oiled operation led by students, for students, with volunteers signing up through a Google Classroom roster coordinated by Year 13 Service Leaders Alex Thian, Arianna Labuschagne, Ben Sanders, and Madeline Jones.

Because students typically help out once a month, it’s an easy way to get involved without feeling overwhelmed.

“It’s not a huge commitment, but it still feels like you’re doing something good,” says Freya. “You can see it straight away when the kids come up, everyone’s excited.”

For Samantha, it’s all about giving back.
“I just enjoy helping out. It’s nice knowing you’re doing something that makes someone else’s day a bit better,” she says.

And it’s clear the effort doesn’t go unnoticed.

Year 7 student Jake Hand is a regular at the sausage sizzle, with what he calls a “standing weekly order.”
“I come every week, it’s really good,” he says with a grin. “It’s cool that the big kids come and do this for us.”

On a cold winter’s day, a hot sausage can go a long way, but it’s the connection behind it that really counts. Whether it’s sharing a laugh over the BBQ or handing over lunch with a smile, these small acts of service are creating moments that matter.

Initiatives like this are a perfect example of what Generation Give wants to highlight. Young people stepping up in simple, practical ways to support their community. It’s not about doing something huge, but about showing up, pitching in, and making a difference where it counts.

Sometimes, generosity looks like a sausage in bread, and a group of students willing to stand in the cold to serve it.