Annual truffle fundraiser bigger than ever

With music blaring, children are hard at work rolling truffles as they sing happily along to the hits.

It’s truffle time again at Bohally Intermediate School and this year the school’s annual fundraiser is back, and bigger than ever.

Bohally teacher and truffle fundraiser organiser Sorayah Lindstrom says this year students will be rolling more than 130,000 truffles – a new record.

“It’s the biggest hands-on school fundraiser that I know of,” she says.

“It’s like a factory.”

More than 500 year seven and eight students are mixing, rolling and packaging to raise funds for the school.

The student-led fundraiser has been providing the popular round Christmas treats to the community for about 15 years.

Sorayah says the event raises more $20,000 annually for the school.

Each class does at least one shift. Student leaders create and deliver the mixture to the students and parent volunteers rolling the truffles.

Funds raised have gone towards physical education gear, laptops for students and sporting equipment.

The funds raised this year aren’t yet earmarked but will benefit the students, Sorayah says.

“It’s the most we’ve sold – every year it just keeps getting bigger.”

“I think we sold 104,000 last year. They sell themselves,” she says.

“Everyone in the community knows it’s truffle time.”

It’s year 7 student Connor Johnson’s first time rolling truffles, he says the best bit is the music.

“It’s way better than being in class,” he says.

Bedecked in hair nets and rubber gloves, the mixture is quickly transformed into uniform truffle balls and coated in coconut.

Principal Nicky Cameron-Dunn says the annual truffle event has students collaborating and raising money at the same time.

“Fundraisers are often run by parents, but this one is run by the students,” she says.

“It’s a positive fundraiser.”

The truffles were traditionally sold at Mistletoe Market, but with the event being cancelled this year orders were only available via the students.