When Canberra couple Kathreen Ricketson and Rob Shugg died in tragic circumstances in May the Canberra community rallied to support their orphaned children.
A trust fund was quickly established for their 13-year old daughter and 10-year old son, who are now being cared for by relatives in Melbourne.
Though the children did not attend Majura Park Primary, the students at that school also wanted to help.
As nine year old Amelia says: "They did live in our Watson community so we thought they were close."
Amelia and other students on the Student Representative Council came up with the idea of a fancy hat fundraising day.
"We normally go to the football with those two," explained Amelia. "And Rob always wore a beanie so we thought, maybe a hat, and she was very crafty so we thought we should do this."
Kathreen Ricketson, 41, was an author and blogger and prominent member of the crafting community.
She was planning to write a book about the family's dream trip around Australia when tragedy struck off the West Australian coast near Ningaloo Reef.
Ms Ricketson was rescued from the water but could not be revived; Mr Shugg, 48, was last seen floating face down. His body has not been recovered.
Majura Primary principal Lindy Beeley is extremely proud of the community spirit shown by her young students.
"It's been lovely and very encouraging to see so many children participating," she said.
The children brightened up a cloudy Canberra day by creating and decorating hats with coloured paper, felt, feathers, beads, sticks and streamers.
They raised more than $500 in gold coin donations.
Amelia described her hat as "a sparkly top hat with a party hat on top with some streamers coming off".
"I'm probably going to keep it," she told 666, "to remember these people and to remember this day and what we did for those people."
You can find details about the trust fund established for the Ricketson-Shugg children here.
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