Ollie Tiyce’s memory will live on forever at Nowra Hill Public School thanks to a generous donation.
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Ollie was a Nowra Hill Public School student who put up a brave fight against a rare form of cancer but he passed away last year.
He was only six-years-of-age.
Now Bomaderry resident and chainsaw wood-carver, Bob Aulsebrook, enters the story.
Mr Aulsebrook loves getting his chainsaw out to carve ornate benches and one of his latest projects featured two eagles.
What he did not know was Ollie loved eagles.
The bench with its two majestic eagles is mostly made from silky oak with some swampy oak.
Mr Aulsebrook organised for a call on Facebook, asking for a suggestion for a worthy group to get the bench.
From the Shoalhaven Defence Families Association to the Vincentia High School’s Support Unit and the likes of the St Georges Basin Rural Fire Station he got a high number of quality suggestions.
However, one stood out above them all.
One of the suggestions was to give the bench to Nowra Hill Public School as a way of honouring Ollie and though sad about hearing about a six-year-old being taken by cancer Mr Aulsebrook jumped at the chance to help honour this brave boy.
He was pleased Ollie’s family, led by mum Jo-Ann and dad David, accepted his donation and recently he attended a special assembly to present the bench to the school.
Mr Aulsebrook loved talking to all the students and also took the chance to shake hands with just about every student at the school.
The wood-carver told the students his inspiration came from a trip he made to Canada.
Nowra Hill principal Gordon Parrish, at the assembly, said the school was lucky to receive the bench.
“It’s in a special spot to remember Ollie,” Mr Parrish said.
“It will be known as Ollie’s place where children can sit, think about things, chill out or even have their lunch.
“We will always have a space for Ollie at the school.”
Ollie’s siblings Jono a 11-year-old year five student and William a five-year-old kindergarten student go to the school, while his three-year-old sister Kaylee will go to the school as soon as she is old enough.
Kaylee named the two eagles Peachy and Goku.
Cousin Rhiannon Andrews (year three) also goes to the Nowra Hill.
Ollie would have been in year two this year.