The project, Classroom in a Box, sends pencils, rulers, blackboard paint, books and other implements to schools in remote NSW, other parts of Australia or overseas.

Penrith resident and Rotary member Jean Vranic thought of the idea last year.

‘‘In outback NSW there’s a need for this sort of thing,’’ Mrs Vranic said.

‘‘When I was in Cobar I told people there that if they were interested we could send Classroom in a Box. They were very enthusiastic.’’

She said local Rotary consulted the school further to determine what they needed.

‘‘The schools there mainly have indigenous students,’’ she said. ‘‘We heard back from Wanaaring and Menindee schools; they were over the moon.’’

Classroom in a Box has also sent equipment to Strathpine in Queensland and to Vietnam.

‘‘The air cadets at the RAAF base in Glenbrook were going over to Vietnam and visiting an orphanage there,’’ Mrs Vranic said.

‘‘They asked if they could take a box to them.’’

Education has always been a passion.

‘‘If people are educated, they have fewer health problems and a lot less angst,’’ she said.

‘‘Where education levels in the outback increase, there is less vandalism and fewer problems with boredom.’’

She also said the project was in keeping with Rotary’s ethos, which promotes health and literacy. She said that only Officeworks had supplied equipment.

However, she said, if anyone wanted to help, they could contact Penrith Rotary on 0412278289.