Brighter Futures, March 2024

Decades later

The everlasting power of your help

April was nine when we began supporting her family in the early 1990s, after her father left her mother with five children. She told our 100 Year Anniversary event that support meant she "finally felt normal" and "no longer felt shame". After Year 12 she worked in West End theatres, then built a career in Australian television. She is now a Co-Executive Producer on MasterChef, recognised with an AACTA award, and has donated to us regularly for twelve years.

Support for Mark began in the early 1980s after the sudden death of his father. He went on to become a company director and strategist, a philanthropist, an Australian Senator and Minister for Sport, and calls our support "a true blessing".

To those being supported now, know that we all believe in you. We believe that you can achieve greatness and do anything you dare to dream.April

Student achievements

Casper and Lee's big city adventure

Eleven-year-old twins Casper and Lee live with their grandparents, Marleen and Richard, in Gunnedah. Supporters funded their overnight school excursion to Sydney, where they explored the Royal Botanic Gardens, walked under the Harbour Bridge and spent a day at Taronga Zoo. They came home more confident, and are already looking forward to Canberra.

It has taught them so much about self-confidence, believing in themselves and having some independence from us.Marleen, Casper and Lee's grandma

Career and Skills Development Scholarship

Preparing young learners for the future

In its first year, our scholars met sports psychologists, doctors and business owners for career sampling, visited the UTS Animal Logic Academy and the Reserve Bank of Australia, and heard from six of our tertiary students about what uni life is really like. Every scholar is continuing into the second year.

At the start of the year, I really had no idea about what my future was going to look like. Now I have several careers that I am interested in.Libby