Windermere News Issue 20

Summer

2017

Issue

20

Make a difference

Windermere NEWS Lucas needs your help this Christmas

Home at last

Building community harmony

CEO’s message

Home at last

Mums & Bubs

Imagine being homeless, with no money, no family to turn to and a baby to care for.

Since the re-launch of our Mums & Bubs program in June, Strachan House has been home to four young mums and their babies.

With thanks to you, and the generosity of Windermere Patron Carl Strachan OAM, the house provides safe accommodation for young mothers who are trying to rebuild their lives after experiencing family violence.

It’s difficult to believe another year is almost over. As one of our valued supporters I am pleased to be able to share with you all that we have been working on and achieved over the last few months, with thanks to your support.

Every single day, and with thanks to your generosity, we help 40 people get back on their feet and build better lives for themselves.

The re-launch of our Mums & Bubs (Strachan House) program is a shining example of the positive impact we have made to young single mothers and their babies facing homelessness. You can read more about the program’s success over the last six months on page 2.

This year also marks the 75th anniversary of the Kokoda Campaign and we are excited to have launched our 2018 Kokoda Trek to End Family Violence, with great success. Only the last few spots remain so to tick Kokoda off your bucket list check out page 7 for details on how you can join Windermere Ambassador and AFL Legend ‘Richo’ on the trek of a lifetime.

We will once again be kicking off the 2018 AFL Premiership season in style with our Bounce of the Ball Luncheon at the MCG. Join us on 20 March as we get the inside word from the AFL’s best – all to support young mums and their babies doing it tough. Further details on page 6.

Of course even though it creeps up on everyone we are now gearing up for Christmas and our Merry Mission Christmas appeal is once again in full flight. Each year, with thanks to your support, we help local children and families who are really struggling during what can be one of the most difficult times of the year.

Twelve year old Lucas is one of these children. He has severe autism, is unable to speak or dress himself. Lucas is incontinent and still in nappies. Life really is challenging for Lucas and his family. We hope you can join us in supporting those who would otherwise miss out this Christmas. For details on our Merry Mission appeal and how you can help other children like Lucas turn to pages 4-5.

On behalf of everyone who works at Windermere and from those who receive our support, I would like to take the opportunity to thank you all for your continued and generous support and wish you and your family all the best for the holidays.

Dr Lynette Buoy Chief Executive Officer 2

“We know that safe and secure housing plays a crucial role in supporting women and children to recover from family violence and establish their own independence,” said Sarah Truscott, Team Leader Homelessness Support Services.

With family violence related homelessness a widespread and growing problem in our community, the demand for such a program is escalating and in the few short months of operation we are receiving on average over 14 enquiries each month, and over five formal referrals.

We thank all of you who have put up your hand to support this vital initiative to help young mothers plan safe and secure futures for themselves and their children.

Still on Track We are pleased to announce that Moorabbin Police have joined Cranbourne, Dandenong and Frankston Police in providing support to our Kids on Track early intervention program.

It’s hard to believe that many children as young as 11 and 13 are experiencing and displaying anti-social behaviours that bring trouble to their everyday lives. Through our Kids on Track program and with your generous support we are able to help these young children build a trusting foundation, to overcome their troubles and have a better future.

This year alone, with thanks to your support and combined with Victoria Police, the eight week program has reached over 140 grade five and six students across seven different schools, giving them with the skills to make better informed choices.

How your support is helping Building community harmony

Students taking part in Building Harmony activities

A smile is worth a thousand words, no matter what language you are speaking!

For over seven years our Building Harmony Project has been bringing together young people of different cultural backgrounds and faiths to foster mutual respect and understanding.

So far this year over 150 students from six different faith based schools across the Cardinia region have taken part in a number of different events aiming to minimise cultural barriers.

It was with great excitement that the final event of the year was held at the Cardinia Cultural Centre and featured best selling children’s author and illustrator Jeanette Rowe.

“Everyone has their own personality, we may look different on the outside but on the inside we are all the same”.

- Matthew, Maranatha Christian School Students with the Windermere Tree thumb canvas

Rowe discussed her book ‘Whose Animals? Australia’, highlighting the importance of literacy and an understanding of different languages.

“I’ve enjoyed meeting new people and learning that everyone is different but the same” – Piper, Officer Primary.

A big thanks to Pam Usher, Sunshine & Crocodiles Fund Pty Ltd for successfully funding the program since it began.

“I’m so pleased to be able to support a program that not only brings communities together, but teaches our children about tolerance, respect and understanding for one another regardless of our differences. We are building our leaders of the future”.

Sali Shayia, Jeanette Rowe, Pam Usher and Katrina Herbert

For more information about how you can support these programs or to make a tax deductible donation

– Pam Usher Sunshine & Crocodiles Fund Pty Ltd

Please call 1300 946 337

or use the coupon on the back page.

3

This year more than ever, families like Lucas’ need your help.

For most of us, Christmas is a chance to get together with loved ones, exchange gifts, eat, laugh and have fun.

Sadly for some families in our community celebrating Christmas is just not possible. Many have experienced extreme disadvantage, severe trauma and vulnerability and as a result of circumstance find themselves needing the most basic of items – food, money to pay bills, shelter and gifts for their children.

Every day we work with families in our community who will struggle to enjoy any celebration this Christmas.

Sadly, 12 year old Lucas has severe autism and can’t speak. Unable to dress and feed himself, Lucas is also incontinent. Everyday is a struggle as he needs full-time care and high behavioural support to help live his everyday life.

Lucas’ Mum and full-time carer – Sarah does the best she can, but as Lucas grows, she finds it harder and harder to control her much loved son. As a result, Lucas’ Dad - David has had to leave work early on many occasions to help Sarah… making it even harder for the family to make ends meet and purchase essential items like nappies.

David and Sarah desperately want their son to experience the joy of the festive season, to see his eyes light up with happiness as he opens a gift on Christmas morning, but this is simply a luxury they can’t afford.

Through our Merry Mission appeal you can create a Merry Moment for Lucas and his family, giving them something to celebrate. *Names and image have been changed to protect privacy.

4

Want to know more?

Go to

windermere.org.au/lucas

Email

fundraising@windermere.org.au

Become a Merry Maker and donate today.

Together we can give families like Lucas’ the gift of a better life.

How your tax-deductible donation can help create Merry Moments this Christmas:

$55

$100

A gift of $55 this Christmas will help provide a family of five in need with a special Christmas Lunch

A $100 donation will provide a child like Lucas ten days worth of incontinence nappies

Any contribution you can make will be greatly appreciated‌ will you decide to make a difference today?

How to Donate 1

Fill in the coupon on the back page and return to: Windermere Reply Paid 84615 Narre Warren VIC 3805

2

Online at windermere.org.au/donate

3

Call the Fundraising Team on 9705 3286

$200 This Christmas a $200 donation can provide five hours of much needed respite for a struggling family

$30,000 Donation Target

$20,000

$10,000

$0

5

KOKODA 2018 TREK Join us and Richo as we take on Kokoda and #trektoendviolence.

2018 Save the date!

12pm – 3pm Tuesday 20th March 2018 Members Dining Room @ the MCG

Kick off the 2018 AFL Premiership Season in style.

If you are already going into footy withdrawal… then you can’t afford to miss our 2018 Bounce of the Ball Luncheon!

Join us on the Tuesday eve of the premiership season for a delicious lunch, networking opportunities, entertainment and more, as we cover all things footy with some of the AFL’s best – all in the name of supporting young mums and their babies doing it tough.

Footy tipping winners Congratulations to our five – yes five - footy tipping winners: •

Diana Baldi Grigg

•

Maralyn Beamish

•

Mark Mcllroy

•

Denice Strachan

•

Hussein Dergham

Don’t miss your chance to join in the fun next!

Put your knowledge to the test and take part in our Footy Tipping competition, proudly sponsored by Zagames.

to register your interest: Email events@windermere.org.au call the fundraising team on (03) 9705 3286 6

Journey through the south and north coast of Papua New Guinea across 96 kilometres of rugged mountain terrain, tropical rainforest

Trek Kokoda and help end family violence

ES C A PL W E F E!!

T L S B A L ILA A V A

and unspoiled villages, while raising vital funds to help end family violence.

Not for the faint-hearted, this truly is a once-in-a-lifetime adventure.

To find out more or join the team phone Inspired Adventures on 1300 905 188.

Carla’s story Things seemed to be going well for Carla.

She was working full time, in a good job, paying off a mortgage. She had a beautiful son, and a fiancé she wanted to spend the rest of her life with.

But in 2012, Carla’s life changed forever.

“You never really think something so horrifying could happen to you, until it does.”

After three years in a loving relationship, her former fiancé assaulted her with a sledgehammer and left her to die on the kitchen floor. Carla’s eight year old son, her hero, called 000 not knowing if his mother was dead or alive, staying beside her until help arrived.

She was so badly beaten that she was in a coma for over a month, with doctors calling her family to the hospital to say their final goodbyes. However, Carla had other ideas.

Slowly but surely Carla began to recover, the thought of her son keeping her going through the worst time of her life.

But her physical injuries left her unable to work, she couldn’t make the repayments on her home and was forced to sell.

Essentially she and her young son became homeless. Enter Windermere…

Carla and her son were safely housed, and given the financial and emotional support they needed to get back on their feet as they moved through one of the darkest times of their lives

“Without Windermere, I honestly don’t know what would have become of us.”

“I hope by telling my story you can see the amazing work you are about to contribute to and the lives you will save by taking on this challenge.” – Carla 7

Swinging into Spring The next Windermere Classic will tee off in October 2018.

Traditionally this fun event has been held in Autumn, but based on your feedback we are excited to announce we have changed the event to Spring.

Join us on the sandbelt at Victoria Golf Club on Wednesday 17 October 2018.

Get ready to swing into action.

Register your interest at windermere.org.au or phone the events team on (03) 9705 3286

2016/17

Impact Report Find out more . .

Read it online at windermere.org.au/publications

We are very pleased to have released our 2016/17 Annual Impact Report, highlighting the life changing work we do, in keeping children safe and building stronger, more supported and connected communities.

The report reflects on the organisations many successes and achievements over the last 12 months including assisting 3,826 victims of crime to access the help they needed, providing support to 383 people with disability, giving 388 children with development delay the opportunity to thrive and keeping 408 women and their children safe from family violence.

Our 174 full and part time staff undertook 5,181 hours of work each week to support over 14,837 children, families and individuals in reaching their full potential.

We would like to acknowledge our valued supporters

Please use this gift to spread the joy of Christmas!

Please accept my gift of: PAYMENT DETAILS

$55

$100

All donations $2 and over are tax deductible

My cheque/money order is enclosed and made payable to Windermere Child and Family Services OR Please debit this card: Card Number

Mastercard

Visa

$200

A surprise gift of $ To ensure the details we have for you below are correct and up-to-date, please fill in any blanks or correct any errors below. Thank you.

Name Address Mobile

Expiry Date

Home

Cardholders Name

Email

Signature

Date of Birth

Donate online at windermere.org.au/lucas or call 1300 946 337