Camp Quality Convoy to Get Underway in Maitland

BY PETER HYSLOP

Camp Quality is set to launch it's Newcastle Convoy at the weekend, bringing together 100 trucks for a 38-kilometre journey through Newcastle and Maitland.

Trucks are in competition to be the best of the convoy with a goal of raising $120,000.

Camp Quality's Sandy Hall says it'll provide much-needed funds.

"We do a lot in the local John Hunter Hospital. These funds raised across the day will go towards supporting kids and families in the local area and across New South Wales," she said.

"We couldn't do these events without our incredible community.

"To our long-standing Newcastle supporters, the trucking community, our partners, our sponsors, we couldn't do it without community support and I hope people come along and check it out on the day," she said.

Transport for NSW is advising of changed traffic conditions on Sunday in roads through Maitland, Gillieston Heights, Heddon Greta and Beresfield.

A convoy from a similar event. Credit: Camp Quality

Charity Runner To Stop In Newcastle As Part Of His Campaign To Build A New Children's Hospice In NSW

BY JACQUELYN RICHARDS

There are only three children's hospices in Australia to cater for the thousands of kids with a terminal or life-limiting illness and their families, but Rio's Legacy Mission hopes to change that. 

15-month-old Rio was initially believed to have gastro when he spent 40 nights in intensive care, but it turned out to be a serious heart condition. 

"Long story short we went to hospital and then never went home," Rio's father Ryan Fowler said. 

 
Ryan said the doctors at Randwick Hospital who were treating their son were amazing, but eventually they were told he had a life limiting condition. 

"They said we can't save him," 

"That's where they introduced us to a place called Bear Cottage...which is the only hospice in New South Wales that supports families who have a child with a life-limiting condition,

"Rio's journey there was up and down as you can imagine, but they allowed us to be a family again."

Now Ryan's jogging from Humming Bird House in Brisbane Queensland all the way down the east coast of New South Wales to Oran Park in Western Sydney. 

"That's where we're hoping to build a hospice to support families when they're going through the toughest thing."

Once built it will be the second children's hospice in New South Wales and fourth in the country. 

"Our challenge and our charity is trying to build more of them there's only three of those hospices in the courty...in the UK there's over 55 and we should have at least 16 here," Ryan says.

Families in the Hunter with a child suffering from a terminal illness, are currently forced to travel to Manly to access treatment and palliative care. 

Ryan is receiving immense support from both his family and the public as he takes part in the fundraising trek. 

"I'm just trying to help these kids because they can't do it, they can't physically get out there an do it, but even me a type one diabetic I can get out there and do it; I can champion them because they're amazing and these places are amazing and they need our support," he says.

Running through Newcastle this Saturday, September 30, Ryan is asking the Newcastle and Hunter community to get behind his cause and help raise money for a hugely under-funded service.

"We're looking to raise $4 million, it's a big target but if we can get up around $100 thousand that'd be great."

The money will go towards building the hospice and providing a mobile service that can support families in their homes, while also assisting staff at the John Hunter Children's Hospital. 

Donations to Rio's Legacy can be made at https://rioslegacy.org.au/ and you can follow Ryan's journey and stay up to date on Facebook, Instagram and Tiktok. 

Image: Palliative Care Australia's Facebook

Broadmeadow Local Fronts Walk to Cambodia

BY OLIVIA DILLON

Broadmeadow local Mike Collins is calling on Novocastrians to join him on a 50 million-step challenge to raise money for disadvantaged Cambodians. 

Run by the Human and Hope charity organisation, the annual Walk to Cambodia program asks participants to sign up, log 10 thousand steps a day, and raise funds during the month of April.

Mr Collins hopes to contribute to Human and Hope's fundraising goal of $40,000, all of which will be used to support a community centre in Siem Reap. 

"The really great thing about this charity is that it is grassroots and quite small, so literally event cent goes to funding things like a preschool, scholarships, sewing training, training to establish home food gardens, microfinancing loans, and recently during the pandemic, providing support for people who are living in multi-dimensional poverty," Mr Collins said. 

The virtual fundraising and fitness event will run throughout April, with fundraising efforts having already begun.  

Members of the public are encouraged to form a team and sign up on the Walk to Cambodia website.

"Walking and fundraising is a positive show of support for some of our most disadvantaged northern neighbors and a great way to lose the pandemic pounds," Mr Collins noted. 

Image: Walk to Cambodia website

Charity regatta struggling due to lack of Swansea Channel dredge

BY DAKOTA TAIT

There's concern a charity regatta scheduled for Lake Macquarie this weekend won't live up to its full potential, with boaters afraid to get involved because Swansea Channel hasn't yet been dredged.

The Heaven Can Wait Regatta is set to happen over Saturday and Sunday, raising funds for the NSW Cancer Council's Hunter branch.

But Royal Motor Yacht Club Toronto have noticed boaters are reluctant to attend, citing an inability to navigate the channel as a major concern.

While the regatta usually attracts around 60 to 65 boats, Vice Commodore Melvin Steiner expects the turnout to fall to around 45 or 50 this year.

He says it's disappointing not only for the community, but for the fundraising goal of half a million dollars.

"It restricts boats from other ports that normally come to the regatta, from getting into the lake," Mr Steiner said.

"We've had inquiries from boats that have done the regatta before, from Sydney, asking what the depth of the channel is." 

"As soon as you say it's down around 1.5 or something, or less, they say we're not coming, we can't get in there."

Swansea MP Yasmin Catley has been pushing the State Government for a solution since December.

It was revealed last week, Marine Rescue Lake Macquarie surpassed last year's 55 vessel escorts through the channel in January alone. 

Transport for NSW says a dredging project will happen in the first half of 2022, but expect environmental approvals and selection of a tender to take months.

Mr Steiner says his club and other organisations had tried to raise their concerns, to no avail.

"It just seems to fall on deaf ears," Mr Steiner said. 

"There's been a change in the organisation, in terms of who's responsible for doing dredging in our waterways, and they've really done nothing since that change and we don't know when they're going to start."

Image credit: Transport for NSW

Hunter charity filling back-to-school backpacks for rural students

BY DAKOTA TAIT

A new Hunter charity is asking locals to donate, to put together backpacks and back-to-school kits for children in disadvantaged parts of the region.

The Backpack Venture was established last March in response to concerns that support programs for rural parts of the Hunter weren't up to scratch with those in the city.

They're looking for backpacks, lunchboxes, and stationary for students, as well as sanitary items for young girls.

Volunteer Colleen Mulholland says it would be great to see the Hunter add a donation or two to our shopping list.

"We're asking anyone just to supply anything that you can supply," Ms Mulholland said.

"It can be a simple ruler, pencil, sharpener, textas, drink bottles, lunch bottles, whatever anyone feels that they can afford to donate."

The charity are hoping to deliver the backpacks to local principals just before school heads back, with a target of 400 backpacks and 200 emergency kits for girls.

People interested in donating can drop items off at any of the listed locations:

• Stockland - Centre Management Office
• Stockland - Centre Management Office
• Salamander Bay Square - Centre Management Office
• Maitland Riverside Plaza - Centre Management Office
• Nova Air and Electrical - 161 Maitland Rd, Tighes Hill
• Sonia Hornery MP - 67 Nelson St, Wallsend
• Survivor's R Us Incorporated - 57 Pendlebury Rd, Cardiff
• R&R Property - 8 William St, Raymond Terrace
• Fibonacci Coffee - 29 Rutherford Road, Muswellbrook 
• Cessnock Plaza Newsagency - Keene St, Cessnock
• Julz Clothing - Branxton 
• Fingal Twilight Markets

Ms Mulholland says it's exciting to see the community rally behind the movement.

"When you hear those type of stories, you know not only us, but the community itself, is making a difference," Ms Mulholland said.

"And not just a difference to family members, but children, and these people are out future generation."

Image credit: The Backpack Venture

102 Year Old Veteran Walks 360 Kilometres for Mental Health Awareness

BY DAKOTA TAIT

Anglican Care and Samaritans staff are supporting the efforts of a 102-year-old resident with an organisation-wide mufti day and fundraising drive on Friday.

Bert Le-Merton, a World War II veteran, has walked more than 360 kilometres and raised over $110,000 as part of the Soldier On organisation's efforts in raising awareness and preventing veteran suicide.

Bert spent five and a half years as part of the Australian Infantry Force, serving in North Africa and the Pacific Theatre with the 2/13th Battalion, 9th Division.

Anglican Care Marketing Manager Kylie Jacques said Bert is "full of positivity" and that they were proud to be following in his footsteps.

"To meet Bert is one of life's privileges," Ms Jacques said. "He's just the most amazing, beautiful gentleman, and he's been through so much in his life and has so many amazing stories to tell." 

Bert said it was important to lend a helping hand to those former personnel who were struggling to get back into the swing of civilian life.

"My longevity, I put it down to keeping on walking around the block," Mr Le-Merton said. 

"Look at it in this life, mate, if you don't use them, you lose them." 

Bert walked 96 kilometres in March alone, the length of the Kokoda trail - team members at Anglican Care’s C A Brown Lodge at Booragul are expected to match Bert's efforts. 

Ms Jacques said Bert's commitment is fantastic motivation.

"He is such an inspirational man and beyond the fantastic work he is doing for the Soldier On organisation, at the age of 102 he is an amazing example of positive and healthy ageing," Ms Jacques said.

Bert and Anglican Care staff member Irene Balkema.

Hunter Melanoma Foundation Offering Father's Day Gift Packs for Local Dads

BY DAKOTA TAIT

The Hunter Melanoma Foundation says those who might have forgotten to grab their dad a gift this Sunday shouldn't worry - the charity is working with local businesses to offer Father's Day gift packs and raise money for melanoma education and prevention.

The gift packs contain a range of treats, including golf umbrellas, canvas hats, and a local bottle of either Moscato, Reserve Chardonnay or Merlot from Gemelli Estate.

Executive officer Claudia Tolhurst says she hopes the Father's Day gift packs would be a similar hit to HMF's successful Mother's Day gift packs earlier this year.

"When COVID hit we had to look at some new ways of fundraising, so we decided to put some Mother's Day packs together and they were quite successful," Ms Tolhurst said.

"We decided we'd put some Father's Day packs together so that we could provide some options for people with free delivery where they could support a local charity and spoil their dad all at once."

Ms Tolhurst says fundraising effort and donations to the HMF were just as important as ever - the deadly disease doesn't stop for a pandemic.

"The money that we raise from the Father's Day packs goes towards our education programs," said Ms Tolhurst. "We go out into the community, into the schools in various community groups and teach people about the importance of the prevention of melanoma and also the importance of early detection."

You can grab a gift pack for your dad with free delivery all Friday at https://shop.hmf.org.au/.

Image credit: https://shop.hmf.org.au/

Eight Hunter Charities Share in $150,000 of Newcastle Council Grants

BY ISABEL EVERETT

Eight local Charities supporting vulnerable Novocastrians have shared in $150,000 of Rapid Response Grants from Newcastle Council, to help people overcome challenges posed by Covid-19. 

The eight recipient charities include:

·         OZ Harvest 

·         Soul Café 

·         Grainery Church 

·         Got Your Back Sista 

·         Justiz Community 

·         BaptistCare HopeStreet 

·         Awabakal 

·         A local women’s and children’s refuge 

The payments were made under the City’s Community and Economic Development Resilience Package, to help the charities prepare meals and care packages for the needy and supply them through newly introduced delivery services.

The funds are also set to be used to buy IT equipment for disadvantaged youth to continue their education during social isolation and help victims of domestic violence access online counselling.

Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the first round of support had been rolled out in little more than a week after the City announced a twin grants program to support non-government organisations, not for profits and other charitable service providers.

“The rapid response funding has ensured the continuity of food supply to meet a spike in local demand,” the Lord Mayor said.

“It was critical we responded quickly to help organisations implement the changes they have had to make to operate safely under current social distancing and home isolation restrictions."

BaptistCare HopeStreet’s Craig Budden said their $25,000 grant from the City would help provide food support and material assistance to meet a huge increase in demand at the organisations Mayfield and Wallsend offices. 

“The extra funding will mean we are able to provide more emergency relief care-packs, Woolworths and Coles vouchers, hand sanitiser, cleaning products and other emergency relief items like petrol, sleeping bags and pharmacy products, as well as more takeaway food through our outreach van,” Budden, Manager of the Wallsend Centre, said. 

“The grant will also help fund the HopeStreet food delivery service that we have started to ensure those who are experiencing food insecurity but are self-isolating or quarantining can still receive food support.” 

Another round of community funding totalling $550,000 is also being offered under the City’s Community and Economic Development Resilience Package. 

The Boost our City Community Grants of up to $30,000 will help organisations directly support community health and wellbeing during the coronavirus crisis. 

“Whether it’s for someone with complex health needs but limited access to technology to continue getting that vital care, or someone who has lost their job and is seeking help for the first time, we know these grants will go a long way to helping our community,” Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes added.

Open until 30 June, Boost our City Community Grants are available for projects that comply with Federal Government guidelines and NSW Health advice.  

Application forms and information on how to apply are available via the City’s website.  

Newcastle Woman Leaves $14 Million to Charity

BY ISABEL EVERETT

Former Bar Beach resident, Sheila Woodcock, has left a donation of almost $14 million to 15 community organisations. 

Miss Woodcock passed away on May 12, 2018 aged 87, and was a lover of animals, the arts, cricket, tennis, chocolate and travel. 

Local organisations who received part of the donation include the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service, Salvation Army, Breast Cancer Trials, RSPCA Newcastle and Vision Australia Newcastle. 

The funding will support the construction of the region’s new RSPCA veterinary hospital, a new helicopter service training facility, several medical research programs, scholarships for researchers and health professionals, and scholarship programs and services for young people. 

The Salvation Army will buy a property to create accommodation for the homeless in Belmont. 

Family spokesperson, Kent Woodcock, announced the funding today which he said is in addition to funding Miss Woodcock provided to some of the organisations, and others, throughout her life.

“This wasn't just a one off, this is over a life time as well. Sheila was about friendship, care and community," he said. 

Mr Woodcock said Miss Woodcock had good business sense. Her grandfather established the family business Earp, Woodcock and Beveridge.

“Sheila became a major shareholder in the business and, with her business advisers, astutely managed her business affairs and invested wisely,’ he said.

“Sheila chose to share her fortune with others who were doing good work for others.”

CEO of Guide Dogs NSW, Dale Cleaver, says the donation to his organisation will support the training of another 25 guide dogs. 

"It takes over $50,000 and two years to breed, raise and train a good guide dog, so Sheila's contribution is going to make quite a difference to us," he said. 

"Without the generosity of people like Sheila, we wouldn't be able to deliver the services we do to people with vision impairment," he said. 

Over her 30 years of friendship with guide dogs, Sheila provided close to $350,000. 

                                         Sheila Woodcock
                                                    Image Credit: Newcastle Herald

University charity Out(fit) launches Mobile Design Hub

BY SAMANTHA COOKE AND HANNAH-LOUISE ANDERSON

A University of Newcastle based charity organisation has launched a new multipurpose trailer called 'Dotty' aid in bringing design assistance to regional New South Wales communities.

Out(fit), an initiative run through the School of Architecture and Built Environments, aims to provide save havens and facilities to underprivileged groups while simultaneously giving architecture and design students a chance to learn new skills in real world scenarios.

Thanks to a $123 000 grant from the Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation, the newly constructed multipurpose trailer will allow the organisation to facilitate mobile project management as well as community pop-up events to raise awareness and crowd-fund. 

Out(fit) Founder and Head of School of Architecture and Built Environment, Professor SueAnne Ware says Dotty will allow the organisation extend its reach to further communities and provides students with unique learning opportunities.

"Dotty allows us to go on the road and we already have a few places lined up in places like Taree and Windale." she says. 

Chair of Newcastle Permanent's Charitable Foundation Phil Neat said the foundation understands the importance for a project like this being initiated across regional New South Wales. 

"These people are marginalized, their isolated, or people who are looking for better community outcomes," he said.

Image belonging to Out(fit) 

Transport Fees Scrapped for Hunter Charity Food

BY LAUREN FREEMANTLE

Hunter charity partners of the Foodbank NSW initiative are set to benefit from a state government announcement.

Foodbank accounts for about 65% of all fresh produce and non-perishables delivered to 53 charity partners like the Salvation Army Cessnock, St Vincent De Paul Wyong and BaptistCare Windale Community Centre.

Now, a $50 transport fee per pallet will be scrapped, delivering 4000 tonnes across the state for free -  saving the charities a collective $630,000.

Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter, Scot MacDonald says the small measure will make a huge impact and also help the fight against food waste.

"[Foodbank] has a couple of goals of course," he explains, "one is to provide food for people in need, but also to keep food out of landfill...so it's a win-win really.

"This will put about $150 a week towards charity for these organisations instead of transport costs," Mr MacDonald says.

Image: Foodbank NSW. 

Hunter charities receive welcome funding

BY LAUREN FREEMANTLE

Health and wellbeing projects carried out by Hunter charities are set to receive a welcome boost, with the nib foundation's announcement of this year's Community Grant Program recipients.

Amongst the 10 beneficiaries, six will conduct projects to improve the health of youths and carers within the Hunter region- Camp Quality; Family Planning NSW; Youth Off the Streets; Diabetes NSW; Waves of Wellness and the Australian Trust for Conservation Workers.

They'll share in $300,000 worth of funding, with grants ranging from $5000 to $50,000 being awarded by the foundation.

Executive Officer of the nib foundation, Amy Tribe, said it represents a continued commitment to improving local health services.

"This is our ninth annual Community Grant round," she said, "we've provided nearly $16 million in grant funding to more than 105 charity partners here in the Hunter and across Australia during that time."

Ms Tribe said nib foundation has recognised the need for better access to health services and education and programs which develop life-skills and social connectedness as a priority.

She believes the charities chosen are making a real difference in the lives of at-risk individuals.

"We'll be helping Camp Quality to train more volunteers, we'll be expanding the Waves of Wellness therapy programs for young people with mental health problems in the Port Stephens area, and our grants will also support Youth Off the Streets to continue their work with highly disadvantaged youths in the Kurri Kurri region."