BUSHkids 2016-17 Annual Report

FRIENDS

FoBk is a network of volunteers based in the communities we serve. The Friends network provides practical support to the organisation, boosting BUSHkids’ profile, promoting our services, raising funds to support our operations and strengthening our position at the heart of the community. FoBk members come from a wide variety of backgrounds: parents whose children have benefited from our services, health professionals who have an interest in rural or children’s health a of local business, government, and community organisations. Friends of BUSHkids (FoBk)

FoBk Emerald This group is led by Charlie Wilson, the grandson of BUSHkids founder Sir Leslie Orme Wilson, and was launched in June 2016. “We’ve had a busy year up in Emerald,” Charlie noted, “being our first full year of operation; we have had to learn and adjust to find out who we are, our role and how we can provide practical help to the organisation. When we started in June last year we had a very formal meeting attended by around 30 people. Since then we have evolved into a core group of dedicated helpers who meet and plan our events. All the FoBk Emerald group believe wholeheartedly in the need for BUSHkids’ services and work tirelessly to promote and raise much needed funds for the organisation. “The pressure is on to decide on a specific BUSHkids project in Emerald to which we can direct the funds we have raised this year; having a tangible project to support will give the group focus and energy. Once we do this and define our role better, we will gather more members and create something quite special up here in the Central Highlands. “We’ve generated some great support from the local community here already. In April we had a really productive meeting with Mayor Hayes of Central Highlands Regional Counci at which we discussed BUSHkids’ work in Emerald and the Gemfields; the Council later made a generous donation to the organisation. The service centre also had a visit from the State Member for Gregory, Lachlan Miller MP, who kindly helped out by donating all the meat for the BBQ at our BUSHconnect event. “The BUSHconnect event back in July and our Golf Day, which took place in October, were our two big events this year. BUSHconnect was held at Lions Park with the Emerald Community Preschool and Kindergarten, and it was a great way to promote BUSHkids’ services to the community. As well as the free BBQ, with the help of BUSHkids staff we handed out promotional material and our tent was full of people learning about our programs and how we can help them as individuals and families.

“It was a great result, particularly having an event in conjunction with a kindy where there may be kids that could benefit from BUSHkids’ support. We’re planning to repeat the event next year, possibly in association with another of the major preschools in town. “Our big fundraiser this year was the Golf Day in October which was a huge success. Thanks to Enwise Electrical (which had handled the day last year), we already had a profile to build on. We had over 70 players teeing-off on the day, with lots of donated prizes, two raffles, an auction of golf clubs and a donated return flight to Brisbane with accommodation thanks to Helloworld Travel and Qantas. The day raised over $14,000 for BUSHkids in Emerald, which was an amazing result! So many people donated prizes and helped us out, including Westpac, Murray and Associates Surveyors, Cliff Tucker, Gemfields RSL and Ando’s Concrete. Big thanks to Doug Gray who worked so hard to organise the event.” “The community support we get up here really is fantastic. Emerald Mitre 10 is an awesome sponsor of our FoBk group and the Emerald Rotary Club provided volunteers to run the BBQs at both the BUSHconnect and the Golf Day. We also get great support from the BUSHkids team both here in Emerald and back in Toowong. Despite being busy, Carlton always somehow finds time to attend our meetings in person or by phone which is a great boost for the volunteers. Our FoBk members are in awe of the passion and commitment Carlton shows to ‘Bushies’ – it’s a passion which I’m sure would make my grandfather proud.”

Above: FoBk Emerald chair CharlieWilson (centre) flanked by CEO Carlton Meyn and Cr Kerry Hayes, Mayor of Central Highlands Regional Council, at their meeting in April. Right: CharlieWilson (centre, again) with FoBk member Clinton Adams and Golf Day auction winner Mark Murray in Emerald in October.

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