Canberra Day Appeal wrap-up
The Canberra Day Appeal has come to an end for another year, and we are filled with immense gratitude and joy at the incredible support from our community. Thanks to local individuals and companies, we are thrilled to have raised a total of $5590!
These funds will go towards some of our vital annual projects, such as:
• our annual giving tree appeal to ensure everyone has something to feel festive about over the holiday season
• the 10/10 project, where we give back to our community by providing free ‘backyard blitz’ style yard and garden clean-ups for up to 10 vulnerable households who, due to their life circumstances, find it challenging to manage the condition of their yards.
This achievement would not have been possible without every contribution. We want to thank our matching partner, Aldermane, and the foundational support from Hands Across Canberra, whose generosity significantly increased our efforts and impact.
Run by Hands Across Canberra, the Canberra Day Appeal is Canberra’s largest fundraising drive. It raises much-needed funds to support charities across Canberra and helps us continue to make a positive difference in people’s lives.
Among our highlights during this year’s appeal was winning a $500 prize from Hands Across Canberra for a short video we created on the importance of giving where you live. Thanks to our team members who braved the camera for this video!
We were also honoured to host the Canberra Giving Day launch at the Belconnen Community Centre. The event was a significant success, catering to a large crowd and gaining media coverage from Win TV, Riotact and Canberra Daily. Special thanks to the seniors from our Involve social group who delivered a captivating ukulele performance!
Our early childhood centres and out-of-school-hours-care programs across the ACT also helped raise much-needed funds for the appeal. The centres collected coin donations from family members, culminating in the children creating ‘coin snakes’. This not only helped raise funds but also fostered a sense of giving and community among our youngest members.
Our social badminton charity day in the Belconnen Community Centre sports hall was another highlight, raising additional funds for the appeal.
Thank you, Canberra, for your generosity, unity and spirit in helping us achieve a successful Canberra Day Appeal. Your support enables us to continue our vital programs and services across the ACT, making a significant difference in the lives of our community members.
Recent News Stories
Following on from the signage placed around the Belconnen Community Centre and notices distributed to participants, we are sharing this update to confirm that the Swanson Court carpark has now permanently closed as of Tuesday 2 April 2025, due to a new development at the site by JWLand.
Young people in Belconnen now have easier access to free, confidential health and wellbeing support with the arrival of the T25 Clinic at Belconnen Youth Centre. Every Thursday from 2pm to 5pm the T25 Clinic van, Mini Pat, will be on-site offering a safe and welcoming space for young people aged 12 to 25. There’s no need for an appointment – just drop in when you need support.
The Canberra Day Appeal 2025 has wrapped up for another year and we are grateful to everyone who contributed, either by making a donation or helping to spread awareness. Thanks to the generosity of our community, employees and corporate supporters, we raised an amazing $6,736.40 – an increase from $5590 in 2024. These funds will go directly towards recruiting, training and supporting more volunteer transport drivers, ensuring people in our community can get to their essential medical appointments for chronic health conditions such as cancer and kidney disease.
Patsy is a lifelong storyteller and a creative spirit. For nearly 20 years, she was a storyteller at early childhood education centres, captivating children with her tales – sometimes using handmade props to bring them to life, other times sharing stories she wrote herself. Creativity has always been second nature to her, and when she’s caught up in a project, time flies by often leading to late nights. Though she recently stepped away from storytelling, she continues her creative pursuits, including a quilt project through Involve (stay tuned!).
For Therese Beckmann, sewing isn’t just about fabric and stitches – it’s a way of telling stories, bringing people together and creating something meaningful. After 30 years of working in sewing, dressmaking and teaching, she realised she wanted to take her skills beyond the retail space and into the community. She had always felt drawn to the senior age group, especially after hearing students in her art classes say, “This is better than therapy.” Hearing it over and over made her realise just how powerful creativity could be in bringing people together and improving wellbeing.