The Caleb Thorburn Foundation 2009 Christmas Newsletter
As another year rapidly draws to a close we instinctively begin the process of reflecting on the
previous 12 months. The Caleb Thorburn Foundation Inc (TCTF) is thrilled to close 2009 after a busy, productive and extremely fulfilling year. As supporters of the Foundation’s efforts, it is enormously rewarding to present you with this newsletter which provides a snapshot of the work of TCTF over the last 12 months.

Being involved as a full-time volunteer in the Not-For-Profit sector is always very challenging and was heightened during the last 12 months as we endured the global financial crisis. There are so many worthy organisations competing for the community’s charitable dollar to ensure their continued viability. Accordingly, it is a tough and often exhausting process to maintain and grow the charitable income stream which is fundamental to the Foundation achieving its goals. However, it is also very humbling, moving and a great privilege to experience such overwhelming generosity. The human spirit is indeed big hearted and collectively has inspired and enabled TCTF to realise its 2009 objectives.

It is with absolute gratitude that we express our sincere THANKS and BLESSINGS to the many individuals, organisations and businesses that have donated their trust, skills, services and finances to TCTF. We hope this snapshot will expose the many ways your commitment to the Foundation has translated to the benefit
of the community.

2009 began with the tragic and devastating bushfires. The outpouring was enormous and the community rallied. It was a reminder to all of the difference we as a community can make through charitable donation. It increased consciousness of how important it is to ‘give back’ and to nourish the charitable organisations that are instrumental to the welfare and wellbeing of so many.

When we embarked on our March trivia night event, we queried whether the community had more to give in light of the response to the bushfires. Once more, the Foundation was overwhelmed by the support of the many that attended with a healthy appetite for fun and a deep wallet! Through the commitment and hard work of the social committee and a firm desire to ensure our inaugural trivia night did not disappoint, TCTF supplied tempting raffle and auction prizes and a night full of entertainment and fun. The event was a tremendous success with close to twenty thousand dollars raised for the Foundation. This result would not have been possible without the collective support of our committee, the enthusiastic and generous crowd and the many businesses and people who contributed stock and time to ensure the event was a success. The trivia night will be repeated in 2010 with the intention of making it bigger and better! Stay tuned for more details.

The Foundation’s key objective during 2009 was the distribution of educational material to all pockets of the Victorian community. This has enabled us to continue to deliver on our vision of reducing the incidence and impact of meningococcal disease through education. We are extremely proud of our achievements in this regard. The last 12 months has seen over 400,000 various educational collateral produced, 75% of these mailed out to 3,800 destinations including Victorian kindergartens, childcare centres, hospitals, immunisation centres, doctor clinics and maternal child health centres. Our material is a collaboration of work from Professor Robert Booy, Kay and Tristan from Media One, Cara Frankish from Image Bound Graphic Design, Corporate Impressions and our Foundation. The collateral distributed included DVDs, posters, brochures and fridge magnets.

In 2009, TCTF embarked on our first Expo, new office space in Richmond with Commercial Eyes Pty Ltd, involvement in supplying drink bottles and show bags to many community events, including bushfire affected areas and the immunisation walkathon at Jells Park – to name a few. We have conducted numerous presentations to Victorian schools and to the St John Ambulance and have responded to over 200 calls or emails requesting support, advice, material or referral. We have also linked with organisations such as The Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation, Planet Give, Wheelchair Sports Australia and have been supported by key businesses, including ANZ North Ringwood.

TCTF still has so much to achieve in the periods ahead and your continued support is fundamental to our ongoing sustainability. Please consider how you may be able to contribute via your workplace (fundraisers, stock, skill, time) or within your personal networks.

To our board, social committee, volunteers and the many ‘Friends of the Foundation’ my heartfelt thanks for making 2009 such an outstanding year. Feel rewarded knowing your overwhelming support has helped to save and better the lives of many.

To conclude I would personally like to thank my beautiful children, husband and family for their devotion and encouragement! They enable ‘the vision’ to become a reality and continually refuel the tank with love, laughter and motivation!

Liselle Thorburn – President.

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