Left:By Jim Mynard
WALKING councillors raised $10,000 toward the Windermere Child and Family Services fund raising dinner held at Berwick Springs Hotel on Friday 16 May.
Casey mayor Janet Halsall said Flinders MP Greg Hunt had raised a large amount of money for a charitable cause by walking around his electorate.
“River Gum Ward councillor Wayne Smith and I decided to do the same in our ward and people gave us $10,000 for Windermere,” she said.
The gala dinner was a sell out.
Profit for the night was also increased when Berwick Springs Hotel proprietors Sam and Nellie Castello provided the venue and dinner without cost and entertainers worked free of charge.
Compere Michael Roberts commended guests for their generous support of the Windermere ‘Kids Becoming Champions’ program.
He said the program helped neglected children get on track with their lives.
“The program does not receive government funding so the only way to keep it working is by community support,” he said.
Windermere chief executive Cheryl DeZilwa said the night was about celebrating community and fund raising for Windermere.
“We have 140 people here and I thank them for their support.”
She extended special thanks to Mr and Mrs Castello for their kindness and said they were generous supporters of the kids becoming champions program.
“They have not only made this venue available tonight, but provided the catering free, and committed the hotel for future Windermere fundraising events,” she said.
Ms DeZilwa said Windermere could not keep turning to the government for a solution to problems facing some children.
She stressed the importance of community support in maintaining Windermere’s kids becoming champions program.
“We still get lots of support from governments and councils, but we cannot meet the demand without our community help,” she said.
Ms DeZilwa said Windermere had services available to help children in crisis.
“But consider the child who comes to the end of a government funded program,” she said.
“That child will go back into the community with long lasting concerns.
“To cope with this situation we launched ‘Kids Becoming Champions’
“By supporting the program people can provide long term help for children in crisis.
“We deal with children in the five and six age group, but there are many who need assistance at a much earlier age.
“We help them live beyond their crisis through counselling, health care and in many cases teaching people to be better parents.
“Kids becoming champions has been going five years and we have some great success stories.
“They learn to play in team sports and they begin to realize that for the first time in their lives they have someone who cares about them.
“We must prevent what has happened to these children from going into the next generation.”
