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Stand Like Stone
Courage & Kindness
Message from our CEO, Anne Kerr
A warm welcome to our second newsletter of the year (the team and I can’t believe we’re in July already!)
The past few months have certainly been busy. We’ve awarded our OneFortyOne Community Grants, helping some fantastic local groups help their communities thrive.
We’ve also held our annual fundraiser, Swinging with the Stars. It was my first time being part of this event, and all I can say is WOW and Thank You! Our Limestone Coast community is amazing!
What an incredibly humbling experience to be a part of, seeing first-hand the power of teamwork to bring together an event with over 500 people in attendance, and raising over $110,000 for the people and charitable projects of the Limestone Coast.
From the wonderful local stars to the dancers, to the volunteer committee, to all the local businesses who have supported this event year after year, to everyone who has donated, who has supported our stars, and who came out on the night to support the event - thank you.
We are proud to serve our Limestone Coast community, but we couldn’t do what we do without your support, and we thank you for helping us achieve our vision of inspiring community kindness and courage.
With our vision in mind, we have a new giving initiative we’re about to launch in the coming months, and we think it will be our most ambitious to date. We want to help more people and charitable projects in our region both now and into the future. We're looking forward to sharing more information with you soon.
As always, our newsletter gives us the opportunity to share stories of kindness and courage from our region, and I hope wherever you are reading it, you, and the people you care about are safe and well.
$50,000 grant funding for local projects
OneFortyOne Community Grants awarded,
Thanks to our funding partner, OneFortyOne we were able to grant $50,000 to community groups across the Limestone Coast, supporting a range of projects from upgrading equipment for Scouts to regulation and mindfulness training empowering local educators.
The Allendale East Area School was one of 5 groups that received a grant to purchase a luggage trailer for the Steven Noble Community Bus. The Community Bus itself was purchased for the Port MacDonnell, Allendale East and Kongorong communities through our Steven Noble Memorial Sub Fund and it is fantastic to see community-led improvements continuing.
However, when seeing the need in our region through the grants process, the team at OneFortyOne agreed to help more local groups and provided a further $35,000 in funding on top of the $50,000 grant.
Details of the Stand Like Stone OneFortyOne Community Grants are below.
Penola High School
With a grant of $4,600 this project will support the Penola High School complete the outdoor dining space for its Cafe 43 training venue, helping students as well as the wider community.
Naracoorte Scouts
$5,000 was granted to support the Scouting for Connections project, helping disadvantaged youth connect with the environment, each other and a supportive community. The grant will help purchase fit for purpose and safe equipment for outdoor education camps.
Mount Gambier North Primary School
$20,000 was granted to the school to provide an equine assisted learning program to identified high needs students, which compliments psychology services. The program will help students with their self awareness, regulation and resourcing using an innovative and unique learning technique.
Allendale East Area School
$4,400 was granted to the Allendale East Area School Governing Council to purchase a luggage trailer for the Steven Noble Community Bus,
The South East Junction, Mental Health Activity and Resource Centre
$16,000 was granted to support the Changing Tracks project to tackle the increase in domestic violence. The program is aimed at educating and upskilling men and women to make better choices, to grow and reprogram their responses to conflict and stress, promoting healthy relationships with themselves and others.
Local stars shine brightly in Swinging with the Stars 2021
After a year off due to Covid 19, we were delighted to once again host “Swinging with the Stars” our annual charity fundraiser at the Barn in June.
Over 500 people attended the event to support their local celebrities as they danced their hearts out for a great cause, raising over $110,000 to support the work of Stand Like Stone, the only community foundation in the Limestone Coast.
“We can’t thank our community enough for getting behind our stars and this event. We are so proud to serve our community, humbled by the support and simply can’t thank everyone enough. Thank you, Limestone Coast!” said Anne Kerr, CEO of the Stand Like Stone Foundation.
The money raised will help the foundation with its running costs as well as growing the capital, providing more money back into the community each year through its charitable grants and educational scholarships programs.
8 local “stars” from across the region have spent the past 10 weeks learning 4 dance routines under the tutelage of Kim Cella and Keana Soper at Hype Dance, all while raising funds for the foundation.
“This is the 10th year that Kim Cella has choreographed the dances, and I think everyone was blown away with the standard of the four dance routines this year – it took the judges a good 15 minutes to pick the final 4 because they were all just so good”, said Mrs Kerr.
As well as Hype Dance, the event is supported by other local businesses such as Vanity Make-Up Bar and Body Lounge and Red Ivie Hairdressing who provided their professional services, Christy Radford from With Love Photography took the photos, Marcus Jones from Video Live Production made the videos, and the Barn team provided delicious food and service.
Ms Kerr said the local businesses supporting the event allow Stand Like Stone to contribute more money back to the community.
Under the expert judging of Lisa Barker, Ardlair School of Dancing, along with 2019 stars Liz Rymill and Rob Francis, the four stars who made it to the Final 4 were Peter Loring, Macey Humphries, Stephen Holmes and Caroline Barr.
Mr Loring came out on top, winning Best Dancer with his dance partner Paris Ackland.
Penola’s Kate Palm was crowned the People’s Choice Winner for the night, raising the most money (over $27,000).
Mrs Kerr said the whole Stand Like Stone team were humbled by everyone involved in the process.
“It’s a real team effort to make Swinging with the Stars the success it is, from our sponsors, donors, the voluntary committee behind the scenes, as well as the people who supported the stars and everyone who came out to the Barn on Saturday night.
However, the 8 stars and their dancing partners are truly amazing. It’s very humbling to be part of their journey as they learn 4 routines in 10 weeks, perform them in front of 500 people, all while raising funds for our Limestone Coast community. It takes a very special person to do that, and we can’t thank them enough”, said Mrs Kerr.
2021 Stars
Bryce Smith, a PE teacher from Kingston, raised money for the Kingston Community School Sub Fund.
Owner of Bricks & Mortar Coffee Co, Peter Loring, raised money for the Stand Like Stone Sub Fund.
Stephen Holmes raised money for the Barrie Holmes Memorial Educational Scholarship Sub Fund.
Caroline Barr raised money for the Caroline Barr Animal Welfare Sub Fund.
Port MacDonnell’s Randall Jones raised money for the Steven Noble Memorial Sub Fund.
Grant High School teacher Marian Hodson raised money for the Grant High School Sub Fund.
Penola’s Kate Palm raised money for the Penola Coonawarra Sub Fund.
Macey Humphries raised money for the Stand Like Stone Sub Fund.
Our generous sponsors and supporters
