As I looked back over the past few months at Stand Like Stone, I was reminded of just how extraordinary our year to date has been, from the devastating bushfires at the start of the year to the global pandemic we all now face.

I'll be honest, there have been times recently when I was scared for my family, my friends and my community. Two months ago, as we sat in our Board meeting making the tough, but right, decision to cancel our major fundraising event for the year, we didn't know what the future would look like. We knew that times were going get a lot harder for many people in our region as we faced the impact of Covid-19.    

However, this time has also given me, as well as the whole team at Stand Like Stone, the opportunity to tune in again to our vision and values and remind us why we are in business. We are the Limestone Coast’s only community foundation; we were made by the community and we are here for the community in times of need.

Our vision is to inspire community kindness and courage and I'm inspired every day at Stand Like Stone. People are brilliant and our region is filled with many kind, generous, innovative, and courageous ones.

Our newsletter gives us the opportunity to share their stories, and I hope wherever you are reading it, you and the people you care about are safe and well.

For the residents of Keilira, the bushfire that started on December 30th burning more than 25,000 hectares and impacting 22 properties was devastating. The fire not only destroyed homes, stock, pastures and sheds; it also took a massive toll on the wellbeing of the small Limestone Coast community.

We were proud to be able to help thanks to the generosity of our amazing community. Not only did we receive fundraising monies from Koonara Wines and the Funds for Firies Family Fun Day, but we also provided money from our South East Disaster Relief Fund. A total of $15,000 was made available to grant out to the people of Keilira who had been impacted by the fire.

We’d like to take this opportunity to applaud the courage of the Keilira community in how they continue to face the impacts of the fire, and celebrate the kindness of the people who donated. We think their story really epitomises our vision of inspiring community kindness and courage.

We were delighted to announce the establishment of two new sub funds within Stand Like Stone in April. These new sub funds focussing on animal welfare and athletic development are not only a first for us, but are another exciting way to give back to the community.

The Caroline Barr Animal Rescue Sub Fund will provide grants to support animal welfare across the region. Caroline, who is passionate about giving back to the community, has noticed the huge need for local animal welfare and rescue support.

“Organisations such as Wet Noses Animal Rescue are run purely by volunteers, and funding relies heavily on sponsors within the community. By establishing a sub fund within Stand Like Stone, I can create a legacy and ensure ongoing future support for a variety of charitable organisations and a cause that I am passionate about.”

For Stephen Holmes and his siblings, establishing the Barrie Holmes Memorial Scholarship represented a unique way to honour their late father.

“My dad, Barrie Holmes, was a very active member of the community, supporting children to participate in sport. His passion for helping those in our local community is something that my siblings and I have carried with us throughout our whole lives, we want to honour who he was and the way he raised us.”

Our congratulations to Caroline Barr and the Holmes family for their passion and dedication to this region. Establishing a sub fund within the Stand Like Stone Foundation really is a great way to give back to your local community.

We’ve been part of the FRRR (Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal) Back to School program since 2005, raising funds to help students and their families who are experiencing disadvantage with the costs of going back to school.

The program provides schools with $50 vouchers that can be used for items such as school uniforms, clothing, shoes, school bags and stationery items. Thanks to the support of FRRR and local donors, we’ve given over $460,000 worth of vouchers since 2005.

This year we’ve distributed 666 vouchers to 40 schools across each of the 7 council areas of the Limestone Coast. 

The Stay at School program is supported by the Wyatt Trust, and helps students studying at the Independent Learning Centres in Naracoorte and Mount Gambier, and the Grant High School Flexible Learning Centre with a gift of up to $500.

Many of these students aren’t able to live at home, don’t have stable accommodation and find it hard to obtain work because they haven’t finished Year 12. These students can use this gift to help with the costs of studying and finishing Year 12.

Since 2011 we’ve distributed around $240,000 and this year we are set to provide $30,000 in gifts.

With Covid-19 restrictions in place, this year we've decided to do things a little differently and hold a “friend-raiser” instead of our usual annual gala event Swinging with the Stars fund-raiser.

For the past 16 years the people of the Limestone Coast have given to Stand Like Stone. This generosity has enabled us to help people right across our region with grants and scholarships. And so to us, that makes the people of our region the real stars.

The concept behind Streaming with the Stars is simple. Learn the “jive” through an online lesson from Kim Cella at Hype Dance Studio, film yourself dancing and upload it to Stand Like Stone’s website, where people can then vote for their favourite.

Winners will be announced live on Interact Limestone Coast and Stand Like Stone Facebook pages on Saturday 13 June 2020.

Streaming with the Stars isn’t about raising funds; it’s about saying thank you Limestone Coast and celebrating your kindness and courage.