Stand Like Stone Foundation

Inspiring community kindness and courage

Newsletter - August 2023

Message from the CEO

Welcome back to the August 23 newsletter, I hope all our readers are fit, well and enjoying life.

Since our last newsletter we’ve had a busy but enjoyable time. The 2023 Swinging with the Stars event in June was another great night for all, and of course resulted in growing our corpus, which will enable the Foundation to continue doing the great things it does over the next 12mths. I can’t underestimate the effort by all those involved in making the night the great success it is each year. It takes a lot of work by many people over many months, but we know that it gives back to our community many times over.

In recent months I’ve had the opportunity to brief a number of the Councils in the Limestone Coast about the activities of the Foundation. This has been a great way of keeping the elected members across our wonderful region informed and aware of the range of activities and the role we play in making the Limestone Coast a great place to live, work and play. For many years we have been fortunate enough to have Councils support the Foundation financially through sponsorship, and we certainly look forward to this continuing into the future. The importance of having Councils not only acknowledging what we do in their patch, but also supporting us financially, cannot be underestimated.

Readers may remember that it’s been 12 months since our founding donor, Patron, long term supporter, and local philanthropist Mr Brian Page passed away. Brian was extremely passionate about the Foundation and his generosity and kindness was certainly spread throughout the Limestone Coast. In recognition of Brian’s contribution, the Board has now re-named two of its Sub Funds, now to be known as the ‘Brian Page Focis on Youth Sub Fund’ and the ‘Brian Page Focis on Youth Educational Scholarship Sub Fund’. The Board sees the renaming of these sub funds as a worthy recognition of Brian’s contribution to this region, and in doing so, his name will remain forever and have a lasting impact.

On a very pleasing note, we welcome back to the fold, as a Director this time, Georgie McKay. I know all the Board are looking forward to seeing Georgie back around the table, bringing with her a wealth of knowledge and understanding of everything in the big wide world of community foundations. While we’re talking ‘Directors’, we’re still keen to hear from local community minded individuals who may like to consider a Director’s role with us. So, don’t be shy in making contact with us here at the Foundation.

Finally, I’m also pleased to advise that Community Foundations Australia, which is the formal network of the community foundation sector in Australia, has recently announced that Ian Bird OLY has been appointed as their new Chief Executive Officer. Ian has extensive experience in community foundation development and leadership from his current role as chair of the Global Fund for Community Foundations and formerly as the President & CEO of Community Foundations of Canada. Ian will be a great asset for the network of community foundations across Australia.

….and remember, life is mostly froth and bubble, two things stand like stone, kindness in another’s trouble, courage in your own.

Key Dates to Remember.........

Annual Small Grant Round Opens 15/09/23 - 31/10/23
Educational Scholarship Round opens 15/09/23 - 30/11/23
Stand Like Stone Foundation 'A Year in Review' presentation DATE TBA

2023 Swinging with the Stars

We were delighted to once again host the annual Swinging with the Stars event at The Barn on Saturday 17th June.
Over 570 people attended this year’s event, the crowd danced the night away supporting their local Stars, whilst also raising just over $110,000 for the Foundation.

The 8 local “stars” spent several months learning 3 dance routines under the tutelage of Kim Cella and Jazmyn Bowd from Hype Dance, all while raising funds for the Foundation.

Every year the judges find it difficult to pick a winner and this year was no exception.

We would like to congratulate the winner for 2023, Kellie Nobes and her dance partner Jayden Green.

We also announced on the night the 2023 People's Choice award, who individually raised the most amount of money, this year the award was won by Chicago Smith, who raised funds for the Penola / Coonawarra Wellbeing Sub Fund.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank all the supporters for this years event, without you all we would not be able to put on such an amazing night.

2023 Winning dance couple, Kellie Nobes and Jayden Green

2023 Peoples Choice Winner, Chicago Smith and dance partner Cody Smith

Photos courtesy of Christy at With Love Photography

Please visit our website for more photos of the evening

New Director for

Stand Like Stone

We are very excited to welcome Georgie McKay as a new Board Member. Georgie is not new to the Foundation, however is new to the role as Director. Georgie brings with her a wealth of knowledge in the philanthropic sector.

Welcome Georgie!

Friends of Stand Like Stone Champion Grant

Now in its 2nd year of granting, we are thrilled announce that the 'Friends of Stand Like Stone Grant' has been awarded to the Food Bank on the Limestone Coast. $2,990 will go towards purchasing a pallet jack with scissor lift feature to make their food relief operations more efficient, and to improve work-health & safety for their hard-working volunteers.

Small Grants & Educational Scholarships - Opening Soon

Do you need a grant to help you with a community project? If so, we’re seeking applications from community groups and not-for-profits based in or servicing the Limestone Coast Region. Annual Small Grants open on the 15th September 2023. Organisations can apply for grants of up to $10,000 for their charitable project.

Our annual Educational Scholarship round opens on the 15th October 2023. If you are thinking of studying in 2024, applications are available to support students studying an approved curriculum course at an Australian educational institution, whether it be pre-school, primary school, secondary school or tertiary courses.

The Small Grants close on 31st October 2023, and Scholarships close on the 30^th November 2023.

Please have a read of the guidelines prior to submitting your application to determine your eligibility. All the information and online application forms are available on our website www.standlikestone.com.au

Brian Page 16/8/44 - 16/8/22

Community Foundation pays a special tribute to the late Brian Page

It has been approximately 12 months since our founding donor, Patron, long term supporter, and philanthropist Mr Brian Page passed away. Brian was extremely passionate about the Foundation and his generosity and kindness was certainly spread throughout the Limestone Coast.

CEO Roger Babolka said, “Brian’s passion was to support the youth in our region with their education, and in doing so he and his wife Sue were the founding donors for the Educational Scholarship Funds that were set up for the Mount Gambier High School, Grant High School, Kingston Community School, Millicent High School and Keith Area School”. At the time of establishing the Millicent High School Sub Fund, Brian commented that these schools had a connection to the Page Family and to Sue’s family (the Rundle Family) and hence they would like to see opportunities made available for students connected to these schools.

“Brian always said that it is important to support the youth as they are the future to our community”, said Mr Babolka.

In recognition of Brian’s enormous contribution to the Foundation, we have re-named two of our Sub Funds to be the ‘Brian Page Focis on Youth Sub Fund’ and the ‘Brian Page Focis on Youth Educational Scholarship Sub Fund’.

Mr Babolka said, “The Board are very excited to recognise Brian’s contribution in this way, his name will remain forever and have a lasting impact”.

The Brian Page Focis on Youth Sub Funds are there to provide funding for educational charitable projects and educational scholarships which will assist students identifying in the Limestone Coast at any level of education.

Mrs Sue Page said, “Stand Like Stone was definitely one of Brian’s major passions and he would be absolutely thrilled to have his name be part of such a fantastic and important aspect of the Foundation”.

Become a Friend Today!

This is the starting point of your philanthropic journey. We want to help more people become a local philanthropist for the community they love, so we are inviting people and organisations to sign up as a Friend for $500 per year.

Donations are tax deductible and 100% of your donation stays in the Limestone Coast, helping a community you love today, as well as leaving money for tomorrow. We will pool the Friend money to help with our operational costs, establish a Friends sub fund and provide an annual grant to the region, in which you will get the opportunity to have a vote on.

Please do not hesitate to get in touch with us if you, or someone you know, is looking for a meaningful way to give back to the Limestone Coast and become our Friend!

Thank you to the following who have joined us in becoming a Friend for the 22/23 and 23/24 financial years.

Bordertown Vet Clinic
Stephanie Brooker-Jones
Vicki Osborne
Amherst Livestock Trust
Sally Klose
Robert & Glenda Mock
Carol Kay
Justine Drew
Sunnyside Instant Lawn
Woodstock Partners
John Fry
Deb & Graeme Paschke
Graham & Gail Adams
Malcolm & Heather Lambert
Scott & Alicia Forbes
Sue Page
Georgie & James McKay
Doug Balnaves

Meet our office staff

Roger Babolka, Chief Executive Officer

Sally Bailey, Grants & Accounts Coordinator

Carissa Buhlmann, Administration

Thank you to our generous sponsors & supporters

We are privileged to be supported by a wide range of people and organisations through their financial and in-kind support.

We’d like to say a massive thank you to our financial sponsors for this Financial Year.

We’d also like to say a massive thank you to our in-kind sponsors for this year.

Connecting with the Stand Like Stone Foundation
There are many ways local people can get involved with our work:

Give: Donations to the Foundation, large or small are welcome. Give and support your local community.

Volunteer: Want to give your skills to help progress the work of the Foundation? Contact Roger for further information.

Leave a legacy: Sometimes the biggest gift is the one we never see - a gift in your will means a lasting impact for the places and causes you care about.

Got more to tell us? We'd love you to stay in touch and hear about your feedback and ideas. Email us at info@standlikestone.com.au or pick up the phone and call (08) 7701 9259.

Donate Here