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A newsletter from Big Brothers Big Sisters Melbourne
Summer 2013
www.bbbs .or g .a u
The last few months have been jam-packed with activity—we’ve had the TRY Australia and
BBBS Melbourne Volunteer Awards dinner (check out the photo of our BBBS team all glammed
up for the night!), the Big Shout Out down at Southbank, the Young Achievers Graduation cele-
brations, a bunch of fabulous new matches being made, changes with our internal processes,
and also a relocation of our Flemington and Hallam offices to Mt Waverley. Phew!
December 5th is International Volunteer Day, so I'd like to take this opportunity to thank all the volunteers that have contributed so much to
the lives of the young people involved in our program. I’d also like to acknowledge the BBBS team who coordinate the mentoring pro-
grams, and provide support to our volunteers—without your efforts to screen volunteers and make good matches there’d just be a lot of
chocolate-eating going on in the office.
It’s been an exciting time but we are also looking forward to the new year ahead, in our new offices and with lots of new ideas to Start
Something in 2014. Merry Christmas, Happy Festive Season and have safe holidays,
Tricia Ciampa, Executive Officer
THINKING BIG
In This Issue
The BIG Shout Out!
It was a beautiful Spring day, November 26th, much different
to the washout during Youth Mentoring Week back in
October, where a big blackboard beckoned passers-by down at
Southbank to give a Big Shout to a role model or mentor in
their life.
The Big Shout Out was an opportunity to publically thank the
people who had helped shape the person you are today. Lots
of people had cause to reflect on someone who has inspired
and supported them, be they parents, a teacher, community or business leaders, or simply friends. We’ve all
needed a helping hand or a shoulder to lean on at some point in life to get where we are today, and often we don't
realise the impact these people have had.
The power of Mentoring has never been more profound than on this day, watching the number of who willingly
came over to write on the wall, people of all ages and walks of life, all reflecting on someone who has had an in-
fluence and impact on their life. More photos on the back page, and check out our Facebook page too.
Another successful year has celebrated by 30 mentors and mentees in the Young Achievers Program! We heard inspiring speeches by
Vini and Laura, two of the young people in this year’s program and Sophie, one of the first young achievers to be part of the program in
2009 who returned this year to be a mentor to Erica. Philip our visionary philanthropist was also there to speak to all the
mentors and mentees and wish them well on their journey. After speeches and some great food, rowing on the Yarra River was in
order. Next year 7 young people and mentors will return to contin-ue even further with the program. We say good bye and thank you to Laura, our longest participating young person who was part of
YAP for 3 years. We are looking forward to another year filled with challenging workshops and enthusiastic and committed mentors
and mentees. - Viv Ray, YAP Coordinator
Young Achievers Graduation
www.bbbs .or g .a u
Volunteer Screening Over the past four months we have introduced a new Vol-unteer Screening process which has enabled us to screen 52 prospective volunteer mentors just from the Melbourne metro area. Of these 52 we have been able to successfully match 13 young people in our Community mentoring pro-gram. We are very excited about our new processes, as we are able to focus on different municipal areas or regions at a time, and consolidate our screening process down to about 5 weeks. Next year we will be conducting Volunteer Infor-mation Sessions in particular areas of high demand, so please keep an eye out for this information and invite your friends along if you can.
Currently we are seeking a few more volunteers for 2014 for specific programs, so please pass the word around :
Young Achievers program
*A Male commercial pilot *A Female who has worked for the UN or WHO
*A female from the commerce/finance sector
Group Mentoring
* Females from the Cranbourne area who have a particular talent, such as singing, performing arts, dance)
*A Male from the Frankston area for a fitness program
The Volunteer Awards
What a great night!
The Inaugural TRY Australia and BBBSM Volun-
teer of the Year Awards were a fabulous suc-
cess and that success is a result of all who do-
nated, sponsored and attended the event; your
support has raised much needed funds and will
empower young people to reach their potential and make positive changes for healthier communities.
In our 130th year it is important and appropriate to acknowledge our current volunteers and
also pay respect to those who helped TRY and BBBSM achieve success over many years.
I would like to congratulate and acknowledge all nominees across the Volunteer of the Year
Award categories. All would have been worthy winners as you made the judges job extreme-
ly difficult. The contribution that you make to our organisation and the wider community is
simply invaluable. Thank you.
We extend further congratulations to our winners of each category for their outstanding and selfless contributions.
Volunteer Team of the Year - The 'M' team
The ‘M team’ is a generous and energetic youth group that first
walked in the door at our Big Brothers Big Sisters Hallam office
close to four years ago and have remained permanent fixtures ever
since. Lead by Ange Singh, the group have been integral to the
development of what is now known as the First Friends program
and as a result shared so many laughs with so many young people
from our waiting lists. Not to mention their three years of helping
host Christmas parties, joining in at fundraising events and bring-
ing many more volunteers to our doors. The ‘M-team’ has been a
priceless addition to our Big Brothers Big Sisters team.
Volunteer Corporate Partner of the Year - Deloitte
Deloitte have been a long standing volunteer partner of TRY Australia for the past three years offering their services
and expertise across a number of valuable projects allowing efficiency, reliability and an overall stronger organisa-
tion in everything we do. In addition to numerous group volunteer days and organisational process and legal sup-
port, Deloitte have also offered the support of two senior staff expertise as Directors.
William M. Forster Volunteer of the Year - Ben McNamara
This award celebrates the incredible life and dedication of William Forster to community
service and has been presented to an individual who embodies those same characteristics
and selfless values. Ben McNamara, best known as ‘Liam’s Bro’, is a Big Brother mentor
within the community mentoring program of Big Brothers Big Sisters. Ben’s story and ef-
forts at times are based on simple gestures, reliability and friendship, yet his impact has
been nothing short of life changing.
Once again thanks and our heartfelt appreciation to our volunteers and all involved in the
event, we are already looking forward to next year!
www.bbbs .or g .a u
Julia Cambage
CEO TRY Australia
We are moving…
From 16th December we will be
located at the address below:
Melbourne Metro
First Floor, Rear 88 Ricketts Road
Mt. Waverley 3149
tel: 9347 2655
www.bbbs .or g .a u
Contact Us Wangaratta
21-33 Handley Street, Wangaratta
PO Box 1236 Wangaratta 3676
tel: 5721 8638
Ballarat
Level 1/36 Camp Street, Ballarat
PO Box 583 Ballarat 3353
tel: 5336 5031
