THE DIARY: the best

What’s on

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Noodle Markets and rise with r balloon display as Canberra nnual Enlighten Festival (5 ). enlightencanberra.com • FEBRUARY 28 Explore European infl uence on Japan’s traditional art in the exhibition Japanese Modernism (8 ), at the National Gallery of Victoria. ngv.vic.gov.au • MARCH 6 Sculpture by the Sea (7 ) will transform Perth’s Cottesloe Beach, with more than 70 artists showcasing their work over the 18-day festival. sculpturebythesea.com/cottesloe • MARCH 13 Celebrate cultural diversity at Parramasala (2 ), a three-day extravaganza in the heart of Parramatta. discoverparramatta.com • MARCH 13 The Australian Ballet’s Volt (6 ) will electrify audiences with a modern ballet program. At the Arts Centre Melbourne before travelling to Sydney in April. australianballet.com.au • MARCH 14 Dance Nation (4 ) takes a satirical look at ambition at Sydney’s Belvoir Theatre. belvoir.com.au • MARCH 20 Country music stars including Lee Kernaghan (1 ) will rock Willowbank in I i h f CMC R k Q l d k

COMPILED BY NICOLE HICKSON. GETTY IMAGES. © COPYRIGHT SALTY DINGO 2019. DAN BOUD. PENNY LANCASTER. VISITCANBERRA. LYNETTE WILLS. CLYDE YEE. JAPANESE POPULAR MUSIC SCORES 1928–32 , EIGHT PIECES, 26.3 X 19.0 CM (EACH), PURCHASED WITH FUNDS DONATED MAUREEN MORRISSEY, 2017. 2 4 3

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The outcome of The Smith Family program has been profound for Sue and son Josh.

How does a sponsorship contribute to a family in need?

• Financial support for school essentials like uniforms and books. • Access to out-of-school learning and mentoring programs to help students catch up and build vital skills. • Personal support from a Smith Family team member, who takes the time to understand the child’s specific needs and can link families to appropriate services.

Thanks to The Smith Family, single mum Sue was able to support her son Josh through high school and into a bright and successful future. a family game changer

Struggling to pay bills and buy food, single mum Sue was desperate. The single parent pension barely covered the cost of raising her children. Supplying the books, uniforms and school shoes her three high school children needed was impossible and excursions were out of the question. Sadly, stories like Sue’s are common, and one in six Australian children live in poverty.1 Thankfully, for Sue, help was close at hand.

A chance for success With nowhere else to turn, Sue asked the school for help, and they recommended The Smith Family. “That was 17 years ago,” says Sue, “It changed our lives.” For Sue’s son Josh, The Smith Family sponsorship program meant opportunity and success.

Creating the future Now 30 and dad to three children, Josh was the first in Sue’s family to finish high school, thanks in part to his Smith Family sponsor. Inspired by his own experiences, Josh is now a school youth worker, and part of his job is referring children to The Smith Family sponsorship program he was once a part of. “I get to give them the opportunity I was given all those years ago,” says Josh.

Making a difference “I’m incredibly thankful to The Smith Family and my sponsor,” says Josh. “I’m living the future they invested in all those years ago.” Sue will never forget how the sponsorships changed their lives. “If you can make a difference in one child’s life, consider influencing that change by supporting their education,” she says.

“To have someone somewhere who cares about you, your family and your future can save your life in many ways.” – Josh