Wednesday, 27 December, 2023
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Bobo Davis with volunteers Heather Hallam, Cara Leishman, Donna Fromhold and Kiri Herangi in the new location for Have Hope Inc. Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS
Casey North Community Information and Support Service executive officer Helen Small. Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS
Caring in a crisis By Garry Howe, Gazette Editor In times of crisis, there are those who think of themselves. What’s in it for me? Or what’s not in it for me, as the case may be. Then there are those whose immediate thought is of others. Who is doing it tough and what can I do to help? One of the major stories nationally this year has been the impact of the cost of living crisis, with the cost of essentials like utilities and petrol going through the roof and interest rates taking an upward spiral. Locally, we’ve seen many individuals and groups mobilise to the cause, providing muchneeded support and relief to those finding it tough. Bobo Davis found comfort in helping others after her son took his own life in 2016, running a community outreach service from her home. This year, thanks to a donation by Lisa Boyd of Horses for Causes, her Have Hope organisa-
tion moved into a new home in Pakenham’s South East Business Park. She continues to do great work. The Cardinia Foundation has raised a considerable sum for local organisations over the past 20 years and this year pivoted into the area of food relief as well, given the circumstances. The Food Support Fund was launched in addition to the foundation’s annual community grants program – setting an ambitious fundraising goal of $100,000. Others doing great work in the area include Living Learning Pakenham, ECHO in Emerald, the Salvos, ADRA, the Casey North Community Information and Support Service, South East Community Links and the Peninsula Community Legal Centre. There are a lot of others – too many to name. We pay tribute to them all as the 2023’s Gazette People of the Year. READ MORE ABOUT THEIR WORK ON PAGE 4
2023 PEOPLE OF THE YEAR From left: ECHO CEO Nicole Lane, Cardina Foundation executive officer Kara Norton-Jones and ECHO Program Manager Sue Barbieri. Picture: COREY EVERITT
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