Making summer memories

A NEW charity – Fun in the Sun Foundation – aims to help families under financial pressure enjoy some time out over summer on the Mornington Peninsula.

Led by CEO and founder Mary Toniolo, in association with Anglicare Victoria, the group has booked holiday houses on the southern peninsula to provide a week’s holiday for families with children.

The foundation is the latest organisation to have offered children from less well-off families summer holidays on the peninsula.

Holiday places for children have included Camp Buxton, Shoreham, founded in about 1925; Lord Somers Camp, Balnarring East in 1931; and the Lord Mayor’s Children’s Camp for Country Children, Portsea, founded in the 1940s.

“It’s been a tough few years for peninsula families due to interest rate hikes, cost of living increases and other financial pressures,” Toniolo said. “Charity groups like Anglicare have been inundated with requests for help, especially from young families.

“We’re hoping to provide a circuit breaker and relieve some of the financial stress with a respite week in a holiday house – put some smiles on faces and make some wonderful summer memories.”

Toniolo said she understood what many families were going through as she came from an underprivileged family. Business success had enabled her to help children’s charities over the years.

The Fun in the Sun Foundation is holding its first fundraiser on Sunday 12 November, 11am4pm, at Portsea Surf Life Saving Club, Back Beach Road, Portsea.

Tickets cost $100 for one adult and two children under 16 ($10 for extra child). This covers a drink on arrival, lunch, entertainment and music, karaoke and children’s entertainer.

There will be a live auction of services and products donated by peninsula traders.

All profits will go to the foundation, which is also running a silent auction on its website as a subsidiary fundraiser. Anglicare is covering administration costs.

Details and tickets: funinthesun.au