Community event: Over 125 people gathered to celebrate with Tomorrow Today, Benalla’s independent community foundation.
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More than 125 people convened at the Benalla P-12 Avon St Campus for the Tomorrow Today Community Celebration hosted by Benalla’s independent community foundation.
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The event commenced with a convivial atmosphere in the garden, setting the tone for an evening of recognition and appreciation.
All smiles: Deb Paez, Georgina Burston and Cathy Hair have all been involved with Tomorrow Today for many years in various roles, including as staff members, volunteers and on the board.
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Enjoying the evening: Board chair Louise Pearce chats with volunteer Cathy Bridgfoot and donors Bill and Jane Parris.
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A diverse group comprising local volunteers, donors, program participants, partners, dignitaries, advocates and representatives from government and funding partners joined together to commemorate Tomorrow Today’s impactful work throughout the year.
Women in business: Tomorrow Today founders Liz Chapman and Sally Gamble flank executive officer Rosie Koop.
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Addressing the audience, Tomorrow Today executive officer Rosie Koop expressed her sentiments in what was her final community celebration in this role.
“Tomorrow Today is founded on the belief that collectively, we can shape a brighter future by challenging ourselves today,” she said.
“A generous and interconnected community paves the way for that bright future.
Audience engagement: It was a full house at Avon St multipurpose room for Tomorrow Today’s 2023 Community Celebration.
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“Seeing everyone here tonight is a powerful testament to the generosity of Benalla’s people and its strong community spirit.”
The community celebration is a platform for program participants and grant recipients to articulate how Tomorrow Today has influenced their lives or work.
Speaking with passion: Kayleigh Stanton and Jenny Wapling share how Tomorrow Today has helped boost the number of young people joining Venturers.
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Benalla Education Program manager Sally Matheson spoke alongside Jenny Wapling and Kayleigh Stanton about Venturers and the Connect9 program.
PEEP participants Natalee Plum and Tanya Williams narrated their experiences with the PEEP program, shedding light on the reasons behind their involvement.
Eventful day: Education Benalla program manager Sally Matheson with PEEP participants Natalee Plum and Tanya Williams.
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“Tanya is my aunt, and we’ve both had babies at about the same time! Tanya was a PEEP volunteer, so when we were pregnant, we talked about coming to PEEP, and my maternal child health nurse also referred me to the program — it’s part of being a parent in Benalla,” Ms Plum said.
Central to Tomorrow Today’s mission is fostering connections, evident in their education programs spanning pre-birth through early career stages.
Working collaboratively with children, families, local preschools, schools and other partners, the foundation aims to enhance outcomes for Benalla’s children and young people.
Fun day out: Members of the Full Impact Squad were on hand to serve food to the many attendees, including volunteer Mark Saunders and donors Tony Smith and Vicki Dosser.
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Family day out: Executive officer Rosie Koop and her daughter Tessa chat with Federal Member for Indi Helen Haines.
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Additionally, its annual grants program supports local community groups in projects that contribute to building or enriching community connections.
Networking: Cr Danny Claridge, board member Nick Taylor, Alberto Furlan from The Ian Potter Foundation, Pat Claridge and board member Florent Thivillier enjoy drinks before the main event.
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