PHOTO: Left to Right… Amanda Fintan from Cure Brain Cancer, Paul Tyrrell Hall from Rotary Club, Neha Pathak from Abundant Water, Sunny Forsythe from Abundant Water, Yvonne Robson from Hall Rotary Club, Brian Goldstraw from Gungahlin Rotary Club, Sarah Mamalmai from Cure Brain Cancer.
IMAGE CREDIT: Kelsey Drabsch
Canberra’s own Capital Region Farmers Market has just announced four new and major funding commitments which will greatly improve the health and lives of Australians, proving once again that when you buy direct from the farmers market, you are buying ‘produce with purpose.’
“A lot of people don’t realise that ALL profits from Capital Region Farmers Market stallholder fees are fed back into the community, international youth projects, regional communities and other projects chosen by the Rotary Club of Hall,” said Tony Howard, past Director of the Capital Region Farmers Market and member of the Rotary Club of Hall.
“This latest round of funding commitments is very significant – all are substantial projects for a small Canberra Rotary Club that are being undertaken directly as a result of success of the Capital Region Farmers Market, and will benefit both the local and Australian communities.
“Over the last 13 years, Rotary has donated over $1 million to causes, this round of donations takes that figure to over $2 million.
“When people shop at the Capital Region Farmers Market each Saturday, they are not only supporting local and regional farmers, they are supporting very real causes that make a huge difference to people’s lives,” Tony continued.
The donations were announced at the 2017 Changeover Dinner for the Rotary Club of Hall, held late last month, where some of Canberra’s most worthy charities received donations totalling $690,000. Cure Brain Cancer Foundation of Canberra were present on the night and were given a cheque for $50,000 from outgoing President Paul Tyrrell.
Also announced on the night were a commitment of $100,00 to the John James Foundation for future extension works to their John James Village which provides accommodation respite assistance to leukaemia patients and their families; a commitment to a three year funding programme of $30,000 per year towards a joint initiative with other Rotary Clubs in Melbourne and Alice Springs to end trachoma as an endemic disease in Central Australian communities; and a commitment of funding a community nurse for Parkinsons sufferers in the Capital Region Farmers Market region via Parkinsons ACT, of up to $150,000 per year to commence in 2018.
“The difference that ready access to a qualified nurse will make to Canberra’s Parkinson’s sufferers will be immeasurable,” said Mr John Sheldrick, President of Parkinson’s ACT.
Amanda Fintan, who accepted a donation of $50,000 to the Canberra branch of the Cure Brain Cancer Foundation echoed those sentiments, as did Mark Sullivan and Phil Greenwood representing the John James Foundation who said their cheque from Rotary Club of Hall for $100,000 would go a long way to ensuring local leukaemia patients and their families could have one less worry during an incredibly stressful time.
Founded 14 years ago as a means to support farmers who were battling the effects of drought and financial pressures at the time, the Capital Region Farmers Market has today grow into a valuable source of revenue which Rotary Club of Hall is proud to channel back into the community through a wide range of causes.
“Visitors love our Market because of the fresh tasty food available each week, but also due to the lower food miles and knowing they’re supporting local and regional farmers and growers. They shop with a conscience, and now they know just what a difference their dollars make – it is produce with real purpose,” concluded Tony.
The Capital Region Farmers Market is open most Saturdays of the year from 7.30am – 11.30am at Exhibition Park in Canberra. For more information on the Capital Region Farmers Market visit www.capitalregionfarmersmarket.com.au For more information on the Rotary Club of Hall and how you can get involved, visit www.hallrotary.org.au
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