End-of-year ceremonies at Mission Australia’s unique rehabilitation program are always special, and this year was no exception with the graduates sharing their experiences through music, song and speech.
The ceremony began with a graduate reading out a poem about how Triple Care Farm had transformed his life. Youth Worker Lindsay Martin then joined graduates in the Triple Care Farm Band to perform Neil Young’s ‘Heart of Gold’ and closed the event with Rolling Stones classic ‘You Can’t Always Get What You Want’, with Service Manager Gabriella Holmes joining in on tambourine.
Located in the Southern Highlands of NSW, Triple Care Farm is regarded as one of the nation’s most successful residential programs for young people experiencing homelessness, substance abuse and mental health issues.
As Ms Holmes told guests, in 2010 Triple Care Farm received around 6,180 enquiries about its services. This year 101 young people took part in the residential program with a further 90 participating in the aftercare program.
An amazing 100 per cent of participants from Semester 1 are now in stable accommodation. Fifty per cent are in employment and training, while the other half is involved in further education.
After receiving his certificate from Lady Martin of the Board of the Sir David Martin Foundation, a young graduate told guests how staff and volunteers at Triple Care Farm helped him to get his life back on track:
“Before I came to Triple Care Farm I was drinking, taking drugs. I lost my licence and my friends; I lost my girlfriend… basically everything. I felt so down.”
While on the farm, he obtained a bobcat licence, learnt woodwork skills and rebuilt his self-esteem. The young man is now working full-time, has attained a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment, rents his own place and hopes to attend university in 2011. Importantly, he is also rebuilding friendships.
“Triple Care Farm has given me a new lease on life. I’m a different person,” he told supporters.
The father of another graduate gave a heartfelt thanks to the remarkably dedicated staff and volunteers who make Triple Care Farm the special place it is.
During the ceremony, Mission Australia Chairman Ewen Crouch thanked the many service clubs, businesses and trusts and foundations that had supported Triple Care Farm in 2010, including The Property Foundation, The Coca Cola Foundation, Illawarra Grammar School and the Nelson Foundation.
Key supporters, including representatives of the Jamberoo Branch Country Women’s Association (CWA), Walton Construction and Kiama Rotary, then each presented scholarships to graduates. The Bowral Branch of the CWA also presented the Mrs Margaret Chambers OAM Scholarship in recognition of Mrs Chamber’s 40 years of service.
There was more cause to celebration when Bruce Odling of Friends in Giving presented Triple Care Farm with a cheque for over $50,000, raised from the group’s annual ball. “By contributing to society, you get so much more out of it,” he told graduates.
Matt Brown, the Member for Kiama and a regular visitor to Triple Care Farm, also presented a $10,000 grant for a gym upgrade on behalf of the NSW Government.
After the ceremony, guests enjoyed a lunch expertly prepared by the Jamberoo Country Women’s Association and Moss Vale Lions Club.
Mission Australia congratulates all the Triple Care Farm graduates and wishes them the very best for the future.
Above photo (L to R): Mission Australia Chairman Ewen Crouch and Triple Care Farm Service Manager Gabriella Holmes
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