It was a morning of tears, laughter and powerful stories at GMHBA Stadium on Thursday for Meli’s third annual Foster a Future Breakfast.
About 300 people filled the President’s Room to celebrate the life-changing impact of Foster Carers in the community.
Australian cricketing great Lisa Sthalekar delivered a moving keynote address after stepping in as a late replacement for Sophie Delezio, who withdrew to attend to a family matter.
Sthalekar shared her journey from being abandoned as an infant in India, to adoption and life in Australia, and later forging a trailblazing cricket career.
A four-time World Cup winner and the first woman to score 1,000 runs and take 100 wickets in One Day Internationals, Sthalekar was later inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame.
Yet it was her return to the Chennai orphanage where she spent her first weeks of life that brought the most emotion.
Fighting back tears, she described meeting children and staff at the facility, including a carer who had been there when she was an infant in 1979.
“While I was there for only three weeks, those carers gave the love, attention and care that I needed to start off my life,” she said.
“If I didn’t have them, I don’t know where I’d be. So even though it’s a small amount of time, it can have such a huge impact on a child’s life.”
Sthalekar drew a clear link between her own experience and the work of Foster Carers.
“I think you guys do a wonderful job,” she said. “It may be for a weekend, it may be for a night, but that can have such a big impact.”
In her first Foster a Future Breakfast as Meli CEO, Robyn Hayles paid tribute to carers while shining a light on the urgent need for more people to step forward.
“It’s really important that we highlight the important work our Foster Carers do and the contribution that they make to society,” she said.
“The sense of safety and stability that you offer literally changes lives.”
Returning for the third year as MC, broadcaster Myf Warhurst spoke candidly from her own experience as a Foster Carer.
“If you’re thinking about it, just do it,” she said. “The best thing you can do for a child is help them, and help them feel safe.”
A panel featuring Meli’s Manager Care Services Jo Dumesny, past care leaver Jesse Miller and Foster Carer Gel Klein-Boonschate provided further insight into the realities of care and the powerful difference it makes.
Community spirit was also on display through a raffle that raised strong support, with more than $8000 worth of prizes given away.
Thank you to all our partners and supporters, including the Estate of Late Harold E Hurst, The Geelong College, the Anthony Costa Foundation, Aviso Integral Insurance, APCO Foundation, Findex and Geelong Connected Communities.
The Foster a Future Appeal runs until this Saturday, 20 September, with donations directly assisting children and young people in foster care.
If you would like to know more about foster care and how you can get involved, visit meli.org.au/fostercare
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