2008-09 News

On behalf of the Board, I am pleased to provide this end of financial year report.
Fundraising
Tabitha Australia has been growing strongly year on year, with donations processed in 2007/08 increasing by nearly 60% on last financial year. Below are the annual donation totals since TFA was founded in 2002.
- 2002/03: AUD $39,259
- 2003/04: AUD $67,259
- 2004/05: AUD $162,971
- 2005/06: AUD $259,253
- 2006/07: AUD $493,624
- 2007/08: AUD $780,697

I have learnt how Cambodia’s tragic history has shaped its future. I have also learnt how to help people and the need to help them.
Erin Woodgate – Year 12

I have realised that everyone and anyone can do something to help.
Emma Doyle – Year 11

The 28 students, staff and community support team members, who returned to life in Brisbane last Friday morning, could never have truely prepared themselves for the life changing experience of house building in Cambodia.

They were unaware that beyond the words in history books and travel guides laid a complex and intimate story of a courageous people who struggle to rebuild their country following the end of a 30 year civil war a decade ago. They did not understand the human cost of poverty, HIV Aids and food shortages as a legacy of war. Nor could they have ever comprehended the evil required of human beings to commit torture and genocide on their own people.

Possibly they were most unprepared for the smiles, laughter and gratitude of a proud and dignified people who when interest is shown, are prepared to tell their stories. We would like to take this opportunity to share some of what we learnt, house building in Cambodia.

Jackson Landing community at Pyrmont is donating proceeds from the Social Committee's Charity in July rock'n'roll night (18 July) and the Community Christmas Celebration (7 December) to the Tabitha Foundation. The following is a recent article which appeared in Jacksons Journal (June 08)......

Imagine 20 ordinary Australians with no special trade skills building 20 houses in Cambodia in just four days!

The simple single room dwellings are constructed on stilts above the mud, and to metaphorically lift the villagers out of poverty.

Tabitha Foundation Australia has received a donation of $30,000 from the Cubit Family Foundation. Mark Cubit has provided the following testimonial:

At the Cubit Family Foundation we have been fortunate in being able to travel the world extensively and visit a varied range of projects that help those less fortunate than ourselves. We visited Janne Ritskes (founder of Tabitha Cambodia) in Phonm Penh in April 2008 and were immediately struck by her can-do attitude and desire to make a difference to 1000’s of Cambodian families.

PRESS RELEASE: Thursday 26th June 2008, Sydney

Last night, Beam Global Spirits and Wine brought together some of Sydney's best known celebrities to raise $33,000 for the Tabitha Foundation Australia, at a jungle themed charity auction event, Wild Side.

Celebrity guests included Alex Dimitriades who took to the decks to play DJ for the night; Big Brother host Fitzy who kept the crowed laughing and entertained; motor racing legend Dick Johnson and current Jim Beam Racing V8 Supercar drivers Steve Johnson and Will Davison, who offered their driving skills to thrilled auction winners with exclusive hotlaps at Eastern Creek Raceway; and celebrity chef Ben O'Donoghue auctioned off a signed surf board.

Melville High School, Kempsey, recently ran a lamington drive to raise money for the school house-building excursion to Cambodia in July. The staff, students and parents taking part in the trip assembled at the school hall early one Sunday morning and set up a production line. When the supplies arrived the real work started: a dipping station, a rolling station and a packing station. By 4.00 pm the team had produced 350 DOZEN lamingtons and had managed to get chocolate and coconut everywhere. No prizes for guessing what was eaten for morning and afternoon tea!

The Lamington Drive was a great success and raised approximately $900 - a wonderful effort and a lot of fun. Other fund-raising activities have inclued a "Five-cent Friday", raffles and sponsorship from local businesses in the Kempsey area.