SUPPORTING ORANGE, NSW
WHY IS 'SALLY' IN ORANGE
Based on research conducted by Australian Philanthropic Services, Sally Foundation selected Orange as its core regional focal point.
Geraldine has a connection to Orange in that during her working career at a centre in Sydney she used to get on a tiny plane with some other professionals and come out to Orange. Going back home always left her with a feeling that she would like to do more.
Together through Sally Foundation, Geraldine and Mike are trying to help foster the involvement of local organisations and the community so as to be a catalyst in the Orange region to improve the lives and prospects of young people. They are a strong believer and supporter of the Canobolas Big Picture Academy Program and its ability to result in young people that are able to say 'it changed my whole life' - leading to independence and pathways to leadership in all forms.
From their experience in Sally projects in Zimbabwe, they have seen first hand how work with vegetable gardens can fulfill the dual role of promoting healthy eating and improving overall wellbeing.
Learn more about why we work in Orange
In an interview with the ABC, Geraldine explains her inspiration and aspirations for Sally's work in Orange.
HOW SALLY SUPPORTS ORANGE
Sally conducts its programs in Orange in conjunction with our partner, FRRR (Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal).
SUPPORTING BIG PICTURE ACADEMY
The Canobolas Rural Technology High School Big Picture Academy is the core project for Sally Foundation. They commenced using the Big Picture learning framework in 2016.
SUPPORTING STEPHANIE ALEXANDER KITCHEN GARDENS
Over 200 children each week are engaged in kitchen gardening and cooking through this initiative...
WELLBEING PROGRAMS
Sally works with organisations engaging with, improving, and sustaining young peoples wellbeing. This involves pilot programs and social inclusion projects.
SMALL GRANTS
Sally Foundation has made over 30 small grants in the region since 2016, through both an annual grant program and some adhoc grants when new initiatives arise within the community.
More about BIG PICTURE ACADEMY
BIG PICTURE - What is it?
Big Picture Education Australia believes that innovative and diverse designs are needed within the public school system to meet the needs of those that the current educational structure does not support. Rather than a ‘one size fits all’ approach, Big Picture Education focuses on individual learning and engaging students on a personal level.
They believe that true learning takes place when each student is an active participant in their education, when their course of study is personalised by teachers, parents and mentors who know them well, and when school-based learning is blended with outside experiences that heighten the student's interest.
NEW learning approach
Canobolas Rural Technology High, Orange, joined the Big Picture program in early 2016. It provides a different style of learning to help students follow their interests as demonstrated in the video above.
Read more in this ABC News report...
Big Picture schools educate one student at a time. Each student’s learning is based on the student’s own interests. Mentors in the community make the learning real. Families are involved in the learning. Big Picture learning supports young people to become lifelong learners, productive and engaged workers.
Find out more about the program on the Canobolas High School Big Picture page...
Above: Geraldine helping students prepare their projects.
Donations over $2 are tax-deductible.
More about the STEPHANIE ALEXANDER KITCHEN GARDEN Initiative
The kitchen garden program - via Pleasurable Food Education - teaches children to grow, harvest, prepare and share fresh, seasonal, delicious food in order to form positive food habits for life.
Calare Public School
Calare Public School has a well established SAKG program that has been strongly supported by the local community. Sally Foundation has been assisting with the update of equipment and refurbished the kitchen to enhance its overall functionality and appeal.
Calare Public School's kitchen garden initiative is also supported by the local IGA. Watch their video above to see what the teachers have to say about the benefits to the children, their families and the community.
Orange High School
Launched in 2019, the goal is to use the SAKG program as a catalyst for change across the school. So far, corrugated vegetable gardens have been constructed, and gardening tools, hoses, various seedlings and a garden shed have been purchased. Students in Years 7 and 8 Food and Agriculture classes have been planting and harvesting the delicious fresh produce to add to smoothie bowls, yoghurt pots, dips, fried rice, stuffed capsicums, pasta and sauces, risotto and pizza. The arrival of wooden furniture and a gas fuelled pizza oven will be exciting additions to the garden.
More about the WELLBEING programs
Sally Foundation has a keen interest in programs that recognise and support the overall wellbeing of young people. Sally is lending support to Pilot Programs that have the potential to be integrated into, or extend the offerings of, existing programs in the community and to complement existing activities.
PINE LODGE
A horticulture therapy program to assist young people with mental health issues work in gardens with peers/staff.
MARATHON HEALTH
The FutureMe Program provides 6 interactive workshops to provide young people with job seeking skills, in partnership with a range of skills providers.
MARATHON HEALTH
The Thriving not Surviving program is a youth-led grassroots initiative run as part of Youth Forum to help young people with mental health. Schools in the area are invited to attend
PINE LODGE
To provide resources to assist young people struggling to attend regular school, or being monitored by the Home Liaison Office.
MILLTHORPE MY Club
Developing community engagement and providing event management skills in a safe environment for teens in surrounding villages. The Club has organised village movie nights for young people.
Canowindra YOUTH ARTS
Older artists are mentoring primary school and high school students to develop the skills of young artists to revitalise the local arts community.
More about SALLY SMALL GRANTS (ORANGE) PROGRAM
SALLY FOUNDATION SMALL GRANTS (ORANGE)
Sally complements the Big Picture Academy program through its annual Sally Foundation Small Grants (Orange) Program to assist with youth related programs in the area.
The grants are made by a committee which includes a majority of Orange based community leaders.
ADHOC COMMUNITY SMALL GRANTS
Outside the annual Small Grants (Orange) Program, Sally contributes to other projects and ideas around Orange.
Sally uses a "wide-angled, multi-faceted lens" through which to work more effectively in the community.
SALLY FOUNDATION SMALL GRANTS
The Sally Foundation Small Grants (Orange) Program offers grants to youth programs in the area. The grants are made by a committee which includes a majority of Orange based community leaders.
Grants go towards supporting community based activities that are targeted at young people and that directly/indirectly benefit youth in or around Orange, NSW.
LIKE WHAT WE DO?
If you wish to help 'Sally' increase the size of the Small Grants (Orange) program, please donate via the FRRR site using the link below.
Donations over $2 are tax-deductible.
Sally Foundation undertakes to add 100% of all donations to increase the size of the program.
2018 GRANT RECIPIENTS in Annual Small Grants Program (Orange)
In October 2018 the Sally Foundation announced 8 local community groups to each receive grants of up to $3,000, in this 3rd year of the program.
Through the annual Sally Foundation Small Grants (Orange) program, we ask the people of Orange what they want to do, what is important to them. We want this to be locally driven, and so have three members of our Small Grants Assessment Committee who live in Orange and are involved directly in the community.
2018 Grant recipients come not only from Orange, but the surrounding areas of Millthorpe and Conowindra. They cover a cross-section of community needs such as mental health, youth mentoring and career planning, skills training, pilot programs, art mentoring, and a youth events space.
The table below details the 9 grants in the 2018 round.
| ORGANISATION | PROJECT supported by Sally Foundation grant in 2018 | GRANT |
|---|---|---|
| Aboriginal Education Consultative Group | NAIDOC Week Yr12 Graduation, School Encouragement Award and Youth Formal Ball To be run by as part of the annual NAIDOC Event in recognition of improvement and achievements at school and completing Year 12. A Youth Ball run by junior AECG will aid capacity building/taking responsibility/skills. | $2,000 |
| Australian Kookaburra Kids Foundation | Supporting children living in families affected by mental illness Year 6 children in Orange to attend free W/E Kookaburra camp to learn about mental illness and develop coping skills and resilience and to connect with other children. | $2,615 |
| Canowindra Arts Inc. | Canowindra Youth Arts Development Program Youth Arts Program is targeted at late primary and high school students with skills and/or love of art to go beyond basic arts education. Weekly mentoring sessions with local professional artists. End of year themed exhibition. | $2,500 |
| Fusion Australia | Peer Skills leadership program Sixty Year 9 students to be skilled as leaders to help Year 7 students’ transition to Orange High School & Canobolas RTHS, to reduce bullying, improve school transition and foster school culture. | $2,650 |
| Marathon Health | Youth Employment Skills-"Future Me Program" 6 Interactive, small group workshops to support young people develop education and job seeking skills. Workshops carried out in Headspace Orange via partnership with skills providers (Skill Set, TAFE, Army, CSU, Mayten Consulting, Study Matters Australia). | $2,600 |
| Millthorpe Village Committee | Social and Movie Event Self Sufficiency - run by MyClub youth organisation Support members to develop community engagement, event management and promotional skills by promoting and delivering a social and movie nights each term for teenagers from Millthorpe and surrounding Spring Hill, Spring Terrace, Forest Reefs and Blayney. | $2,900 |
| W NSW Health (Pine lodge Day Program) | Education Support Program Education program run by Pine Lodge Health Education Officer for Young People with mental illness struggling to attend regular school or being monitored by Home School Liaison Office or placed before the courts. | $2,500 |
| W NSW Health (Pine lodge Day Program) | Horticultural Therapy Program Follow on to 2017 Pilot Project that assists young people living with Mental illness to create fully functioning veggie patch with the opportunity to take home and/or cook with and eat any successful produce as a way of celebrating their work. Likely to encompass formal Research Project into benefits of horticultural therapy. | $520 |
| Veritas House | Pilot Project to providing young people with skills to obtain and sustain rental property Focus on YP 17-21 receiving support from Veritas, Headspace Orange, Skillset, etc. to deliver intro skills & knowledge for YP to be aware of in renting for first time and provide resources to connect to further information or services. | $2,698 |
2017 GRANT RECIPIENTS in Annual Small Grants Program (Orange)
In October 2017 the Sally Foundation announced the 10 local community groups who will each receive grants of up to $3,000.
Sally Foundation takes the approach of investing in young people and the community, rather than simply making donations.
Applications were assessed by the Small Grants Orange Program committee, including locally-based members representing the broader community.
The table below details the 10 recipients of grants in the 2017 round.
| ORGANISATION | PROJECT supported by Sally Foundation grant in 2017 | GRANT |
|---|---|---|
| Aboriginal Education Consultative Group | NAIDOC Week Yr12 Graduation, School Encouragement Award and Youth Formal Ball To be run by as part of the annual NAIDOC Event in recognition of improvement and achievements at school and completing Year 12. A Youth Ball run by junior AECG will aid capacity building/taking responsibility/skills. | $3,000 |
| Bowen Action Residents Group | Bowen Community Technology/Homework Centre Provides grass roots support to disadvantaged kids and families via a homework club with stationery, computers and internet access. | $2,000 |
| Calcare Public School | Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Enhance ability of 180 students to be involved in the school’s vegetable garden / cooking program, in conjunction with strong community / parent support. | $3,000 |
| Canowindra Arts Inc | Canowindra Arts Mentoring Program Tutorial and guidance workshops for 10 young artists, to be run by Canowindra Arts Council, to provide developing core young artists to revitalize regional arts community and bolster vitality of community. | $3,000 |
| Fusion Australia | Peer Skills leadership program Sixty Year 9 students to be skilled as leaders to help Year 7 students’ transition to Orange High School & Canobolas RTHS, to reduce bullying, improve school transition and foster school culture. | $3,000 |
| Orange City Council | "Kickstart" A 10 week interactive program around motor bikes, involving local mechanics to keep young aboriginal boys at schools and reduce antisocial behaviour by tapping into motorbike interest. | $3,000 |
| NSW Health | Thriving Not Surviving Program Youth led grass roots initiative to be run as part of Orange Youth Forum 2017. Young people helping young people with Mental Health involving 2 youth speakers and inviting reps from all schools in Orange area. | $3,000 |
| Millthorpe Village Committee | Millthorpe Teen Trivia Night Program An event convened by Youth Club as vice for young people in Millthorpe to connect teenagers from surrounding towns, have fun in a safe environment, develop project management and community engagement skills and inspire young people. | $1,000 |
| Marathon Health | Youth Employment Skills-YES Program Seven workshops of 6 each involving Rotary and Mayten Consulting to develop employability skills for young people in practical environment including mock interviews with Rotary. | $2,500 |
| WNSW Health- Pine Lodge | Horticulture Therapy Program Pilot program to be run as part of Pine Lodge program to assist young people 12-18 with mental health to work in veggie garden with peer/staff and integrate with cooking. | $2,500 |
2016 GRANT RECIPIENTS in Annual Small Grants Program (Orange)
Via the Sally Foundation seven local community groups will each receive grants of up to $2,500 in the inaugural round of Sally Foundation Small Grants (Orange).
Applications were assessed by the Small Grants Orange Program committee, including locally-based members representing the broader community.
The table below details the recipients and the audio/video is Mike discussing some of the projects chosen.
Audio interview courtesy of ABC Central West.
| ORGANISATION | PROJECT supported by Sally Foundation grant in 2016 | GRANT |
|---|---|---|
| Orange City Council | Harmony Day Soccer Festival Soccer competition run by Orange CultureHub as part of the annual Orange Harmony Day Event, promoting cultural awareness and breaking down prejudice and barriers | $2,000 |
| Fusion Australia | Peer Skills leadership program Year 9 students to be skilled as leaders to help Year 7 students’ transition into High School at Canobolas RTHS, to reduce bullying and improve school transition. | $1,900 |
| Barnardos Australia | Bounce after dark A knockout basketball competition for 30 young people to engage at risk youth and deliver Essential Life Skills through workshops. | $2,500 |
| Calare Public School | Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Green House Installation with TAFE TAFE students to be involved in the installation of a Green House in the school’s vegetable garden. | $2,000 |
| Bowen Action Residents Group |
Bowen Community Technology/Homework Centre Grass roots support to disadvantaged young people and families via a homework club with afternoon tea, stationary, computers and internet access. |
$2,500 |
| CareWest | Orange Luminosity A 12 week community program supporting a number of workshops targeting people with a disability to create a truly inclusive arts/education based event for the community and young people, resulting in a lantern parade and film | $2,500 |
| Orange Fibre Artist Group | Natural Weaving and Connection to the Environment A workshop based engagement program in the summer holidays to encourage young people to think about their environment, sustainability and learn from Indigenous culture. | $1,600 |
ORANGE COMMUNITY PROJECTS
TEDx Orange
In 2015 Sally supported the TEDx Orange program as it is of benefit to the local community. This was the inaugural TEDx event for Orange. You can view the talks on YouTube.
ROTARY CLUB of Orange
Sally helped Rotary Club of Orange establish the Canobolas Big Picture Academy Community Assistance Project. Supporters of this Academy can make tax deductible donations to FRRR here...
Orange WOMEN'S SHED
When the Orange Womens Shed asked for help because their space was fully exposed to the elements on one side, Sally responded with a donation of $4,400.
Read more here...
OYAF BUSH DANCE
As part of Orange Youth Arts Festival (OYAF) this dynamic, multicultural event "Beat Around the Bush" held in October 2016 was enjoyed by dancers and onlookers of all ages. Read more here...
A Night at the OPERA
Sally took 20 Big Picture students & 2 teachers to see Marriage of Figaro at Orange Civic Theatre, staged by Opera Australia. It prompted incredible feedback:
"Amazing, eye opening cultural experience." Read more...
Redheads attempt RECORD
Sally helped sponsor the Redhead HUNT4HD event held on Sept 30, 2017 in Orange. 769 redheads gathered, falling short of the world record, but raising $10,000 for Huntington's NSW. Read more...
ORANGE MASALA
This inaugural Orange Youth Arts Festival event was a tremendous success - celebrating cultural diversity through music, food, performance and art with a specific focus on youth mental health. View video...