Travelling Sisters Roadshow – Australian Disaster Recovery

It sounds like something out of a movie – two Sisters from the Sisters of St Joseph are set to travel around Australia in a tour van, raising funds and searching for projects in flood affected of Australia that could do with a grant of up to $10,000.

But the ‘Travelling Sisters Roadshow – Australian Disaster Recovery’ is a very real and very unique initiative that will see much needed help delivered to those most devastated by the recent floods in Queensland, Victoria and New South Wales.

From March to October 2011, the sisters will drive to towns all over Australia in a Travelling Sisters tour van. The sisters will be raising funds to give grants of up to $10,000 to community projects in flood affected areas.

Each year, the Mary MacKillop Foundation provides 40 grants of up to $10,000 to community-based self projects.

In 2011, the Foundation will also provide up to 40 extra grants for projects that focus on disaster recovery across Australia. Applications for the grants have opened up six months earlier than usual.

Sam Hardjono, CEO of the Mary MacKillop Foundation says the nation has seen what is probably the most devastating series of natural disasters, resulting in a loss of lives, homes, businesses, farms, schools and much more.

Hardjono says if he were to ask what St Mary MacKillop would be doing if she were alive today, he knows she would be helping rebuild communities and the lives of the victims affected by these disasters.

The Travelling Sisters Roadshow – Australian Disaster Recovery will visit schools and town centres in Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Sydney and Brisbane, encouraging them to help others in need in any way they can, including to roll up their sleeves to help their own communities, and to also donate money to the small-life changing projects that are directly helping the flood relief.

One of the Travelling Sister, Sister Julianne says in the same way that Australia’s first saint, St Mary MacKillop responded to the needs of her time, the Mary MacKillop Foundation responds to the needs of the time to relieve suffering and give hope.

Sister Julian says the initiative is in keeping with Mary MacKillop’s philosophy to "never see a need without trying to do something about it".”

The Foundation says every single dollar raised during the Roadshow will go directly to small life changing projects with a particular regard to disaster recovery. It says none of the money raised will go to the costs of administering grants or the costs of putting on the Roadshow.

Hardjono calls on all community-based self-help projects to visit our website and apply for funding that will help them meet even more needs in a greater way. The Mary MacKillop Foundation is looking for small life changing projects that help people to overcome destitution, isolation, and the effects of misfortune. Most importantly, a project must assist people in achieving an increased measure of self-reliance and human dignity.

He says grants will not be based on the amount of donations received during the Roadshow. Rather the Foundation will meet its commitment to provide grants of up to $10,000 to 40 small life changing projects as well as up to 40 equal grants to disaster recovery projects by the end of 2011.

How to apply for grants:
Small life changing projects can apply for grants by filling out the application form at the Mary MacKillop Foundation website. Go to ‘Receive Support’ – ‘Projects’ at www.mackillopfoundation.org.au

Applications open on Tuesday 25 January.

How to donate to projects:
To donate to small life changing projects, including disaster recovery projects, go to www.mackillopfoundation.org.au and click ‘Donate’.