The real "Sally Carrera" Porsche 911 from Disney's animated movie "Cars" made a pit stop on her exclusive world tour at Porsche Centre Parramatta on Tuesday, 27 November to help raise money for Parramatta Mission.

Santa and his elves entertained the kids with balloon animals and face painting while helping to raise over $600 and collect many gifts donated by generous patrons to the event who were asked to bring either a wrapped gift to go to the disadvantaged teens that are helped by Parramatta Mission, or donate $15 in exchange an instant photo with Sally Carrera and Santa.

Parramatta Eel's Jared Haynes and Miss World Australia contestant Sarah Durazza (herself an ambassador of the Parramatta Mission) were on hand to sign autographs and strike a pose with Sally, Santa and the kids. While Parramatta Mission was on hand to receive and receipt 100% of the donations, kids of all ages enjoyed sweets and treats.

As a proud member of the Parramatta community, Porsche Centre Parramatta—a Trivett Group business, leveraged this 'once in a lifetime' visit from "Sally" to help benefit Parramatta Mission and the people in crisis that they help in the local community.

Peter Johnson (Santa Claus), Sarah Durazza (Miss World Contestant), Jared Haynes (Parramatta Eels), Matthew Duncan (Dealer Principal Porsche Centre Parramatta), David Osborne (Resource Development Manager Parramatta Mission), Chris Bertinshaw (General Manager Parramatta Mission)

Parramatta Mission recognised for its contribution.

Even the most iconic businesses operating in today's economy where the world seems smaller and everything moves faster would celebrate receiving a business award for 'including, valuing and enabling' its employees.

That's what makes winning the 'Truelocal Business Award' for services to the Western Sydney community very special for Parramatta Mission.

Whilst accepting the award on behalf of Parramatta Mission, David Osborne said "Winning the 'Truelocal Business Award' is a great honour for the Mission and its staff."

"If the business community is seeing and appreciating our work, it makes our goals more achievable."

The Mission is an organisation with over 140 staff and hundreds more volunteers. Continuing to raise funds to support this vital work is critical.

"Such recognition helps us to engage more business and individual supporters through greater awareness of our services; for that we are very grateful," said David.

Parramatta Mission works to include, value and enable those in our community who are most in need.

Successful organisations know that these attributes in employees helps to build a positive culture for growth and success for both the individual and the company.

The Mission and its supporters recognise that helping people in crisis will create opportunities for growth and success for more individuals, businesses and the community at large.

Often people suffering from mental illness, victims of abuse or domestic violence or the homeless need to know there is somewhere they can turn.

By providing services such as Meals Plus, Hope Hostel, Thelma Brown Cottage, Koompartoo and Lifeline, Parramatta Mission reaches out and offers time, listening and compassion to people who have nowhere else to turn.

They can't do this work without the support of the Western Sydney business community, state and local government, community groups and concerned individuals who play a vital role in the care the Mission is able to provide.

Everyday people strive to be included, valued and enabled in order to be all they can in their personal and professional lives. Parramatta Mission works with people less fortunate with an aim to provide the tools to achieve this.

The great paradox of modern living is how our wealth can keep growing while at the same time there are more and more people being marginalised - the mentally ill, the physically and sexually abused, the homeless, and those caught in addiction cycles including gambling, alcohol and drugs.

One outstanding Australian icon in the field of service to those dwelling on the fringe is Parramatta Mission. What began in 1817 with a few parishioners in the meeting room of a Methodist church in Parramatta has since mushroomed into an institution with over 15 major service arms ranging from Lifeline to Meals Plus.

Parramatta Mission and our Patron Mark Taylor have been featured in the Nov/Dec issue of GWP Magazine. To view this article click here.

Our Patron Mark Taylor AO recently featured on Norwest Net TV and spoke about the work of Parramatta Mission. Please click here to view the video clip.

Lifeline Australia and the MTAA Superannuation Fund are pleased to announce that the "readthesigns" project has won a LiFe Award, presented by Suicide Prevention Australia.

Lifeline Australia and MTAA Superannuation Fund won the LiFe Award in the category of Business and Industry. The winning project promotes help-seeking and suicide prevention among MTAA Super Fund members and employers from the motor trades and associated industries.

Lifeline Australia CEO, Dawn O'Neil notes that the "readthesigns" project has been a great success for both Lifeline and MTAA Super. The Award recognises this collaborative partnership and celebrates the success the "readthesigns" project is having in saving lives.

"Lifeline and MTAA Super have been working together for over three years now to make a positive impact on suicide prevention, and the results speak for themselves, with a 65% reduction in fund claims related to suicide."

MTAA Super PEO, Michael Delaney is also very proud of the joint "readthesigns" initiative.

"A particularly successful component of the early campaign was the involvement of Lifeline Adelaide with MTA SA Group Training Scheme apprentices in South Australia. This field trial with apprentices confirmed a very positive response to the campaign and provided valuable insight and experience in promoting help-seeking and suicide prevention among motor trade apprentices. With the support of state member bodies and Lifeline offices, we have now rolled the apprenticeship training program out to ACT, NSW and Victoria through MTA ACT, MTA NSW and VACC," Mr Delaney said.

"I congratulate all that have been involved in and supported this worthwhile initiative," he added.

Readthesigns seeks to promote attitudes and actions in MTAA Super members that increase the likelihood that individuals will seek help in situations affecting their mental health, wellbeing and safety and provide support to their friends and colleagues in seeking help.

The key project objectives are to:

• promote help-seeking attitudes and behaviours in MTAA Super members;
• increase awareness of options for help, particularly in situations involving mental health or suicide;
• provide positive messages and sources of information around mental health and suicide safety;
• increase awareness of suicide safety through involvement in suicide awareness information sessions;
• develop skills in recognising and responding to a person at risk of suicide through the Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) workshops; and
• provide resources for supporting people who have been impacted by suicide.

Order your personalised corporate Christmas cards from Charity Greeting Cards and help raise funds for Parramatta Mission. 40c per card will be donated to Parramatta Mission.

Order online at www.christmascards4charity.com.au/pm to receive a 5% discount.

Receive an additional 10% discount if the order is received by 12th October 2007.

Please click here to download the order form.

On Tuesday 17 July the Minister for Community Services, Kevin Greene MP, visited Meals Plus and announced that the urgently needed funding of $118,000 required to keep this vital project operating will be provided under the Supported Accommodation Assistance Program (SAAP). SAAP is a joint Federal-State program that aims to assist people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.

Mr Greene said "the program was aimed at addressing the causes of homelessness including family breakdowns, mental health problems and financial difficulties. We want to tackle the causes of homelessness to help people who are homeless get back on their feet and help them stay there."

This funding, which represents approximately half of the annual cost to operate Meals Plus, is gratefully received by Parramatta Mission.

Thanks to the team at the HSBC branch in Parramatta who donated the proceeds from their recent shopfront BBQ to our Meals Plus program.

Parramatta's business community assembled at the Courtyard by Marriott on Wednesday June 20 to be a part of Parramatta's Biggest Charity Auction supporting Parramatta Mission. Thanks to the auction and donations by the Mission's corporate supporters, the event raised nearly $40,000 for Parramatta Mission's Youth Services.

The auction featured a stunning range of items, including a Fender guitar signed by Bruce Springsteen, which sold for $2,000. Parramatta Mission's patron, former Australian Cricket Captain Mark Taylor, hosted the night. "Anything we raise tonight is good investment money really," he said. "We're changing these people's lives."

Mr Taylor recalled a visit to Parrahouse, one of Parramatta Mission's crisis accommodation centres, which caters for teenagers aged 14 to 18. "Unfortunately some of them have had too many life experiences for my liking," Mr Taylor said. "But they are great kids and they will certainly benefit from any money we can raise."

Mr Taylor later interviewed the Overseer of Youth Services, Nikki Zaouk. She said the money raised from the auction would help Parramatta Mission's services for young homeless people. "It will create extra beds. It will help us employ university-qualified staff that can deal with kids that are traumatised beyond what you can imagine. If we could have that kind of experience in our service, we wouldn't have to wait two months for a young person who's cut themselves all over their body to get in to see a psychologist."

One important donor was healthcare group, Baxter. Their contribution was a very generous $15,000. Area Managing Director Maree Coy was in attendance, despite an illness. "My secretary said to me, 'Are you really going to go tonight?' and I said, 'Well it's very hard not to when you think about it.' "This is about homeless people that have nowhere to go. I'm going to go to a nice warm room, eat some nice food and drink some wine. I really think in comparison to why we're here tonight, that's a small thing to do."

Entertainment for the night was provided by the Australian International Performing Arts High School. Students performed Somewhere over the Rainbow, Ain't no Mountain High Enough and a piece they composed themselves called Moving us Closer.

Principal Mark Hopkins said the school's involvement was about connecting students from the Parramatta area with their community. He also said the school would lend its students to perform at any corporate function for as much as companies were "willing to donate to Parramatta Mission".

The evening had the theme "the ultimate feel-good shopping experience". Parramatta Mission Donor Liaison Officer Marilyn Smith said it was "a wonderful opportunity to get people together, to see that they're not the only ones that are supporting the Mission. "Businesses are glad to be associated with the Mission and individuals discover what they can do when they are part of the community."

As part of Lifeline Awareness Week 2007 (7 to 13 May), Lifeline and the National Rugby League launched a collaborative campaign aimed at promoting help-seeking behaviours among Australians and the rugby league community.

Lifeline's partnership with the NRL is just one way that the message about help-seeking is being heard. The NRL have launched a six week campaign promoting Lifeline, with the theme "help a mate stay in the game."

"So many Australians are affected by issues relating to mental health and suicide. The Parramatta Eels are proud to be working with Lifeline Western Sydney to promote awareness of these issues. It's important that the community know about the support services that are available to them, so they can get help when they need it," said the Eels.

As part of Lifeline Awareness Week the Eels presented 40 tickets to the home game on Saturday 19 May to local volunteer telephone Counsellors who make a vital contribution to the Lifeline service and our community.

Lifeline answers over 450,000 calls each year on their 24-hour telephone counselling line. During the last 12 months, over 12,000 of these calls have been from people with thoughts of suicide. Statistics also show that around 2000 people die by suicide each year and that one in five Australians will suffer from a mental illness, such as depression, at some stage during their life.

Lifeline Western Sydney Director, Karen Burns, acknowledges that creating awareness about mental health and suicide prevention requires a broad community approach.

"To truly make a difference we need to get the message about help-seeking out there to the Australian community and work together to make a positive change. Lifeline is grateful to partners such as the NRL and the Parramatta Eels for helping to convey this message," said Ms. Burns.

While Lifeline Awareness Week may not have received the fanfare of so many other cause weeks that adorn the calendars each year, the message is simple; awareness of support services is vital for those going through troubled times, and can even save lives.

"Lifeline encourages all Australians to know the signs for when a friend, family member, or they themselves may be at risk, and to get help when it is needed," said Ms. Burns.

"Helping a mate stay in the game is about being there, taking the time to listen and linking with help and support services when times are tough. "

Parramatta Mission will benefit from the fun and entertainment at ANZ branches in Parramatta during Blue Week, March 19-23.

Customers can sink their teeth into blue doughnuts or have their names displayed on the acknowledgement wall in ANZ branches in Church Street and Westfield Parramatta if they make a donation to Parramatta Mission.

ANZ Blue Week is a national initiative to raise ANZ's profile in local communities.

Regional and rural branches trialled the project last year and its success saw it extended to all retail branches in 2007.

For customers, it is all about seeing more of ANZ in their local community as well as seeing how ANZ can service their banking needs.

For Parramatta Mission, it will be an opportunity to work in partnership with a local business to help more people in western Sydney.

Maria Johnson, manager at ANZ's Parramatta Westfield branch, said she was pleased to be able to encourage staff to gather together to raise funds for a worthy local cause. In the process, she said, she hoped it would raise ANZ's profile and demonstrate that ANZ was a "different kind of bank".

She said Parramatta Mission really worked hard to help those less fortunate in the community and that, by buying raffle tickets and doughnuts, customers and neighbouring businesses could lend a hand.

Blue sheets will be hung on the walls of the bank where donors can place their names using balloon-shaped stickers, with thanks from ANZ for supporting Parramatta Mission.

ANZ's local CEO, Rene Donoso, said, "We really want to be part of the local community. I believe every branch needs to be heavily involved in community activities.

"That is why local managers have been given the freedom to choose a local charity, so they can say, 'We do care. We are here with you.'"

More information from:

Rene Donoso, Local CEO, ANZ North West Sydney Market, 0411236165
David Osborne, Manager Resource Development, Parramatta Mission, 0419416175.

On 15 February 2007 the Federal Member for Parramatta, Julie Owens, addressed Federal Parliament on the importance of maintaining federal government funding for Parramatta Mission's Meals Plus program.

To view Julie's speech please click here.

Rydalmere Rotary Club's annual charity golf day is to be held on Friday 23rd March 2007 at Oatlands Golf Club.

Should you wish to be a major or corporate sponsor, please click here to download the registration form or contact Ron Thomson, President, Rydalmere Rotary Club on 96232335.

A hole sponsor entitles you to breakfast, golf and lunch, for 4 players plus advertising around the course. An individual player receives breakfast, golf and lunch for one player. You may be able to use the event as a business networking opportunity and take some special customers out for a fun day on the golf course. At the same time you are helping Rydalmere Rotary Club support local organisations that need on going financial support.

The beneficiaries this year are:

• Kingsdene Special School which looks after severely disabled children who board for the week at the school
  
• Lifeline at Parramatta which is being called upon more and more to counsel distressed and depressed people who are threatening self-harm
  
• ROMAC which is an arm of Rotary that brings children from around the world to Australia for operations to rectify severe physical disabilities.
  

You can help directly with these projects and have a bit of fun at the same time. Please support Rydalmere Rotary on this fundraising golf day.

The new year has brought with it a significant challenge for the team at Parramatta Mission. Currently we face the prospect of having to close an innovative, highly successful and much needed community service if the State Government doesn't renew its funding by June. Meals Plus, which helps 250 people facing crisis each day with free food, health care, legal advice and a friendly ear, is itself facing crisis.

The program costs about $250,000 a year to run, with $117,000 currently coming from the State Government to help employ case workers who co-ordinate the program and proactively assist those in need. The difference is made up with support and donations from businesses, clubs, individuals and from Parramatta Mission's own resources.

Our Save Meals Plus Campaign is off to a great start, featuring on the front page of yesterday's Parramatta Advertiser, but much more needs to be done to save this vital community service program.

We would appreciate whatever assistance and support you can provide over the coming months to help us win this important battle.

Click here to read the article in the Parramatta Advertiser dated 24th January 2007.

At the Gloster Udy Society Luncheon in October 2006, Paul Matthews from MatthewsFolbigg, launched a new resource for our Mission Family. The booklet, Your Will and Your Loved Ones, was developed by the law firm MatthewsFolbigg, a corporate partner with Parramatta Mission. MatthewsFolbigg generously developed and donated the booklets to assist supporters of the Mission as they craft their will and consider providing continuing support to the Mission's service to the community.

The booklet gives information about how Parramatta Mission helps transform lives in our community, and plenty of information about why a will is necessary and how to craft it to achieve what you want it to do.

Just a sample of information included in the booklet is:

• What you can do in your will
• Who should prepare your will
• How do you determine your estate
• How your will can help others
• Does my will ever need updating

Congratulations to the winning businesses on your outstanding creativity and marketing flair:

• Australiana - Scuba Warehouse
  
• My Business - Beaute International
  
• Traditional - MatthewsFolbigg
  
• Fantasy - Lookstyle Design
  

Thank you to everyone who participated or supported this event.

My Business
Beaute International

Australiana
Scuba Warehouse

Fantasy
Lookstyle Design

Traditional
MatthewsFolbigg

At the Parramatta Chamber of Commerce Christmas Business After Five, the Bank of Queensland presented Parramatta Mission with a cheque for $3000.

Thank you for your generous and ongoing support.

Allison Colyvan from Bank of Queensland with Ian Gray and Chris Bertinshaw from Parramatta Mission