Western Australia’s Young Australian of the Year for 2014 John van Bockxmeer has started three successful charities, volunteered internationally and won an impressive list of awards. Oh yes, and he manages to fit in a job as an emergency department registrar too. Samille Mitchell has a chat with John about his major charity Fair Game, and is amazed at his motivation, his depth of feeling for healthy communities, and his incredible ability to fit so much into an already over-worked doctor’s schedule.
Tag: charity
Anne Carey – The courage to be kind
WA Australian of the Year for 2016 Anne Carey rose to fame for having the courage to volunteer to fight the ravages of the Ebola virus in Sierra Leone. She is now embarking on a new challenge – urging Australians to have the courage to be kind. She says it was courage that helped overcome Ebola, and it’s courage that can help stamp out two threats she sees facing Australia – the insidious culture of workplace bullying and discrimination against refugees.
Ronni Kahn – Saving food to save lives
It’s estimated that one third of all the world’s food goes to waste. But one woman is determined to change that. Through her charity OzHarvest Ronni Kahn is rescuing good food destined for the rubbish heap and providing it to the disadvantaged. In the process she is not only saving food, but lives.
Natasha Anderson – Risking life to save rhinos
Fighting for a cause you believe in is one thing but risking your life to do so is quite another. What drives this Australian woman to risk her life to save rhinos amid achingly beautiful Zimbabwean bush?
Mary Hutton – Freeing the bears
Mary Hutton has transformed from a humble mum in the suburbs to an international powerhouse negotiating with Asian governments in her ongoing bid to rescue Asian bears.
Mid West Charity Begins at Home – Easing pain, capturing hearts
This wildly successful fundraising phenomenon has captured the hearts of a region with its tireless efforts to raise money for the seriously ill. Samille Mitchell investigates what drives the volunteers behind the charity and peeks into the lives of some of those it has helped.