“All it takes is one person to stand by you, through thick or thin, and they can help you turn your life around”. That is the message CareSouth staff and guest speaker Jet Zavier shared with more than 50 members of Ulladulla’s business community at an Aunties and Uncles fundraising night this month. 

The event, hosted by Tucker Real Estate, raised more than $3000 for Aunties and Uncles, a program which supports disadvantaged children by linking them with volunteer carers who engage them in simple everyday activities to create happy childhood memories.

CareSouth Aunties and Uncles program manager Jo Rafferty and Milton/Ulladulla Aunties and Uncles coordinator Mark Potts talked to the audience about the incredible difference an Aunty or Uncle can make in the life of a vulnerable child.

But it was Mr Xavier’s personal story which really hit home. The real estate coach and motivational speaker has walked in the same shoes as many of the young people CareSouth’s Aunties and Uncles program supports. As a young adult he did not have a safety net, like an Aunty or Uncle, to help him find his way. Consequently he lived life on the wrong side of the tracks and made some poor decisions which derailed his life goals. Until one person “who was there through thick and thin, no matter what” helped him get his life back on track.

“And that is the real beauty of the Aunties and Uncles program,” said Ms Rafferty. “The carers are a consistent connection in the lives of these vulnerable children and young people. The goal is that we have matched our Aunties and Uncles volunteers so well with the needs of those in the program that the bond that is formed is life-long.”

Tucker Real Estate volunteered to organise and host the event after principal Andrea Tucker heard about how life-changing the program is for vulnerable children.
“Aunties and Uncles enhances the quality of life and life experiences for children whose families are under strain. We wanted to be able to help in any way we could. And we’ve had so much positive feedback about the night that we’d like to make it an annual event for CareSouth’s Aunties and Uncles program.”

Mrs Tucker was so supportive of the program that she agreed to auction off herself and her team to the highest bidder to work for someone else for the day. She will don dungarees and Blundstone boots for “some serious green keeping duties” after Mollymook Golf Club paid $1000 to get her out on the greens. BSP Advisory Group paid $500 for fellow Tucker team member Charms Baltis and $750 for Rod Tucker to clean a very large garage.
“Apparently it’s a two-person job,” laughed Mrs Tucker.

Fellow real estate agent Jo Jones will potentially be polishing glassware after Milton couple Graham and Kathy Humphries handed over $300.
Mr Potts said the night was a great success, with a raffle also raising over $700 and bringing the total money raised on the evening to $3,300. Ms Rafferty and Mr Potts welcomed the opportunity for the fundraiser to become an annual event.

“The benefits of the program are obvious for the children but there are so many benefits for the carers too. They get as much out of this as the kids themselves. Our Aunties and Uncles form a deep attachment to these children, they become a part of their lives and they love them as they would their own kids,” said Mr Potts.
Mrs Tucker has called on the tightknit South Coast community to get behind the program and volunteer to become Aunties and Uncles.
“It would be fabulous if we could have further support from our local community to become an Aunty and Uncle and put a bit of sparkle in some of these kids’ and families’ lives. It really doesn’t take much,” said Mrs Tucker.

CareSouth would like to thank Cupitts Winery, GlenAyr Coastal Retreat at Thirroul, Ulladulla’s Dunn Lewis Bowling Centre, Mollymook Golf Club, Home at Last, Spaces Homeware, IGA Milton, and Westpac Bank for generously donating prizes for the raffle.

If you are interested in volunteering for CareSouth’s Aunties and Uncles program please contact 1300 554 260 or visit the CareSouth website at www.caresouth.org.au