Well October proved to be a very busy month down here in Melbourne.
We had World Animal Day and World Event to End Animal Cruelty Day! Jo Kelly, Amanda Morell and her family headed into Melbourne's CBD to Tin Shake on WAD helping raise $433. TOP had a stall at WEEAC and raised $205.60, thank you to all of the volunteers who helped out! Phil and Cec are the ultimate Tin Shakers, and raised $644 on the 25th October. This same day was also Garage Sale Trail Day. Thank you Georgia Laughton for putting on a Garage Sale at your house, right before you head away, helping raise $202. The Prowd Family from St Stephen's Anglican Church in Brighton held a market day too, selling TOP merchandise and raising $208.55 - Thank you for your on going support!
Steph Tomic (pictured) recently spent time in Borneo working at an Orangutan Care Centre. On returning to Australia she set herself a goal of participating in the Melbourne Marathon Festival, with her aim to complete the half marathon, 21.1km. On Oct 12th Steph not only completed the marathon but also raised $2043...congrats Steph for an amazing achievement all round.
Sue Schofield our Education Officer presented at the following Probus Clubs in October: Bentleigh, Pakenham East and Wonthaggi. She also presented at Carnegie Lions Club and Packenham Anglican Church. All of these talks combined raising $900! Then Sue received another surprise, Carnegie Lions Club were so inspired by Sue's talk that the club donated a further $400. Taking Sue's total for the month raised to $1,300 ... Well done Sue!!
Throughout the month I also spent time visiting Schools to say thank you for helping raise funds for TOP, this automatically makes them eligible for our "Long Call Club". Some of the work the students and teachers do is absolutely inspiring and it's such a pleasure to meet such wonderful people along the way. Gisborne Secondary College had me visit for the second year in a row, renewing their adoption of Chocolate, thank you Jennifer McCarthy for your ongoing support. I chatted to the Year 10's and 12's at Catholic College Bendigo who have helped Safeguard 100ha of Forest in Sumatra, thank you Marita Haigh and her students. On Oct 28th I visited Kew East Primary School who renewed The Twins, Bunga and Chocolate and also Chatham Primary School, where the Grade 3's made chocolate balls, selling them raising $300. Thank you Sue and Hannah and all of their wonderful students! Lauriston Girls School Kindergarten Group "The Kookaburra's" raised just over $440 I was lucky enough to meet these wonderful kids in Amanda Jones class - keep up the amazing work!...such little inspirations!
Orangutan hugs, Amber Anile - Victorian State Representative
