Blackwell Funerals once again ensured a merry Christmas for some of Australia’s most disadvantaged children by partnering with South Australian Rotary Clubs to ensure children in the Northern Territory didn’t go without a present this year at Christmas.
Many outback communities are hundreds of kilometres away from shopping centres, making it difficult for families to purchase any toys for their children. To address this each year Blackwell Funerals and Rotary Clubs call on members, friends and other service clubs to contribute toys for distribution in these outback communities.
Blackwell Funerals General Manager, Jason Maher, says: “It’s a real shame that many children go without a present at Christmas. Last year, more than 18,000 toys were sent to the Northern Territory, 10,000 of which came from the generous people of Adelaide, It just goes to show that there is overwhelming support and reaffirms that the spirit of Christmas is still well and truly alive.”
The toy drive was initially organised at the request of Dr Aleeta Fejo, the first doctor to graduate under the Australian Rotary Health Research Fund’s Indigenous Scholarship Scheme. Dr Fejo was sponsored by Blackwell Funerals and now works in the Northern Territory and sees the hardship first hand. While Rotary organises the Christmas toy drive and Blackwell Funerals co-ordinating delivery, the ultimate success of the initiative relies on community support and generous donations
from members of the public.
Jason says, “A small action can make a huge difference to someone’s life. These Northern Territory communities are so remote they don’t have access to many of the simple pleasures we enjoy. This is a great chance to deliver some happiness right to their doorstep, and help them enjoy the festive season.”