Foundation toasts milestones at Rochefort

The Fleurieu Community Foundation celebrated a number of milestones when it conducted a Chill Session at the Rochfort Distillery in Victor Harbor.

Chairman Brad Butler released the foundation’s annual report and also spoke about some of the highlights of the past few months.

He paid tribute to Lauren Cousins and her mother, Karly, who, together, had raised more than $38,000 to put towards the foundation’s Homelessness Fund.

“These funds have helped us partly fund an early intervention worker with Junction Australia,” Mr Butler explained.

“The aim is to try to understand why people become homeless and to prevent them reaching the point of homelessness.”

A forum last year identified that the homelessness issue was about more than just providing rooves over people’s heads as there were so many other issues that contributed to the problem, including mental health and drug matters.

Mr Butler said the program with Junction Australia, if successful, could be used as a pilot for implementation in other regions.

The foundation has recently hit a couple of milestones.

Mr Butler said more than $150,000 in grants had been distributed since the foundation commenced in October 2010.

In addition astute financial management had led to the foundation’s finances now reaching $250,000 which would help ensure its projects could be ongoing, and were also available should a major project arise that required matching funding.

About 50 people enjoyed platters and drinks while enjoying music from Maggie O’Moore and Hey Brother.