At Garden Village we care about the causes to close to the hearts of our team. For an incredible 36 years, Julie has been a dedicated caregiver at Garden Village, brightening the lives of residents in aged care. Beyond her role here, she is also a passionate community fundraiser and part of the Starlight Trek for Kids.
Julie has been involved with Trek4Kidz for twelve years, joining their annual outback car adventure. This group of volunteers is committed to raising funds for the Starlight Children’s Foundation, to brighten the lives of seriously ill and hospitalised children.
Trek4Kidz has visited hundreds of towns and schools, raising millions of dollars to support Starlight’s vital programs. These programs include:
- Captain Starlight: Bringing superhero fun to sick kids
- Starlight Express Rooms: Creating peaceful havens within hospitals
- Starlight Wish Granting: Making dreams come true for seriously ill children
- Livewire: An online community for teenagers
- Healthier Futures: Bringing joy and support to children in remote areas
“Garden Village has been proud to support Julie’s fundraising efforts for the past 12 years. Our residents always enjoy seeing the Trek4Kidz cars and are inspired by Julie’s dedication. We wish you all the best on the journey,” said CEO Craig Wearne.
In just one week, she and her husband Dave will embark on the adventure, driving from Mount Panorama back to their home in Port Macquarie. The car is a 2008 Holden Ute replacing their old faithful 1967 Holden Ute.
If you would like to support the Starlight Trek for Kids fundraiser hop online and make a donation or donate at the Trek4Kidz Bank account:
Trek4kidz
BSB. 012 842
A/c 230685666
Ref: car 74
Julie is pictured here with driver Dave and Captain Starlight on a previous Trek4Kidz.
In a super special moment whilst taking Car 74 for a spin we saw Dean the Garden Village Physio who shared his Starlight story with us. He was the recipient of a Starlight Wish in 1998 when he had Leukemia as a child. Starlight helped grant a wish for a pool in Dean’s family backyard and he still loves swimming today. He also has special memories of Captain Starlight and the Starlight Express Rooms and how important they are to help keep kids upbeat during their treatment.
