As we begin the final term of 2021, we are pleased to provide a summary from Term 3 2021

In brief:

The road ahead for the return of students to the program
We had a visit from the Governor of NSW
There is a new and eco-friendly way to show your support! Collect your bottles and cans for Stewart House
A status update of upcoming events, including Boxing Day on the Harbour and the Beach2Beach

A Program Freeze

We plunged, once again, into shutdown mode at the instruction of the NSW Government

All too soon, we were disappointed with yet another state-wide lockdown causing the immediate suspension of our residential program to students enrolled in Term 3 2021.

What the next few months will look like

Based on the advice we have received from the NSW Department of Education, once stay-at-home restrictions are lifted, and students return to face-to-face learning, schools will operate under the Department’s Level 3 plus COVID restrictions. In the context of the services provided by Stewart House, Level 3 plus restrictions prohibit excursions, camps, field trips and principal-endorsed activities for students.

When will students return to visit Stewart House?

Regrettably, the Level 3 plus COVID restrictions for schools mean that Stewart House will not open for student enrolments for the remainder of 2021. We are, however, focused on re-opening for Term 1 2022.

What is happening around the site?

Our office staff have been working from home throughout the lockdown period. Only essential staff remain on-site to provide support for general operations and site maintenance. Our site spans 1.2 hectares of residential land, and the upkeep is never-ending.

Our thoughts are with the children who are missing out on this vital out-of-home experience.

The Governor of NSW Visits

In July, we enjoyed a visit from the Governor of NSW

We were delighted to host a site visit for the Governor of NSW, Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC QC.
Her Excellency is the 39th Governor of New South Wales and is highly admired for her strong commitment to education, youth leadership, human rights and social justice.

During the tour, Her Excellency was thoroughly engaged in the details of the Stewart House Program. It was an honour to show the Governor our facilities as part of her day-visit to the Northern Beaches.

Recycling That Gives-Back

Donate to Stewart House by recycling your bottles and cans with ReCollect

Do you have bottles and cans piling up? Are you looking for a new way to support the vital work of Stewart House?

We’ve partnered with ReCollect, a door-to-door bottle collection service that makes refundable recycling and fundraising easier than 1,2,3:

Jump online and book a pickup using https://app.re-collect.com.au/stewarthouse
Place your bags outside
Receive a refund and nominate Stewart House as your preferred charity recipient

ReCollect will allow everyone (individuals, schools, businesses etc.) to donate directly to our organisation with ease. Spread the word!

Lottery Ticket Sales

The People’s Choice Community Lottery is 100% online, and 100% of every $2 ticket sold is donated back to Stewart House

We have been fortunate enough to partner with People’s Choice Credit Union in this lottery for a number of years.

Ticket sales are now open! We wish you luck with winning some great prizes on offer, and thank you in advance for your support! Purchase lottery tickets here.

Upcoming Events

All our face-to-face fundraising events for 2021 have been cancelled. We are, however, optimistic for a more social 2022! More details follow.

Date Change: 90th Birthday fundraising Dinner

Sadly, our face-to-face 90th birthday celebration plans were unable to go ahead this year. In particular, we postponed our fundraising dinner at the iconic Bathers’ Pavilion on Balmoral Beach in Sydney until March 2022. We will share more details on the event in the coming months.

Cancelled: Boxing Day on the Harbour 2021

For the second year running and for the safety of our supporters and the broader community, we will not be selling tickets to our Boxing Day Event to watch the start of the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race for 2021.

All those who have attended the event in previous years will be advised once tickets are on sale for 2022.

New enquiries are welcome and encouraged to complete our online form.

Date Change: Beach2Beach Fun Run

The inaugural Beach2Beach scheduled for August this year has been postponed to Sunday, 27 March 2022.

On the bright side, we get more time to train and raise funds, so please support Stewart House and the other amazing local charities in the scenic Beach2Beach Charity Fun Run event.

You may know a friend, family member, or colleague interested in lending their support. Please consider forwarding this newsletter or directing them to contact us.

Also in celebration of our 90th year caring for public school children-in-need, we would like to share this important video message with our supporters and students: