Benalla owes much to volunteers and this National Volunteer Week, May 21 to 27, is a great opportunity to celebrate the many ways they support the town. Out of an estimated population of 13,900 residents, more than 3,600 people have volunteered their time in one way or another. That equates…
Benalla Toy Library has closed its doors after serving the Benalla community for over 40 years. During that time the volunteer organisation has given pleasure to countless children, allowing them access to high quality educational toys to explore and enjoy. In the last decade, however, toys have become more affordable…
Over 70 young people and their families recently braved a wet and windy day to try out many sports and activities available in Benalla. Fun ‘Come and Try’ sessions for archery, astronomy, Auskick, badminton, baseball, basketball, cricket, cubs, dance, football, golf, gymnastics, hockey, Benalla Leo’s, Little Athletics, netball, Scouts, soccer,…
Benalla College Hands on Learning students travelled to Melbourne’s Parliament House to join schools from across Victoria for the opening of a special showcase of their ingenious building projects on Tuesday 27 March. The showcase in Queens Hall featured musical instruments made by Benalla P-12 College students, along with a…
Since moving to Benalla in 1991 Sally’s time has been devoted to family, their olive farm and community. Sally has contributed greatly to many aspects of Benalla’s growth and development through her volunteer service to many education, philanthropic, environmental and horticultural projects. Sally’s strong sense of community has included affiliation…
An Australia-wide program, introduced to Benalla by Tomorrow Today Foundation, has received international recognition. “Hands On Learning” is a program that creates opportunities for young people to discover their talents and experience success through working on real-life projects both around their school and in the wider community. Tomorrow Today has…
In 2017 Tomorrow Today worked with Melbourne Recital Centre and Benalla P-12 College to introduce a music program for Hands on Learning students. The result, the amazing Benalla Junk Orchestra! Special thanks to The William Buckland Foundation for making this program possible. Check out the video
Tomorrow Today’s recent Annual Celebration, held at the Lakeside Community Centre, attracted a large gathering that included donors, community and school partners, interested community members, and volunteers. A number of funding partners from Melbourne also attended the evening: The Ian Potter Foundation was represented by Senior Program Manager, Dr Alberto…
Tomorrow Today Foundation has been recognised as an inspiring example of the Community Foundation sector in Australia. The 2017 Community Foundation Awards were presented during the recent three day national conference. Tomorrow Today was one of two recipients of the 2017 Award for ‘enabling and creating impact, positive change and…
The William Buckland Foundation’s collaboration with Benalla’s Tomorrow Today Foundation is breaking new ground in philanthropy, according to its Chairman, Mr Sandy Clark. “As a perpetual charitable foundation, the low interest loan we have provided to Tomorrow Today, to help it purchase the Cecily Court property, reflects new trends in…
Local students have had a remarkable musical experience thanks to world-class music venue, the Melbourne Recital Centre. During Term Three, Melbourne Recital Centre (MRC) has run an outreach program at Benalla P-12 College involving their Year 7 ‘Hands On Learning’ students and a group of Year 4’s The MRC program…
Tomorrow Today Foundation was the beneficiary of the recent charity launch of the Swanpool Bald Archy exhibition. Swanpool & District Memorial Hall had undergone its annual transformation into a beautiful rural gallery, perfect for exhibiting the irreverent portraits of well-known Australians. In opening the exhibition, Libby Price spoke about the…
A program that gives Benalla young people confidence and skills to continue their education has saved some of them from a possible lifetime of unemployment or welfare, according to one of the teachers involved. Peter Janas was a teacher in the Hands on Learning program at Benalla P-12 College for…
Year 10 students from Benalla P-12 College, FCJ College and EdSpace had the opportunity to learn about more than 100 careers and career pathways at the recent Benalla Careers Day. Ninety-two students participated in the day which involved interactive workshops, workplace visits, guest speakers, exhibitors and ‘speedy talks’ with 20…
Member for Indi Cathy McGowan recently hosted Tomorrow Today Chair Sally Gamble, and Board member Liz Chapman OAM, during their visit to Canberra. Sally and Liz met with ministers and senators to discuss the work of Tomorrow Today and the Education Benalla Program. In a speech to parliament prior to…
Twelve fantastic community projects are now underway thanks to Year 6 students involved in ‘Kids As Catalysts’. The program, which empowers kids to lead creative community change, has been brought to Benalla through a partnership between Tomorrow Today and Benalla P-12 College. It is the brain child of Kid’s Thrive,…
The Tomorrow Today Foundation has launched an appeal to raise $250,000 in local support to buy Cecily Court in Nunn Street where it is currently based. Tomorrow Today Chair, Sally Gamble said the opportunity to buy the property came thanks to the support of two philanthropic organisations and would be…
The charity launch of Swanpool’s Bald Archy Exhibition later this month is an opportunity for a great evening out while supporting Benalla’s Tomorrow Today Foundation. Community members and groups are invited to book now to secure their place at the event, which will be on Friday 25th August, 6.30pm –…
Tomorrow Today Foundation has provided a grant of $13,000 to support the creation of Benalla’s new adventure playground. Some years ago the Foundation helped with fundraising for the Crossing Place Project, which supported major improvements in the Botanical Gardens and around the Lake. This grant was the last of these…
A great celebration was held recently at Benalla Airport to mark the conclusion of the most recent Connect9 mentoring program. Connect9 is run twice a year and is unique to Benalla. Year 9 students are individually matched with a well-connected local volunteer who over the course of one school term,…
Senior students from Benalla secondary schools gained a greater understanding of further study options and university life, after a visit to Melbourne last month. Fifty-four local students had the opportunity to tour two university campuses; either RMIT University in the city and Latrobe University Bundoora, or Deakin University Burwood and…
By Libby Price. Liz Chapman is something of a person ahead of the times. As a young mother living in Goomalibee, she studied a Graduate Diploma in Community Development at the University of Western Sydney as a distance education student, specialising in rural development and rural change processes. She always…
Eleven fantastic local projects will be undertaken this year with funding support from Tomorrow Today Foundation’s 2017 Grants Program. Over $22,000 was awarded for a diverse range of initiatives at a well-attended ceremony on Friday 12 May. Representatives of the successful groups spoke about their projects and the difference they…
Families attending Tomorrow Today’s PEEP (Parents Early Education Partnership) program recently enjoyed a visit to Benalla’s new playground at the Benalla Botanical Gardens. It was a great chance for families to check out this fantastic new space designed for exploration and creative play. While definitely different to a traditional playground,…
Local groups and organisations are encouraged to apply for the 2017 Tomorrow Today Grants Program. The grants are distributed annually and support local people to make a positive difference in the Benalla and district community. Groups can apply for funding for projects ranging anywhere from $100 to $5,000. Tomorrow Today…
Tomorrow Today Foundation recently received a generous donation from the Molyullah Easter Sports committee. Held every Easter Monday since 1901, the Molyullah Easter Sports have activities for all ages; horse events, novelty events for kids and families – egg throwing, three-legged races, children’s races – market stalls and so much…
Extract from FCJ College Benalla Newsletter – October 28th 2016 FCJ College conducts an exciting learning program in the school curriculum. Hands on Learning (HOL) has been operating within schools throughout Australia over many years. The program aims at providing an alternative learning framework for disengaged students who are finding…
North East Wellness Support Group recently presented Tomorrow Today with $450 in funds, raised at the Benalla Fitness and Wellbeing Expo. The event brought together many gifted practitioners from the region, including Kinesiology, chiropractic care, Bowen Therapy, healthy foods, nutritional supplements, dance therapy, Reflexology, Life Coaching and more. The group’s goal…
Published in Benalla Ensign, Wednesday 16 November 2016 Local models of innovation in education in Indi, including the program offered to Year 9 students at Benalla P-12 College, could break down barriers to higher education faced by rural, regional and remote students. This was the message for the Education and Training Minister…
Tomorrow Today supporters, donors, volunteers, program participants, community partners and funders gathered at Benalla’s Lakeside Centre for our recent Annual Celebration. The audience heard many positive stories as Executive Officer Pat Claridge interviewed program participants and community partners about their experiences with Tomorrow Today. Music provided by some of our ‘PEEP’…
The Community Based “Great Start to School” (GSTS) program is free to parents of children who will be starting school in Benalla and District in 2017 (but not Benalla P-12 College which has its own separate program) This program is for parents only, however onsite childminding can be arranged if…
Tomorrow Today was recently in the national spotlight when board member Liz Chapman presented at Philanthropy Australia’s bi-annual conference in Sydney. Over 700 of the best philanthropic thinkers, strategists and leading voices from around the globe came together for the premier thought leadership event of its kind in Australasia. Tomorrow…
Students from the Hands-on Learning Program at Benalla P-12 College, Faithfull Campus, are involved with the Dairy Australia Program Cows Create Careers. The Cows Create Careers Farm Module is a six-week program that aims to increase the awareness of dairy industry careers in a hands-on way. Students are educated by…
Work has started on innovative adventure park at Botanical Gardens. The construction of a $610 000 nature-based adventure playground in the Benalla Botanical Gardens has begun to replace the existing play equipment. The adventure playground has been designed by Andrew Laidlaw, who designed the award-winning children’s garden at the Royal…
The next generation of budding young local philanthropists recently celebrated their success in organising nine great community projects for Benalla and district. Developed and coordinated by Melbourne organisation Kids Thrive, the Kids as Catalysts program was brought to town through a partnership with Tomorrow Today and local schools. The program…
The benefits provided by music and musical experiences to early childhood development have been explored through a recent collaboration between Benalla P-12 College and Tomorrow Today’s Parents Early Education Partnership (PEEP) program. Benalla P-12 music teachers Natalie and Barry Roberts attended eight PEEP multi-age sessions between them, accompanied each time…
Tomorrow Today Foundation congratulates Benalla Business Network for putting on a great night at the 2016 Business Excellence Awards. We are proud and grateful to accept Business Commitment to the Community Award, sponsored by GMCU. This really is an award for the entire community – we couldn’t do what we…
Over 100 people celebrated the launch of the 2016 Swanpool Bald Archy exhibition recently, while raising funds for Benalla’s Tomorrow Today Foundation. Swanpool & District Memorial Hall was resplendent, transformed into a gallery to exhibit the 45 irreverent portraits of well-known Australians. Peter Batey, director and founder of the Bald…
Over 120 Year 10 students from Benalla P-12, FCJ and Benalla Flexible Learning Centre came together recently to learn about work and study options throughout the region and beyond. The 2016 Benalla Careers Day showcased activities offering a range of career information and direct access to a wide range of…
Benalla’s young people are making a difference for the community through the Kids as Catalyst Program. Teaching the next generation to become philanthropists, the program is run by Kids Thrive and has been made possible thanks to the Tomorrow Today Foundation, Benalla P-12 College, St Joseph’s Primary School and Benalla…
FCJ College and Cooinda joined forces to experience the power of music during term two, culminating in a live community performance. The Year 7 students and Cooinda residents performed some of the classics including Andy Williams’ Moon River as well as more modern tunes at the fifth annual Let’s Find…
Witness art and humour collide at Swanpool’s Bald Archy gala launch on Friday 19 August, while raising money for Benalla’s charitable foundation, Tomorrow Today. In its 23rd year, the larrikin national art prize features the work of over 40 artists whose subjects include sporting luminaries, politicians and other well-known Australian…
Attention local families with little ones! The Term 3 PEEP (Parents Early Education Partnership) Calendar is here! We are looking forward to another interesting and fun term to share with our families. PEEP is a free program that supports parents as their child’s first educator. It’s open to all Benalla…
The release of the 2015 Australian Early Year Development Census (AEDC) data contained great news for Benalla, showing positive improvement in school readiness for local five year olds starting school. The Census has been conducted every three years since 2009 and covers more than 300,000 children at 7,510 schools throughout…
This month marks the first anniversary of the establishment of the Kingston Smith Memorial Fund. The Fund was created last June to support the education, health and welfare of young children in need. Kingston Smith was a much-loved, healthy and happy toddler who sadly died on 17th December 2014 aged…
A local family legacy is helping to change the lives of Benalla’s young people by providing funding to deliver opportunities for students. The Bertalli family has made the largest local donation of its kind to Tomorrow Today Foundation, giving $300,000 over three years to encourage, engage and inspire Benalla’s young…
Tomorrow:Today Foundation is a philanthropic organisation, formed and run by local people to provide funds for local community projects. It is Benalla district’s Community Foundation, working to bring about positive change. Funds for grants are available as a result of generous donations from local people and businesses. Applications from local…
Tomorrow Today, Rotary Club of Benalla and Benalla Lion’s Club have developed an information booklet recording opportunities offered by the three organisations for children and young people in Benalla district. The four areas covered are Programs, Community Service, Scholarships and Awards, and Funding Support. The booklet is a useful resource…
Our latest newsletter features the Australian Early Development Census (AEDC) report’s findings that show crucial evidence of the change Benalla wants to see. Learn how more of Benalla’s children are considered ‘on track’ overall and the great gains made in the areas of educational competence. We also celebrate the success of…
Tomorrow Today Foundation’s (TTF) Connect 9 program is a grateful beneficiary of $500 in funding from AusNet Services ‘Community Cornerstone’ employee recognition program. Connect 9 is a 10 week student wellbeing program in Benalla that connects local Year 9 students with adult mentors to assist them to set life and…
Ten fantastic local projects will be undertaken this year thanks to funding from Tomorrow Today Foundation’s 2016 Grants Program. In a record disbursement last Friday TTF chair Sally Gamble presented grants totalling over $33,000 for a diverse range of initiatives. The money is raised through investment of funds received from…
Over 75 young people recently had an active and fun-filled day at Churchill Reserve trying out many of the sports and activities available in Benalla. Come and try sessions for golf, netball, football, soccer, kendo, dance, drama, astronomy, basketball, tennis, archery, activity name and hockey were provided by local clubs….
It’s official! Benalla families have set a new record reading an amazing 46,235 stories to Benalla’s young children last year during Tomorrow Today’s annual literacy challenge, Let’s Read Benalla. Reading stories together from an early age develops children’s early language and communication skills and sets them on the path to…
Local employers have committed to providing employment opportunities for young people following the launch of the Benalla Employment Enclave at a recent Benalla Business Network breakfast meeting held at Benalla Gliding Club on 5 April. The Employment Enclave aims to foster part-time work opportunities, work experience and school-based apprenticeships for…
Community groups and organisations are encouraged to apply for Tomorrow Today Foundation’s 2016 Grants Program. This community building grants initiative has funded over $164,000 of projects since 2002, including educational, cultural and environmental programs. One of the many successful applications in 2015 was made by North East Artisans (NEA), a…
Young babies and children recently enjoyed splashing with their families on a visit to Benalla Aquatic Centre as part of the PEEP (Parents Early Education Partnership) Program. PEEP is a free program run by Tomorrow Today Foundation for Benalla and district families with babies and young children up to school…
BENALLA Flexible Learning Centre students are among a number of local young people who will soon be freshly kitted out for school courtesy of vouchers distributed by Tomorrow Today Foundation. Following an application by Tomorrow Today, Benalla district received $11,000 in vouchers from the 2016 FRRR Back to School Program….
The Benalla community has once again demonstrated its generosity with over $200,000 donated to Tomorrow Today Foundation’s grant making fund in 2015. Tomorrow Today is Benalla and districts community foundation, dedicated to building a stronger and more resilient community. “To raise $200,000 within a year in a community of our…
Local Reading Buddy volunteers are making a real difference for Benalla students, and more volunteers are needed in 2016. Operating in Benalla Primary Schools since 2012, the Reading Buddy Program matches children in junior classes in Benalla schools with a volunteer ‘buddy’ who works with them during the school’s literacy…
The Tomorrow Today Foundation hosted a Christmas party for the families involved in their Early Years programs to finish off a year full of fun, learning and strengthening friendships on Thursday 10 December 2015. About 200 people joined the festivities at the Rocket Park, enjoying a social barbecue thanks to…
More than 100 people attended Tomorrow Today Foundation’s Annual General Meeting at the Lakeside Centre last Thursday. It was no ordinary AGM, as the attendance indicates, with much of the time taken up with stories of achievement and change. Six year-old Evalee said she liked her Reading Buddy who helped…
One hundred and twenty-three Year 10 students from FCJ College and Benalla P-12 College spent a busy day last Wednesday participating in Benalla Careers Day. The annual event is designed to supplement the information young people gain from school-based career activities by providing a wide a range of career information,…
Education is key to ending Benalla’s cycle of disadvantage and it is only a matter of time according to the Tomorrow Today Foundation. Benalla Rural City Council recently announced a joint investigation with Benalla Health in to the town’s stagnant position as one of the state’s most disadvantaged following the…
Members of the Benalla Bushwalking Club have provided many volunteer hours to help Tomorrow Today’s student mentor program, called Connect9, offering students involved in the program specially tailored bushwalks each year to places of local interest. The Bushwalking Club recently further showed its support by donating $500 to be…
Eleven keen young people are now better prepared to take on part-time jobs after graduating from an intensive five week training program coordinated by Tomorrow Today Foundation. Family, friends and supporters joined with Tomorrow Today staff and Benalla Rural City Mayor, Justin King to congratulate the young people for completing…
The Council has donated $4,242 from the Mayoral and Councillor Allowances budget to the Tomorrow Today Foundation. “The Council is very supportive of Tomorrow Today’s work and decided to contribute $5,000 from existing 2015/16 Budget allocations – $4,242 from the Mayoral and Councillor Allowances Budget and $758 from Community Sponsorship,”…
The recently released Dropping Off the Edge Report, which has again found that Benalla is one of the most disadvantaged towns in Victoria, reaffirms the importance of whole-of-community initiatives like our Education Benalla Program. ‘Tomorrow Today Foundation’s Education Benalla Program was introduced after the 2007 Dropping Off the Edge Report highlighted disadvantage in Benalla,’…
On a glorious winter’s day, twelve local Year 9 students recently had the opportunity to view Benalla from high up in the front seat of a glider. The glider flight was the culmination of a series of activities undertaken by the students as part of the Connect9 mentoring program. Connect9…
A group of keen young people began a work-readiness training program last week – the After School Paid Part-time Work Project. Many Benalla business people will give presentations during the five week after-school program. Benalla Rural City Mayor, Justin King, was the first speaker, discussing the do’s and don’t’s of…
We are delighted that this year Tomorrow Today Foundation was invited to be the beneficiary of the Gala Charity Launch of the Bald Archy Exhibition. It was a great night with 120 people attending and over $1,800 raised towards our current Challenge Appeal. Our sincere thanks go to the Swanpool &…
Students at Benalla P-12 College last week took part in the school’s first career action planning day, featuring guest speakers and motivational talks. The teenagers particularly enjoyed the energetic session with Life Coach Glenn Irvine, while Anne Geddes spoke to the students about courses at Charles Sturt University and used…
For every dollar given to Tomorrow Today Foundation’s Community Fund this year, another dollar will be added. Tomorrow Today Foundation is aiming to raise $200,000 through their 2015 Challenge Appeal. Over the past six months, the Directors of the Foundation have assembled a group of 20 key supporters who have…
Twelve local organisations received grants totalling $32,000, when Tomorrow Today Foundation awarded their annual Benalla District Grants on Friday 1 May 2015. New ideas and proven projects alike were successful in achieving community development grants. The successful recipients shared one thing in common – the commitment of the people who…
We are calling on the community to support our 2015 ‘Challenge’ Appeal which aims to raise $200,000 for the Community Fund. As the Community Fund grows, so does the income available for Benalla and district grants. Donations from the public will be matched dollar for dollar, up to a total…
More than 60 people gathered for the launch of at the new Benalla Library on Monday 13 April 2015. Launching the story, Sylvia Admans, CEO of The R E Ross Trust, said: ‘This important publication puts a stake in the ground and courageously, and in many, many people’s words, tells the…
Benalla’s Tomorrow Today Foundation has become a White Ribbon Day Supporter by signing up to the ‘Hume Preventing Violence Against Women and Children Charter’. Signatories to the charter pledge to take action against family violence in their own community. Chair Sally Gamble and Executive Officer Pat Claridge were joined by…
Tomorrow Today Foundation is once again helping local children to start school in a positive way. Three hundred and seventy-five Sidney Myer Fund/ FRRR Back To School’ Vouchers worth $19,150 have recently been distributed by the Foundation to Benalla and district schools. This is the 11th consecutive year that Tomorrow…
