Winslow is proud to support Ganbina, an organisation that matches Winslow’s values of encouraging the growth and development of young people.
Winslow recently found an opportunity to assist the Indigenous organisation, which helps Aboriginal youth stay engaged in mainstream education, training and employment.
In the lead up to NAIDOC Week in July, Winslow embarked on a journey with talented Indigenous artist, Jenna Oldaker, to create a signature Indigenous artwork that reflected foundations that are dear to Winslow, particularly the Winslow Family values – connection with our community and the importance of teamwork.
The result, Koling wada-ngal (Let us Walk Together), is an exceptional representation of the Winslow values, and also the deepening of Winslow’s relationships with our land’s traditional owners the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
To further showcase the artwork, Winslow designed a special edition hoodie that is based on the Jenna’s painting and was available for purchase by our employees, their families and our community partners.
Sales of the hoodie raised an impressive total of $22,610, and all proceeds were donated by Winslow employees to Ganbina.
Amelia Rizzo, Winslow’s General Counsel, said staff embraced the artwork and quickly snapped up a hoodie as soon as they went on sale.
“Our employees were thrilled with our new Indigenous artwork and the huge sales of these special edition hoodies highlights their connection to our family values and generosity in supporting the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community,” Amelia said.
Ganbina, a community-based organisation, like Winslow, also values and encourages the active support of the growth and development of young people.
Ganbina is a registered charity that has been in operation since 1997, head quartered in the Goulburn Valley in regional Victoria.
Ganbina runs Australia’s most successful Aboriginal school-to-work transition program Jobs4U2, which helps Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and youth aged from 5-25 years old stay engaged in mainstream education, training and employment.
In fact, 88 per cent of Ganbina Year 12 students complete Year 12 on average, only 1 percentage point below the non-Aboriginal rate and much higher than the Aboriginal rate of 66 per cent.
Additionally, 2 in 3 Ganbina participants transition from education to further education, training or employment.
Ganbina’s Jobs4U2 program is a 50-year pilot program, i.e. two generations, with the aim to create long-term social and economic prosperity among Australia’s Aboriginal population.
On Thursday September 1, Winslow presented Ganbina’s CEO Anthony Cavanagh with a cheque for $22,610 from the proceeds of our special edition one-off Indigenous hoodie.
Anthony said he was stunned when learning of the donation from Winslow’s employees.
“It was an unexpected – but very pleasant – surprise to get the call from Winslow informing us that we are to be the recipient of a $22,000 donation,” Anthony said.
“We are incredibly humbled to have been chosen as the charity to receive this donation, which will be invested into the delivery of our programs.”
LET US WALK TOGETHER
Koling wada-ngal (Let Us Walk Together) Artist: Jenna Oldaker Media: Acrylic on Canvas Artwork Description: This artwork illustrates family and community coming together as one, as we travel and learn together on Country. The centrepiece of this artwork symbolises community and meeting place – a place where we all come together to yarn and share stories and knowledge with one another. The classic U shapes symbolise people, whilst the concentric circles and lines in the centre illustrate journey paths and our continued connection to culture, spirits and land.
We are all connected to one another, and this is what gives us such power and unity. This is illustrated by the joining journey paths, all connecting and overlapping with one another as we walk together and pay our respects to our land and waters. The connecting lines and journey paths are also symbolic of community and family, as we all come together to help care for this beautiful Country land we call home.