Triple Care Farm graduates celebrate fresh start

Thirty-one young people who have transformed their lives at Mission Australia’s Triple Care Farm residential rehabilitation program were presented with graduation certificates in a moving ceremony at the Southern Highlands site on 15 December 2011.

The graduates from across Australia who successfully completed the program in 2011 made the journey back to Triple Care Farm for the ceremony. They were cheered on by friends, family, staff as well as supporters at an event filled with music, inspiring words, tears and beaming faces.

This year Triple Care Farm supported 86 young people in the on-site program and another 70 in aftercare in the community. Graduation guests included Gareth Ward, the Local Member for Kiama; David Wells, Chair of the Sir David Martin Foundation Board and foundation ambassador Lady Suzie Martin (pictured); as well as Joy Yeo and Ruth Armytage AM from the Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation.

The Triple Care Farm band – made up of staff and graduates – kicked things off, and were followed by Aunty Val, who welcomed guests to Gundungurra country. Mission Australia Chair Ewen Crouch then thanked Triple Care Farm’s many supporters, its hardworking staff as well as graduates for all their efforts throughout 2011.

“The true mark of success is not how high you climb but how far you’ve travelled to get there,” he told graduates, “and today we celebrate each and every one of your journeys.”

Each of the graduates proudly stepped up to the open-air “stage” to accept their certificate from Lady Martin, who later presented Sir David Martin Foundation scholarships to eight young people.

Other highlights included Mission Australia’s Relationship Manager, Heather Kent, giving Triple Care Farm’s manager, Warren Holt, a $45,000 cheque on behalf of Friends in Giving – a fundraising group that has supporting the service for more than 20 years.

Two scholarships were also presented by Hays Recruitment, which also gave a literacy award in the form of an eReader. As in past years, scholarships were awarded by the Bowral Branch of the Country Women’s Association (CWA) and the Jamberoo CWA, while Kiama Rotary Club gave out the Fred Wynne Memorial Award and an encouragement award.

Fit for Good CEO Lisa Champion – who later opened a new on-site gym generously funded by her fitness industry charity along with The Mundy Family, Kiama City Council and The Friends in Giving Society - also spoke about the importance of exercise and good health.

Got to our Facebook page for pictures of the graduation.

A message for graduates
Kerrie Graaf, Triple Care Farm’s Chaplain turned the focus to spiritual wellbeing, closing the ceremony with inspiring words of advice for the graduates:

“If we keep holding on to the regrets, guilt and mistakes of our yesterdays, we will not be able to completely embrace today, nor will we be able to keep a firm hold on hope for our tomorrows.

“There is nothing we can do to change our yesterdays, but there is so much we can do today to make a difference in our tomorrows…

“I believe God can take our messes and turn them into miracles. He can take all of our tries and turn them into triumphs. He can take all the broken pieces of our lives, and turn them into masterpieces.

“Nobody is here by accident or is a mistake… You are you, and nobody else on earth can do what only you were born to do. It is not who you are that holds you back, it’s who you think you're not. You have amazing potential and awesome purpose and destiny! Believe that something wonderful can happen to you!

“Take all that you have become to be all that you can be. Soar above the clouds and let your dreams set you free. Live this moment as if today is all you have. Don’t waste a single second. Make every minute count - because you are so worth it.”

Further reading
Triple Care Farm is regarded as one of the nation’s most successful residential programs for young people experiencing homelessness, substance abuse and mental health issues. To find out why read Mission Australia’s Safe Place for Change report, launched in July by Professor Patrick McGorry.