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EnergyAustralia's Tallawarra Power Station has raised more than $3000 for NSW South Coast foster care charity, the William Campbell Foundation.
The donation will support 23 children to attend a camp at Stanwell Tops Christian Centre organised by the Foundation this month. The camp offers fun activities and a chance to interact with other children of similar backgrounds.
EnergyAustralia employees and contractors working on a major outage at the power station attended five charity barbeques last month.
With EnergyAustralia and contractor Alstom supplying the food, the total $3108 raised will go to the Foundation.
EnergyAustralia Tallawarra Power Station Plant Manager John McIntyre presented the donation to charity founder William Campbell at a barbeque today (Thursday, 6 November).
Mr McIntyre said the generosity of employees and contractors was outstanding, with some, including TWE Welding Services and THT Heat Treating, donating up to $250 in exchange for a sausage in bread or egg and bacon sandwich. He also thanked Mining, Industrial and Rail (MIR) contractor Melinda Harper for organising the barbeques and for her generosity.
"At EnergyAustralia, we believe it's important to give back to the local communities that we operate in," Mr McIntyre said.
"The William Campbell Foundation supports local children who have been removed from their families for their own safety, which is why we saw this organisation as a worthy cause.
"These kids have been through terrible trauma, so we hope to help them create some happy memories and bond with others at this camp who have been in similar circumstances."
Mr Campbell said the funding would assist the small charity to offer events like the camp, providing psychological and therapeutic benefits to foster children in the region.
"The government funding we receive covers the basics, but donations such as this one from EnergyAustralia allow us to go beyond simply re-homing children. We can organise events that bring these children who have come from dysfunctional families together, so they don't feel so alone," he said.
"They may not discuss their situations with each other, but they play together in the comfort of feeling included rather than as an outsider, which can be the case when they're among children who live with their biological parents.
"We also offer kids the opportunity to lead teams during the variety of games we organise, which can boost their confidence and build life skills."
The three-day camp costs $130 per child, which includes a range of activities such as movies, games and object lessons, go-kart racing, craft and sporting activities. EnergyAustralia's donation will send an additional 23 children along with the 13 already funded to attend.
For more information or to donate, visit http://wcfoundation.org.au/