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Robert raises $20,000 for children living in disadvantage

Supporters

17 March 2023

Have you ever dreamed of hitting the road and exploring new places? Few of us take time out of our busy lives to live out our dreams. Robert has. Last year, Robert rode his motorcycle 15,000 kilometres around Australia in 50 days. Pretty impressive, right?

What’s more impressive is that Robert did it all in the name of charity.
Giving back has been a big part of Robert’s life. With his 50th birthday looming, Robert thought he’d celebrate the milestone in a big way. He turned it into a truly inspirational gift for children living in disadvantage.

I was lucky to grow up with all the things I needed for my education, and I’m fully aware of this privilege. I’m equally aware that not everyone has the tools to participate in school fully. So I’m passionate about bridging that gap.

Robert, iTrack volunteer

In April 2022, Robert set off on a two-month trip of a lifetime, riding his motorbike around Australia. His goal for the journey was to raise $15,000 for The Smith Family.

People he met along the way were fascinated by what he was doing and eager to help him reach his goal. So much so, that he raised an amazing $20,000. He even had truckies donating online to his cause in the middle of the Nullarbor!

Robert was compelled to undertake this trip of a lifetime as a fundraising adventure because he knows the difference it makes to Australian children experiencing poverty.

Robert’s generosity doesn’t end there. He first learned about The Smith Family through a corporate partnership between The Smith Family and a previous employer six years ago.

“I learnt so much about the impact of education on young people and how it’s a foundation for everything that happens after school. And it lit a bit of a spark in me.”

This spark led Robert to become an iTrack mentor. As an iTrack mentor, Robert provides career guidance and encouragement to students in Years 9 to 11. They help students consider and plan for their work, study and career options after school. Thanks to supporters like you, we’ve been able to recruit and train volunteers like Robert.

Robert’s constantly amazed by his impact as a mentor on a child through simple conversation and a listening ear.

“One boy I mentored went from saying ‘I might do this’, to ‘I’m looking forward to doing this’. It was a real wow moment for me. It made me realise that sharing your experiences as a mentor can change a young person’s perspective of what’s possible, and what opportunities are within their grasp.”

We’re so pleased that volunteers like Robert are helping students living in Australia create a brighter future for themselves. Thank you to all our amazing volunteers!

Read more student and family stories in our Autumn 2023 edition of Real People, Real Stories

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