Golden Canberra Day for Raw Potential

On a golden Canberra Day morning, the queues waiting to get into Cockington Green Gardens was a portent of things to come for Raw Potential Canberra (formerly Youth Care Canberra) and Canberra City Care, the two charities benefiting from the attraction’s 2019 annual gold coin donation entry.

Hundreds of people lined the pavement early to take advantage of the generous offer to visit this iconic Canberra landmark and at the same time help local charities.  It was a spectacular morning with families and children everywhere, colorful balloons for kiddies aplenty, and the shrill of the miniature steam-train whistle in the distance luring dozens to take the panoramic journey around the display.

Visitors also took non-perishable food items to support HandUp Food Service operated by Canberra City Care ensuring that some of the community’s less fortunate can reliably access much cheaper food than they would otherwise be able to do so.

Raw Potential Chairman, Paul Kane and Raw Potential’s incredibly devoted Youth Outreach Worker, Nicolle Applewhite had given the day a great kick along a couple of days earlier when they were interviewed live on-air by ABC Saturday morning host, Greg Bayliss.   Greg spoke at length with Nicolle and Paul about the critical work of Raw Potential as well as the upcoming fundraiser at Cockington Green.

Cockington Green’s annual Canberra Day Charity fundraiser kicked-off in 2013 to coincide with the Centenary of Canberra.  It has since raised more than $30,000 for local charities on top of the many thousands of dollars raised for other charities raised over the 40 years since the attraction opened in 1979.

This is the second time that Raw Potential Canberra has been chosen as the recipient of funds from the Cockington Green Gardens annual Canberra Day charity fundraiser.   Raw Potential Chairman, Paul Kane announced the decision at the Annual Cricket Dinner in January and has thanked Cockington Green for their generosity.

“We are just so appreciative to have within the Canberra business community so many people like the kind owners at Cockington Green willing to support local charities and who realize how important it is that we are able to make a difference to the lives of the less fortunate in our community,” Paul said.

The final amount raised for Raw Potential Canberra is yet to be finalized but the day will see the addition of a few extra thousand dollars to assist with our critical work with at-risk young people on the streets.