Mirabel in the Media
May 2012
'Children's champion Barbara Holborow dies' - The Age
Mirabel Patron, Barbara Holborow sadly passed away in May 2012. Barbara was a fierce advocate for the many Mirabel children and families and her wisdom, compassion and generosity of spirit will be deeply missed by us all. Our love and thoughts are with her family, friends and the countless young people whose lives she touched. The Age article - 'Children's champion Barbara Holborow dies' - highlighted her reputation as "the children's champion" and her passion for the rights of young people.
April 2012
'Dynamo behind kids charity' - The Australian Financial Review
The Mirabel Foundation started in 1998 with a fundraising concert and since then Mirabel's Founder and CEO Jane Rowe has been building relationships with the entertainment industry, corporations and philanthropists to secure the finances needed to run programs for the Mirabel children. The Australian Financial Review article by Anne Fulwood - 'Dynamo behind kids charity' - explores the challenges of balancing resources with the needs and demands on Mirabel's services.
Salvation Jane - Melbourne Weekly Magazine
'Salvation Jane' is the story of Mirabel's Founder Jane Rowe and the evolution of the Mirabel Foundation from humble beginnings to helping over 1,700 children in Victoria and NSW. The article written by Beau Donelly details Jane's upbringing in the UK and follows her transition from counsellor at Windana to CEO of the Mirabel Foundation. For the first 18 months of Mirabel, Jane and the 12 founding members sat around her kitchen table brainstorming their vision. “We didn’t want to duplicate services or be so broad that we’d be doing a lot of everything but nothing properly,” Jane said. “Originally, we were going to help only kids who had been orphaned by parental drug use. Then we thought, ‘Let’s not wait for them to be orphaned because many of them had already been abandoned . . . there was no support for extended family in this situation who took the kids in.” Read the full 'Salvation Jane' article.
Laughs, drugs and rock 'n' roll - 774 ABC Melbourne Conversation Hour
Picture - Brian Mannix, Jane Rowe and Lawrence Mooney - courtesy of 774 ABC Melbourne
On the 9th April, the Mirabel Foundation CEO Jane Rowe spoke with radio presenter Nicole Chvastek on the 774 ABC Melbourne Conversation Hour. Long time Mirabel supporter Lawrence Mooney co-hosted the discussion on 'laughs, drugs and rock 'n' roll'. Lawrence has produced Mirabel's annual Music, Mirth and Mayhem show at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival for many years and spoke about his involvement with upcoming Music, Mirth and Mayhem 14 show on 16th April. Jane discussed how we can all bring about social change for the Mirabel children, noting "I think there is far less hope in our society... we all need a sense of belonging and love."
March 2012
Victorian Honour Roll of Women - Media release from the Minister for Women's Affairs
Jane Rowe, Mirabel Founder and CEO, was one of twenty exceptional women who were inducted onto the Victorian Honour Roll of Women, on Tuesday 6th March 2012 as a part of International Women’s Day activities. Minister for Women’s Affairs the Hon Mary Wooldridge congratulated the new inductees at a function in Parliament House. State Member for Caulfield David Southwick praised Jane Rowe’s long time work with Mirabel, helping carers and their families. “For more than a decade the Mirabel Foundation has been there for kids who for a variety of reasons are without their parents and are now living with carers. Jane Rowe’s work looking out for children most in need of care is inspirational and has changed so many lives. More than 1000 children and their families have been supported by Mirabel.” Further details are available on Mirabel's News and Events section.
December 2011
Financial Review Corporate Cycling Challenge - Geelong Advertiser
The Financial Review Corporate Cycling Challenge is the first cycling event of its kind to be held in Australia, offering corporate teams the chance to compete with and against Australia's Tour de France stars and other elite sporting talent. Held at Eastern Park in Geelong on Sunday 4 December 2011, the event and its support of Mirabel was the focus of the Geelong Advertiser's article - 'Geelong's chance to cycle with the stars'. For further information on the Financial Review Corporate Cycling Challenge please visit Mirabel's News and Events section and www.corporatecyclingchallenge.com.au.
November 2011
Paul Newman's Own 10 Chefs - The Australian Women's Weekly and The Circle, Channel Ten
Paul Newman's Own Foundation has collaborated with multi award winning chef, Adam D’Sylva, for the 10 Chefs x 10 Charities campaign. The campaign carries on Paul Newman’s philanthropic legacy and Adam nominated Mirabel to receive a grant which will be used to purchase a much needed vehicle and help fund several camps and trips away for the children. All 10 Chefs recipes and their chosen charity were published on The Australian Women’s Weekly website. Read Adam’s recipe for Vietnamese chicken and prawn salad with the Newman's Own Classic Asian dressing and then watch him prepare it and talk about his support for Mirabel on The Circle, Channel Ten.
Softies For Mirabel - New Idea Magazine
‘Softies For Mirabel’ is an annual handmade toy drive for the Mirabel children and the 2011 campaign has begun. New Idea Magazine joined in the campaign and published four cute Softie patterns in their 14th November 2011 edition. Try your hand at these patterns - page 1 and page 2 - or make one of your own. Read more about Softies For Mirabel and join crafty participants from all over the world to knit, crochet and sew a Softie or two for the Mirabel children.
October 2011
City2Sea - The Sunday Age
The inaugural Sunday Age City2Sea fun run will be held on Sunday 13th November and the course will lead runners from the Melbourne CBD to Albert Park lake and finish in St Kilda. Dave Hughes, Nova radio host and long time Mirabel supporter, began running two years ago and has entered the fun run as part of his current fitness and health regime. Dave has selected to raise money for Mirabel through his Everyday Hero fundraising page and his lead up to the event was documented in this Sunday Age article.
September 2011
Give In Style - Time Out Melbourne
Current, stylish new and pre-loved fashion pieces, sourced and put together in a carefully edited collection by the Give In Style committee, will be sold on Friday 14th October with 100% of proceeds going to Mirabel. This is the third time Give In Style have held a fashion sale for Mirabel and Time Out Melbourne have featured this year's event on their website, encouraging everyone to give their wardrobe "a jolly good spring clean" and visit the sale for "quality and designer fashion pieces". Read more about Give In Style 2011.
June 2011
Mirabel Foundation founder Jane Rowe nominated for Pride of Australia award - Herald Sun
Mikey Robins, comedian and long-time ambassador for Mirabel, has nominated Jane Rowe for a Pride of Australia award. Mikey noted the "incredible and tough job" that Jane has held for the past 13 years with Mirabel. The Pride of Australia Medal honours people who give of themselves without fear or favour; people deserving of our thanks and recognition. This story was captured by the Herald Sun on the evening Mikey Robins performed in the charity play 'One Night In Emerald City' for Mirabel.
May 2011
'Children who lose parents to drugs, find hope in volunteers' - Laura Mitchell's Blog
Laura Mitchell, Journalism student at Monash Uni, researched drug use within Australia and contacted Mirabel to explore how we are aiming to the needs of the vulnerable children affected by parental illicit drug use. Laura's blog discusses the important role of volunteers at Mirabel, citing the experiences of Bobbie Matthews who has attended camps and activities with the children. "Its not about walking away and feeling like I’ve done a good thing, its about getting to know the kids and making sure they have a good time", said Bobbie. Read the full article on Laura's blog and contact Mirabel for more information on volunteering.
April 2011
Music, Mirth and Mayhem 13 - Bayside Leader
Each year Mirabel holds it's annual Music, Mirth and Mayhem (MMM) show at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. All of the comedians and musicians performing at MMM generously donate their time to perform on the night, and all proceeds from ticket sales raise much needed funds for Mirabel. The Bayside Leader printed an article in the lead up to the Comedy Festival, noting not only the calibre of performing talent but also the "feel good" factor from the audience and performers for participating in such a great charity event. Read more about Music, Mirth and Mayhem 13 in Mirabel's News and Events section.
March 2011
Softies For Mirabel - Vogue Japan
Vogue Japan's May 2011 magazine features a separate supplement titled 'Vogue Angels' filled with articles on children's fashion and a two page spread on Mirabel's annual 'Softies For Mirabel' campaign. A contributing editor to the magazine, Fuyuko Tsuji, read about 'Softies for Mirabel' through a Japanese blog that had participated in the 2010 campaign. Fuyuko was "touched by the story behind this charity project" and wanted to "urge Japanese readers to join the project in 2011". Furthermore, Fuyuko and her team created a 30 second animation for the digital version of Vogue Japan. Using photos from the Softies For Mirabel Flickr group, the Softies were brought to life with captions such as "I'm your friend" and "Let's play!" in a delightful child friendly video. Watch the animation on Mirabel's YouTube channel ,look at Vogue Angel's article and read more about the 2011 Softies For Mirabel campaign.
'Film and Elvis Return' - Peninsula Weekly
Picture: Luke Plummer in Peninsula Weekly
As part of their Summer 2011 activities, the 'Let's Go Cruisin' car club held a 'Back to the Drive In' event to raise funds for the Mirabel Foundation. This is the second year Let's Go Cruisin' has supported Mirabel and it was a great opportunity for the crowd to watch a screening of American Graffiti, marvel at 400 pre-1975 street rods and classic cars, and take part in the best dressed competition. Read more about the event through The Peninsula Weekly online and the Let's Go Cruisin' website.
December 2010
'The Business of Charity' - The Australian Financial Review Magazine
The relationship between the Mirabel Foundation and the Macquarie Foundation was highlighted in an article for the Summer 2010 issue of The Australian Financial Review Magazine. 'The Business of Charity' article explored the working relationship between business and the not-for-profit sector, noting that philanthropic organisations need to "talk the language of business to survive in the years ahead." You can read Page 1 and Page 2 of the article here.
Softies For Mirabel 2010 video
The Softies For Mirabel campaign is an annual handmade toy drive for the Mirabel children. Now in its 4th year, the campaign was run by Pip Lincolne, Melbourne craft enthusiast and owner of Meet Me At Mike's store in Fitzroy, VIC. The toy drive was open to all crafty participants who wished to knit, crochet or sew a Softie or two. Each Softie will be matched to the age, likes and needs of a Mirabel child. Take a look at the video Pip made of the 2010 Softies For Mirabel in her shopfont window. Thank you to Pip Lincolne and all involved in 'Softies For Mirabel' for sharing their zest for creativity with Mirabel. This video is also available for viewing through Mirabel's YouTube channel.
November 2010
Newsboys Foundation responds to an emerging social issue – orphaned, abandoned children
The Newsboys Foundation has responded to an “emerging social issue” in Victoria – a growing number of children being orphaned or abandoned due to parental drug abuse. At its annual general meeting in November in Melbourne, the foundation announced its first ever three-year “flagship” grant in response to an “emerging social need” – orphaned or abandoned children and young people in the care of their extended family (kinship care). The Newsboys Foundation is funding the Mirabel Foundation for its Social Inclusion Program for these children and their kinship carers. The program includes a nine-day adventure camp for adolescents in the Snowy River National Park. Mirabel runs the camp in conjunction with Outward Bound. The Mirabel programs, including crisis support, counselling, agency referral and practical assistance, aim to break the cycle of addiction.
Read the full Newsboys Foundation media release here.
Mirabel’s Boys Group Program highlighted on Can We Help?
Mirabel featured on Can We Help? (ABC 1) on Friday 12th November 2010. The Can We Help team works to bring families and friends back together, investigate all sorts of things for the curious-minded and lay to rest long standing disputes about the origin of certain words and phrases. Mirabel’s Therapeutic Boys Group Program was featured in the show, highlighting the importance of interactions with positive male role models and the role of ‘play’ in therapy. The Boys Group Program currently runs four groups for 8-12 year old boys each month. The groups bring children together who are in similar circumstances to build their self confidence and self esteem and develop their social skills.
Mirabel featured in ANZ Trustees ‘Journey’ magazine
Mirabel’s founder and CEO, Jane Rowe, has been raising awareness of the effects of parental illicit drug use for over 12 years. Jane’s passion for change and the positive impact the foundation has on the Mirabel children was recently captured for ‘Journey’ magazine – a new publication by ANZ Trustees that aims to inspire participation in philanthropy. ANZ Trustees has been a long-time supporter of Mirabel's work. The inaugural issue of ‘Journey’ features inspiring and instructive articles on creative giving, diverse philanthropists, charitable foundations and the benefits they achieve.
You can read Mirabel’s story online or email ANZ Trustees journey@anz.com to get a copy of 'Journey' magazine. We would like to thank ANZ Trustees for the opportunity to share Mirabel’s experience.
September 2010
'Polly's story is one we all need to hear' - Jane Rowe's article for the National Times
Mirabel’s founder and CEO, Jane Rowe, encouraged readers to watch the 'ABC1 TV SPECIAL - KIDS AT RISK', on 9th September at 9.30pm as part of Child Protection Week. The screening featured the short film 'Polly and Me' which tells the story of one little girl who has fallen through the cracks. The film highlights the traumatic circumstances of many Mirabel children and covers some of the most crucial issues threatening those vulnerable and disadvantaged in our society. Jane hoped that the film and subsequent panel discussion with child abuse prevention experts, carers and child abuse survivors would galvanise the viewers to "to start a national dialogue as to how we can dramatically lessen the incidents of child abuse and neglect in our society and stop passing these silent, vulnerable children by."
Read the full article published by the National Times.
