World of Difference 2006 Graduates

Sandy Fernee � Successful Living Donor 2006

Cause: Wildlife Victoria Inc.

In 2000, Sandy�s dog attacked and injured a bird in her garden, prompting her to reach for the phonebook to look for wildlife rescue services in her area and called Wildlife Victoria�s WildLine.

Since 1989, Wildlife Victoria has offered practical advice to the community, operating wildlife rescue missions, shelter, community care programs, lobbying, training, rescue and transport services � all of which depend on volunteers. One saved bird later, Sandy thanked them by volunteering her time. She soon became a WildLine coordinator, managing 50 other volunteers.

After 6 years of volunteer work, Sandy, who was also an office manager at the Victorian Doctor�s Health Program, became a fulltime staff member of Wildlife Victoria with her salary (up to $50,000) and expenses (up to $25,000) covered by The Vodafone Australia Foundation for 12 months.

Thelma Thomas � Successful Living Donor 2006

Cause: Information & Cultural Exchange

Fijian-Australian Thelma Thomas knows better than most how difficult it can be finding common ground in a diverse community. Better known to hip-hop music lovers as MC Trey, she grew up in Sydney�s western suburbs � navigating her way through a tough neighbourhood.

After rising to fame as a professional hip-hop artist, Thelma gave back to her community. She became a fulltime staff member at the Information and Cultural Exchange (ICE) with her salary (up to $50,000) and expenses (up to $25,000) covered by The Vodafone Australia Foundation for 12 months.

Thanks to the funding, she spent her year in the western suburb of Granville, one of Australia�s most culturally diverse and artistically vibrant regions. At ICE, Thelma taught groups to creatively use technology, learn skills and express themselves through music with the groups working together to produce a CD and then a tour.

"I wanted to make a difference in the lives of young people and channel their frustrations and energy into community projects with the help of ICE and its digital arts access centre."

Today, Thelma still works with the ICE and produces her own music.

Natalie Bower � Successful Living Donor 2006

Cause: KidsXpress

Music therapists like 29-year-old Natalie Bower believe music can be the bridge between trauma and recovery. Studies show that the therapeutic use of music provides creative opportunities to help identify and enhance coping skills, promoting a positive sense of mental wellbeing for children.

Through KidsXpress, a recently formed not-for-profit organisation, Natalie spent 12 months (starting May 2006) empowering traumatised children through music and helping them overcome challenges like illness, sexual abuse, bullying, the death of family member or the break-up of a family unit.

Thanks to the Vodafone Australia Foundation, Natalie left her temporary job as a Project Administrator for an engineering company to have her salary (up to $50,000) and expenses (up to $25,000) covered for a whole year as part of the World of Difference program.

"Children can find it hard to articulate their thoughts and feelings when they�re going through a traumatic time. Music is a universal language which children from any culture or background can relate to."

Having completed the 2006 World of Difference Program, Natalie continues to work with KidsXpress.