Digging deep for a cause

NEXT Saturday a local not-for-profit will be celebrating seven years of supporting small organisations and causes.

Twin Hearts was founded in 2017 by Kelly-Louise Austin with the aim of helping initiatives which may miss out on funding from larger operations.

A committee of eight volunteers work for Twin Hearts and for each local charity supported, a sister charity in Tanzania also receives a portion of the raised funds.

“We are very unique where we are the only organisation that does the things that we do in Ballarat as far as I know,” said Ms Austin.

“I think that’s one of the reasons we’ve had such longevity, and the other is that we really knuckled down during COVID when we couldn’t do the things we normally do.

“We worked really hard on our policies and procedures and tightened up the ways we do things.”

On Saturday 24 August at Ballarat Function Centre, the community is invited to celebrate the milestone with party games including a big version of bobs and statues, magician Ben James, live music from Ash Egan and The Last Details, face painting, and raffles.

“It really is a kids party for adults,” Ms Austin said.

“The milestone that would have been fantastic to celebrate is five years, but we couldn’t due to COVID, so we thought why not, seven year olds love birthday parties.

“We thought we’d bring that feeling back.”

Over the past seven years, the organisation has donated more than $30,000 to causes such as Cops ‘n’ Kids, the Fiona Elsey Cancer Research Institute, Food is Free Laneway, One Humanity Shower Bus, Little Bendigo Primary School, Love Your Sister, and Girls Not Brides Tanzania.

The event starts at 7pm and tickets cost $30 including supper. Sponsorship packages are also available for businesses.

To get involved, visit the Twin Hearts website.