Nominate a Ballarat achiever for an Australia Day Award

Peter Caligari OAM needs little introduction.

The renowned Ballarat radio identity and campaigner for those less fortunate was this year recognised as the Australia Day Awards’ Citizen of the Year.

While Peter has recently taken a step back from his volunteer role, he continues to shine the light on the vital work of the 3BA Christmas Appeal and Christmas in July Appeal.

Peter remembers a Ballarat mum and her three small children coming to visit him late in the afternoon on Christmas Eve at work, when he was the Managing Director of 3BA and PowerFM.

“She said – ‘I am just so totally desperate. It is Christmas tomorrow and I’ve always been too embarrassed to go to an agency or a charity and ask for help’,” Peter recalls.

“‘Today, I can go no longer. I have absolutely nothing for the children for Christmas tomorrow- we have no food, no toys.

Can you please help through the Appeal?’

“Fortunately, we were able to help at that point of time,” Peter says.

“With the many contacts that we had with organisations and business people around the town, we were able to ensure that this young woman and those three little children had one of the best Christmases they ever had.”

On the day the radio station reopened after Christmas, the woman returned.

“She brought her three children and said – ‘Thank you on behalf of our family. You have given us the best Christmas that we could possibly imagine’.”

About 10 years later, Peter received a letter from that same woman.

“She wrote – ‘You may not remember me. Many years ago, through the Appeal, you
gave me and my family the best Christmas ever. Fortunately, my circumstances have changed over the years and I’d like to do something for the less fortunate families in return’.”

Every year since then, the woman has sent a donation to the Christmas Appeal.

“That is proof that the Christmas Appeal, and also the Christmas in July Appeal, that they can change and make a difference in the lives of people,” Peter says.

That is just one of the many heart-warming stories. But for every heart-warming story, Peter says there are another 100 heartbreaking stories of Ballarat families struggling to make ends meet.

The Appeal  rst began in 1980 with the Christmas in July Appeal beginning in 2001.

Thirty-eight years after the Appeal began helping many families, the Appeal has grown.

So too has the community’s need for assistance.

Each year, about 4,500 families receive a helping hand at Christmas and in Ballarat’s cold Winter months – thanks to both appeals and the generosity of Ballarat people, businesses and organisations. Peter says some people have questioned why, even during his retirement, he has dedicated so much time to both appeals.

“The simple answer to that is we do it for the youngsters quite honestly. Every child, as far as we’re concerned, is entitled to a visit from Santa at Christmas.

“There would have been many, many thousands of children without a toy at Christmas time without the Christmas Appeal.”

The 2018 3BA Christmas Appeal commences today.