Spirit of Mission Awards Dinner 2006: generating a spirit of inspiration

The Sheraton on the Park, Sydney has probably seen its fair share of corporate dinners. But last week’s Spirit of Mission dinner was a little different. Where else do you find the NSW Police Commissioner and the Managing Director of the ABC in the same room as a young woman who spent her teenage years in and out of refuges?

Except, of course, when a common cause brings them together. And this is exactly what the Spirit of Mission dinner aims to do.

Now in its 20th year, these annual dinners have provided Wesley Mission with an opportunity to acknowledge and thank major supporters of the Mission and award recipients in the wider community for their care and support of the Mission’s work.

The dinner also showcases the work of Wesley Mission and each year focuses on a particular area of work. This year’s theme was youth and highlighted different Wesley Mission youth services that assist hundreds of disadvantaged and vulnerable young people each year.

So this year over 300 community and business leaders and supporters of Wesley Mission gathered together and were treated to an evening of fine food, heartwarming stories and great entertainment.

And every aspect of the evening shone - from Margaret Throsby’s deft delivery in her role as MC to Commissioner Moroney’s challenging call to “listen to the voices of young people in our community” right through to Barry Southgate’s sweet serenading over the three course dinner.

Undoubtedly though, the showstopper of the evening was the voice of Lisa Wardle, a client from Wesley Mission’s Independent Living Program, whose story of determination and hope against the odds gave personal poignancy to the message that was carried right though the evening: young people have much promise and they need our support.

Lisa, after sharing her story, was inundated with praise and affirmation by many of those who attended the evening who saw in her story just how important the work of Wesley Mission is. In the words of one of our corporate guests:

“Thank you for such an inspiring and heart-moving evening … we could not have anticipated being as moved to help and support Wesley as we were last night.”

To read the Spirit of Mission media release and view the list of award recipients click here
To read the 2006 Spirit of Mission address by Rev. Keith Garner click here
View photos of the evening.

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