GM Holden, The Smith Family Give Moulden Kids a Boost

2008-07-02 -- GM Holden announced today a three year partnership with The Smith Family to provide education opportunities for disadvantaged youth. The Smith Family is a national, independent social enterprise which supports children and families living in financial disadvantage to create a better future through education.

GM Holden’s support involves the introduction of a Homework Club in the Northern Territory and provides Learning for Life scholarships for primary school students in South Australia and Victoria.

The Homework Club is a program designed to enable students of Moulden Park School and Neighbourhood Centre to fully participate in their education. Moulden is a suburb of Palmerston, situated 20 minutes from Darwin.

The partnership was celebrated today by the Moulden Park School community, GM Holden and The Smith Family with an event at Moulden Park School oval.

Helping launch the new Homework Club was Holden’s entire V8 Supercar driver line-up, including reigning champion Garth Tander and his Holden Racing Team team-mate Mark Skaife, former champions Rick Kelly and Russell Ingall and Bathurst winners Todd Kelly and Greg Murphy.

The V8 Supercar drivers took time out from their preparations for the weekend’s race at Darwin’s Hidden Valley Raceway to meet the students, sign autographs and offer words of encouragement.

GM Holden’s Associate Director of Government Relations and Public Policy, Samantha Read, said The Smith Family’s Homework Club program was a way for GM Holden to demonstrate its commitment to youth education.

“Many of the Moulden Park School students and their families face daily challenges of unemployment and limited access to services. The Homework Club is a fantastic way to help students overcome some significant obstacles and get the most from their education,” Read said.

The Smith Family’s National Manager for Indigenous Policy and General Manager Northern Territory, Tricia Rushton, said the partnership would make a lasting and meaningful impact on the community.

“Thanks to the generous support of GM Holden, The Smith Family is able to work with Moulden Park School to develop a Homework Club that will help students be the best they can be,” Rushton said.

The Homework Club program will begin at Moulden Park School in term three, initially providing support for all Year 6 students as they begin the transition to middle school.

The Smith Family has made a long term commitment to the Northern Territory and currently works in 15 school communities impacting on the lives of almost 3000 children.

GM Holden has been supporting The Smith Family since 2001 through their Learning for Life program in Elizabeth, South Australia. GM Holden employees have also participated in numerous fundraising and voluntary activities, including Melbourne’s Around the Bay in a Day cycling event and The Smith Family's Christmas Toy and Book Appeal.

GM Holden’s community support focuses on supporting activities in the area of environment, technology and education, community safety, and local communities.

For more information on The Smith Family visit thesmithfamily.com.au

Source: GM Holden / The Smith Family

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