Bodhi Hetherton and The Salvation Army’s Shane Domaille and Sally Collins prepare for a night sleeping outdoors to help combat youth homelessness.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
Almost 100 people swapped their warm mattress at home for a sheet of cardboard on cold grass to sleep Under The Same Stars as the 79 16- to 25-year olds considered homeless in Greater Shepparton each night.
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The Salvation Army North East Youth Services (NEYS) event, held on Youth Homelessness Day on April 15, borrows a concept from metropolitan-based events such as MCM’s ’Sleep at the G’ or Vinnies’ CEO Sleepout.
While this year’s event attracted about the same number of sleepers as last year’s inaugural event, it far surpassed the $25,000 of funds raised the first year.
Salvation Army NEYS youth participation leader Jim Gow said more than $40,000 was raised at this year’s event.
Runners Vic Bovalino, Lucas White, Grant Hicks and Ben McPherson lap around Deakin Reserve.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
While local ultra-runners Peter Ralph and Vic Bovalino, who ran 161km from Epping to Shepparton to raise funds for the youth homelessness event last year in their spinoff ‘100 Miles From Home’ challenge, this year a 1km fun run and walking track was opened up around Deakin Reserve to the wider running community.
Mr Ralph and Mr Bovalino laced up their runners again this year for a 24-hour-long traipse around the track from 7am on April 15 to 7am on April 16, while many others joined in at different stages for different distances, including 13-year-old Brodie McPherson, who clocked up 50km.
Brodie McPherson, 13, had clocked up 50km by around lunchtime on April 15 when the event had officially started at 7am the same morning.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
“It has been an incredible community effort for our runners and sleepers,” a weary Mr Gow said when the event wound up.
“We are blown away by the response from everyone and we are very humbled.
“Thank you to all our partners and sponsors.”
The Under The Same Stars sleepout included information about local homelessness statistics for under-25s and featured guest speakers discussing their homelessness experiences.
Participants joined in exercises that simulated budgeting when earning Youth Allowance to help them consider the challenges that brings.
CBA’s Sukh Sangha and Michelle Marsters were providing support to runners and walkers on the day before the sleepout began that night.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
All of the funds raised will be added to last year’s total and will go directly to youth homelessness in this region.
Mr Gow said the money would sit untouched in a dedicated account that will continue to be added to until there are enough funds to build something with bricks and mortar.
While the nest egg is growing, he said each event helped bring awareness to homelessness in the region.
