This article is from the Australian Property Journal archive
THE Napier & Blakeley team won the annual PIF Melbourne Charity Sailing Challenge, which raised $90,000 from the property industry, to help homeless young people.
Napier & Blakeley’s John Mathew, Rob Howells and Ian Gardner and their yacht, “Redline”, a Jeanneau Sunfast 36 has competed twice in the Sydney Hobart, was skippered by the owner Mark Burton, took out the prize.
Also on the yacht were Growthpoint’s Steve Lee; Northwest Healthcare Properties’ Richard Roos, Alan Sweeney and Jarrod Gill; Australian Unity’s James O’Keefe – Australian Unity and Napier & Blakeley’s Ian Gardner.
Starting off on a handicap of 8 minutes they had a tense battle along the last leg with a faster boat trying to get above them to steal the clean air with the Skipper skilfully forcing them to change tactics and tack away in the final stages. After a couple of last minute tacks to adjust their position and direction they crossed first to the sound of the finishing gun with cheers all round.
The annual regatta challenge, sponsored by Brookfield, saw a fleet of 37 yachts race in Port Phillip Bay to raise funds for the PIF House Program.
The initiative brought together over 400 individuals from the property and construction industry, Australian Olympic sailors Haylee Outteridge, Rio gold medallist Tom Burton and PIF Event Patron John Bertrand, AO, America’s Cup Winning Skipper.
42% of homeless people in Australia are under 25 years old, meaning there are over 44,000 young Australians sleeping on the streets each night.
The $90,000 raised will support the national PIF House Program, which builds homes for at risk and homeless young people across NSW, Victoria and Queensland. In these homes, carers and counsellors provide support and mentoring to rebuild young lives. Nationally the PIF House program has delivered 32 bedrooms since 2017, 50 bedrooms are in the pipeline and the aim by 2021 is to have 125 bedrooms completed for homeless youth.
Bertrand, AO, is passionate about helping young people who he believes are our future.
“I have been the event patron for PIF’s Melbourne Charity Sailing Challenge for nine years. Each year I come back, I am astounded by the property industry’s passion and dedication to helping homeless and at-risk young people. This year we raised an incredible $90,000, which the industry will then use to physically build homes and support services for these young people,” he says.
The chairman of PIF Victoria, Peter Inge OAM, is proud of the industry for coming together and raising much needed funds for the PIF House Program.
“The funds raised at PIF’s Melbourne Charity Sailing Challenge will help the PIF House Program in reaching its target of building 125 bedrooms in five years for young people. The great part about this industry is that we come together to raise funds and also use our skills to physically build these homes to help young people break the cycle of homelessness,” he said.
Over the last five years, PIF have invested $10 million into vital programs.
Australian Property Journal
