Mr Bernard Tanner COO Local Business Banking -Commonwealth Bank with Ms Josephine Nicholls Founder & Director of Brainwave Australia

Named The Moveable Feast, the event started with drinks overlooking the lights of the Melbourne skyline before a trip behind the scenes, learning about and observing the inner workings of the Crown banqueting area. Guests then retired to the Drawing Room for dessert and sticky wine, after enjoying treats and drinks along the way.   Con & Helen Soultan from Pave Jewellery donated an individual designer piece, won by Mary Biggs, wife of Clemenger BBDO Managing Director Peter Biggs.  Definitely a great night for Mary!

Crown was extremely generous and they sponsored the event for Brainwave free of charge so that every cent raised actually went directly to Brainwave!  A wonderful gesture equalled by the generosity of the Commonwealth Bank Local Business Banking Services team who had raised $10,000 for Brainwave. The divisional COO, Bernard Tanner, was on hand to present Brainwave with a cheque.

The room was full of current and former ad men including advertising legend Peter Clemenger and his wife Joan; David Blackley, former director of Clemenger BBDO and his son, current ad man Cameron; Peter Doyle, ex-Clemenger BBDO and current Managing Director of Clemenger BBDO, Peter Biggs.

Brainwave was delighted to host such an enthusiastic and generous crowd.

Established in Victoria in 1994, Brainwave’s mission is to support the treatment and care of children suffering from brain illnesses (neuroscience).  Neuroscience covers a wide range of disorders including brain tumours, epilepsy, muscular dystrophy, MS as well as acquired brain injuries. 

Emily with her Gomier Trike

Providing support and practical assistance to families whose worlds are turned upside down when their child is diagnosed with a brain illness, Brainwave is constantly looking for new ways to boost their range of care programs.  Camp Brainwave will be a key part of these programs in 2010, brought to fruition by this generous donation.

Brainwave plans to run two camps in Victoria in 2010 as part of their pilot program.  Twenty families will be invited to participate, offering parents and their children a range of fun artistic, physical and challenging activities to share, creating life long family memories in an understanding and supportive environment.  Parents often feel emotionally isolated and remote and initiatives like Camp Brainwave facilitates the sharing of information and offers some emotional encouragement to families, helping parents to understand that others share similar experiences and challenges.

Brainwave has helped over 500 families nationally over the past year, including 10 year old Emily from Melbourne, Victoria, who is the proud recipient of a Gomier Trike, thanks to Brainwave.  When told of the donation and the plans for Camp Brainwave, Emily’s mother Charmaine said, “That is great news!  It will be a great opportunity for families to spend some positive time with their kids and to meet other families with similar needs.  Having the forum to share information and experiences with other parents is very valuable.  The positive experience and memories created for all families will be priceless.”

This desire to bring families together and facilitate a sharing environment has led Brainwave to launch Brainspace, an online portal designed to help parents, children, experts and professional carers communicate and share information, thoughts and experiences.  Brainspace will connect people and help to bridge the isolation that families often feel whilst also providing a practical tool.

Josephine Nicholls, Brainwave’s Founder and Executive Director said, “We are overwhelmed by the generosity of this donation and delighted that it will enable us to establish Camp Brainwave in 2010.  In these difficult financial times it becomes even more important to raise funds to support the treatment and care of our Brainwave children and their families and we are delighted to be able to thank our donor for enabling us to boost our care program in 2010.  Our children will be extremely grateful for the support.”