SONY FOUNDATION'S MAGAZINE | ISSUSE #63 AUTUMN ISSUE 2020

STEVE SMITH OPENS SONY FOUNDATION’S BRISBANE YOU CAN CENTRE

WHARF 4WARD FUNDS FIFTH YOU CAN CENTRE BUSHFIRE APPEAL FOR YOUNG AUSSIES

WWW.SONYFOUNDATION.ORG Sony Foundation Newsletter

A Message Chris O’Brien Lifehouse home 765m2 Largest You Can Centre from our CEO of next You Can Centre in Thanks to funds raised at Wharf4Ward 2019, Sony Foundation has committed $1.5 million to build Dear Corporate Partners a fifth You Can Centre in the national network. 4 Apartments In addition to being a hub for specialised clinical Accommodation for regional and and Supporters, care, support services and peer support for rural patients and their families This year has proven to be a challenging 15 – 25 year olds with cancer, this You Can Centre and difficult time for many of us. will be the first to offer patients and their families As Australians united to support from regional and rural areas access to free A home away from home communities devastated by the terrible and appropriate accommodation. projects. What started as a passionate idea has bushfires, we were then faced with the arrival of Including a music studio, group resulted in many lives touched and a lasting The Centre is currently in planning and COVID-19, one of the biggest challenges our society lounge room, yoga area, kitchen, dining, legacy of his great leadership. due to open in 2021. has faced. In response to these unprecedented laundry and breakout spaces disasters, Sony Foundation has remained On behalf of the Board Directors, I would like to committed to improving the health and wellbeing thank John for his dedication to Sony Foundation for over six years, delivering many projects that of young Australians through the establishment To stay up to date with developments have, and will continue to, improve of our Bushfire Appeal and Bushfire Appeal of Sony Foundation’s Bushfire Appeal the health and wellbeing of young adapting our programmatic or to donate to the project, visit www. Australians. John will be recognised for young Aussies work to address the new sonyfoundation.org/BushfireAppeal ‘normal’ for our communities. as the inaugural Patron of the On February 16 at the I would like to take this Melbourne You Can Centre, and Concert in in front of 75,000 opportunity to thank the Sony we hope we see his smiling face fans, Sony Foundation Ambassador Group of Companies and our for many years to come. Current announced a $200,000 Corporate Partners for their Board Director, and CEO of Nova donation on behalf of Sony Foundation continued support during Entertainment, Cathy O’Connor has to the Bushfire Appeal. these trying times. been appointed Chair bringing These funds are part of an ongoing Bushfire incredible strategic leadership Appeal established by Sony Foundation to In February, we farewelled John Kirby AM, Outgoing Chairman, experience and a passion for support young Aussies in the communities our Chairman, John Kirby AM. and Sophie Ryan, CEO, Sony Foundation, Sony Foundation’s programs. hardest hit who will be dealing with the John’s brilliant guidance and at Wharf4Ward 2013 vision has been integral in many long term effects for some time Sony Foundation achieving record fundraising to come. Research shows that following Take care and stay safe. and forging exciting new ground. Under John’s a natural disaster, 27% of children and leadership, Sony Foundation opened the Sincerely, adolescents suffered moderate or severe Melbourne You Can Centre at Peter MacCallum PTSD. Natural disasters are a unique form Cancer Centre, funded innovative VR Cancer Sophie Ryan of trauma as a result of losing one’s local Research, opened the Brisbane You Can Centre, Chief Executive Officer, services, social networks, sports club and committed to funding an adolescent Palliative Sony Foundation Australia opportunities for social gatherings. Care Unit at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and Sony Foundation’s Bushfire Appeal also launched our You Can Fertility Preservation Service. includes funds raised during the annual John was also instrumental in the development A huge SHOUT out to our Twitch Charity Stream, ‘Gaming4Life’, proceeds of our iconic Melbourne event, River4Ward which Corporate Partner OMD for from the special ‘Artists Unite for Firefight’ CD has contributed funding to many of these great designing this issue. featuring international and local artists and more initiatives to be announced.

Pictured here: Artists: Guy Sebastian, , Pete Murray, Olivia Newton-John 2 • Shout • Issue 63 • Summer 2020 & Jess Mauboy with Denis Handlin AO, Chairman and CEO Sony Music Entertainment Australia & New Zealand, and Sophie Ryan, CEO, Sony Foundation Australia Top Silver Donors Luke Hepworth - $10,000 - $11,000 Nanette Ainsworth - $10,000 Pledges APRA AMCOS - $10,000 Network 10 - $10,000 Cricket Australia - $10,000 P2 Content Agency - $10,000 Gold Donors digiDIRECT - $10,000 Panthera Property Group - $10,000 News Corp Australia - $15,000 Endemol Shine Australia - $10,000 Spotify - $10,000 - $15,000 Fetch TV - $10,000 The Network Group - $10,000 NOVA Entertainment - $15,000 Infinet Group - $10,000 The Star - $10,000 Valmont - $10,000

14 celebrity Record-breaking hosts from 7 major media Wharf4Ward networks $1.52 million raised to fund th 31 20 5 You Can Centre pledges advertising raising packages over donated $240,000 Wharf4Ward 2019 was one for the Australia. A highlight of the day was record books, as 1,000 of Sydney’s ’s international hit ‘Dance 1,000 elite and leading executives took Monkey’ – with over 1 billion streams, 8 guests over the iconic Woolloomooloo Wharf the Wharf was brought to their feet! luxury live as they unified to raise a record- Adding more star power to the event auction breaking $1.52 million funding Sony was the record number of hosts items 100+ Foundation’s fifth You Can Centre, including Shane Warne, Ben Fordham, companies to be built at Chris O’Brien Lifehouse. Wippa, Angela Bishop, Peter Overton, present soaked up the sun and joined the Known as Sydney’s longest lunch, Samantha Armytage, Larry Emdur, celebrations on Woolloomooloo Wharf. this entertainment extravaganza Adam Gilchrist, Samantha Dawson treated guests to performances by and Isa Guha. Sony Foundation Thanks to legendary cricketer Shane Event AVMIN Air Charter, Johnson, Ovolo Hotels, The Arnott’s Foundation, chart-topping Sony Music artists Ambassadors and celebrity guests Warne for hosting the pledge segment All Districts Limousines, Two Suns, Santa Vittoria, Pepsico, Coleman Group, Tones and I, , Stan included Johnathan Thurston, Lincoln on the day, with a record-breaking Partners Club Med, Cricket Australia, The Music Box, Wink Models, Nique, Grazia, Bounce, Sweaty Walker, Samantha Jade and Brad Cox Younes, Angie Kent, Roxy Jacenko, Matt $240,000+ donated for regional TripADeal, Fox Sports, Porsche Centre Sydney Banana Boat, Joco, Betty, Orchard Thieves, Queen who all dedicated their performances de Groot, Matty J, Natarsha Belling, patients to fund the family apartments Quantum, Sony Music South, DHL, Fox Gordon, Snap Darlinghurst, St Hair & Beauty, Remedy, to the You Can Champions across Richard Reid and Joe Hildebrand, who at the new You Can Centre. Entertainment Australia, G.H.Mumm, George P. Waimete, Stay South, Sally Hansen, Mentos, Trilogy.

4 • Shout • Issue 63 • Summer 2020 Sony Foundation Newsletter

Molly’s moment of gratitude

An excerpt from You Can Champion, Molly Dawson’s speech at the opening of the Brisbane You Can Centre. “I met a beautiful girl in August through the Steve Smith Sony Foundation. Myself, her and all the other You Can Champs got to walk through this centre and check it all out for the first time. officially opens This was a Monday. She was so lovely and we just all hung out and chatted all things cancer. On the Thursday I got a message saying she Sony Foundation’s had passed away. That’s when reality really hit me in the face. I was fighting for my life.

I don’t want to say her name out of respect, Brisbane You but she was a truly gorgeous soul and I wish she could be standing with all of us and have seen this centre be officially opened. With the Can Centre opening of this new You Can Centre it will bring a sense of calm and safety to young people that are unfortunately stuck at the hospital. Look around, it does not feel like we Thanks to Sony Foundation’s donation ’s largest hospital are in the hospital. The colours are so calming of $1.8 million, the previously disused is now home to the state’s first It’s hard enough to be a teenager. But being someone I want to and if you haven’t sat on the couches rooftop is now a state-of-the-art fully-dedicated centre for young yet you are missing out. To have such a purpose-built Centre for adolescent acknowledge the people receiving cancer treatment, of that age going through cancer, I can’t imagine how beautiful and peaceful place to escape to and young adults with a cancer thanks to the collaborative efforts hard that is. When I was younger I lost a friend to Sony Foundation, in-between treatment and appointments is diagnosis. The Centre has been of Sony Foundation and the Royal you should be so overwhelming it’s hard to put into words. cancer, so I think it’s important that as a community designed as a social haven away Brisbane and Women’s Hospital. from the hospital ward, with a kitchen, really proud Unfortunately, I never got to use this space Australian cricketer and Sony we improve the situation for others in the future.” relaxation areas, Sony entertainment while in treatment. A couple of weeks ago my Foundation Ambassador Steve Smith of what is an technology, study area, yoga and friend from Bundaberg was diagnosed with Steve Smith, joined QLD Minister for Health and extraordinary Leukaemia. He is staying in ward 5C and has Australian Cricket consult rooms and landscaped outdoor Minister for Ambulance Services, been using this centre a lot. He told me, ‘It was Legend and areas to hang out in the fresh air. achievement” The Hon. Dr Steven Miles, and other Sony breathtaking and amazing to have a space Sony Foundation Event Partners The Hon. Dr Steven Miles, Foundation Ambassadors including A SHOUT out to Silver Corporate where I can go myself and have no distraction Ambassador South Brisbane Jaguar Land Rover, Johnathan Thurston, Giaan Rooney and Partner, Hutchinson Builders, for Minister for Health and Campos Coffee Long Island, Santa and just be on my own and enjoy the peace Sony Music artist Stan Walker to officially delivering the Brisbane You Can Minister for Ambulances Vittoria, Lennox Media. and not listen to the beeping machine or Services unveil the third You Can Centre in Centre project on time and at a anything... and enjoy fresh air." Australia funded by Sony Foundation. reduced cost. Editor’s note: Molly has returned home

6 • Shout • Issue 63 • Summer 2020 to Bundaberg and is in remission. Sony Foundation Newsletter

More young cancer Sixers squads patients to have access support regional to cutting-edge fertility youth preservation For the ninth year, Sony Foundation and hope from You Can Champs partnered with the Sydney Sixers in a special tribute to youth cancer I wish I was given Having the Sydney Sixers by cricket squads, for the ‘Sixers Can, You patients across New South Wales. the option, but fertility Can’ campaign, which saw the Sixers my side, basically holding my The one-off jerseys were auctioned preservation wasn’t community unite to raise over $18,000 for hands every step of the way, and the funds raised will enable youth cancer patients in regional areas. 180 nights of accommodation for even discussed and is making everything better” regional youth cancer patients who For the first time, both the men are required to travel to Sydney for I assumed it wouldn’t and women’s squads wore jerseys Felicity, You Can Champion complex cancer treatment. emblazoned with words of inspiration be an issue. By not having a choice or a say at the time, A long way from home… it heavily impacted my An excerpt from You Can without the holiday. We seem Champion, Felicity Harwick’s to be always leaving home mental health later on.” speech at Wharf4Ward 2019. and having to come back. Who A pioneering service to transport, chemotherapy, despite research here hates the idea of moving “Hi my name is Felicity Hardwick, I’m freeze and store reproductive tissue showing infertility is the number one house? Well on the last day of Jess, 16 years old and I'm from a small for young cancer patients is being issue that has an identified impact diagnosed my chemo we go back to where rural town called Coonamble. It’s two led by a team of fertility specialists on a young person’s quality of life at 23 years we are staying in Sydney and hours north-west from Dubbo. I miss at the Royal Women’s Hospital, following cancer. of age Mum has to start packing up home… like a lot. My family live 500 Melbourne thanks to a generous as we have to get out of the Associate Professor Kate Stern says odd kilometres away from where I’m grant from Sony Foundation. she is thrilled to be able to deliver this getting treatment in Sydney for my apartment the very next day. The National Ovarian and Testicular exciting new initiative that has already brain tumours and we are also in We then have a 7 to 8 hour drive tissue Transport and Cryopreservation proven to change people’s lives. drought so that equals zero dollars for home, feeling like crap because Sophie Ryan, Sony Foundation CEO, Service (NOTTCS) – the first of its kind my family to afford accommodation I’ve just had chemo, with vomit “This service will enable tissue to said: “No longer will young people miss in Australia - will enable medical anywhere and the whole point of bags in tow. When we finally get home, we unpack our be collected, transported and out on this treatment due to barriers professionals nationwide to offer them visiting is to spend time with me. car for a two week stay, only to turn around and do it all cryopreserved in Melbourne from such as lack of access for regional fertility-preserving treatment to again. This has been our world for the past 12 months.” patients right around Australia. It will patients, cost and time restrictions. The different places we have stayed cancer patients aged 13 – 30 years old. give access to state-of-the-art fertility But more importantly, providing have been all around Sydney. I think Editor’s note: Felicity’s treatment finished in February Currently, only 4 per cent of young preservation to young people who access will give young people facing I’m starting to feel like a tourist only 2020 and she has started year 11 Boarding School. women and 1 in 4 young men might have thought that it’s the end cancer hope and the opportunity to undergo fertility preservation before of the road for their fertility.” focus on life after cancer.”

8 • Shout • Issue 63 • Summer 2020 Stan Out & Walker

About Sony Foundation Ambassador, Stan With our Walker, made a special visit Ambassadors to Chris O’Brien Lifehouse the home of our next You Can Centre. & Supporters Stan inspired a small group of youth cancer patients as he shared his cancer experience, before joining a Music Therapy session and visiting the wards for some very memorable surprise performances. A game changer Anthony Minichiello in cancer care

It’s not every day an NRL Legend arrives in Brisbane joins your arts and crafts session, but that’s exactly what happened when Sony Foundation Ambassador, disbelief, but also the fear and the Anthony Minichiello made a surprise Giaan Rooney frustration. Because they aren’t living their dreams, they are living their is when caring for children, but for visit to the St Joseph’s Sony Camp. Excerpt from an opinion editorial nightmare. A body failing them when teenagers, it simply was not there. "The kids I met were fantastic, they by Sony Foundation Ambassador they should be taking on the world. Because taking their eye off the were so funny, and engaging. I Giaan Rooney that first appeared black line at this stage in their life has could see the Campers were so in The Courier-Mail on 15 Nov 2019. But it’s not just their body that’s failing unthinkable ramifications for their future. comfortable in the care of their “When I was 19 I was staring at a black them. For too long, it’s also been the It’s estimated the lifetime financial Companions, which is a testament line, every day, all day, with one goal system. We have some of the best impact of a cancer diagnosis on a to the care these students have in my mind. There was pain, mental hospitals and free medical care in young person is $1.3 million. That’s not shown to develop such strong strain, self-disbelief, loneliness. I was, the world. But sadly, it was uncovered just health expenses, but lost wages, bonds in a short time". however, also living my dream. I was by a Senate Inquiry in 2005 into the productivity and opportunities. But healthy, strong, supported. I’m one state of cancer care in Australia that Sony Foundation is changing that, of the lucky ones who in my prime, our teenagers and young adults, one You Can Centre at a time. These was able to follow pursuits that only aged 15 – 25 years old, had some of Centres engage youth cancer patients a young person with ambition and a the lowest cancer survival rates in Mark Vincent and survivors in health and wellbeing fearless outlook on life can. the country. How did this happen, how did we fail them? Although more workshops, support groups, music and I often think about this when I meet Sony Music Artist Mark Vincent popped by people are diagnosed with cancer in art therapy, educational and vocational teenagers and young adults that the Abbotsleigh and Knox Grammar, ABBOX this age group then kids, we let them support and peer support. The aim is to have been dealt the most terrifying Sony Camp, treating campers to a Christmas fall through a gap in care. They were also reverse the alarming statistic that of challenges in the prime of their Carol concert with spontaneous karaoke. Mark being treated in children’s hospitals a young person with cancer is six times lives, cancer. Nothing compares. For spent hours getting to know the campers alongside kids or adult hospitals with more likely to suffer from mental health them, every day, all day, it’s staring and their companions, making for a very the elderly, missing out on specialised issues than their peers.” at blank hospital walls, the elderly special Christmas party. care tailored to their unique set of and dying, needles and pitying faces. Visit www.sonyfoundation.org/news needs. We’ve realised how vital this Then there’s the loneliness and to read the full piece.

10 • Shout • Issue 63 • Summer 2020 SHOUT OUT to Police ball Summer fun at our participating Sony Camps schools funds six Throughout December over 400 1,100 children with special needs and Abbotsleigh School for Girls children with special needs and their families. This four days of respite is Knox Grammar School Sony Camps Pictured here: NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller, their families accessed free respite often the only break from full-time care Bond University The Hon Peter Dutton, Charlotte, Dylan, Vaughn, Gwenyth, care provided by students from 32 these parents have each year. Superintendent Gavin Wood and and Andrea Fuller. Brisbane State High School high schools and universities across in one night! University of Queensland Australia, as part of Sony Foundation’s Brighton Grammar School Children’s Holiday Camp program. I felt that taking 4 days out of my 15 year old twins, Gwyneth and program. This incredible fundraising has seen first-hand the impact of Sony Canberra Grammar School The campers had a holiday of a holidays, which was such a small Dylan, had the ride of their life in result helped to fund six Sony Camps Camps from multiple visits, performed lifetime taking part in activities Christ Church Grammar School a Police helicopter which landed on in NSW in December. a special set at the event to get the including visits to theme parks, fair thing for me, in return of 4 days of Methodist Ladies’ College the Sydney Cricket Ground hallowed party started. Charismatic MC, Ben Fordham was days, reptile visits, Christmas crafts respite for these families would make turf to arrive as guests of honour at Launceston Church Grammar on hand to help drive the impressive A huge thank you to NSW Police and movie nights, all made possible the Surry Hills Police Ball in October. such a significant difference in their School - celebrating 15 years fundraising result which was attended Commissioner, Mick Fuller and by the student companions and their The Sony Campers, who both have by members of federal, state and local Superintendent Gavin Wood for school communities. lives especially during Christmas time. Moriah College autism, deafness and cerebral palsy, government, corporate partners like enabling their community to support Year 11 Student Companion, Abbotsleigh In 2019, Sony Camps provided over Annika, Masada College were joined by their parents Charlotte News Corp, The Star and Sony Music. the Sony Camps and Sargent Julia $1.8 million in respite care, to more than Emanuel School and Vaughn for a special night Patton for her tireless work to deliver Sony Foundation Ambassador and Pymble Ladies’ College, where $80,000 was raised to support such a wonderful event. Sony Music Artist, Samantha Jade, who Sydney Church of England the Sony Children’s Holiday Camp Grammar [Shore] Sababa Melbourne [Flying Fox] SCOTS College, Warwick St Andrew’s College, A very Sony University of Sydney St Ignatius' College Riverview Loreto Kirribilli Christmas Monte St Angelo The generosity of employees from the Sony Group of companies was St Joseph’s College Special thanks on full display, with a record number Brigidine College to Sony Music, Marist Sisters College of Christmas presents dropped off Sony Interactive at our annual Christmas Giving Tree. St Kevin’s College Entertainment Xavier College Over 100 gifts were donated and and P2 who Genazzano FCJ College distributed to Youth Off the Streets helped spread Loreto Mandeville Hall and our Sony Camp program some holiday The feelings knowing that the volunteers have given up paid work, school The Cathedral College Rockhampton for children with special needs. joy, hope, and holidays, family time and social commitments, some at their first camp, but The Holiday spirit was felt far and happiness. others helping behind the scenes for over a decade, was heart-warming. The Illawarra Grammar wide, with presents being delivered School - celebrating 10 years to youth across the East Coast, Parent of Camper, at a Sony Foundation Holiday Camp 2019 from Tasmania to Queensland. Scotch College St Catherine's School 12 • Shout • Issue 63 • Summer 2020 CRRAT ARTRS MMAD STARs N NS Graduate Congratulations to the 20 young people from MMAD’s ‘Catch a Falling STAR’ program, who graduated in December! Funded by Sony Foundation, ‘Catch a Falling STAR’ is an intensive and innovative music and mentoring N NS program designed to assist young people facing severe obstacles that are preventing them from living a life that is nothing short of remarkable. N NS

My proudest moment on STAR was being able to say I’m mentally stable for the first time in my life” The biggest breakthrough came when A SHOUT out to employees from his MMAD Social Worker developed Sony Foundation Corporate Partners Catch a Falling STAR Graduate NS Blake, a close enough relationship with Sony Music Entertainment Australia, him to encourage an official Network Nine and The Orchard mental health diagnosis. who gave their time to contribute Blake* was one of the participants to this supportive community, in the 2019 program, who was This program relies on intensive and shared their experiences in a able to work through some critical mentoring via means of creative series of professional and personal issues including suicidal ideation, support and by becoming part of development workshops. drug abuse and illegal behaviour. a community, part of the MMAD family. S NS

Gamers unite some of PlayStation’s leading raised with a huge thank you to Creative Studios hosted streams Naughty Dog for the highest amount for bushfire relief including; Media Molecule, Naughty raised. Thanks to Club Med for The global gaming community Dog and Insomniac as well as donating the major prize. PlayStation’s Senior Director, Sony came together over three Sophie Ryan, CEO Sony Foundation Interactive Entertainment Content weeks for Sony Foundation’s said, “Gaming4Life 2020 is Sony Communications, Sid Schuman, and annual Twitch Charity Stream Foundation’s way of bringing the former President of Sony Interactive S ‘Gaming4Life’ which this year gaming community together to Worldwide, Shuhei Yoshida. was dedicated to raising funds make a significant impact to aid the for the Bushfire Appeal. Hundreds of hours of gaming and recovery of young people affected Supported by Sony Australia and donations over the event period during this time of national crisis.” Sony Interactive Entertainment, contributed to $13,000+ in funds

14 • Shout • Issue 63 • Summer 2020 2 Sony Foundation Australia Annual Report 2019