Endeavour Foundation Turns 75: If the Founding Families Could See Today

 As Endeavour Foundation celebrates 75 years, we reflect on the people, stories and opportunities that have shaped our journey since 1951. 

Today, June 14, 2026, Endeavour Foundation turns 75.

Seventy-five years ago, a group of families came together because they believed their children deserved more opportunities than society was offering them.

As we celebrate 75 years, it is worth reflecting on how much has changed since then.

Over the past few months, we have captured stories from people whose lives have been shaped by Endeavour Foundation.

Together, from those featured in our 75th Anniversary Hero Video to the stories shared throughout this anniversary year, they paint a picture of how far the vision of our founding families has come.

Living Life on Her Terms

When Colleen first became involved with Endeavour Foundation as a teenager, she was beginning a journey that would span much of our 75-year history.

Today, she lives independently in her own home, manages her own banking, pays her own bills, and continues making decisions about the life she wants to live.

"I love being independent," she said.

"I have my freedom."

Her story reflects something generations of families hoped for: the opportunity for people with intellectual disability to live with greater independence and control over their own lives.

Pursuing Goals That Matter

For Steven Anderson, that opportunity has taken a different form.

After spending more than a decade chasing a place in the Masters division of ten-pin bowling, he finally achieved his goal in 2025.

"It felt really good to finally reach this goal after more than 10 years," Steven said.

For Henry Deakin, it meant developing his artistic practice at QArt Studio, holding his first solo exhibition, and publishing his first children's book, Australian Animals A-Z.

For Cameron Fetter, it meant moving into a purpose-built home where he can move confidently through his daily routine, continue performing music, and enjoy the independence that comes with having a space designed around his needs.

Friendship, Belonging and Community

Many of the stories shared throughout this anniversary year are not about major achievements.

They are about friendship, connection, and belonging.

Matt and Kristel reconnected through Endeavour Foundation's Reedy Creek Recycle Market and are now engaged.

Along the way, both have grown in confidence, built lasting friendships, and found a community where they feel supported to be themselves.

Jimmy and Avril Livingstone first became involved in the Great Endeavour Rally through their daughter Heather and went on to build friendships that have become part of their everyday lives.

Over the years, those friendships have extended beyond the rally itself, through weddings, birthdays, family milestones, and a community that continues long after the event finishes.

The Women Who Helped Build the Foundation

Many of the opportunities available today can be traced back to the determination of women who helped shape the organisation during its earliest years.

Elizabeth Hooper opened her home so children with intellectual disability could access education.

Thora Pribbernow helped organise and grow the early association.

Thelma McConnel and Eleanor Schonell strengthened educational pathways at a time when few existed.

Alongside countless mothers, volunteers, educators, and advocates, they helped create opportunities that would continue growing long after those early years.

Their contribution can still be seen today in the lives of people supported by Endeavour Foundation across Australia.

The Power of Having a Voice

One of the most significant changes over the past 75 years has been the growing role people with disability play in shaping decisions about their own lives.

At Endeavour Foundation, we encourage and support self-advocacy so people can share their experiences, express what matters to them, and help shape the future of services and supports.

This includes opportunities to contribute through Client Advisory Groups and other feedback and consultation activities.

"Everyone has a voice," Endeavour Foundation self-advocate Danielle Engler said.

"If you don't speak up for yourself, it's difficult to get people to help you."

In many ways, this is what the founding families were working towards all along.

A future where people with disability are not simply included in conversations about their lives, but helping lead them.

Looking Ahead

The people who came together in 1951 could not have known exactly what Endeavour Foundation would become.

What they did know was that people with intellectual disability deserved opportunities to learn, participate, and be included in their communities.

Seventy-five years later, those opportunities can be seen in the stories of people building careers, creating art, living independently, pursuing ambitious goals, forming relationships, and shaping the future for themselves.

As we celebrate this milestone, we also recognise that the next chapter of Endeavour Foundation's story will be written by the people we support and the goals they choose to pursue next.

Explore more stories from our 75th anniversary celebrations.