The Fundraising Stories that Helped Shape 75 Years of Endeavour Foundation

 Celebrate the people, pageants and fundraising traditions that have supported Endeavour Foundation for 75 years.

For 75 years, community fundraising has helped shape Endeavour Foundation.

From badge days and community pageants to today's Great Endeavour Rally and Endeavour Lotteries, generations of supporters have rolled up their sleeves to raise money and create more opportunities for people with intellectual disability.

As Endeavour Foundation celebrates its 75th anniversary, it's a chance to reflect on the thousands of people whose fundraising efforts have helped turn possibilities into reality.

Wearing The Wedding Dress Twice

When Norman Park resident Leigh Foreman walked down the aisle at her dream wedding in 1986, little did she know, a year later she'd be doing it again... in the same dress, with the same groom, just with a different purpose.

After seeing Endeavour Foundation's inaugural Bride of the Year Quest, Leigh decided to enter.

“I’d entered pageants before, and we knew people who relied on services supplied by Endeavour Foundation, so when I saw the fundraising event they were holding, the Bride of the Year Quest, I thought, why not and it’s for a good cause – and I get to wear my dress again!” said Mrs Foreman.

“To enter Bride of the Year, you were required to have married within the year and participate in some interviews, wear the same dress in a parade, and of course, raise charity awareness.

“Pageants back then were huge – dress, makeup, hair, bouquet, shoes. We were done up and dazzling, but we did it for charity, where people with disability, who we were supporting, were the biggest winners,” said Mrs Foreman.

Leigh was crowned Endeavour Foundation's inaugural Bride of the Year winner, with the Quest going on to raise $1.7 million in its first eight years alone to support people with intellectual disability.

Tiny Tots Making A Big Difference

For many Queensland families, fundraising began through the Tiny Tots Quest, where children dressed up, represented their communities and raised money for Endeavour Foundation.

Mango Hill local Sally Kimber, who grew up in Bundaberg, was one of them.

“Our car was on its last legs, so the win enabled us to sell the one I won and buy a bigger car again to suit our family.

“To commemorate the win, my parents bought a number plate TOT90 which was fitted to the car, and they eventually gifted it to me when I was old enough to drive – and I still drive around with it today,” Ms Kimber laughed.

“Even though I was young, I was really aware of what we were doing which was fundraising for people with disability, and I knew even back then, that was a big deal.

“It’s great to think, I played a small part in Endeavor Foundation’s history and I helped to make a difference,” Ms Kimber said.

For Patricia Berthelsen (née Crook), the Tiny Tots Quest became a lifelong connection with Endeavour Foundation. Years later, she discovered her husband had also participated in the competition.

“To think we both were in the competition at a similar time is quite amazing to find this out about each other all these years later,” said Patricia Berthelsen.

“I first participated in the Quest in the early 80s, where in 1982 I won highest fundraiser at our Bundaberg event, and in 1983 I won Tiny Tots for the region and travelled to the Gold Coast for the State Titles.

“Every little girl loves to dress up, and to have a mum who could make the dresses was amazing – she’d even turn my hair very curly, which I guess was a sign of the times back then too,” Mrs Berthelson said.

Behind Patricia's success was her mother, Robyn Crook, who regularly donated her time and skills to support people with disability.

“It was such a wonderful way to raise money for people with disability. I used to even offer my services for free to the clients at Endeavour Foundation, when the girls especially needed to adjust their gowns for a ball they used to run back then. It was just my way of giving back, and I loved it,” said Mrs Crook.

More Than Fundraising

Former Endeavour Foundation fundraising employee Bernadette Bainbridge remembers these events as community celebrations that inspired generations of supporters.

“The Tiny Tots Quest was really the starting point for so many little fundraising champions who wanted to make an impact. They’d start here and over time they would eventually move into Bride of the Year where we also ran Flower Girl of the Year competitions as well.

“While our parents were among our biggest advocates in the giving of their time, our events were community events where people loved to support them, and the little darlings loved it, and we raised lots and lots of money,” Mrs Bainbridge said.

Alongside Tiny Tots and Bride of the Year, Endeavour Foundation has also been supported through Badge Days, telethons, the Great Endeavour Rally and, today, Endeavour Lotteries.

A Legacy That Continues Today

Today, Endeavour Foundation employs more than 1,700 people with intellectual disability, supports more than 500 people through modern homes and provides community programs and other supports to thousands more.

“As we celebrate 75 years of inclusion, it goes without saying the fundraising events we’ve held over the decades, and even now, have truly helped to shape our success as a leading charity for people with intellectual disability,” said Endeavour Foundation CEO, Andrew Chesterman.

“People are at the forefront of everything we do across home, work and in our community services, and without fundraising events and the vital community support, charities would struggle.

“While some services are government funded, it’s never enough, especially to support people with complex needs. So, fundraising really helps to fill those gaps enabling us to support people the way they deserve.

“That’s why we are still running our Great Endeavour Rally, and offer six homes a year to win through our Endeavour Lotteries – every dollar raised helps to make a difference,” said Mr Chesterman.

Whether it was a badge in the 1950s, a Tiny Tots sash, a Bride of the Year gown or a ticket in today's Endeavour Lotteries, every fundraiser has helped create more opportunities for people with intellectual disability.

Seventy-five years later, that community spirit continues to power Endeavour Foundation's mission. 

 Read more stories celebrating 75 years of Endeavour Foundation.