Key address from celebrated footballer and activist

Celebrated football player, broadcaster and human rights activist Craig Foster delivered the keynote address at a Courage to Care event, which was recently held at the Heritage Ballroom of The Fullerton Hotel in the Sydney CBD.

The organisation’s annual fundraising lunch was MC’d by Courage to Care CEO Ed St John and it featured chair Kathy Sharp as well as Foster, who is NSW Australian of the Year, Father of the Year and chair of the Australian Republican Movement. Foster spoke to the audience about how he went from sporting stardom, to becoming a highly effective campaigner against all forms of discrimination.

“What I particularly like about Courage to Care is they also talk to the students about doing something, taking action, and this concept that you do have agency and you are important,” Foster said.

“The way you act yourself, but also the way you stand with people who are being discriminated against in any form.”

From the outset of the event, Courage to Care made it clear that fundraising was a major priority for the organisation.

“Our organisation is fighting a battle against the forces of discrimination, hatred and antisemitism,” said St John. “And right now, I’m afraid to say that discrimination is winning. Antisemitism is once again on the rise, and demand for our programs is going up dramatically. We need to rapidly increase our capacity in order to meet that demand.”

With an ambitious fundraising target of $200,000, the event was well supported by senior members of the Sydney Jewish Community. Among those present were Renee Pinshaw, Ron and Michelle Malek, Eve and Richard Villari, Tom and Danielle Curtis, Carole and Russel Pillemer, and Anthony and Andie Halas. Six Holocaust survivors associated with Courage to Care were also in attendance.