Melbourne is ecstatic to announce the awesome Positive Parks Project, a one day pop up event for performers, artists and creatives of all types to get together and celebrate! Artist and founder of the Positive Parks Project, Kirsty Hulm likes to call it social networking in the real world. Sounds awesome! So what exactly is it? A  day of theatre, art, performance and happening in the form of a communal picnic in the glorious Edinburgh Gardens, which asks those attending to bring an experience, artwork or action to share. It is self initiated- there are no schedules/timetables, and the only rule is fun must be had! Do you like what you’re hearing? Wanna participate? This event is being run without asking for permission from any council or governing body. It is about the idea that we can make something for ourselves without waiting to be told it’s okay, without needing to do any more than just be and do what we want, in the moment. This event is heavily influenced by US Festivals, Art Outside, Burning Man and Mutant Fest; please research those events if you’re interested more in this type of action. The ideal scenario is everyone motivates themselves… read more →

September’s grant was awarded to Sarah Crowley and Charlotte Fliengner, a dynamic pair of Melbourne architects passionate about sustainability.  Sarah and Charlotte were looking for a solution for the amount of excess waste our  society is currently producing. Their answer is ‘I Have I Need’ a series of interactive community notice boards that encourage people to recycle rather than throw their unwanted goods away. The boards will transform blank walls into vibrant public spaces and encourage people to meet and interact with their neighbors to develop  stronger and greener communities. The first prototype board was made in South Melbourne. Look out for more boards to come on your local footpath or maybe even your favourite café. The girls would love to see this project grow in Melbourne and beyond so feel free to be awesome too and produce some  ‘I Have I Need’ boards of your own. Oh one last thing check out that awesome cheque…

Melbourne’s August grant went to the amazing Jacqui Hocking and her adventure to East Timor to film Spinning Dreams, a documentary of the 3rd annual Tour de Timor . The race brings riders in from all over the globe to show the world that East Timor is a beautiful and peaceful place. The race is also one of the most unforgiving tracks a cyclist can attempt and it’s even more unforgiving to a film maker. Last year’s race left Jacqui with two damaged cameras, a broken microphone and a tripod lost somewhere in the jungle. That all happened while Jacqui was riding backwards on a motorcycle capturing the event, but that didn’t stop her from making the trip again this year, but really how could you say no when the president of East Timor invites you back personally. Check out Jacqui’s work from last year’s race below or see the complete version here Jacqui’s big heart has her filming non-profit documentaries to raise money for charities constantly so this month’s grant was a deal breaker for Jacqui getting another opportunity to film an event as special as Tour de Timor. It is always rewarding to give the grant to someone… read more →

Congratulations to Di Andrews and her Winter Warmth project for being selected as our July grant recipient. Di’s project is simple, but it addresses the complex issue of Melbourne’s homeless by providing some of life’s basic needs. Winter Warmth will supply backpacks to the homeless filled with items like food, gloves, a toothbrush and pamphlets for assistance from organisations like Beyond Blue that support those affected with mental health issues. A few of the Melbourne trustees had the pleasure of meeting Di and saw firsthand the passion she has for helping others. She was overjoyed to put this project into action and is determined to grow it beyond the initial $1,000 grant through donations and support from the community. One of the qualities we liked most about this project was the opportunity it provides everyday people to give back. If you would like to contribute to the Winter Warmth project please contact the Melbourne Awesome Foundation at awesomemelb@gmail.com Meet Di and hear about her inspiration for Winter Warmth in the video below:

Where would you be today without your education? Would you know how to read or write? Would you be able to support yourself? Melbourne’s June grant was awarded to One Girl, an organization that’s made it their mission to educate girls from the poorest rural communities of Sierra Leone, West Africa. One Girl was founded in 2009 by Chantelle Baxter and David Dixon and has given 100 girls the opportunity for an education and a better life. Their upcoming campaign Do It in a Dress will raise $25,000 to send another 50 girls to school by 2012. The difference an education in Sierra Leone can make is astounding.  See what these girls are up against: – 1 in 6 chance of attending high school. – 62% chance they’ll be married before their 18th birthday. – 50% chance they’ll be sexually abused before they turn 18 and it’s almost guaranteed that they’ll experience some kind of sexual violence in their lifetime. Do It in a Dress plans on raising the $25,000 by recruiting 100 “rock star” bloggers from around the world to set a personal challenge for themselves like run 5K, go to a yoga class, bungee jump or just go to… read more →