At a Glance

• Community generosity can strengthen support for young people facing isolation and hardship
• Youth wellbeing is a civic responsibility as well as a social concern
• Local partnerships help connect vulnerable young people with pathways to stability and hope
• Public leadership is at its best when it brings people together for a shared purpose

The Measure of a City

I have always believed that the measure of a city is not found only in its skyline, its investment, or its growth figures. It is found in the way it responds to those who are most vulnerable, especially its young people. A city that takes seriously its duty to the next generation is a city that understands stewardship in its fullest sense.

That is why the recent Charity Gala held at Ottimo House was so meaningful to me. On that evening, more than 200 guests came together and $41,677 was raised in support of Humanity Matters and its Feet on the Street program. The figure itself is significant, but what stays with me more deeply is what it represents. It is a practical expression of civic care. It is a reminder that generosity, when directed with purpose, can become a form of local leadership in its own right.

In public life, there are moments that reveal something essential about a community. This was one of them.

Why Young People Must Remain at the Centre

As Campbelltown continues to grow and change, I am often reminded that growth must always be understood in human terms. Population, housing, infrastructure, and investment all matter. But the long view of place requires us to ask a more enduring question: what sort of city are we building for those who will inherit it?

In Campbelltown, more than 34,000 people are aged between 10 and 25. That is close to one fifth of our population. These are not marginal figures in a report. They are young people navigating education, identity, belonging, mental health, employment, and the uncertainties that increasingly shape modern life. Some move through these years with strong support and clear pathways. Others do not.

That is where sound institutions and committed community organisations become so important. They help ensure that those who are disconnected, struggling, or at risk are not left to drift further from opportunity.

The Value of Work That Meets People Where They Are

What I respect about Humanity Matters is its willingness to work directly with young people whose circumstances may place them beyond the reach of more conventional systems. Its Feet on the Street program recognises a simple truth that those in local government often see clearly: not every young person will step easily into mainstream services, and not every problem can be addressed from behind a desk.

Effective support often begins with presence. It begins with trust, consistency, and a willingness to meet people where they are. That kind of outreach work requires patience and judgment. It also requires the confidence of the broader community.

I was pleased to say on the night that this result “will help Humanity Matters to extend their outreach services to highly marginalised young people across Campbelltown.” I meant that in a very practical sense, but also in a broader civic one. Extending outreach is not simply about delivering another service. It is about widening the circle of care and ensuring that fewer young people fall through the gaps.

“This is a fantastic outcome that will help Humanity Matters to extend their outreach services to highly marginalised young people across Campbelltown.”

Community Partnership and Shared Responsibility

What was clear to me throughout the evening was that this outcome was only possible because many people understood the value of acting together. Sponsors, guests, organisers, and supporters each played a part. I am grateful to Campbelltown Mall, Menangle Park by Dahua Group, Cameron Brae Group, Marsdens Law Group, and Saxon Developments for their support of the event.

In reflecting on that period, I am reminded that strong communities are rarely built by government alone. Councils have an important civic role, but much of what sustains trust and resilience in a city depends on partnership. It depends on the willingness of businesses, community organisations, and residents to contribute to something larger than themselves.

There is a quiet strength in that model. It does not rely on spectacle. It relies on continuity, goodwill, and a shared understanding that local problems deserve local care.

Leadership Beyond Ceremony

Events such as this also speak to a broader idea of leadership. At its best, civic leadership is not simply ceremonial. It is about helping create the conditions in which good people and good institutions can do meaningful work. It is about drawing attention to issues that deserve care and ensuring that the city’s public life remains connected to human need.

Young people facing hardship do not need sentiment alone. They need pathways into education, employment, support services, and renewed confidence in their own future. When community effort helps make that possible, local leadership has served its purpose well.

I have long held the view that a city should be judged not only by how it grows, but by how it includes. That means paying attention to those whose voices are quieter and whose circumstances are harder. It means recognising that belonging is not accidental. It is built through institutions, relationships, and sustained acts of public mindedness.

Reflection

The Charity Gala was an evening of generosity, but more than that, it was an expression of what a confident and compassionate community can do when it chooses to act together. I remain convinced that if we are serious about the future of Campbelltown, we must remain equally serious about the dignity, wellbeing, and opportunity of the young people who will shape it.

Read the original Mayoral Minute here: Charity Gala Dinner Success