2010 News

CEO Sleepout

Thursday 17 June 2010

A charity event highlighting the needs of the homeless

On the 17th June this year our Chairman, Gary Nairn, was one of 690 "CEO's" who slept rough as part of the St Vincent de Paul (Vinnies) Society's national event to firstly raise awareness of the extent of homelessness throughout our nation and secondly to raise funds to help them do something about it.

"I was shocked to learn that around 100 people sleep on the streets every night in Canberra, a city with the highest per capita income in Australia," Gary Nairn said.

"My wife, Rose, a relationship manager with Westpac commercial, had signed up to participate in the sleepout and strongly encouraged me to do likewise.

"With estimates of over 50,000 people sleeping on the streets each night across Australia I thought one night out in the elements (and it usually hovers around zero or below in Canberra in mid winter) was not too much for me to experience if it would help the cause," he explained.

Each "CEO" was required to use his or hers networks to raise money. The 690 "CEO's" raised over $2.9m and the 111 who participated in Canberra raised more than $354,000 and our Chairman raised nearly $4,000 of that amount from 33 donors.

"A number of Vekta staff contributed and I thank them and all the others for their great support for this very good cause," Gary Nairn concluded.

Find out more about St Vincent de Paul.