It is ten years since the Lord’s Taverners Northern NSW Branch was established.

So many young and disadvantaged sporting stars and associated groups have been helped with financial aid, special coaching and competitions, camps and scholarships.

People like Sammy-Jo Johnson, Georgia Redmayne, Tait Jenkins and Lachie Crowther who had had their lives changed immeasurably because of the financial support offered by Lord's Taverners Northern NSW.

Foundation Chair, Stan Gilchrist shared some stories with the Lismore App about some of their previous beneficiaries;

Sammy-Jo Johnson (2010) and Georgia Redmayne (2012) both won scholarships to further their cricketing career to play in England and have gone on to play for Australia A and in the Big Bash for Brisbane and Tasmania respectively.

Tait Jenkins won a grant from Lords Taverner then won gold in the Australian Wheelchair Boccia Championships.

(Tait Jenkins (right) with fellow gold medal winners Daniel and Sohan: picture courtesy Lord's Taverners)

Lachie Crowther was from a disadvantaged background with limited options until Lord's Taverners offered him a University scholarship.

Recently graduated as an exercise physiologist, Lachie now resides in Sale, Victoria with a bright future ahead.

Membership has grown to well above 220, the network of these members being spread over a large footprint from Taree to Tweed and west to Wee Waa.

The major sources of income remain as members’ fees, corporate partnership donations and our regular dinner functions featuring well-known speakers.

For our Tenth Birthday Celebrations we start with a dinner on Friday 4^th October where the special guest will be Steven Bradbury, renowned for his winning the Speed Skating Gold Medal in the 2002 Winter Olympics.

(that iconic moment in Australian Winter Sports history where Steven Bradbury crosses the finish line winning a gold medal for Australia in 2002)

Steven is renowned for winner the Gold as the “last man standing’, all other finalists having fallen before reaching the Finish line, but Steven has a story to tell that shows that it wasn’t just a stroke of luck – two World Championships and 20 years of training for just that event!

One organiser of speakers for national and international conferences of medical professionals has described Steven as the best speaker he has ever heard, so don’t miss this opportunity to listen to his presentation.

The dinner is at Trinity Sports Centre in Lismore, on Friday 4^th October, starting at 6.30pm.

Tickets can be obtained online at https://www.trybooking.com/BBRKX or by visiting Lismore Timezone Watchmakers, corner of Keen and Magellan Streets, Lismore.

Tickets are $75.00 for Members, $85.00 for Non-Members and tables (of ten) can be booked for $750.00.

Further details can be obtained from Stan Gilchrist at stantavs2@gmail.com or call on 0412 664 617.

10 years is an amazing achievement in helping young people achieve their dreams or give them a chance at a better life.

Congratulations to Stan Gilchrist, Bruce Ward, Joanne Cooper and the rest of the Lords Taverners committee.

We can say thank you and help by purchasing tickets and helping the next young local person in need of our communities help.