The 2019 G.J. Gardner Variety Freedom House built in Shoalhaven, which raised over $400K for Variety – the Children’s Charity earlier this year, has been awarded in the nation-wide Annual REA Excellence Awards, winning the category for Contribution to Community. 

Celebrated alongside the finalists CBRE for their Walk for a Wish, Countryside Realty Noosa and Harcourts International Ltd for their Inspirational Women Network, the G.J Gardner Homes Shoalhaven team is immensely proud to be recognised for their achievement and shine a further spotlight on the great work of Variety – the Children’s Charity. 

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“We’ve said it before, but we’ll say it again, the G.J. Gardner Variety Freedom House, though under the G.J. banner, was truly a community project with such incredible generosity of time, funds, products and support, and so we are proud of our whole Shoalhaven community for getting behind this worthy project,” said Sean Vickery, Co-Director of G.J. Gardner Homes Shoalhaven. 

The 2019 G.J. Gardner Variety Freedom House attracted more than 80 local businesses and individuals across the Shoalhaven who gave generously of their time, expertise, products, material and cash to build a glamorous 4-bedroom house in the Carrington Heights estate at the lowest cost to enable the greatest donation possible to Variety when the house sold at Auction on 6th April 2019. 

This was the 4th G.J. Gardner Variety Freedom House built in NSW and ACT, and the 2nd lead by the G.J. Gardner Shoalhaven team who started off this initiative in 2014.

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The interior of the GJ Gardner Variety Freedom House. Photo: GJ Gardner Homes

The golden shovel is set to pass to the team at G.J. Gardner Homes Newcastle who will build the 5th G.J. Gardner Variety Freedom Home in 2020. 

The culmination of all the G.J. Gardner NSW/ACT fundraising activities over recent years, including the 2019 auction and online donation tally brings the total fundraising amount from G.J. Gardner Homes NSW to Variety – the Children’s Charity to more than $1.4 million. 

“We certainly didn’t get into this project for the accolades, but we are proud to have won this award because it gives us a chance to shine the spotlight once again on Variety and the amazing, life-changing work they do for children in our region and beyond.” said Co-Director Nathan Fay. 

Variety – the Children’s Charity support kids and families facing challenges through sickness, disadvantage and special needs.

The significant funds raised from the sale of the G.J. Gardner Variety Freedom House are being used by Variety to provide practical equipment, programs and experiences to help kids improve their quality of life, increase their self-esteem and their connectedness to community, while at the same time decrease the strain on families. 

One recipient of the funds is young Ashlyn who received a Variety Heart Scholarship in The Arts to cover costs incurred for lessons, tuition, supplies and the resources Ashlyn needs to build her skills. 

Many teenagers are drawn to art, but Ashlyn’s choice of the medium is unique.  

“I have reduced vision due to Congenital Nystagmus (fine oscillating movements of the eyes)," said Ashlyn.

"This is a permanent condition, which affects my reading and viewing through the oscillating movements of my eyes, which I can’t control.

"My Nystagmus make me feel insecure – yet art makes me feel confident and through art and the people that teach me, I have learned patience as well as growing confidence." 

Ashlyn’s grandmother Julie said that artmaking has proven to be a great outlet for Ashlyn. 

“She originally started lessons because I noticed that when Ashlyn made art she relaxed and was happy," said Julie.

"Since she has started formal art classes, her skill level and confidence have developed as well as allowing a creative outlet for her feelings.”

G.J. Gardner Homes Shoalhaven continue to support Variety though the annual Variety B to B Bash event as well as regular fundraising events.

For more ways to support Variety, visit www.variety.org.au

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