The Powerhouse Youth Leadership Foundation was started in 2003 to support the programs and outcomes of Lord Somers Camp and Powerhouse. Power House Youth Leadership Foundation rely on generous donations to continue to ensure everyone is able to experience the spirit of Somers now and into the future. We’d love your support – please donate now!
PHYLF Kick Off Awards
The Power House Youth Leadership Foundation (PHYLF) offers up to six awards known as the Power House Youth Leadership Kick-off Awards. These awards aim to help aspiring members of LSC&PH build upon their dreams. This exciting opportunity enables the successful candidates to pursue their passions and interests by providing successful candidates with a cash award of $1,000-$1,800 to be applied towards their chosen area of interest.
Why Donate?
Lord Somers Camp and Power House (LSC&PH) has been providing opportunities for young people to develop their leadership skills for over 80 years. Many of our state’s leaders, in a multitude of careers, honed their leadership skills and aspirations at the camp at Somers on Westernport and our Power House facilities at Albert Park. Power House Youth Leadership Foundation provides funding to LSC&PH to support the continuing enhancement of the leadership development and community programs.
The Foundation’s aim is to ensure that cost is not a deterrent to participation in a leadership camp or community weekend for any young man or woman who has talent and aspirations and wants to develop their personal skills.
“I never thought I’d experience the opportunity to present my story and ideas to such a high calibre of people … Winning the Somers Fellowship has translated into three new qualifications as well as opportunities in the oil and gas industry, and for this I can’t thank the Foundation and judging panel enough.”
How to Donate
How we use your gift
When you give to the Power House Youth Leadership Foundation, your gift will be invested to produce a lasting legacy to support the leadership and community programmes and activities of the Lord Somers Camp and Power House.
How to give
There are many ways you can give to Power House Youth Leadership Foundation. These include by mail (cheque and credit card), online, by leaving a gift in your will or by establishing a gift in perpetuity as a named fund. You can also set up regular donations through direct debit.
By mail
Power House Youth Leadership Foundation
34 Lakeside Drive
ALBERT PARK VIC 3206
If you wish to donate via cheque, please make it payable to ‘Power House Youth Leadership Foundation’.
Through regular direct debits
You can also give at fortnightly, monthly, quarterly or annual intervals by simply printing and filling out our regular giving form.
Even better, by setting up a recurring donation, your generosity can have ongoing impact, at intervals convenient for you.
Leaving a gift in your will and giving in perpetuity
Remembering Power House Youth Leadership Foundation in your will is a powerful way to make a lasting impact and one which often has the power to do much more than gifts you may be able to make in your lifetime.
How your gift makes a difference
Giving has so many benefits, for donors as well as recipients. Here are just a few stories which demonstrate the power of philanthropy.
Big Camp Sponsorships
Awards
” It was a great honour to be in part of the program. It gave me life lessons that I will never forget…thank you for supporting me in joining the camp. I am proud to say that the Big Camp was the ‘best week I’ve ever had so far’…I hope that the foundation would continue to support youths who want to be part of the Lord Somers community.”
– 2015 Sponsorship Recipent
Annual Donation
Annual Giving is all about creating a community of donors and supporters committed to enhancing opportunities for those participating in the programs and activities of Lord Somers Camp and Power House. Annual Giving is the most direct way to have a positive impact on the invaluable work of LSC&PH. Every gift, whatever its size is valuable and invested in our programs immediately.
First Year Staff Sponsorship
After participating in the Lord or Lady Somers Camps, many choose to come back the following year, volunteering their time as a staff members. We support first year staff who may not have the capactity financially to pay for camp fee’s, uniforms ect.
LSC & PH Program Support
Max camp support
MAX is a camp run by young people for young people aimed at building self-confidence, self respect, leadership and purpose. Participants are challenged to understand and believe in their own potential and that of others. The camp provides opportunities to reflect and learn tools to find direction in the participant’s personal, working and community life MAX is a week long program of personal development for young leaders under the age of 25. MAX challenges participants to articulate their passions and develop steps to achieve their personal and community development goals. This program encourages individuals to consider the impact their life will have on themselves, others and the community.
Power2Lead Support
A program that helps people take the next step, not just in their professional life but also their personal life. Power2Lead is a formal development and mentoring program that guides participants through attaining their professional goals and how they can also have a profound impact in the community.The program focuses on developing skills, confidence and leadership capacities of men and women through a series of innovative and practical activities. The program addresses both personal and business effectiveness and identifies areas for growth, giving participants the tools to benefit their professional and personal lives.
Somers Fellowship
The aim of the Somers Fellowship is to foster advancement opportunities for members of Lord Somers Camp and Power House. This exciting opportunity enables the successful candidate to further their knowledge or experience by providing a cash award of $10,000 to be applied towards an accredited training course for knowledge or experience or research.
This initiative is made possible by the Power House Youth Leadership Foundation.
Kick Off Awards
The Power House Youth Leadership Foundation was established in 2003 to ensure that every person could participate in the camps and activities of Lord Somers Camp and Power House in the future.
Commencing in 2014, the Power House Youth Leadership Awards, aim to help members of Lord Somers Camp and Power House to build upon their dreams. This exciting opportunity enables the successful candidates to pursue their passions and interests by providing successful candidates with a ‘Kick Off’ cash award to be applied towards their chosen area of interest.
Tulum Creek Society
The Tullum Creek Society is our way of thanking and acknowledging our supporters who have pledged to remember the Power House Youth Leadershp Foundation in their Will. This generous group of benefactors includes a growing number of like-minded alumni and friends who wish to strengthen Lord Somers Camp and Power House into the future.
Governance
The Foundation is separate from Lord Somers Camp and Power House and acts within the bounds of its own Constitution and under direction from its own independent Board of Directors. Giving is a very personal decision. How to give and who to support requires careful and informed decision-making.
Mike Newton
Mike was fortunate to be nominated to Big Camp in 1971 and had various leadership roles at the camp for several years after that. He currently enjoys giving likeminded organisations the opportunity to enjoy the magic of using the Somers Camp. In 2003 Mike was a founding Board Member of the Power House Youth Leadership Foundation and became Chairman in 2013. Mike is an industrial chemist and after over 35 years of working for Unilever, ICI and Symex, he now consults and is a non-executive director of a health sector business
John Davies OAM
Light Blue Group Leader, former Camp Chief and involved in various LSC&PH activities. Member of the Power House Rugby Club since 1965.
Retired now, former Stock Broker for around 50 years.
Involved in community and philanthropic activities including the Ephpheta Foundation, John Pierce Centre and JoCare.
Foundation member of the Power House Youth Leadership Foundation in 2005 with the aim of providing long term security for our organization. Presently Chair of the Investment Committee.
Mal Cater
I first attended Lord Somers Camp as a Red Grouper in 1981 following in the footsteps of my two brothers. My involvement, ever since, has been extensive and incredibly rewarding including three years as Slushie King, the first Camp Leader of the VSK Camp, Camp Leader of the Boys’ Camp and, between 2012 and 2017, President and Camp Chief. I have met so many amazing people as a result of my involvement in this organisation and this is the motivation to be a Director of the PHYL Foundation.
Sustaining this organisation is a strong motivator for my involvement, ensuring that others have had the opportunities I have had as a result of my membership of Lord Somers Camp and Power House. In my professional life I had the privilege of being Principal of Mentone Grammar for 17 years. This is a position that further provided me with an opportunity to play a strong role in the lives of young people and, without hesitation, I can say that I had an incredibly rewarding career in education.
I am now retired and busy enhancing my golf handicap, travelling and enjoying the company of those I didn’t have so much time to catch up with during my working career.
Heather Beaumont
Heather grew up at Easter Camps at Somers and attended the first Lady Somers Camp.
She manages the Melbourne factory of Wiretainers Pty Ltd, a steel, wire and mesh manufacturing company in Preston.
Heather is happily married with two adult daughters. She enjoys her garden, bush walking, boogie boarding year round and getting out of Melbourne.
After joining the Board in 2021, Heather took on the role of Secretary in 2023.
Ness Wood
Ness’s journey with Lord Somers Camp and Power House began in 2003 as a yellow grouper at Lady Somers Camp. Since then, she has immersed herself in various roles within the organisation, including active participation in the Big Camp programs across Slush, serving as staff, and holding the position of Deputy Camp Leader. Ness has contributed significantly as an executive team member for Camp Diversity and is a passionate attendee of community camps whenever feasible.
In addition to her involvement with Lord Somers Camp and Power House, Ness is deeply engaged in the Power House Thespian Guild. Her experience includes not only performing in numerous plays but also directing three productions.
Professionally, Ness is a motivated marketing strategist currently working for News Corp Australia and brings these skills to the PHYLF board to ensure its longevity and success.
Ben McNally
Ben attended Big Camp as a Dark Blue grouper in 2010 and went on to be a group leader at two ATLAS camps (then known as SAIL Away). He then worked on the Program Quality Framework while based in Canberra, dialling into meetings before that was a daily occurrence. After returning to Melbourne, he continued to work on capturing data on participant, staff and Slush experiences at camp by setting up post-program surveys.
Ben joined the PHYLF Board in 2022 to bring evidence of the outcomes PHYLF supports through its financial contributions to Lord Somers Camp and Power House.
In his day job, Ben manages program evaluations for a Victorian government department and is chipping away at a Masters of Evaluation.
On weekends you will find Ben in the fleet of cyclists racing the Tour de Mordy or, during warmer months, swimming laps in the bay.
Email Us: info@lordsomerscamp.org.au
