Whether it’s bringing hope to sick children, backing local sports clubs, or offering safety through the Salvos’ Safe Carpark, the team behind Noosa foundation Smile For A Child is changing lives.
At the heart of the foundation is Glenn Puckeridge (Puck), who gathered his loyal volunteers including ’little’ Jo Power and Anton Mogg, alongside legendary patrons Evonne Goolagong Cawley, Roger Cawley, and Michael O’Connor, at the Noosa Heads Surf Club on Wednesday 4 June.
This is where they delivered their final cheque out of $50,000 for 10 local junior sporting clubs.
Noosa Lions Football Club life member Matt Holland said, “On behalf of the soccer club, we want to say thanks to Puk and his team.“
“The first cheque we received went to a junior girl’s program which has exploded since the Matildas’ success. We’ve now got funding for more training equipment and an academy to take kids to that next level.“
Someone who knows all about helping kids get to the next level is Smile For A Child patron and tennis legend, Evonne Goolagong Cawley AC MBE, who will be honoured in a special event on 28 June by the Australian Tennis Foundation in Melbourne.
This event will pay tribute to Evonne’s trailblazing journey and mark the official launch of the Evonne Goolagong Cawley Scholarship, a landmark initiative developed in partnership with the Australian Tennis Foundation to empower the next generation of First Nations’ tennis players.
Glenn Puckeridge (Puck) said, “Evonne Goolagong Cawley, Roger Cawley and Michael O’Connor have been patrons for about 17 years now. They help us present cheques and engage with the families, and you’ll see how warm they are today.“
He was right, as Evonne warmly reminisced on a time where she jumped out of a plane tandem to land on a soccer field in Noosa to kick a ball during a match.
Puck said in the past year they’ve also raised money to help start a pilot program, Salvo’s Safe Car Park.
Noosaville mission leader for The Salvation Army, Matthew Gluyas, said he’d like to give a big thanks to Smile For A Child.
“Over the last year we’ve been on a journey setting up our Salvo’s Safe Car Park for women over 55 who are sleeping in their cars,“ he said.
“This is the reality for many women in our community. Because of you guys, it’s bringing hope and changing lives. There’s a lot of grateful ladies out there who are so thankful for a space like this.“
Matthew said they started their Safe Car Park in December 2024 and have now accommodated over 400 stays.
“We had a whole lot of hoops we had to jump through last year but we got there eventually,“ he said.
“Thanks to funds from Smile For A Child, we were able to put a gate in and CCTV security so the women feel safe overnight. We’re hiring toilets, showers, and basic cooking facilities at the moment.
“We’ve connected with Sunshine Beach High School and the students are building us a brand new amenities block. Hopefully by September we’ll have it craned into the Salvos.“
They can currently host six women a night but that will go up to 12 to 15 once they have their new amenities block.
“Most nights we’ve got six there at the moment and we’re having to turn people away and offer other suggestions in the area,“ Matthew said.
“It’s been life changing for the women. Some of them have got accommodation out of this which is what we want. But they’ve also found a sense of community. And they’re the first to put their hand up to help others.
“A lot of ladies have dogs with them because that’s their only companion. One of the ladies shared with me that it’s the first time in months that she’s had a good night’s sleep.
“We’ve had Sunshine Coast Council up with us recently looking at our model because it’s the first of its kind in Queensland. It’s making a difference and we’re grateful to those who have made it happen.“
The Smile for a Child Foundation was formed in 2007 with a mission to raise funds for local charities and sporting organisations.
Puck said, “Our annual golf day fundraiser is booked out already this year, so we’re looking forward to that in September.“
