We can't do it alone.

Lifeline Newcastle & Hunter is reliant on the generosity of our community and corporate partners to support the delivery of crisis support and suicide prevention services.

Thank you.

About Janene Gageler - 2011 Upper Hunter Steel Magnolia

According to her nominators Cathy, Noelene and Margaret “Right from a small child, Janene had a heart for those in need and those who were hurting - she was destined to become someone who would make a difference whilst on this earth”

With her very first part-time job in high school, Janene sponsored two orphaned children in the Philippines and remained steadfast in her obligation to continue to support their schooling and health needs. By 17, Janene was doing voluntary work with the Spastic Centre in Perth and commenced her career in the health industry – eventually becoming an enrolled nurse.

When she was 21, Janene married the love of her life Graham. She continued to work as a nurse in remote areas. When the young couple moved to the Pilbara region, Janene’s charitable nature came to the fore. She set up a recycled clothing store and co-ordinated meals for the needy.

When Janene and Graham moved to Indonesia for work, a spark ignited within Janene as she quickly developed a love of the Indonesians and their country.

Janene was so touched by the plight of the poor people in Indonesia that she, along with her friend Jody, teamed up with a local foundation to make a meaningful, long-term commitment to the Indonesians.

Their first task through the foundation was to support destitute widows of victims of the Bali bombings. To this day, Janene, Jody and many generous people from Muswellbrook support 12 widows and 27 children.
Through Janene’s fundraising efforts, the Foundation has since gone on to do some amazing work in Indonesia including:

• Supporting nine orphanages
  
• Setting up the RICE project to provide the daily rice needs of orphanages amounting to $55,000 per year
  
• Supporting an entire village by providing 40 water tanks to provide food and water in the dry months and by assisting 450 children through elementary school and 29 to high school

In 1996, Janene and Graham moved to Singleton just after their fourth baby was born. It was then that the unstoppable Janene developed Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. For most women, having such a debilitating disease whilst caring for four children would be too much to bear, but Janene, once again, was moved by the plight of others and decided to help the Kosovo refugees at the Singleton Army Camp. She helped to set-up a childcare and drop-in centre at the army camp and collected donations of toys to give to the children.

After ensuring that hundreds maybe thousands of people have a positive, healthy and prosperous future, Janene and Graham now find themselves facing a future that is far removed from what they deserve. Three years ago, Graham was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease and increasingly, Janene is finding that the compassion that she has lavished on widows, orphans and the poor is needed now, more than ever, in supporting her own family.

With her usual conviction, Janene has put plans in place to ensure the needs of her immediate family and her beloved Balinese.

On top of her growing commitments to her husband and family, Janene has recently gone back to University to become a mid-wife – travelling to Newcastle from Muswellbrook three times a week. Her ultimate dream is to set up a birthing clinic in Bali to reduce the mortality rate of mothers and their babies.