Clare
Clare grew up in Blacktown with strong family roots. She values kindness, connection, and integrity, supporting Wayside for the genuine care and commitment to helping those facing life’s toughest challenges.
Clare
My name is Clare. I grew up in Blacktown in a working-class family. I’ve been fortunate to have a secure home environment, a great education and no major traumas in my life. I’m married, have two boys, beloved friends and wonderful extended family.
I used to listen to James Valentine in the afternoons, and Graham Long would read “Dear Inner Circle…”. I was hooked by the humour and poignancy of every letter.
What drew me towards Wayside was the message of “love over hate and a complete lack of judgement. Phrases that didn’t reflect dogma like, ‘We’re not much like a church, which might work for you if you’re not much like a Christian’ went straight to my heart. I’ve seen too much hypocrisy from churches, but Wayside seemed to actually DO the right things.
And we are all a step away from the Wayside.
We’ve been part of Wayside for 13 years and it continues to do good. I’ve never had a question about its integrity and always been impressed by how it continues to grow to respond to more needs in society. None of those needs are going to lessen when I die so I want to continue to support a trusted organisation that, above all, prioritises connection while providing practical services.
Leaving your estate to your kids or family looks after your kids and family.
Leaving a gift to Wayside, looks after so many more: other people’s kids; women who nurtured their children and gave up work only to be divorced with no super or assets in their 50s or 60s; women and children who are escaping domestic violence; people who’ve suffered unspeakable trauma; and hopefully not, but maybe your kids, if they fall by the wayside.
It was incredibly easy to leave my gift to Wayside. Wayside provided the legal wording, the lawyer copied it, done.
As a legacy, I want my family and friends to know how much I valued and appreciated them choosing to be in my life. And I want my children to know how vital kindness and moments of connection are and give them the confidence to instigate those moments.
It leaves me feeling hopeful and glad that that I could leave something. While the Wayside way exists, there is a beating heart of sanctuary and connection even when it seems the rest of society, or the world is having it’s ‘going to Hell in a handbasket’ moment.
