Hear inspiring stories from people making a difference
Discover how our funding is making a difference – new community impact case studies are added regularly.
Broken Ballerina Inc.
Broken Ballerina Emergency Escape Packs
Broken Ballerina is the only Domestic violence organisation in Mackay that operates 24 hours, seven days a week, 365 days per year.
Our mission is to help survivors break the cycle of domestic violence by learning to believe in themselves. Building the self confidence of survivors is one of the many ways we provide survivor support and help them understand that they can live a life without abuse.
Our activities are funded by the generous support of our local community through our corporate and community fundraising. These funds help us raise awareness of Domestic Violence through media appearances, social media platforms and presentations throughout the community, at schools and community groups.
A very important part of our work is providing Emergency Escape Bags to survivors. Broken Ballerina Emergency Escape bags funded by Hannan Mason Foundation enable survivors to escape a dangerous or threatening situation and then put plans in place for their future.
Broken Ballerina Escape bags greatly assist victim survivors in the Mackay community by providing a timely and effective response to need when survivors have nowhere else to turn.
CQ Rescue
CQ Rescue provides lifesaving aeromedical and search and rescue capabilities across Central and North Queensland, 24/7 365 days a year. As one of the busiest rescue helicopters in Queensland, our community funded service plays a pivotal role in providing peace of mind to people living, working and visiting this region.
CQ Rescue is part of the Queensland Health Aeromedical Retrieval Network and is tasked by Retrieval Services Queensland.
In 2022 CQ Rescue signed a contract for two new AW139 rescue helicopters made possible by the contribution of $600k from the Hannan Mason Foundation. These state-of-the-art helicopters, which set the benchmark in performance, safety and innovation, were to replace the old Bell 412 models that had been serving the organisation since 2013.
The AW139 were purchased as their overall performance including speed and range far surpassed that of the older 412s.
The AW139s deliver enormous benefits to the service including enhanced avionics, superior performance, proven technology and exceptional safety features. Since the AW139’s have come into service there have been numerous missions that delivered great outcomes as a direct result of the machines enhanced capabilities.
2025 saw these helicopters coming to the rescue of 884 patients.
Volunteer Marine Rescue Association Queensland
Air Sea Rescue was formed in 1962 by a small group of boaties using their own vessels until they raised funds to purchase a 23-foot Shark Cat. A dedicated committee drove fundraising efforts that enabled the organisation to grow into the service it is today. Over the years, donations from Mackay and surrounding areas funded additional vessels and radio equipment, helping keep the local boating community safe. The group also operated radio station VJ4BH Mackay, reaching beyond the mainland to the islands, including St Helens Beach, Clearview, St Bees Island and Keswick Island.
In the 1980s, the organisation was incorporated into the Volunteer Marine Rescue Association Queensland, and in 2024 became part of Marine Rescue Queensland. Today, it services an operational area extending north to Lindeman Island, south to the Percy Group, and out to the outer Barrier Reef. Key assets include 35 volunteers, three repeater stations on Brampton Island (Channel 21), Knight Island (Channel 80) and Penrith Island (Channel 22), and a fleet of four vessels: a 40 ft Steber, 41 ft Noosa Cat, 7.5 m Swift, and the 6.5 m Swift rigid inflatable, Valda Mason.
The Valda Mason, the newest vessel in the fleet, was funded by the Hannan Mason Foundation at a cost of $250,000. Originally, VMR Mackay planned to build a larger rescue vessel to replace the Steber, which would have required selling their 8.5 m woody and replacing it with the 4100 Noosa Cat. Instead, they presented a business case to the Hannan Mason Foundation to upgrade their 7.3 m Swift with a new purpose-built vessel, securing funding within days. Without this support, a vessel of this calibre would not have been possible.
Since its arrival, the Valda Mason has been instrumental in numerous rescues, operating inshore, in shallow creeks, and out to the islands. During Tropical Cyclone Cyclone Koji, it was deployed at night in severe weather to rescue a person in a small craft being swept out to sea from the Pioneer River Boat Ramp. The vessel was launched around 9 pm in heavy rain and strong winds, successfully recovering the person at the river mouth—an outcome that may have otherwise been fatal.
In another incident in February, around midnight, the crew was tasked to recover a young person who had entered the water at the north wall. The individual was located and safely returned to the boat ramp, where an ambulance transported them to hospital for treatment.
The Valda Mason has proven to be a vital asset for both the organisation and the Mackay community. VMR Mackay / Marine Rescue Mackay extends its sincere thanks to the Hannan Mason Foundation for enabling the purchase of this state-of-the-art vessel, supporting rescuers to continue delivering this critical service safely.
Hinterland Community Care Inc.
Our organisation is known for providing a local, professional and flexible team that provides a unique service tailored to the needs of the individual. We take the time to match clients and staff to their support goals. The Hinterland Community Care Incorporated Vision is to provide the best holistic, inclusive and professional service of its type in the Bowen Basin, both now and into the future. Our Mission is to support and promote participation in everyday life for people with additional needs providing values-based service delivery and a commitment to continuous improvement.
Hinterland Community Care Incorporated has a small fleet of aging vehicles which we use to assist our clients to access medical appointments and social activities. Some of these transports can be over 250 kilometres each way. We also use vehicles to provide services to clients living on rural and remote properties. Hannan Mason Foundation generously funded $40,000.00 towards the purchase of a new Toyota RAV4 to enable Hinterland Community Care Inc. to transport our clients safely to their appointments.
The RAV4 has the capacity to allow multiple clients to have their mobility aids, such as walkers and wheelchairs with them on long distance medical transports. It also accommodates clients living on rural and remote properties to purchase their essential provisions simultaneously. This means clients health and wellbeing is being serviced in a timely and expedient manner.
We are grateful to Hannan Mason for their assistance to deliver this outcome for our community.
Shara’s Foundation
Shara’s Foundation is a non-profit registered charity which operates Shara’s Club. Shara’s club is a secure, cost-free social hub for disabled adults within the Mackay, Whitsunday and Coalfield communities which provides regular opportunities for its members to socialise with others and enjoy the facilities, entertainment and activities on offer, in a welcoming, inclusive and safe environment. The club promotes independence and active participation and is a place to make friends, explore interests, learn new skills, build connections and enhance well-being.
The project’s objective was to supply various resources for club activities for disabled adults within the community. Thanks to the contribution of $100k by Hannan Mason, many resources were purchased for the club for use by its members. These resources include: – kitchen equipment for cooking sessions, new craft area for everyday and specialised craft sessions, a vast array of musical instruments for the music room and a new sensory room which is extensively used by members for chill out, relaxation or sensory stimulation. The sensory room is named and dedicated to Hannan Mason in gratitude and recognition of their generous contribution.
Hannan Mason Foundation has contributed immensely to Shara’s Foundation achieving its goal in transforming the lives of disabled individuals within our community by providing resources and activities for Shara’s Club. This has a positive impact on the disabled community because it improves wellbeing by providing a social club within the community that caters to their wants and needs for life skills and entertainment.
Are you making a difference?
Please share a brief overview of your organisation and the project or program that received funding with Hannan Mason.
Download an editable PDF, complete the form, attach some supporting images, and return it via email to: info@hannanmason.com.au