Philanthropy
WALK A WHILE
Berni has a heart and passion for First Nation of Australia to receive and benefit for equal access to all for medical care. As a pharmacist practising in UK and Australia and working in clinical trials, it wasn’t until she visited indigenous communities west of Alice springs that she was able to embrace and see the challenges that still exist today. She studied a Grad Cert in Aboriginal Studies to understand history of the journey and some reality in the context of the people. Berni has been fundraising and connected with Walk awhile ( www.walkawhile.org.au). This foundation was established in 2010 with the aim of walking alongside indigenous people using creative and visual arts as common ground. The funds raised are for local indigenous projects and equipping youth with equipment and skills to tell their stories and to equip them to engage in meaningful employment opportunities for the future.
Memory Mountain
Memory Mountain is a particularly important project Berni and her family have intrinsically been involved in since its inception and the Elders in Haast Bluff have thanked the family for their key involvement in establishing their company and business model. The outcome of the Elders wishes was to see a 22 high cross on the mountain and tourist infrastructure to enable a safe easy access to the site in the geographical centre of Australia.
Further information :(www.memorymountain.com.au). Berni has recently been heard on Salt FM talking about her fundraising efforts and support for this project.
She would love to be your personal tour guide and take you there to meet the local people who can show you around they amazing country and hear their stories and share food together.
Adventure All Stars
Berni has raised over 10K personally in 2022 through Walkawhile's collaboration with Adventure All stars on Channel 7plus.
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She continues to fundraise for the construction of essential facilities at the site for visitors for shade and facilities (water and toilet) through another episode of All Stars featuring next year.
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She can be seen on Season 3 Episode 6 filmed on the Sapphire Coast and will be screened again next year in the Legends 2 series as she raised another 7K for Walkawhile.
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https://walk-a-while-foundation-legends.raisely.com/berni-morris-smith
Local community
Berni's family has always been focussed on "others" and has supported many local charities. Her family has been involved in helping in the setting up and contributing a number of significant projects on the Sunshine Coast. One of these included Skate Aid (Australia) which helped school children not drop out of school but drop in to a skate program to incentivise school attendance and completion of work. For further information see https://www.skate-aid.org.au/?
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One Wave
Berni's family continued the work of One Wave on the Sunshine Coast for a season 2019 -2020 after her boys lost their dad to cancer. He helped in the initial early days of the charity set up. Her sons were keen to support his work. One Wave reaches many people and raises awareness of mental health and suicide risk in young adults meeting at beaches or visiting schools to break the stigma on mental health. On one gathering Berni hosted over 100 people to support each other over the loss of a school mate. One Wave has grown to be an international charity raising awareness through "One Wave is all it takes" and the guys running it are doing an amazing job. For further information: