From grassroots projects to large-scale events, members of The Agency team continue to make a meaningful impact within the communities they serve.
We delve into the inspiring stories of connection and dedication that highlight the way The Agency redefines real estate with heart.
John Alten – The Agency Inner West
Along with his wife and two sons, John volunteers to feed the homeless through an organisation called Plates for Mates. While the initiative runs every Sunday, their family makes it a special tradition to dedicate a few days before Christmas to buying food and helping distribute it to those in need.
Catherine Murphy – The Agency Epping
Catherine and her team at The Agency Epping once again sponsored the North Epping Bowling Club and The North Epping Rangers. Although they are two different sports, both are integral to the local community. The Bowling Club launched in 1965 and the North Epping Rangers was established in 1963 and commenced with only a few netballers. It now has over 1000 members and 500 families in netball, football and tennis.
At the end of the season the club holds a North Epping Rangers Parade Day, marking the end of the season with a march that starts at the main intersection of North Epping. Children make banners and march with their team. When they arrive at the oval, team presentations are held, then the night is filled with food trucks, rides, and ends with a firework extravaganza. This year Catherine and her team sponsored the club and on Rangers Day had a marquee with balloon twisting and face painting, which proved to be very popular with the crowd.
Larena Butler – The Agency Sunshine Coast
Larena is an active member of her community, dedicating her time and resources to various causes. As the Secretary of her son’s Parents & Friends (P&F) committee, she has made a significant contribution to their Christmas Carols event on November 22nd, aimed at raising funds for a new school playground. Her sponsorship includes a face painter, balloon artist, and a gift basket raffle, with all proceeds going toward the playground fund.
Her passion for gardening led Larena to serve as Secretary for the Caloundra Garden Club. During this time, she sponsored the club’s monthly "Lucky Door Prize" raffles, which not only brought joy to the club’s members, many of whom are on lower incomes, but also supported local businesses with gift cards.
Larena’s commitment to community support extends to initiatives like "baskets of hope" for Friends on The Street, providing essential items to homeless individuals and families in need. She also donates gift baskets of toiletries for Caloundra’s homeless and domestic violence victims, drawing inspiration from her own experiences with hardship. Her generosity has inspired her 11-year-old son Brodyn to give back as well; he raises funds for the school playground by selling plants at their annual client thank-you garden party.
For the past 15 years, Larena has been a dedicated volunteer with Guide Dogs, participating in annual Christmas gift wrapping at the Caloundra Shopping Centre.
Nicola Stacey – The Agency Perth
Nicola Stacey together with The Agency WA made an extraordinary contribution to Ronald McDonald House Charities WA, in support of sick and injured children and their families. Nicola took on the sale of a property located in Nedlands WA, directly across the road from the charity's premises, offering her services pro bono. She provided free commission and marketing, with The Agency WA covering their portion of the commission and absorbing all marketing expenses.
This gesture resulted in a saving of $43,000 for the charity, funds that will directly benefit sick children and their families in Western Australia. The property has now gone under offer.
Mark De Brabander - The Agency Williamstown
Mark De Brabander supports the Williamstown Super Rules Football Club and Newport Power Junior Football Club. This year he organised a Super 9’s rugby tournament for dads, raising funds and awareness for Movember.
The Agency Queensland
The Agency QLD organised a blood drive with Lifeblood in August 2024 to help play a vital role in saving lives.
The Agency WA
The Magic Coat Foundation
The Agency Group Australia sponsored the 2024 Magic Coat Ball in August 2024, marking its fourth consecutive year as the charity event’s major sponsorship partner.
Since its establishment in 2019, the Magic Coat Ball has built a reputation as one of Western Australia’s premiere philanthropic events, raising much-needed funds to improve the mental health of young people within the state and beyond.
The Ball represents the flagship event for The Magic Coat Foundation, an organisation founded by former primary school teacher and family educator Diane Wilcox in order to provide greater educational resources to manage complex feelings such as anger and anxiety and build resilience.
The Agency Group Managing Director Paul Niardone speaking at the Magic Coat Ball 2024.
Best of the West
In 2022, The Agency launched the Best of the West initiative to spotlight and celebrate the remarkable efforts of Western Australians in aiding their local communities. By partnering with Channel 9 News, the program reaches a wide audience.
Continuing this initiative in 2024, The Agency has committed to donating $5,000 each month to a nominated charity, expressing our gratitude and aiding their ongoing missions. Culminating this initiative, The Agency awards an additional $50,000, divided into two prizes for exceptionally worthy charities. This represents a significant increase from last year's contributions, with all funds directly donated by agents from The Agency.
Best of the West empowers the public to nominate their local heroes. This ensures that a diverse array of charitable causes gain recognition on Channel 9 News and receive much-needed financial contributions. The nominated charities are those that have made a significant positive impact on the community through their actions, skills, or contributions to others.
The Best of the West initiative has proven to be a successful model for recognising and empowering local heroes, creating a ripple effect of positive change throughout the region.
Anna McPherson – The Agency Central Queensland
For the last four years, Anna has run an annual cancer fundraiser called Soiree En Blanc. The all-white dinner party is always highly anticipated by the Yeppoon community and this year raised $7000 for the Cancer Council Queensland.
Soiree en Blanc 2024.
The Agency Davistown & Central Coast
The Agency Central Coast team made a significant contribution to the community by raising nearly $17,000 for the annual Coast Shelter Sleepout, a local initiative supporting homelessness services and personal support programs on the NSW Central Coast. As a returning sponsor for the event, the team included The Agency CEO Real Estate Matt Lahood, Paula Taylor, Clint Harris, Jeremy Smith, Skye Le Marseny, Harrison Freeland and Paul Hills, and collectively raised over $200,000. This marks the second consecutive year of their involvement, with plans to make this an annual tradition to support the vital work of Coast Shelter.
Paula Taylor, Glen Gulliver and her team at The Agency Davistown sponsor the 3 Villages Community Group and run a trivia night every year, with all money raised going towards providing upkeep of the local area, kids playgrounds and community gardens. 3 Villages is a community group working for the residents of Yattalunga, Saratoga and Davistown.
The Agency Central Coast team at the Coast Shelter Sleepout 2024.
Sean O’Connor – The Agency Wollongong
Team O’Connor are proud sponsors of the Wiseman’s Park Bowling Club and the Kiera Cricket Club.
Toni Crefar – The Agency Launceston
Toni and The Agency in Launceston have made an incredible impact in supporting local cancer care programs through their involvement with the charity, Wigging It. Together with the support of The Agency General Manager VIC/TAS Sally O’Connell and her colleagues, including agents Katrina Garwood and Ian McCallum (who served as the auctioneer during a live auction), they have played a pivotal role in raising substantial funds for the Cancer Council.
The inspiration for Wigging It came in 2021, when Toni’s close friend Hayley Luttrell faced a cancer diagnosis. Hayley experienced the difficulties of finding suitable wigs during treatment. In response, Wigging It launched a successful Gala Ball in 2022, restocking the Launceston Wig Library and extending its support to Hobart and Devonport. The event was met with overwhelming support from the community.
This year, the focus shifted toward funding complimentary therapies like Tai Chi, mindfulness, exercise physiology, oncology massage and support groups for cancer patients. These therapies, which Hayley found invaluable, have now become more accessible thanks to Wigging It.
Two major events—the Strathmore Long Ladies Lunch and the Razzle Dazzle Cocktail Party—raised an impressive $40,382 in 2024. Combined with the proceeds from the 2022 Gala Ball, Wigging It has contributed a remarkable $96,000 to the Cancer Council to date.
Katrina, Toni and Ian at the Razzle Dazzle Cocktail Party.
The Strathmore Ladies Long Lunch 2024.
Michael Good – The Agency Toowoomba
Michael and his family contribute a box of apples every week for the children at Holy Name Primary School in Toowoomba to help provide snacks for the many underprivileged children who often come to school without food.
Sabrina Bestel – The Agency Victoria
A desire to give back to her local Hampton and Bayside community in Melbourne, Victoria inspired Sabrina to join forces with GA Industrial to host a special women’s-only Christmas celebration, the Ladies Christmas Ball on December 3, 2024. Taking on key roles in organising, hosting, and even participating in the fashion show, Sabrina has been instrumental in bringing this event to life.
The ball was widely promoted through popular Facebook communities like the Bayside Social Butterflies Social Club and Making Female Friends Melbourne, both of which focus on fostering meaningful connections, promoting healthy living, and encouraging social engagement among women at various stages of life.
Proceeds from the ball will support Bayside Community Emergency Relief, providing much-needed assistance to women and children fleeing domestic violence.
Robert Ciallella – RightMove Perth
Robert is a passionate advocate for men's health, particularly in raising awareness for prostate cancer. For the past two years Robert has proudly sponsored a men's golf event, the Callard Movember Cup with RightMove as its major sponsor, helping to support fundraising efforts for prostate cancer research and care. This year the event raised $5000, and has raised over $40,000 since the inception of the event. Through this partnership, Robert continues to contribute to the fight against prostate cancer, highlighting the importance of early detection and supporting the well-being of men.
Lia Juriansz - The Agency Queensland
Lia joined Gold Coast developer The Sherpa Group's charitable efforts this year by contributing large gift boxes for children, with educational toys, clothes and gifts.