Story
Driven by compassion
words TODD KUCHEL
PHOTOGRAPHY sam kroepsch
Annabelle Travaglione was born in the UK. Following secondary school, she studied for degrees in engineering and business management at university, which led to a unique position as the first woman to work on an oil rig.
“It was just a fun time,” Annabelle beams. “I used to arrive, and the riggers would sing My Girl as the helicopter landed. They were lovely!”
Initially a mechanical engineer on the rig, Annabelle went on to train to be the offshore installation manager.
“I’m also one of a few people who know how to get out of a helicopter under water,” Annabelle beams.
A year and a half later, Annabelle applied for a Finance Graduate Program with American Express. She qualified as a chartered accountant, working first in London until she found herself sitting with a colleague in a pub one day, saying that she wanted a job in the sun.
“Two weeks later I was flying to Australia,” Annabelle says.
Annabelle was employed with AMEX in Sydney and worked her way up for the next 25 years, attaining opportunities to work in New York, Hong Kong and Singapore, reaching senior positions.
Upon returning to Sydney, Annabelle began volunteering in the Children’s Hospice, Bear Cottage, a not-for-profit organisation that works with children with life-limiting illnesses who are not expected to reach adulthood.
“It’s the kind of thing that changes you,” Annabelle shares. “Bear Cottage have a saying, we couldn’t add years to a (child’s) life, but we could add life to their years, so that’s what we used to try to do. Some days were horribly sad, but it was a privilege to be honest, and I’ve always thought, with privilege comes responsibility, so I left corporate, and went to work there.”
Annabelle took an 80 per cent pay cut at the time, to run the volunteer service.
“I absolutely loved it,” Annabelle says. “It’s the type of place that teaches you to never take anything for granted.”
“It’s going to sound nuts,” Annabelle chuckles, as she recalls the moment she was inspired to move to the Barossa. “But remember that Barossa ad with the Nick Cave soundtrack and the rolling in the dirt and everyone drinking red wine. I thought, that looks terrific!”
Annabelle had never been to the Barossa but immediately went to see four houses and four schools.
“I found this ridiculous 1911 farmhouse in the middle of Keyneton, with no electricity or running water,” Annabelle shares. “I fell in love with it.”
She purchased the home and moved here with her son, Lochie.
“It’s the best thing that I’ve done!” Annabelle says. “I couldn’t love the Barossa more. It couldn’t have been more welcoming to both of us. It felt like home.”
To top it off, two years later, Annabelle was introduced to a grape grower and winemaker from the Riverland, Mauro, who has recently become her husband.
“It was instant for both of us, we fell head over heels in love,” Annabelle shares.
Annabelle knew she wanted to remain working for a not-for profit, so when an opportunity came up with Foundation Barossa, she jumped for it.
Foundation Barossa is a Community Foundation that’s been around for about 20 years, responding to the challenges in the region.
In 2020 the Foundation became aware of youth homelessness.
“A sudden spike in numbers at that time was because all the kids who had been couch surfing, had been told they had to socially isolate, so they couldn’t stay. At that stage we knew of 40 kids who were homeless, but that’s the tip of the iceberg,” Annabelle shares.
In search of a solution, Annabelle found a group in Victoria called, ‘Kids Under Cover’ which had been building relocatable youth homelessness prevention studios for 30 years.
“It’s a beautiful, results driven program, so I rang them,” Annabelle shares. “I said, ‘we’re in the Barossa, but I know you’re based in Victoria.’ They said, ‘well, you could be our pilot’.”
“Compassion matters. A strong community can make things happen and together we can do a lot.”
- Annabelle Travaglione
That year, Annabelle approached Homburg Real Estate to see if they would be interested in becoming a program supporter.
“Their motto is “Specialising in Real Estate – involved in Our Community,” Annabelle explains, “and their involvement with Foundation Barossa is evidence of that.”
The Homburg Homelessness Prevention Fund was created and with a lot of work in between, the fourth studio will be built at the end of this year.
“Compassion matters,” Annabelle says. “A strong community can make things happen and together we can do a lot.”
At home in the office, with two enormous, not very bright dogs, Mr Jones, an English Setter, and Baz a lunatic Labradoodle at her feet, Annabelle remembers her time in Hong Kong, looking out a window at 10,000 people staring back. Now with nothing but the rolling hills of the Barossa Valley before her, she couldn’t feel more at home.
