Author Archives: Michael McKern

A group of Karen students involved in the VCAL program at Bendigo Senior Secondary College were very excited to show Michael and Melissa (and little Zoe) the table that they constructed with funds received from the McKern Foundation late last year.

The McKern Foundation celebrated its latest round of grants with a function at the Exchange Hotel in Bendigo recently.

You can read all about it on the Bendigo Advertiser Website.

This Good Friday, Friday 18th April, the best-selling Emperor Nouveau Q1 from Henley Properties, will go under the hammer at auction with all proceeds being donated to The Royal Children’s hospital.

Here’s a gallery of exclusive photos of the home. The house is fully completed with highest quality fixtures and finishes.

Visit www.gfacharityhouse.com.au for details.

Up until the Good Friday auction, The Henley Royal Children’s Hospital House is open for inspection every Saturday and Sunday Midday – 2pm, and on Monday evenings 4-6pm.

Location:  83 Aspire Boulevard, Plumpton VIC 3335
The ‘Aspire’ community in Plumpton is just 30 kilometres north-west of the city within one of Melbourne’s premier new residential areas.

For more information, go to http://www.gfacharityhouse.com.au/#charity-auction

From all of us at McKern Steel, we’d like to congratulate Henley Properties on this initiative. Not only are their newly constructed homes top notch, but they offer great value house and land packages and will be there every step of the way if you’ve decided to knock down your old home and build new.

Bendigo Spirit is gearing up to host the Townsville Fire in the WNBL Grand Final this Sunday, tip off at 3:15, broadcasted live on ABC TV.

We’re feeling a little bit of déjà vu this year as the two best teams of the season repeat from 2013; Bendigo winning that game 75-71. Bendigo defeated Dandenong in the second semi final both last year and this year to earn the right to host the grand final and the girls are keen to have a repeat win for the 2014 grand final.

A little bit of background for this year’s match:

Bendigo finished the season with a league best 22-2 record, while Townsville finished 16-8 in third spot.

Though Townsville defeated the Spirit in the last two of three contests, Bendigo had the most up in Townsville late this season by 21 points.

Townsville’s women of steel: Suzy Batkovic (new to the club this season, announced today as winning her 3rd straight MVP), Rachel McCully (plays her 300th game on Sunday), Stephanie Cumming and Kayla Standish.

Bendigo’s best: Kristi Harrower (going for 3rd championships in what could be her final game), Gabe Richards (6th in MVP voting, Spirit’s only all-star this season, Kelsey Griffin (5th in MVP voting, last year’s grand final MVP, Kelly Wilson and Sara Blicavs (scored 25 against Townsville last time)

Two key match ups could decide the result of the 2014 WNBL grand final: Batkovic vs Richards inside, and McCully vs Harrower on the perimeter.

McCully and Harrower are two of the league’s premier point guards and the best defensively in the game, with three defensive player of the year awards between them – who will end the day with the most steals?

Pardon the STEEL puns… Steal (basketball): To take possession of the ball from an offensive player who is holding, dribbling, or passing the ball.

While Batkovic and Richards have engaged in many a tussle over the years, with Richards fairing well against the 193cm Fire centre on most occasions.

Townsville proved that they can win when Batkovic as an off game (13p, 16r) last week in Dandenong, while they also showed in their last match up with the Spirit that when she plays well (27p, 17r) that they can lose (only scored 57 points that game).

Bendigo have proven they can carry on after Elyse Penaluna, with its own 193cm big going down with a torn ACL late in the season.

Townsville are the only side to beat Bendigo this year, and Spirit coach Bernie Harrower thinks his side should be viewed as underdogs, while Chris Lucas said after the Fire’s three point win over Dandenong that they would not be coming to Bendigo to lose.

Playing team defence will be the key for Bendigo, and making sure they are not too  Batkovic-centric. Last week Townsville had five double-digit scorers, proving they are not a one-player team. Coach Harrower is a firm believer in that “defence wins championships”, and it could net the Spirit back-to-back titles on Sunday.

The Henley Royal Children’s Hospital House is approaching its final stages of construction, with fit off stage commencing very soon!

This Good Friday, Friday 18^th April, the best-selling Emperor Nouveau Q1 from Henley Properties, will go under the hammer at auction with all proceeds being donated to The Royal Children’s hospital.

SNEAK PEAK! 2014 Royal Children’s House Internals (Note: this is the same colour scheme and layout, but not the actual house – it’s still in progress!)

The team is looking to install furniture and landscaping in the coming month, and look forward to having our first Open for Inspection of the property in early March.

McKern Steel is very proud to have been a part of the Royal Children’s Hospital Charity home for 21 years (since the very start). It’s a great cause and the Royal Children’s Hospital is something that we all can be thankful for. Congratulations to Henley for this initiative, which has raised over $11.3 million for The Royal Children’s Hospital so far.

ON AUCTION DAY:

Friday 18th April, 2014

Victoria’s favourite auction event will kick off on Good Friday with a range of fun events for the whole family. There will be free entertainment, PLUS some special guests from Channel 7 and a sausage sizzle put on by the CFA. Be part of the excitement as the hammer is raised and the Good Friday Appeal house is sold for the kids of the Royal Children’s Hospital.

If you’re thinking of buying a new home, what better way to invest than a piece of history – with your money providing outstanding care for Victoria’s children and their families.

Henley Properties offer many ways to help you have a quality new home. They offer newly constructed homes, House and land packages and will also be there every step of the way if you’ve decided to knock down your old home and build new.

This week, we counted up the ‘likes’ on the McKern Steel Facebook page to find out which jellybean masterpiece won our 2013 competition.

Metricon’s edible village was a clear favourite and they were awarded $250 for their efforts.

After announcing their victory, we couldn’t be more pleased to hear that Metricon chose to donate their $250 prize money to the Very Special Kids charity. Very Special Kids provides counselling and support services to families caring for a child diagnosed with a life-threatening condition.

To find out more about the Very Special Kids charity, go to: http://www.vsk.org.au/  

The competition designed by Yoke was a bit of fun for all and showed off the creative sides of many of the friends of McKern.

The creativity shown by the Metricon team was outstanding, and their attention to detail couldn’t be beaten.

In second place, the team from Boutique homes showed the Christmas spirit and created a Santa hat which was an early favourite.

We’re very thankful to everyone who entered the 2013 McKern Steel jellybean competition and are very pleased to be donating $250 on behalf of Metricon Homes and McKern Steel to the Very Special Kids charity.

Metricon and Boutique are both new-home building companies and are highly recommended by the McKern Steel team.

Metricon: http://www.metricon.com.au/

Boutique: http://www.boutiquehomes.com.au/

The McKern Foundation would like to ask the Bendigo community to raise awareness and supporting funds to support Kristy Thomson in her road to recovery.

Kristy suffered serious spinal injuries when a tree fell in Rosalind Park on December 30, claiming the life of her four-year-old daughter, Patiya May.

Bendigo Community Health Services in partnership with Kristy’s family has launched a public appeal to help meet the many costs associated with treatment of her injuries, rehabilitation and ongoing care.

Though the grieving and healing process is far from over, we’d like to encourage the Bendigo community to do all that they can to support Patiya’s mother, Kristy and father, Kyle Schreiber at this hard time.

Donations can be made at any Bendigo Bank branch, or online bendigobank.com.au/foundation/kristythomson

The McKern Foundation, Empowering Eaglehawk, YMCA Foundation and the Bendigo Advertiser are among those who have already pledged money to the fund.

Should you wish to offer trades or services, please contact Emma McKern at emma@mckern.net.au

We would appreciate you circulating this blog post among your networks, to help spread the word about the fundraising effort; in hope that we can donate enough funds to allow Kristy to focus on grieving and getting better without financial strain.

Kristy and Patiya’s family has extended their gratitude to the Bendigo and wider community.

Please see this link: http://www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au/news/kristys-appeal/

You don’t always get to be with your friends when they are enjoying your gifts.

So this year, we challenged all of our friends to use their jar of lollies to create something “awesome”.

The winner will be decided on the McKernSteel1 Facebook page when all of the likes are tallied when business kicks off in 2014.

We were super excited to see an entry from four-time Olympian Kristi Harrower, who of course created a basketball from the orange and white jellybean selection.

Another must-see jellybean masterpiece was from new-home building leaders Metricon; who created an edible village.

McKern Steel’s new logo celebrates 37 years in business and a new partnership with creative agency, Yoke.

McKern Steel Managing Director Michael McKern says that Yoke took their brand to the next level that matches the business that he and his family are so passionate about.

“We’ve been giving jars of lollies to our friends at Christmas time for years now.

We always love delivering them, but this competition that Yoke devised for us got everyone into the Christmas spirit. It has been fantastic to see how creative everyone is!” –  Michael McKern, MD

Yoke’s Bendigo office employs local Account Manager Melyssa Dunlop and General Manager Peter Lodewijks, and offers the latest in graphic design and web design – straight from their creative studio based in Collingwood, Melbourne.

McKern Steel will announce the winner of the competitions on January 6, 2014.

The McKern Foundation is a proud gold sponsor for the Bendigo Little Athletics Centre during the 2013/14 season. The centre is 100% volunteer operated and provides sporting opportunities for children of all levels of ability.

Little Athletics is organised competition in Track and Field events for children aged between  5 and 15 years of age. The emphasis is on participation, fun and personal improvement. Events include sprinting, jumping and throwing events.

Sponsorship money will be used during 2013/14 to fund the following initiatives:

• Purchase of new finish line recording hardware and software
• Provision of wireless broadband to the site to improve recording of results
• Purchase of additional equipment for our popular “on-track” program for the under 6 year olds
• Purchase of a new cover for a long jump pit
• Attendance at coaching courses for age group managers
• Purchase of additional coaching equipment and provision of improved storage and transportation facilities
• Provision of hazard signs to reduce risks from throwing events
• Purchase of a new first aid kit.

Ross Johnson, Bendigo Little Athletics Centre Fundraising Coordinator, says the success of Little Athletics could not happen without the funding from generous Bendigo organisations, including the McKern Foundation.

“The 2012/13 season was very successful for Bendigo Little Athletics, with a record number of participants and the hosting of regional and state championships”, he said.

 

Exciting news from the McKerns this week, Samantha Butcher (McKern) is expecting!!!

“I am beyond excited! No nerves,just pure excitement! We all can’t wait.

I’m 26 and Matty my husband is 35, this is our first baby together. My step children Chloe, 14, and Jackson, 6, are very, very excited about the new bubs and of course Jackson wants a brother.”

– Samantha Butcher (McKern)

The excited mum-to-be, happily answered a few questions for this blog, so we can let the world know how excited we all are! Congrats!

How did you find out you were pregnant? We took a pregnancy test on a Friday morning after only a few months of trying and we were very, very excited to see the 2 lines!

Do you know when you are due? 20th May!

How did you announce the news to your friends and family? We told close family and friends personally at about 5 weeks then at 13 weeks announced it via SMS and Facebook.

How many children do you want to have? We already have 2 but we’d like another 3 or 4!

Do you want to know if it’s a boy or a girl? No way! After all that hard work it’ll be a nice little surprise at the end!

What are you favourite baby names? Not saying! You’ll have to stay tuned.

What has been the best thing so far about being pregnant? All the food that I’ve been eating!! Food takes away the sick feeling so no one can tell me to stop! Oh and going to bed early without feeling like a grandma. AND having my beautiful husband look after me. He does all the cooking, cleaning, washing (and pretty much everything there is to do around the house!) because I’m always so tired!