The Katrina Dawson Foundation + Beyond Blue for Tori Johnson

It's tough to think about what happened this time last week in Sydney. It's hard to believe a hashtag - for #Sydneysiege - was even created for our beautiful city. Tears flow when one thinks about something that should never have tarnished our beautiful Sydney.

And now, on the day of the memorial services for the victims of this horrible event, Katrina Dawson and Tori Johnson, a new foundation has emerged to honour Katrina - and a site set up for Tori via Beyond Blue.

Here is what the just-launched site says:

To preserve and honour the memory of Katrina Dawson and all she achieved, we want to establish the  Katrina Dawson Foundation. The Foundation will be focused on the education of women and former Governor-General The Honourable Dame Quentin Bryce AD CVO is the founding member. 

We have been touched and deeply honoured by the genuine tributes to our darling Katrina. We have been sustained by the extraordinary love of our family and friends, here and afar. Katrina’s friends and colleagues have given us unbridled support and have been a great source of strength. We also feel that we have been surrounded by the warmth of a city and a nation as we all struggle to come to terms with the tragic events of this week.

Katrina has inspired so many people to ask us what can be done to preserve and honour her memory. After much thought, we have decided to establish a charitable foundation in her name, which will be known as The Katrina Dawson Foundation. The Foundation will be focused on the education of women and former Governor-General The Honourable Dame Quentin Bryce AD CVO  will be its founding member.

Katrina was a light in so many lives. She shone in so many ways. And she made the most of every opportunity she had. It is our hope that out of her senseless death we will, through the opportunities the Foundation will provide, bring meaning to the lives of other amazing young women.

The site is here: http://thekatrinadawsonfoundation.org

And the you donate directly if  you click on the page, or go straight here: https://www.bpoint.com.au/payments/dawsonfoundation

For the family of Tori Johnson, they have requested any donations you wish to make go directly to Beyond Blue. Go to: beyondblueinmemoriam.everydayhero.com/au/torijohnson

Here is what the site says:

beyondblue has been contacted by Lindt Australia and the partner of Tori Johnson. Tori Johnson’s family has requested that donations made in Mr Johnson’s honour go to beyondblue. At their request, a website has been set up for this purpose: beyondblueinmemoriam.everydayhero.com/au/torijohnson

beyondblue expresses its deepest sympathies to Mr Johnson’s partner, family and the Lindt team. We are humbled and honoured by this gesture, and all money raised in memory of this courageous young man will be used to support people and families living with depression and anxiety.

On the page itself, it says about Tori Johnson:

Tori always believed in helping others and always taking a positive approach. In this spirit we have started a fund to raise money for beyondblue, a fantastic cause that Tori’s family have chosen to support.

beyondblue is a national initiative to raise awareness of anxiety and depression, providing resources for recovery, management and resilience. All those that knew Tori are deeply grateful for any support received.