Zephyr: The children’s charity saving thousands of kids

Four Queenslanders set out on a mission to help Queensland kids impacted by domestic and family violence. This is their story.

It all started with shoes.

Shoes which were incredibly important to school kids. Private or public, it’s that one part of the school outfit where their style becomes a ‘choice’. Shoes with the small heel, the soles that light up, laces, no laces, a pair of Jordans versus Nike Airs, or the ones with the ball that pops out beneath so they can roll their way to class.

It was Saturday, March 13, 2013, and Isabella Bevan had just finished reading a Courier-Mail article written by then journalist Kathleen Noonan, which ended with a callout asking anyone if they could help provide school shoes to kids staying in Queensland’s domestic violence shelters.

“I had been at a meeting about female homelessness in Queensland, hearing how children in DV shelters attended school in wrong uniforms and were bullied, because they stood out. Imagine that everyday incidental trauma on top of trauma. Of course, they didn’t want to return to school, were unhappy and sometimes, mothers returned to the violent perpetrator,” Ms Noonan said.

Zephyr Education founders Isabella and David Bevan at the production garage in Brisbane. Picture: Jerad Williams

“I was appalled that in this prosperous country, on the back of a prolonged mining boom, no one – no government department, no politician, no company – had fixed this.’’

That article ignited a dream in Isabella Bevan, who realised she would try to be a part of the fix.

By supplying a specially made school pack to take on their first day, and a brand new uniform to wear as they walk through the front gates, Mrs Bevan set out on a mission to give at-risk kids a chance to continue their education and hopefully, break out of the cycle of violence.

Isabella and David Bevan packing a new children's school pack. Picture: Jerad Williams

“The whole idea was that within a matter of days of these children arriving at DV shelters, they could walk through the front gate of the school, enrolled and looking like everyone else; wearing the right uniform, holding the right books, having a laptop if they needed one,” Mrs Bevan said.

“We instinctively knew that education is key and that’s our motivation.”

And just like that, the Zephyr Education charity was born.

Over the years, Isabella and her sister Carmel, along with their husbands David and Terry – and their army of volunteers – worked out of a garage, creating tailored school packs to send to thousands of children at 133 Queensland DV services – including 23 indigenous shelters and one immigrant women’s shelter -who were starting over with nothing.

Now, nine years later, multi-award winning journalist Hedley Thomas, Trent Dalton and producer Slade Gibson bring you their remarkable story. Listen to Zephyr: How light gets in.

Scan the QR code to listen to the podcast Zephyr: How light gets in.