28th November 2011
Triple vote for charity in 2012 New Zealander of the Year Awards
Both founders of the charity StarJam and the organisation itself are semi-finalists for the 2012 New Zealander of the
Years awards. In the announcement that was made on 24th November by New Zealander of the Year awards, Julie Bartlett has
been chosen amongst the final 10 in the Local Hero category, her husband Roy Bartlett in the Senior category and StarJam
amongst nine others named in the Community category. More than 500 nominations were received for these awards.
The organisation and its founders have won seven awards since 2007 and have been finalists for three others. “These
awards reaffirm what our families are telling us; that our programmes are providing opportunities that are not available
anywhere else and their children start achieving things never thought possible,” says Bartlett.
Julie Bartlett’s brother Ross Moses who has Down Syndrome inspired his sister to start StarJam and is its CEO. Roy
Bartlett who works fulltime as volunteer office manager has the neurological disease Multiple Sclerosis. More than 500
young people with disabilities have become involved in the organisation’s performance workshop programmes.
The couple live in Orakei, Auckland, a short distance from StarJam’s national office in Remuera. Finalists for the
awards will be announced on 12th December.
Background Information on StarJam
StarJam is a super-charity which creates national and international limelight opportunities for young people with
disabilities. Known as “Jammers”, StarJam kids gain respect, confidence, empowerment, new friends, new hope and new
purpose within a fun and inclusive atmosphere Our belief is that “wildly positive change” affects not just them and
their families but their peer groups and the wider “able-bodied” community in their perception of kids with
disabilities. There are 24 performance workshop programmes spread throughout Auckland, Hamilton and Wellington each week
in song, dance, percussion and guitar. StarJam has been acknowledged in ten different awards programmes since 2007. www.starjam.org
ENDS