When community comes together

Harry Davis (OTG 2015)

For Harry Davis (OTG 2015), the decision to raise money for breast cancer research is deeply personal. On the first day of Year 12 in 2015, Harry lost his mum after her lengthy battle with breast cancer. He was 18.

Since 2016, through his annual breast cancer fundraiser luncheon, Harry has raised more than $240,000 for the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

“Seeing what mum went through, and the impact it had on our family and friends, is fundamental to why I continue to fundraise each year,” Harry says. “I want to do my bit in helping create a world where fewer families have to experience that hardship.”

Harry’s mum was, by his description, incredibly caring with a zest for life. She always had time for people, regardless of who they were or where they came from. She was a free spirit who travelled, valued her family and friends and made the most of every day.

Losing mum was the single biggest influence on me in my life to date.

It taught me to appreciate life, be kind to people and not sweat the small things. I think I’ve always tried to put kindness first, and I love to laugh and have a good time, which all comes back to her influence on me growing up.

The fundraising began as a way to remember his mum but soon became something much bigger. Growing up playing football, Harry had experienced firsthand the strength of local communities. Using his football club as a platform, he began spreading the word and building an annual Mother’s Day event around the cause.

More than 10 years later, that event has become a tradition with hundreds of friends, family members and colleagues continuing to support it each year.

“The power of community is incredible,” he says. “If you have genuine intent and you’re passionate about something, you can create some amazing outcomes and bring people along with you.”

Some of the most meaningful moments have been playing alongside his two brothers during the club’s annual “pink round”, wearing custom pink guernseys in honour of their mum. In 2025, the fundraising total passed $200,000, a milestone Harry says he could never have imagined when he first began.

But the dollar figure is not what stays with him most.

“One of the things I find most meaningful is the pride people feel in being involved,” Harry says. “When teammates, friends or family talk proudly about the event or the fundraising, that means a lot.”

That sense of community has roots in Harry’s years at Trinity. His fondest memories are often the small moments: laughing with friends around the lockers, playing football, heading away on Learning Journeys camps and simply enjoying each other’s company. Many of those friendships have continued well beyond school.

He also credits Trinity with teaching him the value of hard work and discipline. These lessons continue to shape his professional life as a Senior Advisor with Mawson.

Balancing a career with fundraising is not always easy, particularly in the months leading up to the annual event. But his Mawson colleagues have become some of its biggest supporters, helping Harry bring together different parts of his life and community.

For Harry, the broader lesson is simple: kindness and compassion are fundamental to a fulfilling life.

“It doesn’t cost anything to be a nice person,” he says. “There’s a really warm feeling that comes from contributing to something bigger than yourself, and that’s something pretty special.”

His advice to students who want to give back is simple: start with something that matters to you, even if you’re not sure where it will lead.

“Follow your heart and step into something, even if you’re uncomfortable,” he reflects. “You might be amazed by what you can achieve. It might feel like a small thing and the change might be slow, but if you commit to it, it will grow.