In April, Bulli actor Yael Stone will be celebrating the first birthday of her not-for-profit Hi Neighbour. In year two, the charity with the friendliest name and the smartest circular model in the energy transition is calling for support via a new fundraising button on its website.
“I’ve never been more nervous to press go on anything,” said Yael, who hopes residents will support the movement to lower local emissions and ensure no workers are left behind. “It’s with all of us that we will make this transformation.”
Hi Neighbour funds businesses to install rooftop solar, using interest on loans to fund scholarships for local workers to upskill for renewable jobs.
A mum of two young children, Yael famously starred in Orange is the New Black, but gave up her Green Card and US screen career to study sustainability at UOW and start Hi Neighbour after the Black Summer bushfires. Her charity launched in April 2023 with an innovative partnership with Bellambi tool belt maker Buckaroo.
“Both their manufacturing work and their transport fleet is now fully electric and solar-powered,” Yael said. “They’ve been doing repayments for the last 12 months, and their interest will go into a future scholarship round, which would be called the Buckaroo Scholarship.”
Hi Neighbour’s recent Electrify Everything scholarship round is supported by Dr Saul Griffith’s Rewiring Australia. It’s helping 10 Illawarra electricians with $2000 each to cover training in solar grid connection and battery storage work.
In life post-New York, Yael finds the parent network invaluable. It’s connected her to everyone from board members to Thomas Creative craftsman Troy Henman, who she met at a party. Troy then introduced her to business owner David Thomas, Hi Neighbour’s newest ally.
“It’s about the real human connections every single time,” Yael said.
“We just announced our next community solar partner with Thomas Creative. They’re in Unanderra. They make theatre sets, they do signage and they’ve worked in the Illawarra for seven decades.”
Hi Neighbour is volunteer-run. Support their work at hineighbour.com.au
