Lifting Spirits: Bribie athletes spread kindness through community action

By Chase Christensen 

When the Bribie Weightlifting Club teamed up with the IAMKIND Movement, they set out to do something a little different from the usual grind of training and competing. For four weeks, a group of young lifters took part in the Purpose Project, a program designed to show how kindness, gratitude and purpose can be put into practice. What began as a simple idea turned into one of Bribie’s biggest community events and left the athletes with a whole new understanding of strength. 

The Purpose Project wasn’t about talking through theories or writing down values on a piece of paper. It asked the athletes to take ownership of kindness and put it into action. They explored ideas like self-love, gratitude and reflection and then used their own strengths to create something meaningful for the community. The end result was Bribie’s biggest ever game of tee-ball, a day filled with laughter, teamwork and connection. 

The event had a deeper purpose as well. Alongside the fun on the field, the athletes raised awareness for the new Headspace facility opening on Bribie, highlighting the importance of youth mental health support. By the time the final innings was played, the project had raised $435 thanks to raffles and donations, all going toward supporting local wellbeing initiatives. 

The tee-ball day wouldn’t have been possible without local support, with Sandstone Point IGA donating barbecue supplies, Sandstone Bakehouse providing fresh bread and Woorim Family Meats chipped in with a voucher for the raffle. Their contributions helped transform the athletes’ ideas into a community event that brought people together. 

For one of the IAMKIND founders, Ellise Wust, the project was about showing young people the power of kindness.  

“We believe kindness is more than just a nice gesture – it’s a powerful tool for growth, connection and community,” she said. “The Purpose Project was born out of a desire to give young people practical ways to live those values and then put them into action.” 

The transformation of the athletes was clear to see. At the beginning, many admitted they weren’t sure what ‘kindness in action’ really meant, however over the four weeks, their ideas grew, their confidence developed and by the time the event rolled around, they weren’t just weightlifters anymore – they had become community leaders. Instead of just lifting weights, they were lifting the spirit of Bribie Island. 

“Kindness builds resilience and confidence,” Ellise reflected. “These young people showed that when you combine strength with compassion, you create something truly powerful.” 

For the athletes, the pride and joy on the day spoke louder than any medal or personal best. The real reward came in seeing families laughing together, kids running the bases and the community connecting over something positive. 

The Purpose Project won’t stop with Bribie. Ellise and the IAMKIND team plan to bring the program to more clubs, schools and communities across Australia, spreading the message that kindness should be a daily habit rather than an afterthought. Anyone can get involved whether by joining in simple daily kindness practices, supporting IAMKIND online, inviting the project into local organisations, or just choosing to make kindness part of everyday life. 

The success of the Bribie Weightlifting Club’s Purpose Project proved that the biggest outcomes can’t always be measured in money or competition results. They’re measured in the laughter shared, the friendships made and the sense of belonging created.  

As Ellise put it, “Kindness is contagious. When we create opportunities for people to experience it in action, we build stronger communities. That’s the purpose behind everything we do.” 

For Bribie’s lifters this was about far more than sport - it was about lifting each other and their community, higher than ever before.