Several Hunter businesses have thrown their support behind Compass Housing’s inaugural fundraising luncheon for its Grow A Star youth mentoring and scholarship program.

Cougar Mining, Ch4 Drilling, Australian Mining Equipment, Batt Mobile Equipment, PKF Newcastle, Broadley Signs, and Beyond Bank are just some of the local businesses supporting the event.

The keynote speaker will be one of the Hunter’s famous footballing son’s, turned entrepreneur, Craig Johnston.

Craig – the multiple championship winning Liverpool FC Midfielder and Australia’s most decorated footballer – will share his grassroots to glory story at lunch for the Stars at Noah’s on 18 June.

Compass Housing Community Relations and Events Manager, Michelle Faithfull, said Grow a Star is about helping young people realise their dreams.

Craig Johnston knows the importance of having dreams and how pursuing them can change your life.

Born to Australian parents in South Africa, Johnston grew up in Lake Macquarie. At 15, he moved to England to try and become a professional soccer player in.

His parents moved to a smaller house to help him realise his dream. Against all odds, and overcoming much adversity, Johnston was signed by Liverpool FC in 1981.

During his time with Liverpool, the club also won the European Cup and five league titles.

After retiring from football, Johnston went on to invent the globally worn Adidas Predator football boot.

He also had his own surfboard brand and worked as a Photographer and Music Producer. He still plans to take his football-coaching system for children, Soccer Skills, globally, despite difficult negotiations with parties sending him bankrupt. Johnston lives in Newcastle and is the patron of Northern NSW Football.

“My two loves are Australia and football,” Craig said.

“I love living in Newcastle and am passionate about helping kids be happier, healthier and more clever.

“The Grow a Star program does just that, so I was very keen to support it.”

Michelle said Craig understands the importance of local teams and community.

His autobiography, Walk Alone was dedicated to the victims of Heysel & Hillsborough disasters. And he fundraised tirelessly for the community which supported him through his football career.

Compass Housing established the Grow a Star program in 2012 to help young people – living in social housing or from other disadvantaged backgrounds – to overcome the financial obstacles that are preventing them from following their dreams.

It has assisted more than 400 young people to pursue their academic, artistic, and sporting goals at grassroots and representative levels.

IMAGE | Old photo of Craig Johnston playing for Liverpool FC.