People with Purpose: Yvonne Anthoney
A Light That Refuses to Dim
In a city filled with policy-makers and changemakers, there are some people whose purpose cannot be taught or trained, it is lived. Yvonne Anthoney is one of those people. A quiet but unmistakable force in Canberra, she has turned the most unimaginable sorrow into one of the city’s most hopeful legacies.
Yvonne is the co-founder of Dainere’s Rainbow, a charity born not out of ambition, but out of love. Fierce, unrelenting, transformative love. When her daughter Dainere passed away from brain cancer, Yvonne stood at the edge of grief and chose to build something. A bridge. A light. A promise.
Every year, families across Canberra gather for the Dainere’s Rainbow Gala, not just to raise funds, but to remember that courage can coexist with heartbreak. That hope is not the opposite of grief, it is the continuation of it.
You don’t need to know her personally to feel connected to her story, because at its heart is something universal: the deep, unshakable love of a parent and the quiet strength of someone who chooses to keep going, not for themselves, but for others. In her presence, there’s a gentleness that speaks louder than words, a kind of grace forged not through ease but through endurance. She is not defined by tragedy, but by what she has done with it, using her lived experience to light the path for others, to ensure no family feels alone in the darkest of times. Her humanity is her superpower: steady, soft, and soulfully strong.
What strikes you first about Yvonne is her humility. There are no grand gestures or loud declarations. Her impact is made up of small, unwavering acts, thousands of hours of volunteer work, thousands of ribbons tied, countless community members embraced in moments when words were hard to find. With every event and every conversation, Yvonne doesn’t just ask people to care, she helps them understand why they already do.
But make no mistake, this isn’t about charity for the sake of it. Yvonne is changing the future of childhood brain cancer research in Australia. Over $740,000 has already been raised and every dollar has been directed to medical research and support services. She doesn’t just raise money; she raises awareness, raises standards, and raises others up.
In doing so, she has given Canberra something rare, a way to channel heartbreak into action. A way for schools, businesses, and neighbourhoods to feel connected to something bigger. A cause that’s heavy, yes, exceptionally so, but never hopeless.
It’s this unique balance Yvonne holds so gently. She never overwhelms the community with sorrow, but invites them into a space of strength and shared determination. She honours the past while fiercely protecting the future.
She reminds us that community is not just where we live, it’s how we show up for one another. That true leadership doesn’t come from a title, but from action taken in service of others. And that even after the hardest chapters, there can still be light. Still be laughter. Still be purpose.
A Night of Purpose and Possibility
On Saturday 14 June 2025, the community will gather at Old Parliament House to celebrate and support the life-changing work of Dainere’s Rainbow. This powerful evening includes a delicious three-course meal, drinks, live entertainment, auctions, prizes, and the shared energy of people who believe in something better.
Dress as your favourite book character or come formal, but most importantly, come!
Where: Old Parliament House (Back entrance via Queen Victoria Terrace)
Time: 6:30pm – 11:30pm
Tickets: $210 per person or $2,100 for a table of ten (booking fee applies)
Last chance to get your tickets here
This is more than a gala. It’s a continuation of love, a spark of joy, and a moment to show that in Canberra, no family walks this path alone.
We’ll see you under the rainbow.
