It started with a bold idea born in 1846
William Mark Forster was a successful and well-connected clothing merchant and philanthropist, concerned for the plight of under-privileged children left behind by a rapidly expanding Melbourne society in the late 19th century.
His simple idea, that with opportunity and guidance all young people could accomplish, all they had to do was try, was bold for its time and would pioneer youth welfare work in Australia.
“The value of his work in this city is inestimable… he (William Forster)...
... remains a simple citizen, content to work in private, and seek no other reward than the sense of having helped mankind by setting the feet of some thousands of boys and girls in the right direction.”
Our history
1883
WM Forster invited 3 street boys into his home.
This turned into a ‘self-help’ movement with the introduction of educational activities, music lessons, lectures etc…
1886
The Herald Boys TRY Excelsior classes were established. These classes focused boys on gaining an education and achieving through self-help.
1889
The TRY Society opens a 15-room dormitory to care for street boys.
1892
The dormitory building is extended to allow boys up to 18 years of age to join a swimming club and attend classes in reading and writing along with trades such as carpentry.
The TRY Society starts an employment bureau, penny savings bank and sickness insurance scheme.
1894
TRY Society partnered with Clifden Home to provide work opportunities for boys and girls who did not have technical skills.
1922
The TRY Society complex extended further with the addition of three extra classrooms.
1951
The TRY Society established a youth hostel in Prahran.
1950’s I 1960’s I 1970’s
The TRY Society complex continued to expand, adding additional classrooms in line with need.
A 100-acre farm at Berwick was purchased to provide underprivileged children with work opportunities and training.
TRY community centres, youth clubs and football teams were established.
1979
The TRY Society established a refugee hostel in Greensborough.
1995
The TRY Society opened its first kindergarten in the City of Seymour.
2021
In 2021 we recognised that, today, it is no longer enough to simply ‘try’ and changed our name to Sparkways.
2025
Move forward to today, early childhood education and care has become the organisation’s core area of service delivery. TRY (Sparkways) is now an accredited Early Years Manager (EYM), with an extensive network of Kindergartens and Childcare centres across the greater Melbourne and inner regional areas of Victoria.
