A PUBLICATION FOR SOCIETY MEMBERS, VOLUNTEERS AND S TA F F
St Vincent de Paul Society Victoria Inc.
The St Vincent de Paul Society’s annual Christmas Appeal was launched in October, around the theme 'Help complete their Christmas'. The campaign aims to remind people that not all of us will get to share a meal with the people we love at Christmas or to open gifts. Indeed, some of the people we work with will not know where they will be sleeping on Christmas night. In Victoria, the Christmas Appeal promotion includes the following: z z z
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Direct mail Television ads Press ads in The Record, mX and other publications Cinema ads Radio ads Online ads, including Yahoo7 and NineMSN Pharmacy TV Shopping Centre TV Parish appeal envelopes and posters Outdoor billboard ads Big W in-store ads Vinnies Centres donation boxes Free Publicity Secret Santa campaign
Newsletter 242 December 2009
Financial assistance through the appeal will allow some parents to put gifts in their children’s Christmas stockings. For some families it will allow them to share in the fun and excitement of a special Christmas dinner. It will also allow the Society to bring together people who may spend Christmas alone. Nationally the Society hopes to raise $4 million during the appeal, which will enable us to continue providing assistance to people in need.
How your gift may help... $80
Buys bedding, a meal and a fresh change of clothes for a homeless person so they can wake up on Christmas morning with a renewed sense of hope.
$150 Buys a hearty dinner for a family on Christmas Day $250 Will provide the means to visit distant family and loved ones on Christmas Day. $500 Buys the gift of hope for a family over Christmas. It means the difference between keeping their home for another week or sleeping on the streets.
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U P D AT E
Ozanam Enterprises Launches new website The Society’s Disability Service, Ozanam Enterprises, has launched its new commercially-orientated website. Showcasing its range of services that assist businesses to effectively and efficiently meet deadlines through the use of contract personnel, their skills and automated machinery available. Ozanam Enterprises is a fully accredited business providing packaging solutions, contract labour hire and timber product manufacture so check out the services available.
www.ozanamenterprises.org.au
State President ’s Update BY JIM GREALISH Dear Vincentians, Volunteers, Staff and Supporters It is my pleasure and privilege to thank you all for the part you have played in the work of the St Vincent de Paul Society this year. Despite the well documented pressures that we have faced I am sure we can all say with confidence that the Society has met them successfully, and is a better organisation for having done so. But we must not be complacent. Next year will have its own twists and turns and we will need to define and meet new challenges.
Prayers are requested for... Deceased Members, Volunteers, Family and Friends Mavis Bazley Volunteer, Collingwood Centre Mary & Henry Beks Volunteers, Mooroopna Centre Alma Broughton Sister of Carmen & John, Shepparton South Conference John Burke Member, Mitcham Conference Patrick Crummy Member, Box Hill Conference Graeme Elliott Ex-North Eastern CCP and member, Benalla Conference Peter Farrell Volunteer, Springvale Centre Patrick Fewster Member, Box Hill Conference Patricia Gibney Member, Jordanville Conference Les Julian Ex-President, Kingsbury Conference Peter Kelly Member, Forest Hill Conference Patrick Le Toille Member, Braybrook Conference Fr John Leahy Member, St Mary’s Mooroopna Conference Susan Lovas Past member, Forest Hill Conference Bernard McConville Member, Sunbury Conference Dorothy McEncroe Wife of Peter, Essendon Conference Jim McKessy Husband of Nan, Kilmore Conference George Naumoff Founding Volunteer, Hampton Centre Jim Nihill Member, Tatura Conference Violet O'Keeffe Member, Sebastopol Conference Maureen Parks Member, Frankston East Conference Judith Pavlic Member, Dallas Conference George Rixon Volunteer, Daylesford Conference Peter Rohrlach Husband of Lois, volunteer Shepparton Conference Patrick Ryan Member, Brandon Park Conference Denis Santamaria Ex-President, Wantirna Conference Colin Sharman Member, Gladstone Park Conference Mary Sharp Member, Wonthaggi Conference Ray Shepherdson Member, Heidelberg Conference Len Street Member, Ballarat East Conference Kathleen Sweeney Member, Richmond Conference Jack Turner Member, Ferntree Gully Conference Terry Tuvey Ex-President, Sunbury Conference Greg Walsh Brother of Leo, St Mel’s Shepparton Conference Sheila Wilson Member, Nathalia Conference Kath Woodman Founding Volunteer, Tatura Centre
Seriously Ill Members Jack Farley Yves Keussy Kevin Pekin
Member, Warrnambool West Conference Member, Oakleigh Conference Member, Warrnambool West Conference
To ensure correct acknowledgement please forward any requests for prayers to Philip Mackey by phone on 03 9895 5837 or email philipm@svdp-vic.org.au.
Christmas should have a special place in the spiritual life of Vincentians. The Christmas story is one we should contemplate frequently. It is the story of a child born in extremely humble circumstances, but who rose to be the Hope for the world. In our work we often meet hopeless situations. It is in these times that we need to remind ourselves of that Hope which became ours from that first Christmas. It is my wish that the story of Christmas brings peace to you and to all who are near and dear to you. May the gift of Hope that Christ's birth brought to the whole world be a reality for you and your families and friends. May all that is good in the New Year be yours in abundance too. With every good wish
Jim Grealish State President
Runcorn Vincentians Conference member and Society archivist, Kevin Slattery, visited Runcorn, located near Liverpool, 170 miles north-west of London where he met up with Runcorn Vincentians. Kevin was shown great hospitality on his visit, and his hosts took him to places where Gerald Ward lived and ministered.
U P D AT E Highlights Vinnies Centres & Spring Racing In the lead up to the 2009 Spring Racing Carnival in Melbourne and associated country race days across Victoria, a marketing campaign was implemented promoting Vinnies Centres and the vast range of clothing and accessories available. The multi-media campaign included paid advertising as well as an exciting online campaign conducted with Fox FM radio station where visitors to their website could enter a competition to win a day with a stylist visiting Vinnies Centres to put together an outfit for the races. Unpaid coverage included an article on the front page of The Age on Saturday 31 October and an interview on Thursday 29 October on the 3AW breakfast show. Smart Meters In recent months, the Society's Policy & Research Manager, Gavin Dufty, has been working with National Council to advocate for low income Australians as the various State governments roll out their Advanced Metering Infrastructure. Vincentian Village Staff Member Earlier this year, Rebecca Rout from Vincentian Village aged care facility in Geelong was awarded 'The Mercy Mental Health Award' by Associate Professor Maxine Duke, who is the head of the School of Nursing at Deakin University. Rebecca received the award for her clinical placement and the associated theoretical work. Congratulations Rebecca!
Maxine Duke
Rebecca Rout
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International Day of People with a Disability
Acknowledging the employees and staff at Ozanam Enterprises.
Held annually on 3 December, Ozanam Enterprises celebrated the International Day of People with a Disability in fine style. Attended by over 100 employees, staff and guests, this special day on the calendar ensured that the commitment to employees and long serving members of the Ozanam Community were acknowledged. Awards for long service were presented to: z 10 years of service Julie Taylor, Roslyn Mather, Kristian Kupsch, Dianne Fieldhouse z
20 years of service Sue Anne Chamers
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30 years of service Damian Gibson, Robert McEwan, Stephen Robertson
The Society’s State President Jim Grealish and the newly appointed Chair of St Vincent de Paul Aged Care & Community Services, Peter Johnstone, were among the guests who enjoyed a barbeque lunch and the entertainment provided by Frankie Stevens who kept everyone singing and dancing. The International Day of People with a Disability was established in 1992 by the United Nations General Assembly to promote awareness of disability issues and the abilities of people with a disability. Each year Ozanam Enterprises takes the opportunity to celebrate program successes and look at the skills, abilities and contributions to the communities we participate in.
STOP PRESS New CEO for St Vincent de Paul Aged Care & Community Services On 20 November 2009, St Vincent de Paul Aged Care & Community Services Board Chair, Peter Johnstone, announced John Blewonski as the new CEO for the organisation. John's current position is Chief Operating Officer with Anglicare Victoria and he has held senior positions with Anglicare at both State and National level over the last 11 years. Prior to this he has been involved in various positions in the not-for-profit and education sectors. John will commence in this role on 1 February 2010. Three year accreditation for Community Services Congratulations to all St Vincent de Paul Community Services and staff for successfully achieving accreditation in all 58 standards.This means services have achieved three year accreditation in the QIC core standards, the Homelessness Assistance Standards, the Psychiatric Disability Support and Rehabilitation Services, as well as the Alcohol Tobacco and Other Drugs. Thank you to all involved in the process: staff, volunteers, clients and residents, shared services, referees and all who made an important contribution. Special acknowledgement to Livia Carusi and Kellie Tabe for their commitment and dedication throughout this task.
U P D AT E Vincentian Village | Houses Named
Congratulations
On Wednesday 9 December 2009, Vincentian Village in Geelong hosted a Christmas mass and naming ceremony. The naming ceremony included the three residential houses, activity area and hallways in Vincentian Village being given official names, chosen by the residents. Vincentian Village Manager, Janelle Hodgson said, “The residents have chosen names that have real meaning to them. For example, the activity area will receive the name ‘Jack Dillon Central’, after a local man who was heavily involved with the St Vincent de Paul Society over many years and instrumental in the organisation’s work in aged care. He later went on to be a resident here, so our current residents were very keen to pay tribute to him,” she said. “And for our dementia wing, they chose the name Kirribilli Cottage,
Allan Lewis (left), Eva Squire and State President Jim Grealish officially open Silver Mallee Cottage
because they believe that all the residents are just as important as the Prime Minister. It’s been a lot of fun coming up with the names.” The naming ceremony was followed by a celebratory mass conducted by Father Greg Bourke and attended by Councillor Barbara Abley from the City of Greater Geelong Council, as well as representatives of St Vincent de Paul Aged Care & Community Services.
The St Vincent de Paul Society received the following email from Deb Symons, advisor to Christine Nixon, Victorian Bushfire Reconstruction and Recovery Authority: "I recently attended and spoke at a small function hosted by the CWA. At this function, Bev Harris, one of your volunteers in the Drouin area, also spoke. Bev has been working with bushfire recovery in the Labertouche and surrounding communities. Bev spoke so well. She is a natural storyteller and was a truly wonderful representative for the work of your organisation. There is so much happening in bushfire recovery and we have heard many a speech in the past nine months. I think it impressive and important that you have someone in your team who can speak well, speak honestly and 'keep it real'." Editor’s Note: Congratulations Bev and thank you to all our members, volunteers and staff who continue to do great work.
The gift of music The Society recently received a request for donations of musical instruments from the Archbishop's Melbourne Overseas Missions committee. The instruments will be sent to Alotau, a province of Papua New Guinea, where a music academy is being established. In PNG, approximately 85-90% of students who start school never get to the final two years and therefore do not qualify for tertiary studies. To support the aspirations of young people in the region, many of whom have shown musical talent, donated instruments will form the basis of the music academy. Note most instruments are acceptable with the exception of stringed pianos that are bulky and difficult to tune in a tropical climate. People with any musical instruments to donate please contact Reception on 9895 5800 or email info@svdp-vic.org.au.
Vincentians Honoured Over the course of the year a number of Vincentians have been honoured. Br Doug Walsh In the Queen's birthday honours, Br Doug Walsh was awarded an OAM for his community work, largely through the St Vincent de Paul Society. The award was also given for his work in establishing an Education Program in a slum in Manila, some 20 years ago. In the same area Doug was responsible, along with Hands On Health Australia and Brunswick Rotary for establishing a Health Clinic. John Condon Former State Councillor, John Condon from Sale, received an Australia Day AM award for service to the dairy farming industry, particularly through the implementation of herd improvement initiatives and to a range of industry organisations and to the community. Bob Pollock Bob Pollock was awarded Citizen of the Year by the Mildura Rural City Council in this year’s Australia Day honours. For years, Bob has been heavily involved with the Society, most recently as the manager of Vinnies Budget Groceries in Mildura. May Houlihan May Houlihan from Wahgunyah also received an Australia Day Citizen of the Year Award for her work in Corowa and Rutherglen. Bryan Watson Vinnies volunteer Brian Watson was awarded the Australia Day Citizen of the Year for the Wodonga area.
Heartwarming... Recently six puppies and their mother were found abandoned at the Vinnies Warehouse located in Altona North. Many thanks to Stephen Buckley at the warehouse, Murray at the Strathmore Vet Clinic and the Royal District Nursing Service for caring for the puppies and finding them all new homes.