The Saint SP R ING
ST VINCENT DE PAUL SO CIETY (SA) NEWSLETTER
New State President Dominic Lagana is the new State President of the St Vincent de Paul Society in SA. He replaces John D’Souza whose five year term has been very successfully completed.
2009
Vinnies Social Justice Awards A new generation takes the lead! The inaugural Vinnies Social Justice Awards recognizing and rewarding young volunteers from around South Australia for their good works in the area of social justice were held in September at Nazareth College. Some 200 awardees received certificates before an audience of over 700 which included His Excellency, Rear Admiral Kevin Scarce AC CSR RANR, Governor of South Australia and other dignitaries. The event was a great success and we look forward to the Social Justice Awards becoming an annual event. Congratulations Tim Taylor and supporters!
Frederic Ozanam Housing Association – Preferred Growth Housing Provider FOHA has been recognised by Housing SA as a Preferred Growth Housing Provider. This is a major step in helping the Association fulfill its mission to provide safe, secure and affordable housing to people in need. Over the next three years, the Association aims to treble the number of houses they manage from 100 to 300.
Thank You Winter Appeal Supporters! This year’s Winter Appeal focused on - ‘Tomorrow can be different’. We asked hundreds of men, women and children overwhelmed by life’s hardships to contribute to a collective journal describing through words or pictures what ‘Today’ meant to them. The journal was presented to Alan Smith, Director of the State Library. It is now available for members of the public to access.
Dominic Lagana - State President SA
We thank everyone who supported our Winter Appeal this year, particularly our loyal and committed donors and supporters, “Heels for Wheels” – Joan Curnow, Michael Cormack and Matt Dineen and team on their run from Melbourne to Adelaide and the “Walk for Warmth” volunteers and participants.
Donate now to the Christmas Appeal Visit www.vinnies.org.au or call 13 18 12
The Saint ST VINCENT DE PAUL SO CIETY (SA) NEWSLETTER
A Message from the State President. Rethinking spring.
Big Coin Box in Rundle Mall The Vinnies Big Coin Box was again part of our Winter Campaign and was successfully launched on Wednesday 15th July in Adelaide Central Plaza. We thank SAFM’s breakfast team, Rabbit, Amber & Cosi, Channel Nine’s Rob Kelvin, and former SANFL great, Russell Ebert who were there to lend their support to “Vinnies Big Change Box”. And we especially thank Michael Vaughan, Rebecca Sutton and the Foodcourt Businesses at Adelaide Central Plaza for their commitment to Vinnies.
This week marks the fourth month of my appointment as State President. In these early days I am concentrating on learning and discovering what my conscience has always led me to believe is the quintessential spirit of the Society. This spirit is built on faith and charity towards our neighbour and a Society of Conferences founded for the visit and relief of the poor. I believe it would be hard for me to find more sincere and inspiring people than those whom I have already met and listened to over this brief time. Furthermore, a feeling of extraordinary fellowship and desire to evolve seems to grip everyone I come into contact with. If ever there was an organization that could be reinvigorated through the power of its stakeholders, it is the Saint Vincent de Paul Society. The initial seed planted by Frederic Ozanam assists us in sharing the same spirit and works of mercy not only with the poor, but also with existing and new members. In sharing all of the virtues of the Society with each other and the broader community we will strengthen our roots and revive existing branches. Moreover, staff, members and volunteers of the Society are showing me how they are ready to do what it takes to ensure our charity opens hearts and renews minds in order to serve and to love one another and one’s neighbour. The Society, through its good works and recent events including the Vinnies Social Justice Awards, Big Coin Box in Rundle Mall, Badge Day, Vinnies Week, Youth Camps and strategic partnerships with commercial organizations, is helping to change the inverse relationship that exists between our secularised country and the sacred cause that provides us with the strength to offer divine charity. It is this divine charity which will enable us to overcome all barriers, respect difference, embrace diversity, learn from history, pay tribute and recognise the value in just civil and social law, literature, the arts, sciences and all other elements of society. Finally, with the prospect of continually restoring and strengthening our charitable Society the process of change must work in harmony with faith and good works. As Saint John reminds us, and Frederic fully understood,
“ Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect” (James, 2:22). Your Brother in Christ
Dominic Lagana, Russell Ebert, Rob Kelvin Channel 9 and John Haren
Youth Camps Young adult leaders aged 16-25 years run camps and day activities for children and teenagers who face everyday challenges due to family breakdown, abuse, mental health issues, isolation and poverty. Recently two successful camps for teenagers were held at Iron Knob and an activity day is planned, September 30th for girls and boys who attended the OZO Camp in January. The leaders and kids will go bowling and have lunch in the park. It will be an opportunity to catch up with the kids to see how they have been doing over the past few months. Money raised at a recent Quiz Night will keep these camps and activities going. Thank you all who generously supported this event.
Compeer In July this year Compeer representatives attended a consumer-orientated conference on mental health issues in Canberra. The conference aimed to uncover new initiatives for the Society within the mental health sector. Compeer will also be represented at Mental Health Week 4th- 10th October. The theme this year is ‘Open your Mind; What You Can Do to Make a Difference.’ Events will include stalls in Marion Shopping Centre on Tuesday 6th and Wednesday 7th October, as well as Rundle Mall on Friday 9th October. The Compeer Mental Health Camp commences Wednesday 7th till Friday 9th October. For further information please contact Krystal Matthews on Tel: 08 8112 8723.
Dominic Lagana State President
The Saint ST VINCENT DE PAUL SO CIETY (SA) NEWSLETTER
New Website & IT Database
National Pharmacies
We are pleased to be part of the Bras Off promotion run by National Pharmacies to raise money for Flinders Medical Centre cancer research. Vinnies will receive donated ‘pre-loved’ bras for Family Centres.
Myer Centre Adelaide
Have very generously offered Vinnies all clothing accessories donated on the 25th September as part of their “Savvy Style Accessory Trade In”.
ABC Radio Website The national Vinnies Website was relaunched at the end of April 2009. The whole look of the website has been transformed and we shall be posting updated information on our projects and events hope you like the new look! www.vinnies.org.au
IMIS Oliver collecting - Badge Day
Badge Day Thanks!
The Society in South Australia recently commissioned a new integrated iMIS database to serve the whole of Vinnies in the years ahead. We are all now challenged to make the new system meet our needs.
The St Vincent de Paul Society thanks all who volunteered their time to organise and collect on our annual Badge Day held on August 14th, 2009. Once again the appeal was a great success and is only possible with the help and support of our volunteers.
Vinnies Partnerships Continue!
Fred’s Van: Meet & Veg
2009 marked the 25th Anniversary of the Community Lottery. We thank the Australian Central Credit Union for their continued support which this year raised $24,090 for Vinnies “good works”; we look forward to working with ACCU again in 2010.
This is a combined St Vincent de Paul Society and St Paul’s Lutheran Church initiative that has resulted in a new location for Fred’s Van. Now every Friday at the corner of Stuart & Parker Streets at Ferryden Park, there will be a free meal from 7.00pm…no referrals. Vinnies now has four Van’s operating in 7 locations around Adelaide.
We thank Adelaide Central Plaza for again promoting and hosting our Big Coin Box Campaign which ran for three weeks in July/ August as support for our Winter Appeal 2009.
ACH Group – Leading Choices for Older People We recently ran a ‘clothing appeal’ with the ACH Group – they collected blankets and clothes for us over a week in June/July. We thank ACH for joining us to spread some warmth and we invite other business and community groups to become partners in Vinnies ‘Good Works’.
Local Radio station 891 ABC has produced a unique desk calendar for 2010, in conjunction with The Salvation Army, Anglicare SA, Uniting Care Wesley and St Vincent de Paul Society. ‘A Day in the Life’ features ABC presenters and is available for sale ($8) via our Family Centres. ABC continue their generous support for Vinnies for which we are very grateful. It was launched on the 4th September at the Adelaide Show.
The Saint ST VINCENT DE PAUL SO CIETY (SA) NEWSLETTER
FORTHCOMING EVENTS
CEO Sleepout With support from key business and decision makers in South Australia and TV, Radio and Press, The St Vincent de Paul Society’s CEO Sleepout will be held across Australia, including Adelaide in Winter 2010. A CEO Sleepout Launch is being arranged in October. This will be a major poverty awareness and fundraising event for businesses and community leaders in South Australia. Phone Amie at the office (8112 8714) or check the website for details www.vinnies.org.au.
Notices 2009 Oration Breakfast and Christmas Appeal Launch - 6th November Annual General Meeting – 25th November Farewell to an icon Hugh Archibald Patterson OAM - 1907 – 2009
VINNIES WEEK St Vincent de Paul Society is celebrating 125 years in South Australia this year. We marked the occasion with a range of events. Highlights included: o Lord Mayor Michael Harbison hosted a Lord Mayor’s Civic Reception at the Adelaide Town Hall to launch our Winter Appeal - 1st May o Volunteer Awards at Government House hosted by his Excellency Rear Admiral Kevin Scarce AC CSC RANR, Governor of South Australia and Mrs Scarce - 4th May. o ‘Pillars of Society’ Corporate Lunch - theme: ‘Upside to the Downturn’ included a fashion parade featuring clothes from Vinnie Family Centres 8th May. o All Vinnies Week events were ably supported by our members and volunteers; we extend our thanks to everyone involved. Photos : Above; Vinnies Banners along North Tce. Top Right; Government House Awards - Government House Volunteer Awards with His Excellency Rear Admiral Kevin Scarce, AC CSC RANR, Governor of South Australia. Bottom Right; Pillars of Society - models strutting their stuff.
Acknowledgements We wish to thank the following for their ongoing valuable support to the Society: Members, Volunteers & Donors Vilis Adelaide Central Plaza Australian Central Credit Union Community Benefit SA