Our volunteers and members – the Society’s backbone Following National Volunteer Week, 9-15 May, we’d like to thank each and every member and volunteer of the St Vincent de Paul Society, who enable us to provide services
to those in need. This includes volunteering through home visitation, our Vinnies Centres, soup vans and many other special works of the Society. ■
Society
Society
Geelong Cats warm up for Vinnies
Revised executors booklet available
On Saturday 30 July Vincentians in the Geelong region worked together with the Geelong Football Club to hold a blanket appeal at the Cats home game against Melbourne at Skilled Stadium. Geelong Regional Council President, Peter Chiang, said “We’re having trouble keeping up with the demand for warm gear so we approached the Geelong Cats and we’re really grateful that they agreed to help us”. Volunteers collected donations from patrons at the main gate of the stadium as they arrived for the game. Unsure what to expect, they were delighted with the number of people who bought along blankets and coats to donate and are planning to do something even bigger ■ and better with the club next year.
Vinnies Volunteers: Helping to provide for people in need
Social justice training for members Earlier this year members were treated to a social justice forum. Run by Karren Walker from VincentCare Victoria and Des McCarthy, a Vincentian, the training opportunity highlighted the housing challenges that face the people we assist. Using real housing case studies, members were made aware of the challenges including threats of eviction, over crowding and substandard housing options. The Social Justice Committee also launched the new “Social justice in conferences” training manual, providing conferences with a practical resource to assist members in their home ■ visitation work.
The Society’s popular booklet on the role of Executor of a Will has been revised. This booklet is designed to assist both those who are Executor of a will or who are seeking more information in relation to the role of Executor of their own Will. It is available to Society supporters free of charge. This booklet covers important topics such as what to consider when choosing an Executor for your Will and a detailed
description of the role and responsibilities of Executor. It also covers applying for a Grant of Probate. A very useful feature of the booklet is a table of who to notify in the event of a death. Ideally, this table would be completed with all the names, account numbers, member number, contact details etc and filed in a secure location with the Will. This record will be of great assistance when the time comes to
administer the estate. Booklets are also available on the topics of: • Wills and Bequests • Powers of Attorney and Guardianship If you would like a copy of any of the booklets or would like to discuss leaving a gift to the St Vincent de Paul Society in your Will, please contact our Bequest Coordinator, Sue Pitt, on 03 9895 5821 or suep@svdp-vic.org.au. ■
Grant enables training for Vinnies Centres volunteers Vinnies Centres have initiated a statewide training program for its volunteers. Driven by the Vinnies Centres Safety Development Team, 650 volunteers and staff across Victoria will be participating in training in conflict resolution. Funded by a grant from the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services & Indigenous Affairs (FAHCSIA), Service Development Manager Vinnies Centres, Neil Harvey, said he was delighted to give something back to the dedicated band of volunteers. “The sessions provide all participants with a positive outlook on oneself and
Society A NEWSLETTER FOR SUPPORTERS OF THE ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY IN VICTORIA
Winter Appeal 2011 Help someone see a better future. At the St Vincent de Paul Society, we believe people don’t choose to be unemployed, homeless or mentally ill. We believe disadvantaged people all hope for a better future and need the care and support of a compassionate community to make this change possible. This Winter Appeal we told the stories of John, who lost the family home after losing his job; of Amy, who turned
to the streets to escape her traumatic upbringing; and Lucas, who got teased in the playground because of his worn out clothes. These are the true stories of ordinary Australians who turn to us for help. Through monies raised from appeals such as the Winter Appeal, we are able to create long-term change for many Australians experiencing hardship with our services for the homeless, the elderly,
others, enhancing dispute resolution skills, understanding stress and anger triggers and appreciating and respecting other people and their differences,” Mr Harvey said. “Not only will our volunteers benefit from the training as part of their work with the local community in a Vinnies Centre, it will also impart them with skills to use in all other facets of their lives.” “Our volunteers are the life blood of our organisation – without them, we simply wouldn’t exist, so it gives me great pleasure to give something back to our volunteers,” Mr Harvey concluded. ■
Above and below: Vinnies blanket appeal with help from the Geelong Cats
Vinnies Centres are the retail arm of the St Vincent de Paul Society and are the major source of income for the Society’s good works. Vinnies Centres provide furniture, clothing and household goods to families in need. The remainder of donated goods are sold and the funds from sales are used to help fund the work of the Society. There are over 100 Vinnies Centres trading in Victoria. ■
Contact: 43 Prospect St, Box Hill, Victoria, 3128. Phone: (03) 9895 5800 Fax: (03) 9895 5850 Email: info@svdp-vic.org.au
For credit card donations visit www.vinnies.org.au or call 131812
children and young adults, newly arrived refugees and families. For Amy, our help meant that she could go on to secure accommodation, complete her studies and get a job as a hairdresser – a far cry from where she was when we first met her. Despite increased financial pressures, our donors and the public have acknowledged the fact that there are others in their community who are even more hard-pressed this Winter, and have shown their support by donating to the Vinnies Winter Appeal. To date our income is a little under appeal income from Winter 2010, with a total thus far of $823,000. As always, your support is very much appreciated by the Society and – more importantly – by the people that your money goes to assist. Every donation means that we can help someone see a ■ better future.
Vinnies appoints a new creative agency Behind the scenes: Vinnies Winter Appeal 2011
Much of the Society’s work is carried out through its members and volunteers who visit people in their own homes and provide material assistance, support and friendship to people in need. The Society relies on the generosity of the public and the dedication of its volunteers to carry out its good works. ■
SEPTEMBER 2011
Help someone see a better future.
Vinnies changes lives every day. Donate now to the Vinnies Winter Appeal. Call 13 18 12 or visit vinnies.org.au
After a five-way pitch Sputnik Agency was recently appointed to create the Society’s national Christmas and Winter Appeals. These integrated campaigns include TV, radio, print and online advertising as well as direct marketing. ■ Vinnies changes lives every day.
Society
Society
President’s message Dear friends of the Society
Victorian State President Tony Tome
I hope you enjoy this edition of Society which will keep you informed about the St Vincent de Paul Society in Victoria. The Society has launched its “Our Story – Our Mission” which takes to our members, volunteers and staff the story of the five most influential people in the early life of the Society, namely: Bl Frederic Ozanam our Founder, Bl Rosalie Rendu who played a significant role in Frederic’s life, St Vincent de Paul under whose patronage Frederic placed the Society, St Louise de Marillac who provided leadership and expert management to the evolving network of services she and Vincent inspired and Fr Gerald Ward who started the Society in Australia. We need to keep these stories alive in the Society. The annual Vinnies CEO Sleepout was held on Thursday 16 June at Etihad Stadium and was a great success raising over $550,000. We were fortunate to have the Governor Alex Chernov and Mrs Chernov visit Etihad Stadium on the following morning to officiate at the farewell to CEOs after the Sleepout.
Vinnies Youth attend Vinnies College Conference Day Earlier this year eighteen schools and 180 students attended the Vinnies College Conference Day at St Kevin’s College in Toorak. This annual event is an important opportunity for Vinnies
Youth to share ideas about social advocacy and work that they can do to assist in their local community and also forms foundation for future members of the Society.
The Winter Appeal finished on 31 August and I thank all those who have generously given to our appeals. It is most heart warming to see your tremendous response. The work of the Society would not be possible without the generosity of our donors and supporters. Unfortunately the demands made on our services mean that we have to make more calls on their generosity than we would like. The supportive responses we receive give us the encouragement to continue the Society’s great work to alleviate the suffering of the poor, the marginalised, the underprivileged, the homeless, the destitute, the unemployed, the lonely and any one who is in need of a friendly presence. With best wishes
Tony Tome Victorian State President
■
2011 Vinnies CEO Sleepout an outstanding success The 2011 Vinnies CEO Sleepout has far surpassed expectation, with a total of approximately $4.2m being raised across Australia for the Society’s homeless services and programs. This is up from approximately $2.9m last year. Almost 1,000 CEOs slept out across Australia, 156 of these in Victoria. The Victorian CEOs sleeping out at Etihad Stadium raised over $550,000. Despite a cold 4˚C blustery night on an icy concrete floor on Etihad’s concourse, some CEOs took up the opportunity to have a more authentic homeless experience by sleeping in an area without a roof – albeit secure and cordoned off.
With a dual aim of raising awareness about and raising funds to combat homelessness, this year’s proceedings included a panel discussion on the issues that can contribute to this problem, including mental illness, family violence, cost of living and addictions. Facilitated by veteran journalist Barrie Cassidy, host of the ABC’s Insiders program, the panel also consisted of John Blewonski, CEO of VincentCare Victoria, Cath Smith, CEO of Victorian Council of Social Services, James Farrell, Principal Lawyer at Public Interest Legal Clearing House and Sarah Kahn, Policy Manager at Council for Homeless Persons. This year’s Vinnies CEO Sleepout was attended by Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd. While the media showed great interest in Mr Rudd’s participation, Mr Rudd used the opportunity to voice the opinion that great partnerships could be made between community groups such as the St Vincent de Paul Society, the government and corporate organisations in working to address social challenges such as homelessness. We were fortunate to have our patron, The Honourable Alex Chernov AO QC, Governor of Victoria and Mrs Chernov visit early on Friday morning to thank the participants for sleeping out and raising awareness about the problem of homelessness across Victoria and Australia. Brian Dalton, CEO St Vincent de Paul Society and John Blewonski,
Society appoints new National President
CEO VincentCare Victoria were both well supported and raised approximately $5,500 each. A very special thank you to all those who participated or supported the participants of this event, as well as our sponsors and supporters who made the 2011 Vinnies CEO Sleepout possible. If you are a CEO and would like to pre-register for the next Vinnies CEO Sleepout – to be held on the Winter Solstice, 21 June 2012 – please go to www.ceosleepout.org.au. Funds raised in Victoria ($414,000) from 2010 Vinnies CEO Sleepout were used for homeless works including: ■
■
Assisting Ozanam Community Centre and Ozanam House to continue to provide hot showers, access to clean clothing and blankets, and the provision of medical, dental and eye care treatment.
■
The continued provision of mental health outreach, housing information and referral services, alcohol and drug programs, client volunteer programs, women’s services, general support and educational activities.
■
VincentCare Victoria Chair Peter Johnstone, Mrs Chernov, Governor Alex Chernov, Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd and Society State President Victoria Tony Tome enjoy the 2011 Vinnies CEO Sleepout
The ongoing provision of meals at Ozanam House and Ozanam Community Centre, which provide an average of 140 lunches per day to people who are homeless.
Tony Thornton has been elected as National President of the St Vincent de Paul Society in an election held earlier this year. Tony Thornton has been a member of the Society for 17 years and was awarded an MBE for his services in the RAAF. He was formerly the President of the Society’s Canberra-Goulburn Central Council and more recently the Society’s National Secretary. On his appointment Mr Thornton said: “We are ordinary people lending a hand to anyone in need. We’ve never done this with any fanfare and we’re not about to start. We will, however, continue to be a strong voice for the people who have been pushed to the edges of Australian society: People doing it tough on pensions and benefits, people in low-paid work, people who are homeless, people who live with a mental illness, asylum seekers and members of the First Peoples who have been
National President Tony Thornton
dispossessed and excluded.” Tony Thornton’s appointment follows the passing of the Society’s National President Syd Tutton late 2010. ■
■
2010 Vinnies CEO Sleepout campaign wins award Each year the Fundraising Institute of Australia* holds their ‘Awards for excellence in fundraising’. We are delighted that at the 2011 awards, our 2010 Vinnies CEO Sleepout (Victoria) event won the ‘special events’ category. The South Australia and Australia Capital Territory events also won their state awards, and the South Australia event went on to win the national special event category fundraising award. * The Fundraising Institute Australia (FIA) is the national peak body representing professional fundraising in Australia. www.fia.org.au
■
Society
Society
President’s message Dear friends of the Society
Victorian State President Tony Tome
I hope you enjoy this edition of Society which will keep you informed about the St Vincent de Paul Society in Victoria. The Society has launched its “Our Story – Our Mission” which takes to our members, volunteers and staff the story of the five most influential people in the early life of the Society, namely: Bl Frederic Ozanam our Founder, Bl Rosalie Rendu who played a significant role in Frederic’s life, St Vincent de Paul under whose patronage Frederic placed the Society, St Louise de Marillac who provided leadership and expert management to the evolving network of services she and Vincent inspired and Fr Gerald Ward who started the Society in Australia. We need to keep these stories alive in the Society. The annual Vinnies CEO Sleepout was held on Thursday 16 June at Etihad Stadium and was a great success raising over $550,000. We were fortunate to have the Governor Alex Chernov and Mrs Chernov visit Etihad Stadium on the following morning to officiate at the farewell to CEOs after the Sleepout.
Vinnies Youth attend Vinnies College Conference Day Earlier this year eighteen schools and 180 students attended the Vinnies College Conference Day at St Kevin’s College in Toorak. This annual event is an important opportunity for Vinnies
Youth to share ideas about social advocacy and work that they can do to assist in their local community and also forms foundation for future members of the Society.
The Winter Appeal finished on 31 August and I thank all those who have generously given to our appeals. It is most heart warming to see your tremendous response. The work of the Society would not be possible without the generosity of our donors and supporters. Unfortunately the demands made on our services mean that we have to make more calls on their generosity than we would like. The supportive responses we receive give us the encouragement to continue the Society’s great work to alleviate the suffering of the poor, the marginalised, the underprivileged, the homeless, the destitute, the unemployed, the lonely and any one who is in need of a friendly presence. With best wishes
Tony Tome Victorian State President
■
2011 Vinnies CEO Sleepout an outstanding success The 2011 Vinnies CEO Sleepout has far surpassed expectation, with a total of approximately $4.2m being raised across Australia for the Society’s homeless services and programs. This is up from approximately $2.9m last year. Almost 1,000 CEOs slept out across Australia, 156 of these in Victoria. The Victorian CEOs sleeping out at Etihad Stadium raised over $550,000. Despite a cold 4˚C blustery night on an icy concrete floor on Etihad’s concourse, some CEOs took up the opportunity to have a more authentic homeless experience by sleeping in an area without a roof – albeit secure and cordoned off.
With a dual aim of raising awareness about and raising funds to combat homelessness, this year’s proceedings included a panel discussion on the issues that can contribute to this problem, including mental illness, family violence, cost of living and addictions. Facilitated by veteran journalist Barrie Cassidy, host of the ABC’s Insiders program, the panel also consisted of John Blewonski, CEO of VincentCare Victoria, Cath Smith, CEO of Victorian Council of Social Services, James Farrell, Principal Lawyer at Public Interest Legal Clearing House and Sarah Kahn, Policy Manager at Council for Homeless Persons. This year’s Vinnies CEO Sleepout was attended by Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd. While the media showed great interest in Mr Rudd’s participation, Mr Rudd used the opportunity to voice the opinion that great partnerships could be made between community groups such as the St Vincent de Paul Society, the government and corporate organisations in working to address social challenges such as homelessness. We were fortunate to have our patron, The Honourable Alex Chernov AO QC, Governor of Victoria and Mrs Chernov visit early on Friday morning to thank the participants for sleeping out and raising awareness about the problem of homelessness across Victoria and Australia. Brian Dalton, CEO St Vincent de Paul Society and John Blewonski,
Society appoints new National President
CEO VincentCare Victoria were both well supported and raised approximately $5,500 each. A very special thank you to all those who participated or supported the participants of this event, as well as our sponsors and supporters who made the 2011 Vinnies CEO Sleepout possible. If you are a CEO and would like to pre-register for the next Vinnies CEO Sleepout – to be held on the Winter Solstice, 21 June 2012 – please go to www.ceosleepout.org.au. Funds raised in Victoria ($414,000) from 2010 Vinnies CEO Sleepout were used for homeless works including: ■
■
Assisting Ozanam Community Centre and Ozanam House to continue to provide hot showers, access to clean clothing and blankets, and the provision of medical, dental and eye care treatment.
■
The continued provision of mental health outreach, housing information and referral services, alcohol and drug programs, client volunteer programs, women’s services, general support and educational activities.
■
VincentCare Victoria Chair Peter Johnstone, Mrs Chernov, Governor Alex Chernov, Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd and Society State President Victoria Tony Tome enjoy the 2011 Vinnies CEO Sleepout
The ongoing provision of meals at Ozanam House and Ozanam Community Centre, which provide an average of 140 lunches per day to people who are homeless.
Tony Thornton has been elected as National President of the St Vincent de Paul Society in an election held earlier this year. Tony Thornton has been a member of the Society for 17 years and was awarded an MBE for his services in the RAAF. He was formerly the President of the Society’s Canberra-Goulburn Central Council and more recently the Society’s National Secretary. On his appointment Mr Thornton said: “We are ordinary people lending a hand to anyone in need. We’ve never done this with any fanfare and we’re not about to start. We will, however, continue to be a strong voice for the people who have been pushed to the edges of Australian society: People doing it tough on pensions and benefits, people in low-paid work, people who are homeless, people who live with a mental illness, asylum seekers and members of the First Peoples who have been
National President Tony Thornton
dispossessed and excluded.” Tony Thornton’s appointment follows the passing of the Society’s National President Syd Tutton late 2010. ■
■
2010 Vinnies CEO Sleepout campaign wins award Each year the Fundraising Institute of Australia* holds their ‘Awards for excellence in fundraising’. We are delighted that at the 2011 awards, our 2010 Vinnies CEO Sleepout (Victoria) event won the ‘special events’ category. The South Australia and Australia Capital Territory events also won their state awards, and the South Australia event went on to win the national special event category fundraising award. * The Fundraising Institute Australia (FIA) is the national peak body representing professional fundraising in Australia. www.fia.org.au
■
Society
Society
President’s message Dear friends of the Society
Victorian State President Tony Tome
I hope you enjoy this edition of Society which will keep you informed about the St Vincent de Paul Society in Victoria. The Society has launched its “Our Story – Our Mission” which takes to our members, volunteers and staff the story of the five most influential people in the early life of the Society, namely: Bl Frederic Ozanam our Founder, Bl Rosalie Rendu who played a significant role in Frederic’s life, St Vincent de Paul under whose patronage Frederic placed the Society, St Louise de Marillac who provided leadership and expert management to the evolving network of services she and Vincent inspired and Fr Gerald Ward who started the Society in Australia. We need to keep these stories alive in the Society. The annual Vinnies CEO Sleepout was held on Thursday 16 June at Etihad Stadium and was a great success raising over $550,000. We were fortunate to have the Governor Alex Chernov and Mrs Chernov visit Etihad Stadium on the following morning to officiate at the farewell to CEOs after the Sleepout.
Vinnies Youth attend Vinnies College Conference Day Earlier this year eighteen schools and 180 students attended the Vinnies College Conference Day at St Kevin’s College in Toorak. This annual event is an important opportunity for Vinnies
Youth to share ideas about social advocacy and work that they can do to assist in their local community and also forms foundation for future members of the Society.
The Winter Appeal finished on 31 August and I thank all those who have generously given to our appeals. It is most heart warming to see your tremendous response. The work of the Society would not be possible without the generosity of our donors and supporters. Unfortunately the demands made on our services mean that we have to make more calls on their generosity than we would like. The supportive responses we receive give us the encouragement to continue the Society’s great work to alleviate the suffering of the poor, the marginalised, the underprivileged, the homeless, the destitute, the unemployed, the lonely and any one who is in need of a friendly presence. With best wishes
Tony Tome Victorian State President
■
2011 Vinnies CEO Sleepout an outstanding success The 2011 Vinnies CEO Sleepout has far surpassed expectation, with a total of approximately $4.2m being raised across Australia for the Society’s homeless services and programs. This is up from approximately $2.9m last year. Almost 1,000 CEOs slept out across Australia, 156 of these in Victoria. The Victorian CEOs sleeping out at Etihad Stadium raised over $550,000. Despite a cold 4˚C blustery night on an icy concrete floor on Etihad’s concourse, some CEOs took up the opportunity to have a more authentic homeless experience by sleeping in an area without a roof – albeit secure and cordoned off.
With a dual aim of raising awareness about and raising funds to combat homelessness, this year’s proceedings included a panel discussion on the issues that can contribute to this problem, including mental illness, family violence, cost of living and addictions. Facilitated by veteran journalist Barrie Cassidy, host of the ABC’s Insiders program, the panel also consisted of John Blewonski, CEO of VincentCare Victoria, Cath Smith, CEO of Victorian Council of Social Services, James Farrell, Principal Lawyer at Public Interest Legal Clearing House and Sarah Kahn, Policy Manager at Council for Homeless Persons. This year’s Vinnies CEO Sleepout was attended by Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd. While the media showed great interest in Mr Rudd’s participation, Mr Rudd used the opportunity to voice the opinion that great partnerships could be made between community groups such as the St Vincent de Paul Society, the government and corporate organisations in working to address social challenges such as homelessness. We were fortunate to have our patron, The Honourable Alex Chernov AO QC, Governor of Victoria and Mrs Chernov visit early on Friday morning to thank the participants for sleeping out and raising awareness about the problem of homelessness across Victoria and Australia. Brian Dalton, CEO St Vincent de Paul Society and John Blewonski,
Society appoints new National President
CEO VincentCare Victoria were both well supported and raised approximately $5,500 each. A very special thank you to all those who participated or supported the participants of this event, as well as our sponsors and supporters who made the 2011 Vinnies CEO Sleepout possible. If you are a CEO and would like to pre-register for the next Vinnies CEO Sleepout – to be held on the Winter Solstice, 21 June 2012 – please go to www.ceosleepout.org.au. Funds raised in Victoria ($414,000) from 2010 Vinnies CEO Sleepout were used for homeless works including: ■
■
Assisting Ozanam Community Centre and Ozanam House to continue to provide hot showers, access to clean clothing and blankets, and the provision of medical, dental and eye care treatment.
■
The continued provision of mental health outreach, housing information and referral services, alcohol and drug programs, client volunteer programs, women’s services, general support and educational activities.
■
VincentCare Victoria Chair Peter Johnstone, Mrs Chernov, Governor Alex Chernov, Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd and Society State President Victoria Tony Tome enjoy the 2011 Vinnies CEO Sleepout
The ongoing provision of meals at Ozanam House and Ozanam Community Centre, which provide an average of 140 lunches per day to people who are homeless.
Tony Thornton has been elected as National President of the St Vincent de Paul Society in an election held earlier this year. Tony Thornton has been a member of the Society for 17 years and was awarded an MBE for his services in the RAAF. He was formerly the President of the Society’s Canberra-Goulburn Central Council and more recently the Society’s National Secretary. On his appointment Mr Thornton said: “We are ordinary people lending a hand to anyone in need. We’ve never done this with any fanfare and we’re not about to start. We will, however, continue to be a strong voice for the people who have been pushed to the edges of Australian society: People doing it tough on pensions and benefits, people in low-paid work, people who are homeless, people who live with a mental illness, asylum seekers and members of the First Peoples who have been
National President Tony Thornton
dispossessed and excluded.” Tony Thornton’s appointment follows the passing of the Society’s National President Syd Tutton late 2010. ■
■
2010 Vinnies CEO Sleepout campaign wins award Each year the Fundraising Institute of Australia* holds their ‘Awards for excellence in fundraising’. We are delighted that at the 2011 awards, our 2010 Vinnies CEO Sleepout (Victoria) event won the ‘special events’ category. The South Australia and Australia Capital Territory events also won their state awards, and the South Australia event went on to win the national special event category fundraising award. * The Fundraising Institute Australia (FIA) is the national peak body representing professional fundraising in Australia. www.fia.org.au
■
Our volunteers and members – the Society’s backbone Following National Volunteer Week, 9-15 May, we’d like to thank each and every member and volunteer of the St Vincent de Paul Society, who enable us to provide services
to those in need. This includes volunteering through home visitation, our Vinnies Centres, soup vans and many other special works of the Society. ■
Society
Society
Geelong Cats warm up for Vinnies
Revised executors booklet available
On Saturday 30 July Vincentians in the Geelong region worked together with the Geelong Football Club to hold a blanket appeal at the Cats home game against Melbourne at Skilled Stadium. Geelong Regional Council President, Peter Chiang, said “We’re having trouble keeping up with the demand for warm gear so we approached the Geelong Cats and we’re really grateful that they agreed to help us”. Volunteers collected donations from patrons at the main gate of the stadium as they arrived for the game. Unsure what to expect, they were delighted with the number of people who bought along blankets and coats to donate and are planning to do something even bigger ■ and better with the club next year.
Vinnies Volunteers: Helping to provide for people in need
Social justice training for members Earlier this year members were treated to a social justice forum. Run by Karren Walker from VincentCare Victoria and Des McCarthy, a Vincentian, the training opportunity highlighted the housing challenges that face the people we assist. Using real housing case studies, members were made aware of the challenges including threats of eviction, over crowding and substandard housing options. The Social Justice Committee also launched the new “Social justice in conferences” training manual, providing conferences with a practical resource to assist members in their home ■ visitation work.
The Society’s popular booklet on the role of Executor of a Will has been revised. This booklet is designed to assist both those who are Executor of a will or who are seeking more information in relation to the role of Executor of their own Will. It is available to Society supporters free of charge. This booklet covers important topics such as what to consider when choosing an Executor for your Will and a detailed
description of the role and responsibilities of Executor. It also covers applying for a Grant of Probate. A very useful feature of the booklet is a table of who to notify in the event of a death. Ideally, this table would be completed with all the names, account numbers, member number, contact details etc and filed in a secure location with the Will. This record will be of great assistance when the time comes to
administer the estate. Booklets are also available on the topics of: • Wills and Bequests • Powers of Attorney and Guardianship If you would like a copy of any of the booklets or would like to discuss leaving a gift to the St Vincent de Paul Society in your Will, please contact our Bequest Coordinator, Sue Pitt, on 03 9895 5821 or suep@svdp-vic.org.au. ■
Grant enables training for Vinnies Centres volunteers Vinnies Centres have initiated a statewide training program for its volunteers. Driven by the Vinnies Centres Safety Development Team, 650 volunteers and staff across Victoria will be participating in training in conflict resolution. Funded by a grant from the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services & Indigenous Affairs (FAHCSIA), Service Development Manager Vinnies Centres, Neil Harvey, said he was delighted to give something back to the dedicated band of volunteers. “The sessions provide all participants with a positive outlook on oneself and
Society A NEWSLETTER FOR SUPPORTERS OF THE ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY IN VICTORIA
Winter Appeal 2011 Help someone see a better future. At the St Vincent de Paul Society, we believe people don’t choose to be unemployed, homeless or mentally ill. We believe disadvantaged people all hope for a better future and need the care and support of a compassionate community to make this change possible. This Winter Appeal we told the stories of John, who lost the family home after losing his job; of Amy, who turned
to the streets to escape her traumatic upbringing; and Lucas, who got teased in the playground because of his worn out clothes. These are the true stories of ordinary Australians who turn to us for help. Through monies raised from appeals such as the Winter Appeal, we are able to create long-term change for many Australians experiencing hardship with our services for the homeless, the elderly,
others, enhancing dispute resolution skills, understanding stress and anger triggers and appreciating and respecting other people and their differences,” Mr Harvey said. “Not only will our volunteers benefit from the training as part of their work with the local community in a Vinnies Centre, it will also impart them with skills to use in all other facets of their lives.” “Our volunteers are the life blood of our organisation – without them, we simply wouldn’t exist, so it gives me great pleasure to give something back to our volunteers,” Mr Harvey concluded. ■
Above and below: Vinnies blanket appeal with help from the Geelong Cats
Vinnies Centres are the retail arm of the St Vincent de Paul Society and are the major source of income for the Society’s good works. Vinnies Centres provide furniture, clothing and household goods to families in need. The remainder of donated goods are sold and the funds from sales are used to help fund the work of the Society. There are over 100 Vinnies Centres trading in Victoria. ■
Contact: 43 Prospect St, Box Hill, Victoria, 3128. Phone: (03) 9895 5800 Fax: (03) 9895 5850 Email: info@svdp-vic.org.au
For credit card donations visit www.vinnies.org.au or call 131812
children and young adults, newly arrived refugees and families. For Amy, our help meant that she could go on to secure accommodation, complete her studies and get a job as a hairdresser – a far cry from where she was when we first met her. Despite increased financial pressures, our donors and the public have acknowledged the fact that there are others in their community who are even more hard-pressed this Winter, and have shown their support by donating to the Vinnies Winter Appeal. To date our income is a little under appeal income from Winter 2010, with a total thus far of $823,000. As always, your support is very much appreciated by the Society and – more importantly – by the people that your money goes to assist. Every donation means that we can help someone see a ■ better future.
Vinnies appoints a new creative agency Behind the scenes: Vinnies Winter Appeal 2011
Much of the Society’s work is carried out through its members and volunteers who visit people in their own homes and provide material assistance, support and friendship to people in need. The Society relies on the generosity of the public and the dedication of its volunteers to carry out its good works. ■
SEPTEMBER 2011
Help someone see a better future.
Vinnies changes lives every day. Donate now to the Vinnies Winter Appeal. Call 13 18 12 or visit vinnies.org.au
After a five-way pitch Sputnik Agency was recently appointed to create the Society’s national Christmas and Winter Appeals. These integrated campaigns include TV, radio, print and online advertising as well as direct marketing. ■ Vinnies changes lives every day.
Our volunteers and members – the Society’s backbone Following National Volunteer Week, 9-15 May, we’d like to thank each and every member and volunteer of the St Vincent de Paul Society, who enable us to provide services
to those in need. This includes volunteering through home visitation, our Vinnies Centres, soup vans and many other special works of the Society. ■
Society
Society
Geelong Cats warm up for Vinnies
Revised executors booklet available
On Saturday 30 July Vincentians in the Geelong region worked together with the Geelong Football Club to hold a blanket appeal at the Cats home game against Melbourne at Skilled Stadium. Geelong Regional Council President, Peter Chiang, said “We’re having trouble keeping up with the demand for warm gear so we approached the Geelong Cats and we’re really grateful that they agreed to help us”. Volunteers collected donations from patrons at the main gate of the stadium as they arrived for the game. Unsure what to expect, they were delighted with the number of people who bought along blankets and coats to donate and are planning to do something even bigger ■ and better with the club next year.
Vinnies Volunteers: Helping to provide for people in need
Social justice training for members Earlier this year members were treated to a social justice forum. Run by Karren Walker from VincentCare Victoria and Des McCarthy, a Vincentian, the training opportunity highlighted the housing challenges that face the people we assist. Using real housing case studies, members were made aware of the challenges including threats of eviction, over crowding and substandard housing options. The Social Justice Committee also launched the new “Social justice in conferences” training manual, providing conferences with a practical resource to assist members in their home ■ visitation work.
The Society’s popular booklet on the role of Executor of a Will has been revised. This booklet is designed to assist both those who are Executor of a will or who are seeking more information in relation to the role of Executor of their own Will. It is available to Society supporters free of charge. This booklet covers important topics such as what to consider when choosing an Executor for your Will and a detailed
description of the role and responsibilities of Executor. It also covers applying for a Grant of Probate. A very useful feature of the booklet is a table of who to notify in the event of a death. Ideally, this table would be completed with all the names, account numbers, member number, contact details etc and filed in a secure location with the Will. This record will be of great assistance when the time comes to
administer the estate. Booklets are also available on the topics of: • Wills and Bequests • Powers of Attorney and Guardianship If you would like a copy of any of the booklets or would like to discuss leaving a gift to the St Vincent de Paul Society in your Will, please contact our Bequest Coordinator, Sue Pitt, on 03 9895 5821 or suep@svdp-vic.org.au. ■
Grant enables training for Vinnies Centres volunteers Vinnies Centres have initiated a statewide training program for its volunteers. Driven by the Vinnies Centres Safety Development Team, 650 volunteers and staff across Victoria will be participating in training in conflict resolution. Funded by a grant from the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services & Indigenous Affairs (FAHCSIA), Service Development Manager Vinnies Centres, Neil Harvey, said he was delighted to give something back to the dedicated band of volunteers. “The sessions provide all participants with a positive outlook on oneself and
Society A NEWSLETTER FOR SUPPORTERS OF THE ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY IN VICTORIA
Winter Appeal 2011 Help someone see a better future. At the St Vincent de Paul Society, we believe people don’t choose to be unemployed, homeless or mentally ill. We believe disadvantaged people all hope for a better future and need the care and support of a compassionate community to make this change possible. This Winter Appeal we told the stories of John, who lost the family home after losing his job; of Amy, who turned
to the streets to escape her traumatic upbringing; and Lucas, who got teased in the playground because of his worn out clothes. These are the true stories of ordinary Australians who turn to us for help. Through monies raised from appeals such as the Winter Appeal, we are able to create long-term change for many Australians experiencing hardship with our services for the homeless, the elderly,
others, enhancing dispute resolution skills, understanding stress and anger triggers and appreciating and respecting other people and their differences,” Mr Harvey said. “Not only will our volunteers benefit from the training as part of their work with the local community in a Vinnies Centre, it will also impart them with skills to use in all other facets of their lives.” “Our volunteers are the life blood of our organisation – without them, we simply wouldn’t exist, so it gives me great pleasure to give something back to our volunteers,” Mr Harvey concluded. ■
Above and below: Vinnies blanket appeal with help from the Geelong Cats
Vinnies Centres are the retail arm of the St Vincent de Paul Society and are the major source of income for the Society’s good works. Vinnies Centres provide furniture, clothing and household goods to families in need. The remainder of donated goods are sold and the funds from sales are used to help fund the work of the Society. There are over 100 Vinnies Centres trading in Victoria. ■
Contact: 43 Prospect St, Box Hill, Victoria, 3128. Phone: (03) 9895 5800 Fax: (03) 9895 5850 Email: info@svdp-vic.org.au
For credit card donations visit www.vinnies.org.au or call 131812
children and young adults, newly arrived refugees and families. For Amy, our help meant that she could go on to secure accommodation, complete her studies and get a job as a hairdresser – a far cry from where she was when we first met her. Despite increased financial pressures, our donors and the public have acknowledged the fact that there are others in their community who are even more hard-pressed this Winter, and have shown their support by donating to the Vinnies Winter Appeal. To date our income is a little under appeal income from Winter 2010, with a total thus far of $823,000. As always, your support is very much appreciated by the Society and – more importantly – by the people that your money goes to assist. Every donation means that we can help someone see a ■ better future.
Vinnies appoints a new creative agency Behind the scenes: Vinnies Winter Appeal 2011
Much of the Society’s work is carried out through its members and volunteers who visit people in their own homes and provide material assistance, support and friendship to people in need. The Society relies on the generosity of the public and the dedication of its volunteers to carry out its good works. ■
SEPTEMBER 2011
Help someone see a better future.
Vinnies changes lives every day. Donate now to the Vinnies Winter Appeal. Call 13 18 12 or visit vinnies.org.au
After a five-way pitch Sputnik Agency was recently appointed to create the Society’s national Christmas and Winter Appeals. These integrated campaigns include TV, radio, print and online advertising as well as direct marketing. ■ Vinnies changes lives every day.