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Societynews NEWSLETTER 301 | NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2019
Pictured: Casey Young Vinnies team at Vinnies Cranbourne
CASEY ELVES HARD AT WORK
The team at Casey Young Vinnies a physical gift. They have worked around
(CYV) are proud to be bringing the the clock to get this up and running,
North Pole to the families they calling on all members of CYV to play
assist, through a ‘Gift Giving their part in raising awareness of this
Bonanza’ member-led campaign. great initiative.
“This year some of the families in our local City of Casey employees have also come
community have been affected by the onboard and will be volunteering at
Bunyip bushfires. We have seen some of Santa’s Workshop (recently relocated to
our neighbours battle with issues such as Bunjil Place, Narre Warren). On 16
homelessness and financial hardship – December, these elves will be wrapping,
and this didn’t sit easy with us,” said decorating, card writing and allocating
Arnhie San Juan, Casey Young Vinnies presents to vulnerable families which will
President. be given out on the Berwick Soup Van, at
Every day they see the incredible resilience the CYV Kids Days Out and to people
in those we, as a Society, are blessed to who have lost their homes and belongings
serve, so this Christmas the conference in the Bunyip bushfires earlier this year.
wanted to do their part to help ease In 2019 we have seen our Young Adult
this burden. Conferences really invest in advocacy
CYV initiated a ‘Gift Giving Bonanza’ work on behalf of the people they get to
campaign that extends to their social know through their good works. This is
networks, hosted by a GoFundraise page exciting, game-changing and powerful for
for financial contributions. The conference youth across the Society.
then organised donation points at various Rudolf better be prepared to light the way
Pictured: Lily with Aunty Hilda
local centres for people who wish to give for all his deliveries this Christmas!
A PUBLICATION FOR SOCIETY MEMBERS, VOLUNTEERS & EMPLOYEES
STATE PRESIDENT
Kevin McMahon
Dear friends,
It is only natural at this time of the year to look forward to
the celebrations of Christmas.
At this time of year we also tend to make a lot of fuss
about gift giving. Much of this is influenced by a lot of
GUARDIAN ANGELS GIVING BACK
persuasive advertising, but gifts and presents are not only The Guardian Angel Knitting Program has been
for Christmas. lovingly supporting Vinnies for the past three years
A gift is something given out of love, gratitude or respect. If by creating homemade knitted goods that provide
our gift is genuine we expect nothing in return, something warmth and smiles to thousands of people who are in
our 12,000+ members and volunteers have done every day need across Australia.
for more than 165 years. For example, over the past year: The program is supported by Guardian Pharmacy and
• Our dedicated prison visitation team were present to their customers who have produced tens of thousands of
support families. jumpers, scarves, beanies and other items that we have
• Volunteers were present for people who visit our soup distributed to people who use our soup vans or have
vans and community meals, 52 weeks of the year. been sold in Vinnies Shops. Sales of everything in our
• Members were present to people assisted in their shops financially support the ‘good works’ we carry out in
homes or in assistance centres, day in and day out. the community every day, such as providing food and fuel
• Tutors and volunteers were present to people vouchers or paying utility bills for people doing it tough
attending education programs. in Victoria.
• Shop volunteers were a constant presence as the face
of our Society. This year, the pharmacy group has added to the Guardian
Then there are the actual gifts and donations from our Angels program, increasing the Guardian’s positive impact
generous donors, all year long, to support our work. in the community. Company leaders, staff, suppliers and
customers alike have been fundraising, volunteering and
While we always give without judgement or expectation I donating money and goods to Vinnies. One noteworthy
am buoyed by what we so often get in return. Sometimes
that can be a simple word of thanks or, perhaps, more initiative is the introduction of Donation Point units at 10
effusive gratitude. At other times it is a smile, or just the Guardian pharmacies that allow contactless card donations
knowledge that we are living out our faith and have made at the counter that go straight to Vinnies.
a positive difference. Guardian Pharmacy and Vinnies are strongly aligned in
Christmas also reminds us of the birth of our Saviour – promoting the values of family, health and peace throughout
and the hope that this brings. In line with this, allow me to the Christmas period, but we know this can be a difficult
share with you my Christmas list: time for families battling poverty, which is why Guardian
• From our politicians – I’d like to see a more realistic wants to help keep food on the table by promoting the
Newstart allowance. Vinnies Christmas Appeal to their customers.
• From our world leaders – better efforts to work towards Vinnies would like to take this opportunity to thank Guardian
peace. Pharmacy and the Guardian Angels for their ongoing
• From each other – a more tolerant attitude towards all. support. We encourage our members, volunteers and
I once read a very moving short story about Christmas by employees to say a special hello and thank you while
American writer, O. Henry, called “The Gift of the Magi”. shopping in your local Guardian Pharmacy for helping us to
While it was published long ago – in 1905 – it’s one of continue our ‘good works’ in the community.
those stories that loses nothing over time. Give yourself a
treat and explore the love of Christmas in all its simplicity.
And it is not the Christmas season without a bonbon joke: PRAYERS ARE REQUESTED FOR...
• Question: What did the farmer ask from the dear Lord
for his stocking? Deceased members, volunteers, family and friends
• Answer: Reindeer, Lord. (Rain, dear Lord, of course!) • John Chan, member, Keilor East/Avondale Heights
On a serious note, please keep in your thoughts the many Conference
families affected by both drought and bushfire across • Francis Matthews, former member, Camberwell
the nation. Both our local and interstate members and Conference
volunteers, who are also part of their local community, are • John Morton, former member, Caulfield South/Elsternwick
actively supporting communities to rebuild their lives, and Conference, Deepdene/Balwyn Conference and Ashburton
they need our prayers as we enter a summer which will Conference
present many challenges. • Stephanie O'Brien, former member, Heyfield Conference
and volunteer, Vinnies Heyfield
May the Lord bless all of you and keep you and your loved
ones safe over Christmas. Please email any requests for prayers to our Support Services
team at support.services@svdp-vic.org.au
THANKSGIVING MASS SHINES For the past 40 years, each November, the Vincentian family we have lost during the year are remembered at our annual Thanksgiving Mass at the site of our first conference St Francis Church in Melbourne. This year, on 12 November, more than 450 people crowded into St Francis to hear the Archbishop of Melbourne Peter A Comensoli’s moving liturgy commemorating the lives of people who have gone before us, and especially those who passed away in the last year. Along with the Society's State President, Kevin McMahon, the Archbishop highlighted the great work of the St Vincent de Paul Society and our role within the church to help live out the Gospel in our everyday work. They both spoke of the need for the Society and the archdiocese to support each other in helping to live out our Vincentian vocation and help spread the Gospel message through our ‘work of love’. Hosted by Southern Central Council and Brendan Podbury, this year's Mass included the beautiful procession of light, magnificent liturgy and music. For many Vincentians this is one of the highlights of the calendar year. It is a sacred time, where members, volunteers, employees, families and people we assist come together to give thanks for people who have passed away, for our great gift of the Eucharist and for each other. Many thanks to everyone who attended and the team at Gerald Ward House who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to bring forth such a joyous occasion.
DROUGHT HITS
FARMERS HARD
Judie Trease runs a 47-acre at the bare dirt and
fodder farm with her husband animals that are
and third-generation farmer Greg suffering and it’s
in East Gippsland. This is the
second year that they have not sad, sad, sad. We
had rain. have been badly
affected, but it is
“We have never seen a drought so
bad and don’t know where it’s going worse on the dry
to end. We just try to get on with country, further out
things and not dwell too much from here. I have
because it can really get you down.” been shocked to
The 71-year-old couple grows lucerne see sheep
and produce hay to sell to the nearby wandering around
dairy and sheep farms – or they on the empty
normally do when their crop has not paddocks.”
been ravaged by the dry skies. Last
VINNIES
year, they had to abandon their crop Judie and Greg have only been able
after the first cut despite normally to produce 35 bales of hay this year.
getting five or six throughout the
season. They only produced 25 Because their regular customers are
CHANGES LIVES
percent of their regular output. not in the position to buy it despite
their desperate need, Vinnies has
“Obviously, that’s a huge impact on
our income, but we had no choice. It bought the hay to give to those
costs $4,000 to produce a crop of drought-affected farmers in the For the past 15 years Robert and
lucerne and in the end, it was district. It is an inspiring example of Carol have been donating vouchers
costing us to grow it,” says Judie. how Vinnies will adapt to find ways of at Christmas.
“We have survived by using our assisting farmers battling the drought Many years ago when Carol was a
savings, which is scary because we who Judie says are reluctant to ask young struggling single mum, Vinnies
don’t know how long the drought will for help. was there to help out and she has
go on. We don’t spend money on never forgotten just how grateful she
anything we don’t need. We have She adds that Greg is too emotional was for the vouchers she received.
always lived simply, we don’t live to talk about the drought publically. He The vouchers enabled Carol to
high,” she says. The couple grows keeps mentally strong by keeping purchase items for her children
their own meat and buy vegetables busy and he gets support from others especially at Christmas and now that
from a farm next door. “You just at the local men’s shed, which has she is able, Carol wants to help other
have to deal with it, get through it struggling families to be able to do
and hope that the rains will come.” been a great help.
exactly the same.
Judie expects that they will have to The couple used to own a much
bigger farm, but downsized for their Thank you to both Carol and Robert
abandon the crop again this year for their continued support.
and sell their water rights allocation “retirement”. “Greg doesn’t do nothing
to a nearby farmer who is struggling very well,” says Judie. The couple
to keep his cows going. She adds can’t imagine living anywhere else,
that because parts of the state
receive a lot of rain, people don’t despite the unpredictable nature of life
realise some Victorian farmers are on the land.
as badly affected by the drought as It is not just the weather that tests the
they have been further north in spirits – any unexpected cost can
Australia.
knock farmers for six. Ironically in
The emotional impact is difficult to Judie and Greg’s case, it was their
deal with, she says: “Farmers are a irrigation pump – which will this year
different breed. They are stoic and
tend to hold it all in because even go unused – that presented their last
though the drought is not their fault financial setback in 2017. The new
obviously, they feel like they are one cost $25,000, which came out of
letting their families down. their savings. “It is difficult, but that’s
“That’s not right of course, but the farming,” says Judie. “You have to roll
situation is overwhelming. You look with the punches.”
'HIPPY HIPPY'
SHAKE
Legacy of Vinnies Grovedale really knows
how to party.
Kindness
The Vinnies team celebrated their fifth
anniversary of serving the community
with a disco theme and, of course,
they had a variety of outfits at their
fingertips.
Vinnies Shops now have more than
6,000 volunteers around Victoria, and
when 97 percent of our volunteers
More than 60 like-minded It was clear that one and all at this tell us they “feel valued”, while 92
supporters joined together to special event were also celebrating percent say they would “recommend
celebrate the true spirit of giving another wonderful Christmas volunteering to others”, it really does
at the St Vincent de Paul Society tradition−giving and receiving. make us proud.
Victoria’s annual Frederic’s One of the most important sources If you're interested in volunteering,
Fellowship Christmas luncheon. of funding for our work in the why not have a chat to one of our
It was a festive affair with all the community comes from people who friendly shop volunteers? And who
trimmings, but also a wonderful have included a gift in their Will. knows? Next time it might very well
opportunity to reflect on the be a photo of you appearing here in
Supporting the Society in this special Societynews celebrating with your
difference our wonderful supporters way not only creates a lasting legacy own Vinnies family.
have made in people’s lives. of kindness, it also plays a vital role
The St Vincent de Paul Society in continuing to provide a ‘hand-up’
Victoria’s Gift in Will Manager to people in need for generations
Sharon Wangman thanked all to come.
present for their incredible support Please contact Sharon Wangman on
now and into the future. 03 9895 9821 for a confidential chat.
THANK YOU TO ALL OUR GIFT IN WILL SUPPORTERS
THANK YOU & FAREWELL | DANUSIA KASKA
As I farewell you all, I just wanted to say
a few words of thanks and appreciation.
For the past 27 years, I have loved being
part of the St Vincent de Paul Society and,
especially, the soup vans. In 1992, I started
as a volunteer on the Footscray Soup Van
when I was still a teenager. Ten years later, I
moved to the Fitzroy Soup Van alongside Br
Doug Walsh; next I worked with schools and
then onto managing the soup van program.
It has been extremely rewarding and
meaningful.
I am still as passionate and energised about
the work we do on the soup vans now as
I was when I started all those years ago.
I have memories that will remain with me
forever and I would not be the same person Pictured: Danusia Kaska, former
Soup Van Operations Manager
today if it wasn’t for the soup vans.
There are many inspirational and wonderful
people involved in the soup vans, too many to list;
however, I have to mention Leo Holt, who has been a SUSAN IS A TRUE VINCENTIAN
great advocate and support to the Vinnies Soup Van
Program, Br Doug – whom I worked with for more Susan Serey is a true Vincentian and, in late October,
than 20 years on the soup vans – all the soup van she was appointed Mayor of the City of Casey, the
presidents, night leaders and office bearers – they youngest ever.
take on such huge tasks and responsibilities and I am Susan’s eight-year involvement with the St Vincent de Paul
greatly inspired by their commitment and dedication. Society began as a member and she became president
of Casey Young Vinnies, being the youth representative
Then there are the Vannies who are the backbone on Southern Central Council, completing 10 Kids Camps,
of the service. I have also loved working with my assisting with the setting up of the Berwick Soup Van and
wonderful colleagues, Nick Lock and Charlotte volunteering at both Berwick and Fitzroy soup vans.
Georgiou.
I met Susan when I started my volunteer journey with Casey
I also feel sincerely grateful to Vinnies CEO Sue Young Vinnies. Together we have done multiple school
Cattermole for the faith and trust she gave to me to presentations and I’ve witnessed how she shares her
lead the Vinnies Soup Van teams over these last Vinnies story especially when she is speaking to students.
five years and it has been an honour to serve the Her leadership experience grew with the opportunities that
Vannies during this time. Vinnies presented which is a real testament to the work of
Thank you, too, for your friendships and support; it my predecessors and colleagues who continue to find ways
has been great to have worked with so many of you for young people to develop their confidence, harness that
on so many different projects and tasks. passion and take action in their local communities.
The most important part has been the people we Susan is proud of her involvement and said: “Vinnies gave
serve. I have personally seen the difference that a me the opportunity from a young age to volunteer and use
kind word and smile from a Vannie can make. my passion for helping people in need. Over my eight years
of service to Vinnies my journey evolved from helping young
Finally, I know that the program is in a good shape people to encouraging them to volunteer and understand
and also in good the importance of giving their time. I believe this is just as
hands. The team important, if not more, than donating funds. I am grateful to
is ready to move Vinnies for allowing me to do community service at such a
onto the next young age which led me
stage, so I feel it’s to this journey in local
the right time to government.”
hang up my apron Thank you Susan for
and pass the soup being a testament to
ladle on to the how volunteering in
next person. Vinnies Youth nurtures,
Wishing you all supports and develops
the very best in successful leaders.
the future and I Stephanie Shave
am sure our paths Youth Engagement Team
Pictured: Danusia with Br Doug Walsh
will cross again!
E D U C AT I O N :
O U R I M PA C T
Over the past three years,
the Society’s Social Justice
& Advocacy Committee has
been auditing the real cost of
education.
We thank all conferences and
regions for their support and the
data provided.
Not only are we able to share the
following results:
• 2017 January−December
$475,412
• 2018 January−December
$727,883
• 2019 January−June
$365,399*
We can also share some snippets
of how the assistance provided
has changed lives.
HEIDELBERG WEST CONFERENCE
WARRNAMBOOL ROADSHOW
Approximately 18 months ago
our conference was approached
to help with education costs for
a 16-year-old girl whose mother
The St Vincent de Paul Society When asked to comment on the day, – due to illness – could no longer
Victoria’s latest Roadshow took these were some of the responses we afford the education expenses.
place in September in Warrnambool. received: Our conference was able to help
“The day was really fun and I enjoyed by providing assistance with
Roadshow is run in regional communities computer costs as well as VCE
it. It was good to meet different
by the Society’s State Youth Team, books and stationery.
people,” said ‘Rachel’, while ‘Laura’
and brings action-packed activities to said: “The people were all so nice”.
regional communities – keeping children This year the daughter sat her
We can’t wait to see what the future VCE exams and we were so
engaged while providing their parents
holds. Stay tuned for announcements happy to learn that she passed
with valuable respite. about Roadshow in 2020 when we will with flying colours and has been
The Roadshow model has undergone a be recruiting volunteers. offered a veterinary science
number of changes over the past year Lachy Faktor course at Latrobe University.
and this new version focuses on one Roadshow Special Works Conference Needless to say, her mother
particular town or area, which allows a was over the moon and so
more comprehensive and dynamic day appreciative for the assistance
to be planned and executed. Vinnies volunteers provided.
Further changes include higher ROSEBUD CONFERENCE
volunteer-to-child ratios and leadership We have provided families with
opportunities for volunteers. There assistance for clothes and books.
were just shy of 20 volunteers and 30
In one particular case, a young
kids on the day, meaning excellent straight-A student found herself
volunteer-to-child ratios. a part-time job after school
There are now extensive opportunities so she could participate in
for young people to step up into an international space camp
important roles, such as supervisor and program. Sadly, when her mum's
car broke down, all her savings
coordinator. went towards paying the rent.
In Warrnambool, the Society also Vinnies was able to provide
engaged a local coffee van (for the financial assistance and, with
parents) and local catering company the added assistance of an
(for the kids) – further engaging with anonymous benefactor, she now
the community by supporting local has enough for the trip and also
businesses. funds for her future schooling.
*2019 educational costs over the past six-month period
• REPURPOSE WITH PURPOSE • 2019
Shopping at Vinnies not only
supports local communities, it
also has a positive impact on the
MILESTONES
environment. 100TH ANNIVERSARY
Moonee Ponds Conference 25/05/1919
Recent statistics from global data
Brunswick West Conference 24/08/1919
company YouGov identified three
in 10 Australians have thrown away 90TH ANNIVERSARY
clothing after only wearing it once. Glen Iris Conference 09/06/1929
Reservoir Conference 14/07/1929
In October, the Vinnies Shops
teams set a challenge to divert 10 80TH ANNIVERSARY
tonnes of landfill in 10 days. Belgrave Conference 06/08/1939
Malvern East Conference 22/08/1939
Knowing that landfill is Australia’s Box Hill Conference 25/09/1939
biggest fashion victim, Vinnies Mildura Conference 22/10/1939
decided to shine a light on our
consumption habits and help 70TH ANNIVERSARY
change the stats. Ashburton Conference 27/07/1949
Sunshine Conference 14/10/1949
As a result, our op-shopping
community banded together to 60TH ANNIVERSARY
#RepurposeWithPurpose and Golden Square/Kangaroo Flat Conference 14/01/1959
helped us deliver our quest to divert Doveton Conference 19/07/1959
10 tonnes from landfill in 10 days. Cranbourne Conference 28/08/1959
Mount Waverley Conference 17/09/1959
Not only did we have to stretch
our target twice, we smashed OUTSTANDING Niddrie Conference
St Arnaud Conference
07/11/1959
29/11/1959
EFFORT!
the original by nearly 50 percent.
50TH ANNIVERSARY
Victoria helped us divert a huge
Morwell Conference 05/03/1969
19.7 tonnes from landfill in 10 days. Kennington Conference 21/03/1969
White Hills Conference 11/05/1969
FEELING GOOD @ VINNIES
Rochester Conference 08/06/1969
Pakenham Conference 01/07/1960
Rosebud Conference 01/07/1960
Trafalgar Conference 21/08/1969
Seymour Conference 16/11/1969
VINNIES QUEENSCLIFF
Recently, we had a customer donate $300 to our Vinnies Queenscliff 40TH ANNIVERSARY
Shop. And while this was unusual in itself, the backstory to this $300 Mount Eliza Conference 31/03/1979
has now become part of our shop’s folklore. Rye Conference 01/05/1979
The woman told us that she had recently brought home a pair of a $5 pair 30TH ANNIVERSARY
of earrings she had purchased from us. When she showed them to her St Albans West Conference 29/03/1989
granddaughter, the young women instantly saw that they were Tiffany & Co. Aspendale Conference 08/10/1989
as they had the official Tiffany trademark. The granddaughter placed them on 10TH ANNIVERSARY
eBay and sold them for $295 – making a very tidy profit. Bass Conference 31/03/2009
Clearly the woman had snagged herself a bargain. However, she decided Mernda Conference 29/04/2009
to do something really memorable – donate the $300 to the shop so that the Burwood/Bennettswood Young Vinnies 17/05/2009
funds could go towards assisting local people in the Queenscliff community Meredith & District Conference 09/06/2009
who really needed it. Ballarat Young Vinnies 29/09/2009
As a mark of our appreciation we presented her with a decanter that she had
her eye on. We can’t stress how grateful we are to this woman and to all of NEWLY ESTABLISHED
our supporters, and can't thank everyone enough for their generosity. Lakes Entrance Conference 26/08/2019
VINNIES MOE CALENDAR DATES
Melbourne’s Spring Racing Carnival is a favourite time of the year for
many people. It provides an opportunity for people to get dressed up 2019 Christmas Appeal
and enjoy the pomp and ceremony of a week of festivities. 8 November 2019−31 January 2020
Looking for that perfect outfit – or being able to afford it – can be difficult Vinnies Thornbury opening
though and that's where our Vinnies volunteers shine. 11 December 2019
Recently volunteers at Vinnies Moe went above and beyond Dandenong Soup Van commences
to assist a young woman who was attending the Oaks Day 17 December 2019
at Flemington. Everyone in the shop were only too happy Christmas−office closure
to help out and by the time she left, she had a fantastic 24 December 2019–1 January 2020
outfit (including matching shoes) at a bargain price and she Reopening: 2 January 2020
looked a million dollars. Vinnies Thomastown opening
A big congratulations to all for making her day. 14 February 2020
WE ENDEAVOUR TO INCLUDE AS MANY ARTICLES AS POSSIBLE IN EACH ISSUE OF SOCIETYNEWS.
YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS ARE WELCOME, PLEASE FORWARD TO: INFO@SVDP-VIC.ORG.AU
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