society - vinnies.org.au · australia day government house holds an annual open day for the public...

There are hundreds of reasons..Our annual Christmas Appeal was launched in November last year and the theme was ‘100 Reasons’. 100 Reasons chronicles the deeds of kindness and goodwill undertaken by Vinnies volunteers and donors during the festive season and, just as importantly, their reason for doing so.Positive and personal, it’s a fresh approach which acknowledged the varied reasons that inspire people to donate. In line with this, the campaign called on donors and the general public to share their reason for giving during Christmas. We received many reasons from our donors and were overwhelmed with the many personal messages from people who donated to the appeal.

The Christmas Appeal in Victoria has raised over $640,000 as at time of printing.We are grateful and humbled by the thousands of Victorians who support our fundraising efforts in many different ways.

3 Christmas Photo BoothFree photo booth event to promote Christmas appeal.

Vinnies Gift CardsIntroduction of gift cards for Vinnies Shops in Victoria.

10 years of friendshipCompeer celebrates 10 years of providing friendship.

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Vinnies Christmas Appeal 2013

A newsletter for supporters of the St Vincent de Paul Society in Victoria > March 2014

President’s message Dear friends of the Society...

2 > Newletter for supporters of the St Vincent de Paul Society in Victoria > March 2014

I hope you enjoy this edition of Society which will keep you informed about the good works of St Vincent de Paul Society in Victoria.

Our Christmas Appeal ran until the end of January and raised over $640,000 which was unfortunately below our budget. The cost of material and financial aid to people in need continues to escalate which is putting pressure on our resources. We are looking at innovative ways of increasing our revenue base to meet this demand.

It is with deep sadness that I advise you that Jim Grealish, former State President of St Vincent de Paul Society, Victoria, recently passed away. Jim was a member of the Society’s Beaumaris/Black Rock Conference since 1996 and a member and Treasurer of St Francis Conference Melbourne (Australia’s first Conference in Australia – established by Fr Gerald Ward on 5 March 1954). He was involved in the reconstitution of that Conference in 2003.

Jim served as State President of the Society in Victoria from 2006 to 2010 and was a member of National Council during that time. He was the State Council Treasurer from 1997 to 2006.

During his term as State President, Jim had significant involvement in many Society projects. He was also involved at National Council level, being a member of National Council from 2006 to 2010, a member of the National Fundraising & Publicity Committee, the National Vincentian Development Committee and the National Accounting & Reporting Committee. In June 2010 Jim was awarded a Papal Knighthood in the Order of St Gregory.

My four year term of office concludes on 29 March 2014, when a new State President will be elected. Our governing document, “The Rule”, does not permit an outgoing president to be re-elected until the expiration of another 4 years.

I wish to thank you all for the tremendous support you have given the Society during my term of office. The Society could not do all that it does without your continuing, generous support. I am confident that you will continue your valuable contribution to the Society.

With best wishes,

Tony TomeState President

March 2014State President Tony Tome out on a soup van service.

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Please make a difference by donating to Vinnies.

Call 13 18 12 or visit vinnies.org.au

Christmas Photo BoothIn order to share and promote our ‘100 reasons’ Christmas Appeal, the St Vincent de Paul Society hosted a photo booth event on December 11 at Flinders Street Station.

Warm blankets remain one of the most sought after items for people in need. Our annual Winter Blanket Appeal will be launched in May this year to coincide with our Winter Appeal. Last year a number of organisations and schools ran blanket collections which were then distributed to people sleeping rough via our soup vans or to families in need through our local conference members.

Help Vinnies reach our 5,000 blankets target to keep someone warm this coming winter. Good quality used or new blankets are best.

If you would like more information please contact Jenny on 9895 5877 or email [email protected]

The many donor reasons we received during our Christmas Appeal 2013.

Winter Blanket Appeal 2014

The free event gave the public the opportunity to have their photo taken in the photo booth holding a piece of cardboard featuring their reason to give during the festive season. More than 300 people participated, ranging from school students to city workers and families.

Participants were provided with a hard copy of the photo and they were also emailed the image so they could share it on their social media networks to help promote Vinnies Christmas Appeal. The very prominent location of the booth, just inside the entry to the train station, also provided great visibility for the Society to further support the appeal messaging on television, radio and digital media networks.


Christmas Gift AppealOver 60 businesses and schools donated to our Christmas Gift Appeal last year.Business who donated included Energy Australia, Intrepid, Channel 7 and SP Ausnet. Highpoint Shopping Centre also ran the appeal through their centre and provided brand ambassadors to help us collect gifts.

Our sincere thanks to all of our Gift Appeal donors for their generous donations.

Vinnies Gift CardsDue to popular demand, Vinnies has introduced gift cards for customers at Vinnies shops across Victoria.

Soup Vans at Government House on Australia Day

Government House holds an annual open day for the public on Australia Day and this year the Society’s soup vans, along with Second Bite, were invited to participate by selling food to visitors on the day.

More than 18,000 people waited patiently in line to get a tour of the house. With the assistance of volunteers from the community group 300 Blankets we sold sandwiches and water. We raised much needed funds for the soup van service in metropolitan Melbourne. We extend our thanks to the volunteers who came along on the day.



The cards are available for purchase and use in any Vinnies in the state and can be made to whatever amount the customer wishes. Vinnies Merchandise Manager Liz Randle said:

“People have been asking for them for a long time so it’s great to be able to meet that demand now. It’s

great timing too as they make great gifts for people who love vintage and recycling.”Funds raised in Vinnies shops are used by the St Vincent de Paul Society to support people in need in the local area.

Find your nearest Vinnies shop and full terms and conditions at vinnies.org.au

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Collingwood Soup Van Celebrates 15 Years of Service In December, the Collingwood soup van celebrated 15 years meeting and serving the people of Collingwood and Richmond. Over the past 15 years around 1,000 volunteers have completed about 140,000 hours of service. They have also grown to better understand the effects of disadvantage on the most vulnerable members of the Collingwood and Richmond communities.

Many of the volunteers are adult students and under the age of 30. The lessons they learn will help them influence a more compassionate community response in the future.

About 400 people benefit from the Collingwood soup van every week, through provision of food and friendship. In addition to our staple food of freshly-made sandwiches, we provide lots of fruit and soup made from fresh vegetables. There is generally a whirl of conversation to and fro,

and sometimes our 10pm deadline is seriously challenged.

Some of our volunteers have been assisting on the van for more than 10 years, and more than 30 have given five years of service, turning up for a weekly or fortnightly shift throughout the year. They give great leadership to the separate teams that work on each night, but there is always an emphasis on volunteers enjoying the experience, as many a guest from Vinnies can tell from visits to the kitchen and on the rounds.

Well done to all our volunteers over the last 15 years.

Leo Holt Collingwood soup van President

Vinnies Soup Van out serving those living rough.


Vinnies Youth Op Shop Ball The annual Vinnies Youth ball was again a big success in 2013!

On Saturday 7 September, 230 young adult Vinnies members and their friends, dressed up in their finest from Vinnies shops. The theme for the 2013 ball was ‘op shop glamour’. Aside from being a fantastic social occasion, each year the evening raises money for a special work of the Society. This year, all money raised went to the Dandenong Homework Tutoring Program.

The night never fails to get everyone up on the dance floor but other highlights included the big raffle and ‘fashions on the field’ where attendees showed off their best Vinnies shop outfits. The total amount raised on the night was just over $3,500.

Catherine Watson M & D Schools Liaison Officer

Vinnies will be running Sleepout events during Winter 2014. Our six-step guide makes hosting a Vinnies School or Community Sleepout easy!

Visit the websites or contact Jenny on 9895 5877 or [email protected] for more information about organising your own Sleepout event to help Vinnies raise funds to support the homeless in and around your local community.

Vinnies Youth Op Shop Ball 2013 at Aurora Receptions.

Sadly, there are thousands of Australian families struggling to provide basic school essentials. And because every child has the right to be prepared for school, the ‘Shop For Good’ campaign invited Best&Less customers to purchase a $2 Vinnies cardboard T-shirt to raise funds to provide essential school

equipment and uniforms to kids who need it the most. In total, the campaign raised over $225,000.

Shop For Good

Vinnies School & Community Sleepouts

In January, Best&Less and Vinnies teamed up to help kids experiencing disadvantage get the best possible start to school in 2014.

The Compeer program supports the friendships that are created between a volunteer and a companion with the added support of the mental health worker involved with the companion’s care. The guests at the celebration heard from our CEO Cam Battaglia about the important work done by Society members in their conferences and the difference they make to their local community.

The keynote speaker was St Vincent de Paul Society National Council CEO, Dr John Falzon, who linked humility and personal action to benefits given and received by all involved in the Compeer program. Compeer is fortunate to recruit volunteers who selflessly give their time and personal interest to their companion. Volunteers come to this program for many reasons but we often hear from them about the personal benefits they gain from their friendship.

The companions have responded to the offer of friendship and given of themselves to relationships that may have challenged them. Many have found acceptance and renewed trust with others. They have also gained access to their local community that they may have previously found inaccessible or daunting.

The Compeer program is in need of volunteers in the east of Melbourne and Bendigo. To find out more contact [email protected] or phone 03 9895 5886

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10 Years of Friendship



Compeer staff and friends at the 10 year celebration.

A Gift for the FutureIf you are interested in exploring the idea of a gift in your will to the St Vincent de Paul Society, or simply need general information on wills and bequests and related areas, help is at hand.

Three booklets are available which cover:• Wills and bequests• The role of executor of a will and• Powers of attorney and

guardianship.

Looking after your loved ones and those who depend upon you is the primary consideration when drawing up a will, but it may be that it is possible to also include a gift which will support the future work of the Society and the many disadvantaged people with whom we work with every day.

For more information please contact Sue Pitt – Bequest Coordinator on 9895 5821 or [email protected]

On Monday 23 September a large group of friends and supporters of the Compeer program came together to celebrate 10 years of providing intentional friendships for people living with the effects of mental illness in the eastern region of Melbourne and Bendigo.

IGA Supports the 2013 Christmas AppealChristmas is a time to support people and families in our community who are most in need.IGA was once again the major supporter of Vinnies Christmas Appeal 2013. Through IGA’s Community Chest and the paper bauble campaign, IGA raised $420,000 nationally. These funds helped Vinnies provide food and vital support to thousands of people living in poverty across Australia over the Christmas period.




St Vincent de Paul Society of Victoria43 Prospect StreetBox Hill Victoria 3128

Phone: (03) 9895 5800 Fax: (03) 9895 5850 Email: [email protected]

vinnies.org.au

For credit card donations visit vinnies.org.au or call 13 18 12

donate

2014 Vinnies CEO SleepoutThe Vinnies CEO Sleepout will be held again this year on Thursday 19 June.A key event on our fundraising calendar, the event involves business and community leaders sleeping out on the cold concrete for a night at Etihad Stadium. By seeking sponsorships, participants raise money to support our homeless services. Last year 178 participants in Victoria raised over $685,000 and $5.7m nationally.

For more information or to sign up visit www.ceosleepout.org.au

society - vinnies.org.au · australia day government house holds an annual open day for the public...

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