TheA N E W S L E T T E R F R O M T H E S T V I N C E N T D E P A U L S O C I E T Y ( W A ) I n c .

With a great deal of uncertainty surrounding the globe in terms

of the world’s economy, it is important to look locally and see that problems highlighted on a global level, are very much present in our own community. The global economic crisis is posing many questions that can only be answered in time, including – How many people will lose their jobs? How many pensioners will struggle? How many people on the verge of homelessness will fall into further disadvantage? And finally, where will these people turn to when they have nowhere else to go?

The answer for many Australians will be to call upon the St Vincent de Paul Society to provide the necessities of life including shelter, food and clothing when it is needed most. Over 175,000 people were assisted by the Society in Western Australia last year, showing that although we still have rough times ahead there are many families already living in despair. Sadly, at a time when WA’s ‘boom has bust’ and unemployment rates are set to rise to 7% by 2010, we are left bracing for a difficult 12 months ahead.

Lucinda Ardagh, Media Spokesperson for the Society in WA says community support is needed now more than ever, “We will find that people who ordinarily would have never sought out assistance will need to turn to Vinnies for help. We need to plan and brace ourselves for what the next 12 months will bring and we urge our supporters and donors who can assist to please continue supporting the Society, as we anticipate those that have always needed our help may fall

further below the poverty line and see emerging demographics reach out for help,” Lucinda said.

Slight relief seems to be on its way with the Society’s National Chief Executive Officer Dr John Falzon recently welcoming Government support for low income earners in Australia with a second stimulus package announced in February giving out cash bonus payments. “We are relatively happy with the balance of the stimulus directed at low income Australians, either through training, job creation, one off cash payments and/or investments in social infrastructure,” Dr John Falzon said.

The St Vincent de Paul Society will – as it always has – survive on the goodwill and generosity from those who continue supporting the ‘Good Works’ that have been servicing Western Australia since 1865. The recent Christmas Appeal raised $570,000 with a further $150,000 worth of goods in kind that will filter directly back into the WA community and fuel the Society’s Special Works that operate by responding to needs identified in the community. These include, Home Visitation, the core work of the Society, addressing people’s needs within their homes, Vincentcare, helping those experiencing homelessness and mental illness, Passages Resource Centre, providing services to street present

youth, Vinnies Youth Programs, giving disadvantaged youth a chance to smile, Migrant and Refugee Support to newly arrived families and Social Justice initiatives to continue advocating for the disadvantaged and marginalised.

“The people of WA never let us down with donations and trust the Society to use their donations wisely. We urge the WA community to continue supporting Vinnies in any way they can and assure them that all money raised in WA stays in WA to help local people and families get the help they need in the tough times ahead,” Lucinda concluded.

*Information in this article relating to the Federal Government stimulus package was correct at time of printing.

Christmas Appeal

Vinnies Youth

Come Grow

With UsInside

You helped change their

story

The future of the

SocietyMeet some

of our inspirational

members

Read more on ... P4 - 5Read more on ... P3 Read more on ... P7

March • 2009

Vinnies brace themselves for tough times ahead

Vinnies Warns of Tough Times Ahead but is Comforted by Strong Community Support

Contact Information

‘The Spirit’ is produced by: The Public Relations and Fundraising Department, St Vincent de Paul Society WA. Copyright 2009. Because we respect the privacy of the people we support, names in this newsletter have been changed, stories summarised and adapted and pictorial models used.

All correspondence can be sent to: Communications Coordinator, Public Relations and Fundraising St Vincent de Paul Society WA, PO BOX 473, Belmont, WA 6984

Email: info@svdpwa.org.au Website: www.vinnies.org.au

As March 2009 is upon us I can only look back and reflect on what has been an ever-changing first six

months in my term of office. We have gone from a boom economy to one that has withdrawn in some areas on a grand scale and in all areas a cautious approach has been adopted.

During the height of the boom the Society worked hard to raise the awareness of people missing out on its prosperity– the homeless, the mentally ill, single parents, disadvantaged youth and disability and aged pensioners and today the message is still the same – these people are still doing it tough and today are finding themselves even more in situations of uncertainty and even more in a position to rely on organisations such as the St Vincent de Paul Society to give them a hand up when they need it most. As the scales of the economy shift and forecast loss of employment starts to impact the community, we are preparing to assist new and emerging demographics of the community who need help and have nowhere else to turn. As the St Vincent de Paul Society we commit to continue to advocate on their behalf and we commit to share their stories as part of our mission to raise awareness of social justice issues and in turn assist in creating a fair and just community.

We believe through ongoing planning we are positioning ourselves to respond to what lies ahead and the Society has taken the step to work on developing a solid strategic plan that addresses the needs of the community today and in the future. We do envisage that demand for our services will increase in the coming year and if January figures of 3,000 people assisted through our Call Centre is anything to go by – we are already being impacted by a slowing state economy.

Many of those who call on us are in increasingly complex situations that require not only a fiscal, but also a holistic approach to their welfare needs. Our volunteers continue to

encounter multifaceted situations of need never faced before, and so we remain vigilant to the training and development of our volunteers, arming them with the necessary tools to carry out their good work and be able to respond to the challenges of their vocations. I once again thank each and every one of our volunteers and members for their dedication and for the care and compassion they provide the people we serve.

The services we deliver to the community are essential and without the support of our donors we would battle to maintain them. May I thank all those who gave what they could to our Christmas Appeal, the WA community never lets us down and once again we were overwhelmed by the response. At a time when there is so much uncertainty and fear in the community of what the future holds, many West Australian’s continued to support us and think of others in need, and because of this generosity many were able to participate in the joy of Christmas when they otherwise may have not.

Thank you for your continued support. I remain confident that we are on track to respond to what lies ahead and make a commitment to you that your donations will be used ethically and wisely as part of the solution.God Bless.

Joseph Clément AstrucState PresidentSt Vincent de Paul Society (WA) Inc

2 | The Spirit | March 2009 www.vinnies.org.au

State President’s M e s s a g e . . .

The St Vincent de Paul Society officially commissioned new State President Clément Astruc at a special Mass

on Sunday August 24, 2008 at St Simon Peter Parish in Ocean Reef. Over 200 of the Society’s family and friends were able to join Clément as he embarked on this leadership role with the Society for the next three years.

Clément’s involvement with the Society started 34 years ago when he joined a conference in Zambia. His devotion to ministering to the disadvantaged continued into his arrival to Australia in 1999 where he joined the Ocean Reef Conference. Clément still continues to conduct Home Visitations to those in need in his local area.

Vincentian Village celebrated its 1st birthday recently with a small function to acknowledge those who have supported the project over the years and helped see it come to fruition.Vincentcare is a Special Work of the St Vincent de Paul Society that provides accommodation options to individuals who are experiencing homelessness and/or mental illness. Vincentian Village is a nationally unique model of care that provides support with dignity with a state of the art facility providing 28 self contained units, a commercial kitchen, dining room, laundry and large games area. Vincentcare prides itself on the quality and high standard of service it delivers and supports all clients to encompass the “recovery” model encouraging them to reach a level of independence that allows them to integrate within the community. Congratulations Vincentian Village and happy birthday!

New State President Commissioned

Celebrations at Vincentcare

Members from National Council present at commissioning ceremony

Vincentian Village turns one

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$50 will

give a

homeless

person

a bed

The success of the 2008 Christmas Appeal would not have been

possible without the great deal of support received from within the West Australian community.

People from all areas of the State came together – long time donors, businesses, corporate partners, schools, members of the media, volunteers and individuals – to answer the call for help throughout the busy and demanding Christmas and New Year period with donations of food, clothing, hampers, toys, household goods, vouchers and monetary donations.

The appeal resulted in a grand total of $570,000 raised and a further $150,000 worth of goods donated, both of which have been directed back into the WA community to help those in need – including the unemployed, the disadvantaged, the mentally ill, newly arrived migrants and refugees, families needing assistance to get their children back to school, the homeless and anyone who genuinely called on the Society asking for a hand up in their time of need. On behalf of the 10,000 people who experience homelessness every night in WA and the many thousand more who are struggling to pay the bills, afford school uniforms or put food on the table, the St Vincent de Paul Society says thank you for your ongoing support and heartfelt approach to helping those around you who are less fortunate.

The funds received for the Christmas Appeal will enable the Society to respond to the calls for assistance that will be received up until the Winter Appeal begins in May.

Thank You The Spirit

Over 100,000 Australians are homeless

The SpirChristmas Appeal 2008 Y o u H e l p e d C h a n g e T h e i r S t o r y . . .

$80 enables a disadvantaged child to attend a Vinnies Youth Camp or outing

$100 can provide

presents for children

on Christmas Day

who would otherwise

receive none

$150 will allow us to

provide youth and young

adult support programs

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#

#

#

# Images courtesy of Community Newspaper Group

$200 would enable us to provide food,

clothing and other basic

living necessities to

a struggling family

#

Fun and games are a plenty on Vinnies Youth camps

Having fun and laughter is a

rule on Vinnies Youth activities

Children enjoy many

activities on Kids Camps

The St Vincent de Paul Society began with the vision and determination of one young 20 year old university student in France in 1833. That man, by the name of Frederic Ozanam, joined together with other youth to put their faith in action by responding to the needs of the poor in a practical way in their community. It is the determination and compassion of Frederic Ozanam that helped to create the St Vincent de Paul Society over a century ago and his teachings are integral to the understanding and approach the Society takes to alleviating poverty in our community today. It is that same spirit and passion that has helped to engage and motivate Vinnies Youth who undertake vital social justice, formation and practical assistance to other young people within the Western Australian community today.

Vinnies Youth is a Special Work of

the St Vincent de Paul Society that runs a variety of activities targeting the needs of disadvantaged young people within the state. Their list of events and activities cater for youth from the early age of 8 years well into teenage years and aims at developing young people who come from disadvantaged backgrounds whilst adding happiness, laughter and joy into their lives. Programs and activities are specifically designed to cater to the complexities of working with youth of all ages and cannot be run without the enormous effort of Vinnies Youth volunteers.

Vinnies Youth volunteers in Perth and around the nation are working towards creating a more just and compassionate community in Australia. In WA, Vinnies Youth has 319 volunteers who dedicate their time and efforts to

run programs to ensure the needs of disadvantaged children are met. Their passion and dedication is an outstanding example to all members of the West Australian community.

The enjoyment received by the youth who attend the activities is paralleled with the enjoyment and personal satisfaction derived from being a volunteer and playing a role in the development of a child’s life. The Society believes education is the key to breaking the poverty cycle and Vinnies Youth volunteers act as positive role models, who give young people a safe and encouraging environment to free themselves from the burdens of home and have the time to feel proud of themselves whilst learning basic life skills like teamwork and how to interact with other peers.

Vinnies Youth T h e F u t u r e O f T h e S o c i e t y . . .

4 | The Spirit | March 2009 www.vinnies.org.au

Positive learning at Belmont’s Homework CentreImage courtesy of Community Newspaper Group

Meet the Vo lunteers Name: Keenan Gerard Klassen, volunteer for 3 yearsFavourite food? Apples in chocolate sauce and honeyWhat’s one of the funniest moments you can recall? On camp we made targets out of cardboard boxes and the leaders stuck their heads in the target and the kids had big sponges dunked in baked beans, jelly and butter. It was all fun and games, until one kid got me square in the face.What benefits do you get from volunteering? Being a part of Vinnies Youth gives me a big sense of self fulfilment. It’s a small achievement for me in some way, that every time I get the chance to volunteer there’s something new, something I’ve never encountered before and it’s always challenging me and pushing me forward.

Name: Chloe Morley, volunteer for 4 yearsFavourite food? Chocolate!What activities have you been involved in? Kids Camps, Formation Camps, Buddy Days, Banksia Hill visits, part of the World Youth Day pilgrimage group.What is the best part about volunteering? The hugs and warm fuzzies you get at the end of a kids camp. What would you say to someone thinking of becoming a volunteer? You HAVE to do it. Don’t even think twice about it – Just do it. You won’t regret it.

Name: Clarissa Quek, volunteer for 4 yearsFavourite food? SushiWhat benefits do you get from volunteering? Wow, where should I start?! My volunteering experiences in Vinnies have been life-changing. I’ve discovered myself a bit more and have really grown in self confidence, ability, faith and as a person. I’ve discovered some of my strengths and weaknesses and have had the opportunities to work on them. What’s one of the funniest moments you can recall? At a camp during dress-ups, one kid who was very adamant about dressing up, suddenly just donned a little Snow White dress with a lacy, pearly bra and ran around the whole place showing it off. It was hilarious and great to see that he was having fun!

Name: Sarah Crute, volunteer for 3 yearsFavourite food? ChocolateWhat is the best part of volunteering? Witnessing some of the funny things that kids do. Sometimes it’s a bumpy road, but the best part is the moment when you realise that you would do it all again a million times over just to see those beautiful smiles and hear that laughter. What benefits do you get from volunteering? I’ve had a lot of opportunities for both personal and professional development. I’ve met a lot of fantastic people and been able to work with a wide variety of people who have taught me a great deal.

Would you l i ke to be a V inn ies Youth vo lunteer or know of someone who might? It is a great way to meet other young people while working on projects and activities that provide support and development to disadvantaged

young people in our community. All you need to be a Vinnies Youth volunteer is a passion to help others, enjoy working as part of a team and like to have fun!

To find how to become a member of Vinnies Youth please call Renee on 9475 5400.

35 kids aged 8-14 years got the ride of their lives recently when members of the Fremantle Sailing Club very generously donated their time and services to a ‘Fremantle Sailing Club Vinnies Youth Day’. 20 yachts and power boats sailed from Fremantle to Garden Island on the morning of Saturday January 17, 2009 giving kids from disadvantaged backgrounds a day to remember with lunch and beach activities. With the majority of the kids having never seen a yacht or boat, the chance to be on one and even drive one gave them a once in a lifetime opportunity. Special thanks to Ralph Newton for organising the event and the Fremantle Sailing Club members for their generosity. Most kids said it was ‘the best day of their whole life!’

What would you say to someone thinking of becoming What would you say to someone thinking of becoming

At a camp during dress-ups, one kid who was very adamant

I’ve had

fulfilment. It’s a small achievement for me in some way, that

call Renee on

The Spirit

The Society believes education is the key to breaking the poverty cycle

What do Vinnies Youth do?CAMPS Vinnies Youth Camps for disadvantaged children aged 8-12 years old and teens aged 13-16 years old are held over school holidays twice a year varying in length from three to four days. Camp participants are provided with a positive and encouraging environment and the opportunity to take part in activities they would never ordinarily be able to do, allowing them a chance to laugh and have fun.

BUDDY DAYS Buddy Days are monthly outings for children and teenagers that provide young people with recreational activities they may otherwise not have access to due to a range of family constraints.

HOMEWORK CENTRES Homework Centres are open to disadvantaged children aged 8-12 years who are having trouble with their school work. The program provides students with a nutritional afternoon tea and one-on-one assistance with their homework. A Homework Centre is run in Belmont and Fremantle with the Society receiving generous community support to keep the Centre’s running. Special thanks to supporters Ernst & Young and Notre Dame University.

JUVENILE DETENTION CENTRE VISITS Visits are made to WA’s only juvenile detention centre, Banksia Hill, every Saturday to provide encouragement and support to juvenile detainees aged 10-18 years. Volunteers run a cooking program and also spend time with detainees playing basketball and table tennis.

ROADSHOW Vinnies Youth Roadshow continues to provide recreation and support to youth in regional or remote areas of WA. The Roadshow acts to provide services to young people in regional areas that are readily available to those in city areas.

A H O Y there sailors!

Planting The Seeds O f T o m o r r o w . . .

6 | The Spirit | March 2009 www.vinnies.org.au

Make a Lasting Commitment to Future Generations of People in Need

Over the years the St Vincent de Paul Society has been privileged to be remembered in the Wills of members

of the WA community and through this generosity has been able to continue to respond to calls for assistance from people in need and plan and develop specialised programs that provide ongoing lasting support.

A bequest to the Society is a gift made in your Will and through your legacy you will help change the way of life for disadvantaged people forever.

People include a charity in their Will’s for different reasons, here are just two short stories from people who have made the commitment to support people in need through the Society’s Bequest Program.

To find out more about leaving a Bequest to the Society and how you can become a member of the Tom Perrott Forever Friends Club – a special club that honours those who have committed to supporting the Society through a Bequest - please be sure to tick the option available on the donation coupon enclosed or call the Society’s Bequest Officer, Anne Smith on 9475 5414.*Some names have been changed to protect the privacy of our donors

O f T o m o r r o w . . . “It was in the thirties that I first heard of the St Vincent de Paul Society when I was a little boy living in Sydney during the great Depression, and my parents were very poor. I remember the members of the St Vincent de Paul Society visiting our house. They came regularly and gave vouchers to my mother for us to buy food. They took my brother and myself away from the State school that we attended because they were free and placed us with the Christian Brothers. They even provided uniforms. The more I saw of the Society members the more I admired them. They were prompt and ready to help in any way possible and they acted quickly, vividly seeing the worry on my mother’s face and the many young children around her. In the seventies I came to Perth, happily hailing Western Australia as home. These experiences helped me to make a decision to leave a Bequest to the St Vincent de Paul Society.”

George – Member of the Tom Perrott Forever Friends Club

Leaving a Bequest will make a lasting commitment to the Society and its future

St Vincent de Paul Society members are inspirational people who carry out the core work of the Society – offering hope, comfort and dignity to people in need in their homes, and for some of them, 2008 proved to be a year with

their good work recognised by the West Australian community. • Thomas Fisher, 87, has been a member of the Society for 68 years. In October 2008 Tom was acknowledged as the WA

Metropolitan Senior of the Year for the outstanding work he does in the community as well as his many other volunteer engagements across WA.

• Vince Spargo, Peel Region President and long time member of the Society was awarded the City of Mandurah Peel Volunteer of the Year in December 2008 for his tireless efforts.

• Frank Andinach was named the 2008 Goldfields Volunteer of the Year last December for his dedication as a member of the Society for over 25 years also serving as Secretary and Treasurer for the Kalgoorlie/Boulder Conference.

Congratulations Tom, Vince and Frank on your recent awards and thank you for your ongoing commitment to your communities through your work with the Society.

Society Members Honoured

“When I was deciding to leave a bequest in my Will, I looked

for something that fit with my values of helping others in need and

the St Vincent de Paul Society aligned with this mission.

I have, in time, been in need myself and I have seen the work

they do inside and out. They do not discriminate and they help

everybody. The people visit you in your home and provide a wide

range of help and if they can’t, they give you advice and referrals

to places that can. But the best thing is that they do follow up

visits and provide a personal and best possible service with

dignity and respect.

I believe in helping others and I trust that in the future the

St Vincent de Paul Society can cater for all kinds of new

challenges.”

Jean – Member of the Tom Perrott Forever Friends Club

The SpiritThe SpiritConference Membership C o m e G r o w W i t h U s …

Home Visitation remains the core work of the St Vincent

de Paul Society today as much as it did in Paris in 1833 when the Society was first formed, with West Australian conference members still carrying out this pivotal role within their local communities on a daily basis with commitment and faith.

There are 76 conferences state wide with a membership base of 871 dedicated people of all ages and

backgrounds. Members are known as ‘Vincentians’ and their work essentially aims to foster an atmosphere of dignity, trust and respect in a person’s home while providing them with the necessary practical emergency assistance they need in the form of material aid, budgeting advice, help with utility bills, advocacy issues as well as friendship and support.

Through their work the Society has sought to create a more just and compassionate community by responding directly to calls for assistance. Social justice is at the forefront of the Society’s mission and a large part of what members do is to advocate for those who cannot speak out for themselves. With the growing need for assistance and the subsequent mounting pressure on Society services, conferences are increasingly in need of new members to continue their ‘Good Works’ in the community.

Membership is open to anyone from the community wanting to ‘give something back’ and the Society embraces and accepts people from all backgrounds, including those from other faiths. A member supports the mission of the Society and makes a commitment to the Society’s ethos and vows to abide by its standards and Rule and any person in the community can enquire about how they can better serve those in their local area through the Society’s work – there are many options of service available.

To find out more about becoming a member and start making a difference today, call the Conference and Membership Development team on 9475 5400.

Meet some of the Society’s membersName: Rebecca Martella, 23

City Beach ConferenceMember since October 2007

I am the youngest in my conference and I feel like I have a lot to learn. All my fellow members are so insightful and knowledgeable about life and being a Vincentian, it’s quite inspiring. I see that they have been members since they were in their twenties and I hope that I can continue their good work. I would absolutely encourage other people my age to get involved in Society work because it makes you realise that poverty is real and exists in our own country.

Name: Andrew Hogan, 45North Perth ConferenceMember since 1992

I think the real meaning of the Vincentian life is to give without expecting anything in return at all. It’s something that is just so hard but for me that is the essence and the challenge of what we do and why we do it. Comfort zones can be dangerous and if anyone really wants to step out of their comfort zone and get involved in some of the real ‘nitty gritty’ of people’s lives, then I can’t think of a better way than by becoming a Society member.

Name: Frances Grey, 58 Mandurah ConferenceMember for 11 years

One of the benefits I have received from volunteering is the sense of great satisfaction that comes from helping others. I would encourage anyone who wants to become a member to get to know people in their local community and find out what the Society has to offer them. Talk to other members, ask questions and visit your local conference. There are lots of positive aspects of being a volunteer and everyone is encouraged to work at a level which they feel comfortable.

The Society has 950,000 members worldwide

Home Visitation

Members take emergency assistance to those in need in their homes

Personal reflection “As Vincentians we are always reminded to see Jesus in the face of those

we serve and this is little anecdote of my encounter with ‘Jesus’. We have a gentleman come to our Centre and over the years I have seen his brain and body deteriorate due to excessive alcohol use.

One particular time we came to the office to find ‘Jesus’ spread out asleep at the back door, with nothing covering him but some donated clothing. We found him a nice track suit and some warm slippers and as he looked in my eyes and gave me a lovely smile and said “I really love you ladies” I knew then that all our efforts to be nice to him had worked as we really did have Jesus in our midst.”

Dulcie Valenti – Member from Geraldton Conference

Come Grow With Us - Become a member of the St Vincent de Paul Society today!

Society’s work recognised in 2008• Belmont Small Business Award for Best Marketing

• Silver awarded in the Non for Profit - Effectiveness Category and bronze awarded in the Creative Category - Integrated Campaign at the Australian Direct Marketing Awards for the ‘This Time It’s Personal’ Winter Appeal Campaign

• Vincentcare - Community Service Industry Award for Community Partnerships

• Vincentcare - Australasian Housing Institute Award for Housing Management

• Vincentcare - Australasian Housing Institute Award for Support Solutions

• Vincentcare - City of Cockburn Sustainability Award for Economic Wellbeing

8 | The Spirit | March 2009 www.vinnies.org.au

New times for Vinnies Centres2008 ended on a high note for the Vinnies Retail team

with two successful relocation projects for the Centres in Clarkson and Gosnells.

The Vinnies Retail Centre in Clarkson was officially opened on Wednesday October 15, at a better location amongst the shopping precinct in Ocean Keys, while the long awaited unveiling of the new Vinnies Centre in Gosnells was celebrated on Thursday December 11, at a brand new premises along Albany Highway. The old Centre in Gosnells was forced to close in September leaving the Retail Team with the challenge of finding a new and improved location to set up shop.

The new, improved and professional lay out of the Centres will provide customers and volunteers with a safe, welcoming and dignified place to shop and work.

The Society has 42 Vinnies Retail Centres statewide. For further information or location of the Centre closest to you visit www.vinnies.org.au.

In Short Q u i c k N e w s . . .

Committee is the key to social justice Since July 2007 the Social Justice Committee in

Western Australia comprising of St Vincent de Paul Society members, volunteers and staff has been advocating on behalf of disadvantaged West Australians through the implementation and development of new initiatives.

Following the Society’s mission and with long term goals in mind, the committee has been hard at work, raising awareness of issues and tackling a number of new projects with the ultimate aim of helping to create a fair and just community. As 2009 begins the committee is ready to tackle new issues, as well as progress ongoing projects including the ‘Family Friend’s’ Program, which aims to provide increased support to families during Home Visitations, by encouraging the Society’s members to make regular phone calls and visits to assess the client’s welfare and to offer a holistic approach to the families wellbeing.

Other work undertaken by the committee includes the ‘Foster Grandparents’ Program which involves Society members offering assistance and friendship to families without the support networks of grandparents by becoming ‘foster grandparents’ for a child they visit.

Vinnies Gosnells Manager Maryanne Webb with some of her volunteersImage courtesy of Community Newspaper Group

Twinning projects help overseas conferences provide for their community

An update on overseas projectsThe Overseas Partnerships & Development Committee

is dedicated to providing support to struggling countries in the Asia and Oceania region. ‘Twinning’ is the partnership between an Australian conference and an overseas conference where support is provided to the country in need of assistance in three ways – spiritually, financially and by correspondence.

Last year, 130 conferences from India, Cambodia, Pakistan, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand and Papua New Guinea were supported and over $55,000 of twinning grants provided to these developing countries.

Typical projects fundraised by Australian conferences for their overseas twins include cow and goat banks and self help projects such as the provision of sewing machines to women so they can produce an income to support their families and community.

Australia Day invite Clément Astruc, State President of the Society

was invited by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to represent the Society in Western Australia at a formal reception to celebrate Australia Day. The event was held at the Government House Ballroom on Saturday January 24, 2009.

Committee is the key to social justice