IT was a perfect day, the sun was shining and the chirping of birds could be heard in the immaculately tidy gardens of the St Mary’s units in Inverell, where many of Saint Vincent de Paul’s leaders were gathered.
Informality was the theme there on Saturday, and it was the perfect place for afternoon tea and a casual conversation.
The State president of St Vinnie’s, Barbra Ryan, had paid a special visit from Sydney to inspect the units.
“Oh they are wonderful” she exclaimed.
“I was here last year and the residents are so welcoming. It’s like a community within a community, one of compassion and care. They all help each other out, and it’s heart-warming.”
Besides the inspection on Saturday, there was a regional festival meeting held at the Inverell RSM club after a special mass on Sunday, where auspicious members of the society were involved in the program as readers and Eucharist ministers.
Other members who were present for the weekend included Don Hewitt - Armidale Diocesan President, Andréa Turner – executive officer, Scott Sullivan – financial adviser, Linder McCollum and Wendy Baker from the diocesan office, Kerry Muir – vice president of the diocesan council, Rosemary Fisher – regional president of Tamworth, Marline Nixon – regional president of Armidale, Martin Coleman – president of the Namoi-Barton region, Brian Baldwin – president of the New-England region and Dr Andy Marks – chairman of the State council and social justice investigator.
The issues brought up in the meeting included: how prayer is reflected in their St Vinnie’s work and how their work influences their prayer, social issues within their respective communities, moral and ethical values as to how money is used and a rundown of the budgeting of the St Vinnie’s funds.
Talks from Barbra Ryan, Don Hewitt, Andy Marks and an impromptu by Scott Sullivan were also part of the agenda.
This meeting was especially significant for Don Hewitt, because it was his fourth and final report as Armidale president, as his term in office will end on June 30, 2010.
“It has been a great pleasure to serve as your president and I would like to express my sincere appreciation to those who have supported me.”
“I have received tremendous satisfaction during my time in office,” he said in his report to the festival meeting. The meeting was followed by a luncheon, attended by members, guests and volunteers.
This was also an opportunity for a presentation of bursary to bishop Matthes, which was presented to Father Joe by Don Hewitt and Barbara Ryan, as the bishop had a previous commitment. Ms Ryan praised the local community.
“I am very impressed with the number of volunteers in Inverell, and at the high esteem of Vinnie’s in this area, and this meeting certainly showed how much good has been done for the poor of the community, especially in Inverell,” she said.
“Every diocese has different needs, and with that comes different facilities. The Inverell community has really embraced the St Vinnie’s foundation, and the people involved have really made it flourish in this community.”
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