THE Inverell branch of Royal Far West children’s charity has folded. President Pam Johnstone said the members closed the branch because of the lack of correspondence from the head office, and lack of answers as to how the money raised was aiding country kids in need.
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Pam said she regretfully made the decision after about 35 years of volunteer work with the charity, which has maintained an Inverell branch for over 60 years.
Pam and secretary/treasurer Irene Towner agreed the former staff at Royal Far West’s Sydney office was very helpful, but said it has become very difficult to get correspondence from the current staff.
“I tried to get some answers and everything. Well, they haven’t helped me at all,” Pam said.
Pam and another Inverell volunteer travelled to Sydney for the Royal Far West’s 90th anniversary in December. Their experience was the catalyst for the branch’s decision to close.
“When I was talking to one of the members, she’s been down there as long as I’ve been going down there, and they said, “This new lot of staff, it’s lost the concept of the Royal Far West; what it means’,” Pam said.
Irene said all donations were meant to fund the doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, eye and ear treatment for country kids, but believed the money was being directed to the construction of the new Royal Far West Centre for Child Health and Learning at Manly.
“We don’t whether our money’s going (into) that, or to help the children. You can’t get (any) sense out of them,” Pam said.
“We’re not getting a proper financial report or anything.”
The Orange branch publicity officer Beryl Bloomfield shared Pam’s frustrations. The officers of the Orange branch have over a century of volunteering with Royal Far West.
Beryl said she is in frequent contact with the charity’s head office, and said the Orange branch shares Inverell’s frustrations.
“Well, the thing is we’re all very disappointed in the fact that we’re not getting the correspondence that we should be getting, and we’re not getting the feedback on the money that we do raise, because all money raised is for the country children.”
The charity’s Sydney office responded, “Royal Far West head office is saddened to hear of the closure of one of our long serving branches in Inverell. We are truly grateful for the leadership of Mrs Pam Johnstone, president of the branch for her long serving support.”
“RFW are always looking for volunteers who would be interested in starting up a new branch. Please call the RFW head office on 8966 8500 to discuss further.”