* BROTHERHOOD etter lives of S! LAURENCE Helping people build better lives www.bsl.org.au A newsletter for our valued friends and supporters It’s official... April 27 was an important day for 80 Building Better Lives Appeal supporters and 56 residents of Sumner and Sidney House — their newly redeveloped homes were officially declared open.

Special guests included Archbishop Peter Watson, Victorian Parliamentary Secretary for Human Services, Matt Viney (standing in for the Honourable Bronwyn Pike MP) and Lady Southey, representing The .

Mr Viney, who congratulated the BSL on its efforts, told the gathering of local residents, friends and official guests that the State Government contributed $400,000 towards The Brotherhood Choir, conducted by Ruth effort. He reminded people to have a look at the rooming house. Schoenheimer, set the scene with sensitive the honour board of recognition hanging in singing of three items, while BSL Executive the main BSL building. Another $600,000 State Government grant Director Father Nicolas Frances welcomed will allow us to complete the complex, residents, friends and official guests. The official proceedings ended with the providing another eight beds in a separate release of dozens of environmentally friendly wing, now Millott House. Fr Nic referred to the fact that the balloons in BSL colours by Archbishop Peter Brotherhood’s Building Better Lives Appeal Watson, Bishop Michael and Lady Southey. Lady Southey noted her father Sidney Myer had just been judged the best capital appeal The Archbishop then blessed the residents in would have been delighted to see his family in Australia in the Fundraising Institute’s their new home. using his money to help redevelop the annual awards. rooming house — now known as Sidney BSL staff member Lola McHarg, who two years Myer House. “The award and the official opening are previously had shown dozens of prospective fitting tributes to the teamwork of so many donors over the two rundown buildings, proudly In other formal proceedings, Chairman of the wonderful people— volunteer board led tours of the new premises. BSL Board Professor Stephen Duckett members, corporate leaders who formed the presented a life membership certificate to appeal committee, generous individuals, The light luncheon we served to our residents former BSL Executive Director Bishop philanthropic trusts and corporates — who and guests was all prepared in our own very Michael Challen, who had flown with his wife gave of their time and money,” he said. up-market kitchen. Judy from Perth for the occasion. Mr Graeme Wise thanked all donors for their generosity, saying it had been a true team If you were unable to join us but would still like to visit, please phone Manager of Fundraising and Development, Di Clark on (03) 9483 1340...... buildin 'better lives The cost of substance abuse in our community

In the past, the Brotherhood of St Laurence Clare wanted to enter into a methadone In essence, we are seeking a new ‘national has not contributed to the public policy program — a treatment program for people dream’ that involves the eradication of debate around drug use, leaving it to other who are opiate dependent — but encoun­ poverty in Australia and equity for all groups with expert knowledge in this area. tered significant barriers. Australians.

But as a representative of an organisation You have responded to this appeal in an Hopefully the new Governor General that has always spoken out about the effects amazing way. Thankyou. Archbishop Peter Hollingworth will take the and causes of poverty, I feel the Brotherhood opportunity to return to the BSL and launch of St Laurence has an important role in From your unprecedented level of support, the Inquiry. We will keep you informed. highlighting the terrible cost of substance we believe the community feels deeply about abuse for everyone in our community. the need to address drug abuse. Both the May Appeal and the National Public Inquiry represent an exciting, challenging Drug abuse contributes to family breakdown So we have written to the State Government direction for the Brotherhood of St Laurence. and isolation, suicide, accidental deaths and about the strength of your concerns. We are extreme poverty that impact enormously on also working with the drug and alcohol We are determined to engage forcefully with young children. support agency, Turning Point, to help people the issues that cause poverty, while building who want to reclaim their lives from drugs. the picture of an Australia free from poverty. But while low-income families may feel the impact of drug use most, in the end, the We welcome recent commitments by the For Clare’s sake, let’s move with passion and suffering and cost is felt by us all. state government to engage and train more speed. GPsto prescribe methadone. But we believe It is from this concern that I decided to tell more can be done and we will continue to the story of Clare, a young woman who offer the government our assistance on this needed help to kick her drug habit, in the issue. launch of our May Appeal. Tackling the issues of poverty on a national ^ \ ) I C ------( level, the Brotherhood of St Laurence is also Father Nicolas about to embark on an exciting initiative with Frances, a group of partners and networks from all Executive Director Interested over Australia. in becoming We believe it is the right time to hold a National Public Inquiry into inequity, with a a volunteer view to describing the shape of a ‘new nation * for a new century’. BROTHERHOOD at the of S! LAURENCE Brotherhood We intend to call for submissions nationally Helping people of St Laurence? and then hold public hearings and focus build better lives groups throughout Australia. Contact Western area It is envisaged that this community-led Rosa D’Aprano process will provide insights into the Published by Brotherhood of St Laurence (03) 9483 1390 or contemporary effects and causes of inequity and poverty, as well as creating a framework 67 Brunswick Street to help shape a response to this urgent Fitzroy 3065 Victoria Eastern area ^ problem. Heather Ingram Telephone 03 94831183 (03) 9782 0487 Facsimile 03 9417 2691 E-mail [email protected] ISSN-1442 4681 2 Giving the past a presence: BSL remembered

Why did Jack Edward Bell bequeath the house that he owned in Ingleburn, NSW to the Brotherhood of St Laurence in ? Some of the answers are in a letter from Jack’s sister, Joy Maroney, who agreed to share the family history with BBL readers.

“Jack Edward Bell was born to Violet and Edward Bell in 1926. Mother and father, my brothers Phillip and Jack and I lived in Garfield Street Fitzroy; close by to the Brotherhood in Brunswick Street.

“When my mother became ill in 1935 and was unable to take care of us, Phillip and I were placed in the Victorian Children’s Aid Society in Parkville. Jack stayed at home with father, and they visited us regularly.

“In 1939, when I was six years old, I was adopted and went to live with my new family at Warrandyte. Phillip lived at Burwood Jack Edward Bell and his sisterJoy Maroney Boys’ Home until his death from osteomyeli­ tis in 1942, and Jack continued to live with father until he joined the air force at the age “Jack and I both remembered Aunt Effie with of 18. love and affection, and I told Jack how well HOME PICK­ the Brotherhood had looked after her. BROTHERHOOD of S! LAURENCE UP SERVICE “Almost 30 years later I located Jack again, Helping people and he was able to answer many of the “We shared many happy times with Jack and build better lives questions I’d struggled with over the years his wife Valma at our property on the Gold Prompt pick-up of clothing and about our mother and father. Father had died Coast and their home in Ingleburn, until furniture donations from your home in in Cheltenham Old Men’s Home in 1966 Valma’s death in 1997. metropolitan Melbourne. aged 83. Sadly, my mother had never “ Last year, Jack, aged 74, died in tragic recovered from her illness and had died in Good quality summer or winter Hospital in 1966 at the age of 61. circumstances. My family and I are still in clothing, children’s and women’s shock. shoes, well-looked after furniture and “Our Aunt Effie, who I had visited for many small electrical appliances in good years, lived in the Brotherhood’s retirement “ I know a lot of people will be helped by working order needed. village at Carrum Downs, until her death in Jack’s bequest to the Brotherhood, just as 1977, aged 96, at Carinya, the Brotherhood’s our Aunt Effie had been. And who knows, Furniture Donations nursing home at Box Hill. perhaps Fr Tucker himself had helped our family, and Jack, so many years ago.” call (03) 9388 2579 Please phone Peter Hannan on (03) 9483 1399 or check our Clothing Donations website (www.bsl.org.au) to find out how you can continue call (03) 9408 2100 “to make a difference” by leaving a bequest of any size to Alternatively take your clothing and household goods donations to the the Brotherhood in your Will. nearest Brotherhood shop. In celebration: at the opening of Sumner House and Sidney Myer House

The opening, a culmination of four years work to rebuild the ageing, dilapidated Fitzroy facilities, was a public thank you to all donors who Brotherhood Board Chair Stephen Duckett presenting Life Membership helped the Brotherhood of St Laurence Certificate to Bishop Michael Challen raise more than $6 million through the Building Better Lives Appeal.

Lola McHarg proudly showing members of the and other guests through Sidney Myer House New faces at the Brotherhood of St Laurence New faces have appeared at the executive level of the Brotherhood of St Laurence in the last six months. We’d like to introduce the new executive management team.

• General Manager for Aged and Stephen arrived at the Brotherhood from the then appointed Director of Shared Services Community Care, Sandra Hills Office of the Public Advocate in November and in November 2000 took up her current last year, bringing a strong background in position of General Manager Employment With 22 years experience in the community public advocacy, particularly in the Opportunities and Human Resources. services sector, including senior disability area. management positions with state and local Her responsibilities include the diverse and government and the not-for-profit sector, Stephen oversees the research and policy high quality employment and training Sandra brought a wealth of experience in area of the Brotherhood of St Laurence services provided by the BSL and human social planning, service and policy which undertakes high quality research resources. development when she joined the BSL last about poverty and inequality. His other year. areas of responsibity include library • General Manager for Finance and services and promotion and communications. Administration, Ian McHutchison Sandra is responsible for the BSL’s community based and residential services A major part of Stephen’s work is Ian joined the Brotherhood of St Laurence in for people with a disability, older people and establishing a National Public Inquiry into November 2000 after holding various senior their carers— including the newly the causes of poverty in Australia. financial and commercial roles in the private redeveloped Sumner House and Sidney Myer sector. House. • General Manager for Employment Opportunities, Joanna Dimopoulos Ian is responsible for Finance and • General Manager for Community Administration, Payroll, Information Services, Catherine Scarth Joanna joined the Brotherhood of St Technology, Fundraising, The Care Manager Laurence in December 1999 as the Software Enterprise and the Recycled Goods With a background in community care and manager of the STEP program. She was operations. fieldwork in the United Kingdom, Cath has worked at the Brotherhood of St Laurence since 1994, when she began as the Jobskills Coordinator for the Peninsula service. She attained her current senior management position in November last year.

Among her achievements at the BSL has been the development of training programs targeting long-term unemployed people, and creating and implementing the innovative training program, Frankston Furniture Works.

Her current responsibilities include overseeing BSL child and family programs, income support programs, retail stores and the legion of BSL’s dedicated volunteers.

• General Manager for Social Action and Research, Stephen Gianni The executive team: Stephen Gianni, Sandra Hills, Joanna Dimopoulos, Father Nicolas Frances, Catherine Scarth and Ian McHutchison Update on BSL One day in the life Vision and Mission

As readers would know from the summer 2001 edition of Building Better Lives, we have been working on a new Vision Statement for the organisation. Between February and March this year consultation sessions were held with staff, volunteers, Charter members and the BSL Board to discuss and refine a statement drafted initially by Fr Nic Frances. This draft was published in the last edition of this newsletter and supporters were encouraged to call or email with comments. The Ecumenical Migration Centre, one of Australia’s first Participation in the process has been agencies to help newly-arrived migrants, has returned to the fantastic. Thank you very much to those of you who called and wrote to BSL after 40 years of independence. Coordinator Ainslie us with your views. We are now very Hannan describes a typical day at 95 - 97 Brunswick St, close to finalising the Vision Fitzroy. Statement and hope to have it endorsed by the Board shortly. At 8am I arrive at EMC. on the weather. I respond with a comment that at least we are not in detention in the There have been numbers of Theresa, one of the Centre’s social workers, middle of the desert where the temperature at significant changes to the text of the waits to see me. A woman who arrived from night drops below zero. She takes a step back Vision. These include a statement of Botswana to participate in a conference has and offers an apology for not reading the commitment to the Reconciliation become ill on the flight and is now paper. She wants to give me free tea for the process and to supporting a quarantined at the Austin Hospital with TB. refugees. I explain that they are just around sustainable society. As a non-Australian resident she can’t afford the corner and ask if she wants to give it to to stay in the hospital. She has been told the them herself? At first she pauses and then We wiii print the fuii only way she can get home is to charter a she grabs the tea and comes with me. plane. She has no money. text of the BSL Vision It is late. I need to go to visit my father at the Statement once it has Theresa thinks of asking the community to BSL’s Sambell Lodge. Six months ago he had go to the media to see if we can raise money. a stroke, changing his and our lives. By been finalised. My white face looks into Theresa’s black mistake I bring the wrong cereal and as only face. Because there is trust we can talk fathers and daughters can do, we fight. He In the meantime, if you openly about whether such an action might asks me to leave. I am upset. I don’t want to incite racism. leave. I put my head into the office. The have any questions worker listens and smiles at me. She tells about the current draft I am called to reception where three families me she will drop in and see him to make sure wait. They have just been released from the he is OK. I feel her kindness and know my or the consultation Woomera Detention Centre. They are father will be alright. process, please call desperate. They have been told by others, Stella Mulder, Service ‘Go to EMC they will help you I drive home tired but feeling honoured that I am both the recipient of and can contribute Development Project We run out of tea, I go to the shop. It is a cold to the BSL's work for a more just and Worker on (03) 94831107. day. The woman behind the counter comments equitable society. GAPCo: a new employment initative

A new employment initiative aimed at helping survivors of torture and trauma, older workers and graduates with disabilities has been launched at the BSL.

The Graduate and Professional Career Options Program, or GAPCo, was officially launched on April 4 by BSL Executive Director, Father Nicolas Frances.

Formerly known as the Open Employment Unit, GAPCo has expanded its existing services to work with refugees who are survivors of torture and trauma, older workers and graduates with disabilities. Refugees recently released from detention three jobseekers from the program, spoke on centres and now studying at the Fitzroy the merits of the program. Among the 60 guests were BSL Board Learning Network also attended. members, Centrelink Disability Officer, Sue Entertainment was also provided Ru-Ling, a Keating and Melbourne University Disability Fr Nic Frances gave the opening speech and Chinese opera singer with a disability and staff Officer Caroline Maloney. Ric Corinaldi from CERES, who has employed member George Jekic playing the bagpipes.

Brotherhood hails Hollingworth appointment The Brotherhood of St Laurence was proud to • Launching the ‘Promise the hear of the appointment of its former Children’ Action on Child Poverty in Executive Director, the Archbishop of 1989, with former Prime Minister Brisbane, Peter Hollingworth, as Australia’s Bob Hawke; 23rd Governor General. • Overseeing the establishment and expansion of BSL’s frail aged care and As BSL Executive Director from 1980 until family services throughout Melbourne. 1990, Archbishop Hollingworth helped expand its employment services, increased Current BSL Executive Director Father Nic family and aged programs and highlighted Frances acknowledged Archbishop the issue of child poverty. Hollingworth’s successes and wished him well in his new role. He joined the BSL as chaplain in 1964, becoming Director of Youth and Children’s “ Peter worked hard to highlight the issues of Services, Associate Director and finally poverty in Australia and place it on the Executive Director. national agenda,” Father Frances said.

His most significant achievements included: “ I feel sure he’ll be taking the insights he gained from this work into his new role.” • Establishing the Employment Action Centre in Fitzroy in 1989; Brotherhood of St Laurence resident The Better Way honoured As part of their funeral arrangements many Elizabeth’s contribution to the community is people ask that money that would other­ also highlighted in the women’s section of wise be spent on flowers go to a more the Australian exhibit at the new Museum of tangible purpose. The Brotherhood of St Victoria. Elizabeth commented in her normal Laurence has such a program called The humorous manner: “ I never expected to Better Way. become a museum piece.” Donations made to The Better Way are used to ensure that all residents in our A resident of the Settlement since 1978, aged care facilities can be buried with Elizabeth continued as an Honorary Assistant dignity. An appropriate card is then Deacon at St James, Dandenong until 1995. forwarded to the bereaved family indicat­ She was the first woman ordained as a ing that a donation has been made. No priest in the Diocese of Melbourne in 1996. mention of the amount of the donation appears on the card. Her full-time ministry stretches back to 1944 when she was made a Deaconess and Better Way envelopes are available from began work at St Mark’s, Fitzroy. She then Development on (03) 9483 1301. served with the Mission of St James and St John, at Christ Church, South Yarra, at St James, Dandenong and taught Divinity at Act now Girton School at . Then followed a period as Principal of Deaconess House, Melbourne, culminating in nine years for the The Reverend Elizabeth Alfred, a resident at Chaplaincy at the Royal Women’s Hospital. future the Tucker Settlement at Carrum Downs, Hazel Hawke was recently honoured by being included as Though ostensibly retired, Elizabeth still Patron - one of 250 women in the Honour Roll of exercises a full pastoral and sacramental “Because I care about people, I have “Women Shaping the Nation” . ministry, most recently at Carrum Downs. included a gift to the Brotherhood of St Laurence in my Will.

Elizabeth’s autobiography, Elizabeth Called to Serve has just Have you? Please join me in making been launched. Profits from the sale of the book will be this very important gift.” donated to the Brotherhood and copies are available at Our new brochure tells you how Carrum Downs and through the Development Department on to become a Friend of St (03) 94831340. Laurence. For a copy call Peter Hannan on (03) 9483 1399 I support an Australia free of poverty

□ I would like to join a “come and see” tour of the Brotherhood □ Send me information on how to remember the Brotherhood in my Will □ Send me information on the Brotherhood’s advocacy and policy work towards a poverty free Australia BROTHERHOOD of St LAURENCE Name...... Helping people build better lives Address...... postcode. □ Please accept my tax deductible donation of $______I enclose aED Cheque OR please debit my IZZI Bankcard tZHvisa EH Mastercard EHDinersClubEH AMEX ID □ □ □ □ □□□□ □□□□ □□□□ □□□□ Si g n atu re______Exp i res______/______Telephone (H) ______(W)______E-mail Address______For credit card donations by telephone - ring 9483 1301 or Fax 9483 1336 Return to: Brotherhood of St Laurence, 67 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy 3065