By Joseph Higgins
LOCAL members of the St Vincent de Paul Society were graced with the presence of Brisbane Archbishop Mark Coleridge at the blessing of the St Joseph’s Hervey Bay Conference store.
The establishment of the store marks a great step forward for the projection of community support and welfare in the Hervey Bay area.
St Joseph’s Hervey Bay Conference president Joan Skelton said proceeds from the story went directly to the community.
“It is extremely important because all of the money that comes in goes back to the Society Welfare Office and this is distributed through groceries, store cards and vouchers,” Mrs Skelton said.
Mrs Skelton thanked the wider community for assisting to raise funds for the Hervey Bay Conference.
“This year we have been extra fortunate, the boys and girls from Xavier Catholic College donated 65 clothes baskets full of groceries and a $2000 cheque that they raised at the sleepout,” Mrs Skelton said.
Instead of participating in the sleepout, the local Catholic primary school students raised a cheque of $70.10 by selling popcorn and soup.
Mrs Skelton said that the local Vinnies was started by two members who worked hard to acquire a store on the main street and now it has grown into a million dollar building and both of them still work there.
The construction of the store was essential to accommodate more floor space in order to move more stock and consequently raise more revenue for the people who need it, Mrs Skelton said.
The blessing was also attended by St Vincent de Paul’s state president John Forrest, and Hervey Bay parish priest Fr Joseph-Hien Van Vo along with about 70 local guests.
