The Berwick & District Benevolent Society committee meeting on Tuesday 8 April was also attended by Bert Rae OAM and former Councillor of the City of Berwick, Fay Powell OAM. Bert and Fay were invited to provide a history of the Society and its link to the Casey North Community Information and Support Services (CNCISS). Bert stated that the activities of the Society began in an informal manner in 1959, as the suburb of Doveton was being developed. Bert’s mother and father used to collect clothes and food for the residents of Doveton, who were mainly employees of the local factories, such as General Motors, Heinz and International Harvester. At that time there were quite a few strikes, as the workers pushed for better wages and working conditions. When they would go on strike, Bert’s father would get cans of food donated by Heinz to give to the strikers. He would also collect clothes and other items for distribution to the community. Eventually, the Berwick & District Benevolent Society Inc. was formed in 1961. The same year that the Rotary Club of Berwick was chartered. Councillor Jan Bateman was one of the early Presidents of the Society and she encouraged Fay to join at the time she was running for council election. Fay subsequently served as President of the Society for more than 10 years. Bert indicated that in addition to providing a range of support services to the community, the Society was also instrumental in forming the Casey North Community Information & Support Services (CNCISS) and the Berwick Opportunity Shop. The need for the CNCISS was first identified by the Council and they have since paid the wages and rent for the organisation's operations. Effectively the Society was the surrograte for the CNCISS. The role of the Society has been to provide emergency relief support to the CNCISS, which it continues to do. In summary, the Society acts as the collector of funds, food, toys and other items for distribution to those in need within the community, via the CNCISS. In 2015, due to the advancing age of its' members, the Society negotiated with then President Gus Dominguez for the Rotary Club to take over the management of the Society. The Rotary Club of Berwick agreed to continue the Society’s good work under its auspices and to continue using the Berwick and District Benevolent Society name. Mayor of the City of Casey and Rotarian Mick Morland presented certificates of appreciation on 5 June 2015, to the outgoing Society's committee members including Bert Rae. |