BATHURST HAS BEEN BLESSED WITH AN ACTIVE ST VINCENT DE PAUL BRANCH DATING BACK ALMOST TO THE INCEPTION OF THE SOCIETY IN NEW SOUTH WALES. THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE SOCIETY IN BATHURST IS LOCATED IN KEPPEL STREET IN TWO HISTORIC BUILDINGS (ABOVE LEFT). THE SMALLER OF THESE TWO, A SIMPLE WOODEN COTTAGE, IS PAINTED IN THE TRADITIONAL VINNIES COLOURS. RECENTLY A BRANCH SHOP WAS OPENED IN A MODERN MALL (ABOVE RIGHT) BOTH CLOSER TO THE CATHEDRAL AND MORE ACCESSABLE TO THE SHOPPING AREA.

THE LOCAL SVDP CONFERENCE AT BEROWRA OPERATED A VINNIES RETAIL OUTLET OVER SEVERAL YEARS. FROM 1990 IT OPERATED OUT OF COMMERCIAL PREMISES IN TURNER ROAD. THOUGH IT WAS STILL FUNCTIONING AT THE START OF THE NEW CENTURY IT HAD CLOSED BY 2005.

IN COMMON WITH MOST RURAL PARISHES IN THE BATHURST DIOCESE BLAYNEY HAS ALWAYS POSSESSED A MOST ACTIVE CONFERENCE OF THE ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY. IN LARGE PART THIS HAS BEEN A FUNCTION OF THE UNCERTAINTIES OF RURAL LIFE AND THE PERIODIC NEED OF MANY RURAL FAMILIES TO SEEK HELP IN DIFFICULT TIMES.

BLAYNEY CONFERENCE HAS GIVEN READY HELP TO LOCAL FAMILIES IN NEED OVER SEVERAL DECADES AND ALSO OPERATES THE RETAIL OUTLET IN ADELAIDE STREET. THIS SIMPLE LITTLE SHOP WHICH HAS SEEN MANY YEARS OF SERVICE HOUSES THE PARISH HEADQUARTERS OF THE SOCIETY. TO THE PRESENT DAY THE BLAYNEY CONFERENCE CONTINUES ITS COMMITMENT TO THE COPORAL WORKS OF CHARITY ENJOINED BY THE SOCIETY'S SAINTLY FOUNDER, FREDERIC OZANAM.

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THE ORIGINS OF THE ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY AROUND NORTH HARBOUR DATE BACK TO THE EARLIEST BEGINNINGS OF BALGOWLAH PARISH WHEN THE LOCAL CONFERENCE WAS ESTABLISHED FOR THE AREA. AN ACTIVE LOCAL CONFERENCE WAS ALSO ESTABLISHED FOR MANLY VALE WHEN THAT PARISH WAS NEWLY FORMED IN THE 1950's.

THE CENTRALITY OF THE MANLY VALE AND LATER NORTH HARBOUR PARISH TO OTHER PENINSULA PARISHES MADE IT THE MOST OBVIOUS LOCATION FOR A REGIONAL HEADQUARTERS AND SO SINCE 1979 THE REGIONAL COUNCIL HAS BEEN LOCATED ON PITTWATER ROAD AT BROOKVALE. THESE MODERN COMMERCIAL PREMISES ARE LIKEWISE THE MAJOR SERVICE CENTRE AND RETAIL OUTLET OF THE SOCIETY.

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THE LOCAL CONFERENCE OF THE ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY IN CANOWINDRA WAS FOUNDED IN 1923 AND FOR MANY YEARS ITS WORK WAS CARRIED ON QUIETLY AND MAINLY PRIVATELY BY THE MEN OF THE PARISH. AMONG THE ACTIVITIES WHICH GAVE A PUBLIC FACE TO THE SOCIETY'S WORK WERE THE WOOD-CHOPPING AND COLLECTION DAYS, REGULAR HOSPITAL VISITATIONS AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. A PARTICULAR INITIATIVE OF THE SOCIETY WAS ST KEVIN'S FARM FOR HOMELESS MEN WHICH OPERATED FROM 1985 UNTIL 1997, FIRST UNDER THE LOCAL CONFERENCE AND THEN THROUGH THE MATTHEW TALBOT HOSTELS. THE SOCIETY OPENED ITS FIRST RETAIL OUTLET IN THE FORMER CANOWINDRA STAR BUILDING IN 1972. SOME YEARS LATER THEY RELOCATED TO PREMISES IN GASKILL STREET (LEFT). EXTENSIONS TO THE BUILDING WERE FINISHED AND BLESSED IN 1991.

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IN MOST RURAL TOWNS THE WORKS OF THE ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY ARE OF MAJOR IMPORTANCE IN HELPING NEEDY PEOPLE TO OVERCOME THE DIFFICULTIES WHICH ARE OFTEN EXPERIENCED BY THE INHABITANTS OF THOSE COMMUNITIES. COONABARABRAN IS NO EXCEPTION TO THIS RULE AND THE LOCAL CONFERENCE HAS PROVED EXTREMELY ACTIVE ESPECIALLY DURING THE DROUGHT YEARS THAT PLAGUED COUNTRY NEW SOUTH WALES FROM THE LATE 1990's ON. AS PART OF THE SOCIETY'S OUTREACH THE CONFERENCE OPERATES A RETAIL OUTLET ON DALGARNO STREET, ONE OF COONABARABRAN'S MAIN SHOPPING PRECINCTS. HERE PEOPLE CAN OBTAIN VERY CHEAP GOODS WHICH THEN SUPPORTS THE OFTEN MORE IMPORTANT WORK OF THE SOCIETY IN PROVIDING HELP TO THOSE IN DESPERATE NEED.

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THE COONAMBLE CONFERENCE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PARTICULARLY ACTIVE ONE BEGINNING WITH OZANAM HOUSE, A HOME FOR OLD MEN ORIGINALLY OPENED IN 1944 AND NOW CLOSED. IN 1969 THE SOCIETY STARTED A STORE IN ABERFORD STREET. A SHELTERED WORKSHOP BEHIND WAS OPENED IN 1971. IN 1981 CASTLEREAGH INDUSTRIES WAS FORMED TO OPERATE THE WORKSHOP. IN THE 1990's THE SHELTERED WORKSHOP MOVED TO PREMISES IN NAMOI ST AND FROM 2004 A NEW BUILDING INCORPORATING THE VINNIES CENTRE AND CASTLEREAGH INDUSTRIES WAS OPENED IN CASTLEREAGH ST (LEFT & BELOW LEFT). GREENE VILLA, A MODERN HOME FOR THE DISABLED, OPENED IN 1986.

COWRA IS THE SERVICE CENTRE FOR A LARGE AGRICULTURAL AREA WHICH HAS KNOWN BOTH WEALTH AND POVERTY. IN CONSEQUENCE THE LOCAL ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY HAS FOUND GREAT SCOPE FOR ITS WORKS. THE STORE NOW OPERATED BY THE SOCIETY IS THE MOST RECENT IN A VERY LONG LINE. IT IS A LARGE MODERN RETAIL OUTLET REFLECTING A STRONG COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY.

THE PARISH CONFERENCE OF THE SOCIETY OF ST VINCENT DE PAUL HAS BEEN ACTIVE FOR CLOSE ON SEVEN DECADES NOW SERVING THE PEOPLE OF THIS BEACHSIDE SUBURB. THE PRESENT VINNIES STORE LOCATED IN THE BUSTLING SHOPPING CENTRE DATES FROM 1990 AND PROVIDES ALL THE USUAL VINNIES SERVICES TO REGULAR SHOPPERS AS WELL AS SERVING THE MARGINALISED AND POOR SEEKING HELP.

YOUTH REACH COMMENCED AS A NIGHT PATROL RUN BY THE MANLY WARRINGAH YOUNG ADULT CONFERENCE. BEGUN AS A SPECIAL WORK BECAUSE THERE WAS NO COMPARABLE SERVICE OF ITS TYPE IN THE AREA, NIGHT PATROL CONSISTED OF MEMBERS DRIVING AROUND THE STREETS IN A KOMBI VAN HANDING OUT SANDWICHES AND SOUP. THE CONFERENCE LATER DECIDED THAT A DROP IN CENTRE WOULD BE A BETTER MEANS TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF YOUTH SO YOUTH REACH MOVED TO A FORMER AUSTRALIA POST SORTING ROOM ON REDMAN ROAD IN DEE WHY, WHERE IT HAS REMAINED TO THIS DAY. THE YOUTH REACH WAS RUN BY VOLUNTEERS UNTIL 1992, WHEN A MANAGER WAS EMPLOYED. IN 1995, YOUTH REACH BECAME PART OF THE ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY'S VITAL CARE AND SUPPORT CENTRES NETWORK.

FORESTVILLE HAS HAD AN ACTIVE CONFERENCE OF THE ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY DATING BACK TO ITS ORIGINAL FOUNDING AS A NEW PARISH IN 1959. THIS TRADITION OF SERVICE CONTINUES TODAY AND HAS BEEN TRANSFERRED TO THE NEW PARISH OF FRENCHS FOREST.

FOR THE LAST HALF CENTURY THE CONFERENCE HAS USED SEVERAL LOCATIONS AS IT HAS CARRIED OUT ITS APOSTOLATE OF SERVICE TO THE DISADVANTAGED OF THE COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY THE RETAIL OUTLET, TO HELP RAISE MONEY FOR WORK OF THE SOCIETY. SINCE 2002 THE CONFERENCE'S HEADQUARTERS HAS BEEN LOCATED AT 19 THE CENTRE ( LEFT ). THIS SIMPLE COMMERCIAL BUILDING SERVES AS BOTH THE SOCIETY'S RETAIL OUTLET AND ALSO THE CONTACT POINT FOR THOSE SEEKING AN ASSIST FROM THE SOCIETY'S VOLUNTEERS. STARTING IN 2006 THE FORESTVILLE CONFERENCE HAS FUNCTIONED ON BEHALF OF THE NEWLY AMALGAMATED FRENCHS FOREST PARISH.

DESPITE ITS YOUTHFULNESS THE PARISH OF ARCADIA HAS NOT BEEN BACKWARD IN ESTABLISHING THOSE INSTITUTIONS NECESSARY FOR UNDERTAKING THE WELFARE OUTREACH OF THE CHURCH, FOREMOST AMONG THEM AN ACTIVE LOCAL CONFERENCE OF THE ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY. AMONG THE MANY WORKS OF THE SOCIETY CARRIED OUT SINCE THE ESTABLISHING OF THE PARISH IN 1970 HAS BEEN THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A VINNIE'S RETAIL STORE IN THE ONLY SIZEABLE VILLAGE IN THE AREA GALSTON. THE STORE WAS OPENED IN A SMALL SHOP IN ONE OF THE NEW RETAIL DEVELOPMENTS IN THE GALSTON SHOPPING CENTRE IN 1992 AND HAS ALREADY PROVED ITS VALUE IN PROVIDING FOR THE VARIED REQUIREMENTS OF THE LOCAL PEOPLE.

THESE SIMPLE LITTLE COMMERCIAL PREMISES SERVICE THE LOCAL COMMUNITY TODAY PROVIDING BOTH ASSISTANCE TO THE NEEDY AS WELL AS INEXPENSIVE GOODS FOR RETAIL TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC.

WITH THE FOUNDING OF THE NEW PARISH OF MONA VALE IN 1960 A LOCAL CONFERENCE OF THE ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY SOON FOLLOWED. AS IS USUAL THE CONFERENCE WORK HAS FOCUSED ON RAISING FUNDS TO PROVIDE AID TO SOCIETY'S DISADVANTAGED. ONE OF THE PRINCIPAL FUND-RAISING MEANS WAS THROUGH THE ST VINCENT DE PAUL SHOP WHICH ALSO PROVIDED CHEAP GOODS FOR THOSE OTHERWISE UNABLE TO AFFORD THEM. IN 1982 A MODERN SHOP WAS OPENED AT BUNGAN COURT AS THE SOCIETY'S SELLING POINT TO THE PUBLIC AND CONTACT POINT FOR OTHER SERVICES. TODAY AFTER MORE THAN TWENTY YEARS THE SOCIETY'S WORK STILL GOES ON IN THE PARISH AND THE SHOP PROVIDES A HIGHLY VISIBLE WITNESS OF COMMITMENT TO THE DISADVANTAGED AND THE MARGINALISED POPULATION IN OUR MODERN AFFLUENT SOCIETY.

IN 1971 THE ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY OPENED THE CHARLES O'NEILL SELF-CARE UNITS AT VINEYARD RD MONA VALE AS A SPECIAL WORK OF THE SOCIETY. THE PURPOSE OF THE UNITS IS TO PROVIDE AGED CARE IN A SETTING THAT ENCOURAGES INDEPENDANCE WHILE ENSURING ACCESS TO THE COMMUNITY AND SERVICES REQUIRED BY THE AGED. IT IS CLOSELY LINKED TO THE GEORGE MOCKLER HOSTEL. IN MAY 2007 BOTH AGED CARE FACILITIES AGREED TO JOIN AND COME UNDER THE MANAGEMENT OF CATHOLIC HEALTHCARE SERVICES.

IN 1976 THE ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY EXTENDED ITS AGED CARE WORK WITHIN THE PARISH THROUGH THE BUILDING OF AN AGED CARE HOSTEL TO PROVIDE MORE SUPPORT FOR AGED RESIDENTS THAN WAS POSSIBLE AT THE CHARLES O'NEILL UNITS. THE NEW FACILITY WAS NAMED THE GEORGE MOCKLER HOSTEL AND PROVIDES LOW LEVEL CARE FOR AGED RESIDENTS UNABLE TO CARE FULLY FOR THEMSELVES. IN MAY 2007 BOTH GEORGE MOCKLER AND THE CHARLES O'NEILL UNITS AGREED TO MANAGEMENT BY CATHOLIC HEALTHCARE SERVICES.

IN THE TRADITION OF SOCIAL SERVICE MAINTAINED BY THE PARISH - A TRADITION CONTINUED TODAY BY THE LAKES PARISH, NARRABEEN HAS HAD AN ACTIVE CONFERENCE OF THE ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY GOING BACK TO THE BEGINNING OF THE POST WAR PERIOD.

SINCE ITS EARLY BEGINNINGS THE CONFERENCE HAS USED SEVERAL LOCATIONS AS A BASE FOR ITS CHARITABLE WORK. SINCE 1992 THE CONFERENCE HEADQUARTERS HAS BEEN LOCATED AT 1308-1310 PITTWATER ROAD ( LEFT ). THIS STORE IS LARGER THAN MANY VINNIES PROVIDING A WIDE RANGE GOODS FOR SALE INCLUDING ELECTRICAL AND FURNITURE. IN ADDITION TO THE RETAIL STORE THE PREMISES ALSO SERVES AS A WELFARE CENTRE AND POINT OF CONTACT FOR THOSE IN NEED. THE VINNIES STORE IS AN EXEMPLAR OF THE PARISHIONERS COMMITMENT TO THEIR FELLOW CITIZENS.