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FRIDAY, May 26, 2023
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BEST FOOT FORWARD YEAR 11 students Ella Kidd (Cathedral College), Zoe Baguley (Wangaratta High School) and Hugh Canning (Galen College) will travel to Papua New Guinea on Saturday before trekking the Kokoda Trail as part of the Bob Iskov Scholarship program. Story page 14 PHOTO: Kurt Hickling
Textile award reaches new heights Page 3
Consider foster care Page 10
Rep netball ready to fire Sport
Meeting a need New Wangaratta St Vincent de Paul assistance centre to bring welcome relieff A NEW Wangaratta W tt assistance centre is set to aid rising demand for St Vincent de Paul services in the rural city. Like other agencies amid current cost of living pressures, St Vincent de Paul’s Wangaratta conferences are experiencing an increasing need among locals.
The charity’s Th h it ’ llong-awaited it d new assistance centre was officially opened on Sunday, with Catholic Bishop of Sandhurst Shane Mackinlay on hand to bless the building. Constructed at the rear of the Vinnies Shop in Rowan Street to replace the previous building, which was deemed unsuitable for its originally planned
refurbishment, f bi h t the th new centre provides modern, purpose-built facilities for members of the St Vincent de Paul, St Patrick’s and Our Lady’s conferences to assist locals in need. More than 90 guests attended Sunday’s opening and blessing of the centre, which includes a reception and office area, two
consulting lti rooms and da multi-functional meeting room, as well as a kitchen, and storage for items such as blankets, sleeping bags, toiletries, scarves and beanies. Food is provided in the form of food cards. St Vincent de Paul volunteers say the consulting rooms in particular will make a big
difference, nott only l off ffering i space for a financial counsellor to visit and work from, but allowing volunteers to have in-depth, in-person conversations with those seeking assistance. This had been impossible while the volunteers were working out of temporary premises on the Rowan
Street they St t site, it where h th could ld only meet people requesting help at the door or take their calls. “It’s amazing what happens when you sit and talk. You hear the real story and the background of why people are asking for help,” St Patrick’s conference president Loris Fletcher said. ■ Continued page 2
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