Mens Association & Care Group ________________Page

Mens Association

We commenced the year full of hope and vigour, Team 3 started the year off for the Men’s Association and Team 4 ended the year a weekend later due to COVID-19 restrictions. Little did we know that these would be the only two working bees to held for the year. As such, it leaves very little to report on the activities of the Association for the 2020. We all struggled with the challenges that the year presented, from lack of toilet paper to working from home whilst home schooling, the ring of steel and lockdowns, none of us could have predicted these events as we ventured into the start of another year. What has surprised me, is the commitment of team members who kept in touch with myself and offered to come to the College and perform works, to assist the maintenance and upkeep of the grounds. I feel that some had their properties so well manicured that they were looking for more projects to keep themselves busy. The working bees on each Sunday of term are more than an opportunity to perform maintenance around the College, it is a chance to catch up with other fathers and mates, discuss all the important “stuff” (sports and politics) and as one team member stated, “Just to be a bloke with other blokes”. The tone from most callers was that they missed the camaraderie the working bees offered. In a year of firsts, this the first time in the history of the Men’s Association / Father’s Committee that we have not run for the year. The Association has a proud history of assisting the College in one form or another since the early 60’s and an early example of support from the ‘Ground Improvements Committee’ was a car raffle, which raised $3,000 to ensure that the works to develop Carey Oval were completed by the end of 1969. (Details supplied by the SJC Heritage Centre.) Many thanks to all that kept in touch with myself throughout the year and hoping for a better year next year

Pierre Belluzzo, Property Manager

Care Group

The St Joseph’s College Care Group was formed to assist families during times of crisis (eg. illness, bereavement or special circumstances). This has been an extremely difficult year with COVID and unwell families. Each year this group has done wonderful work supporting those in our community when they are most in need. The last thing parents need to worry about is food, when they are under stress and strain caring for family members who are seriously ill or struggling to cope with extremely difficult circumstances. We have been able to assist many families, some ongoing throughout the year. The families we have helped are most appreciative of the support the College offers through this group. A number of these families have received ongoing support to ensure there is a meal for their family as they cope with complex and long term illness. We have continued the initiative where the students were given the opportunity to cook care meals and have those cooking hours recognised for Community service. This has been popular and I’d like to thank those students for their compassion and support. This year we were supported by the school canteen staff who cooked delicious, homemade and nutritious meals for our unwell families. I sincerely thank our wonderful band of volunteer cooks / helpers who have generously prepared and provided many meals for others throughout 2020. Without all of these meals and all of your hard work, we would not be able to offer this support to our families, so to all involved, thank you very much. I would like to acknowledge the work of our coordinators Veronica van Galen & Linda Doherty as well as canteen staff Dani Thompson & Karen Sherman. As the year comes to a close, we would like to acknowledge their contribution. All ladies have been a fantastic support to us here at the College in overseeing the meals. Thank you so much. I wish all our families good health and happiness for the new year and look forward to your ongoing support again in 2021.

Adele Watt– SJC Care Group & Principal’s Personal Assistant