“At the heart of what we see here is love of people.’’
That’s what the Governor of NSW David Hurley said this afternoon just before he cut a cake to celebrate 25 years of service to the Campbelltown community by St Vincent de Paul Society’s Nagle Centre in Campbelltown.
The Governor took a short tour of the facility, meeting both the people who help out and those who come in for a meal or other support.
The Nagle Centre, located in Iolanthe Street in the Campbelltown central business district, offers a community dining room [which used to be called a soup kitchen] and crisis support to those experiencing disadvantage.
In the 2016-2017 financial year, the centre served 14,781 meals (5,300 breakfasts, 8,199 lunches and 1,282 dinners), provided crisis support to more than 660 clients with no fixed address (which includes those in crisis accommodation or sleeping rough), offered 240 warm showers, and distributed 1,037 food vouchers.
“This place is about companionship, about respect, about dignity, value to every human being on God’s earth, and the joy that you bring to each other,’’ the Governor said in a brief speech.
“Thank you all, for 25 years, it’s a long time, continue to supply to the ladies in the kitchen.
“It shows that a big heart and a big smile reaches out to the community.’’
The Governor was accompanied by his wife, Mrs Linda Hurley, and their visit to the Nagle Centre was part of a vice regal visit to Western Sydney.
The State Member for Campbelltown, Greg Warren, attended the cake cutting ceremony as did St Vincent de Paul Society Wollongong diocesan central council executive officer Peter Quarmby and Corinne Lindsell, the homelessness and mental health manager of the central council.
“We were honoured to welcome His Excellency and Mrs Hurley to the centre, and to be able to highlight the important role the facility plays in supporting the local community,” Mr Quarmby said.
[social_quote duplicate=”no” align=”default”]“The Vice Regal couple embraced the opportunity to learn more about the Nagle Centre and its services, and to see first hand what it means for our clients who utilise the centre each week for crisis support, meals and basic amenities.”[/social_quote]
In a media release to coincide with the 25th anniversary of the Nagle Centre, St Vincent de Paul Society said: “the population needing assistance in Campbelltown City in 2016 compared to Greater Sydney shows that there was a higher proportion of people in the younger age groups (under 15) and a lower proportion of people in the older age groups (65 plus).
“Overall, 14.1 per cent of the population needing assistance was aged between 0 and 14, and 38.1 percent were aged 65 years and over, compared with 8.3 per cent and 56.3 per cent respectively for Greater Sydney.”
To provide facilities and services such as those offered at the Nagle Centre, the St Vincent de Paul Society relies on revenue generated through its shops and the generosity of the broader community, as well as fundraising initiatives such as the annual CEO Sleepout.
The 2018 Wollongong CEO Sleepout will be held at St Mary Star of the Sea College, Wollongong, on Thursday 21 June, and funds raised will help to ensure the ongoing provision of services and facilities like the Nagle Centre across the Macarthur, Illawarra, Shoalhaven and Southern Highlands.
The national initiative is aimed at raising much-needed funds to expand the reach of existing programs to ensure people facing homelessness and disadvantage can access accommodation, meals and emergency assistance.
While CEOs and business leaders are invited to participate in the sleepout, anyone can support the initiative by sponsoring the event or a participating CEO.
Visit www.ceosleepout.org.au/event/wollongong to lend support to the Wollongong event.
