THE St Vincent de Paul Society opened the doors to its modern new centre last week, with volunteers run off their feet when the retail section, Vinnies, began trading on Thursday.
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Armidale Diocesan Council Vice-President, Don Hewitt, said the new-look Vinnies had been very well received by the public with a constant stream of customers over the first two days of operation.
“A very successful day of trading confirmed our belief that the people of Gunnedah welcome the presence of the Society in their town,” Mr Hewitt said.
“We were very grateful for the support of the combined Parents and Friends from St Xavier’s Primary School and St Mary’s College who organised an ongoing sausage sizzle.”
The complex faces Marquis and Bloomfield Streets with a large carpark at the front with the welfare wing in one section and the store and sorting area completely separate.
The St Vincent de Paul Society had been operating from the vacated Salvation Army Family Store, in Little Barber Street, since July last year, while the old store was demolished and rebuilt using funds generated by the sale of aged-care centres formerly operated by the state branch.
Both the Vinnies store and the conference centre were in need of a great deal of repair work so a decision was made to demolish the existing buildings and re-build.
“The Society has had members in Gunnedah for many years and the old buildings were unsatisfactory for our continuing work because of structural faults.”
The St Vinnies store had been operating from the building on the corner of Marquis and Bloomfield Streets since it opened for business on December 8, 1974.
Originally a disused upholstery shed at 149 Marquis Street, with a small meeting room and office, the building was a God-send for the society, which was formed during the Depression years.
The pre-World War 2 President was Cyril Smithurst, assisted by Roger Bowen, Bill Borthistle and Gus Etheridge.
The society lapsed during the war years and when Fr McDermott became parish priest around 1948, he contacted the Armidale branch of SVDP and asked them to come to Gunnedah to help re-from the society.
A meeting of parishioners was called, with Jack Beard, Ossie Campbell, Kevin Donnelly, Bill Clegg, Bill Smith and Tom Lawrence taking on the task of setting up a new society.
At the first meeting in the parish hall in 1949, Jack Beard was elected President, with Bill Clegg secretary and Tom Lawrence treasurer.
Donated items were stored in St Joseph’s Parish Hall and the igloo-style shed in the church grounds – in those days the only funds available came from the pockets of members.
Over the years the building was extended and in the early 1990s the society acquired the cottage at 147 Marquis Street, which was used for administration.
In 1993 it became the office for the regional council and headquarters for the local St Vincent de Paul Conference and Welfare Centre.
The society later purchased the former Rowarth’s Electrical building on the next block and the cottage was removed to create off-street parking.
Although the main work of the society is assistance, volunteers are also involved in hospital and home visitation, care of the sick and infirm, the aged, disadvantaged and bereaved.
The shop will operate from Tuesday to Thursday and the welfare section is also operating, from 10am to noon, Tuesday to Friday.
The new building will be Blessed by Bishop Michael Kennedy on Sunday, November 17 at 1pm. The official opening will be on Thursday, November 21 at 11am, when the Society’s State President Ray Reynolds will visit Gunnedah.
