The Mini Vinnies Voice

Term 3 2022 was very busy for the Mini Vinnies group.  We participated in a number of different projects to broaden our awareness of social justice issues.  

Some of the highlights from Term 3 are:

• Nagle Centre Campbelltown

During Term 3 we were visited by Corinne Lindsell from the Vinnies Nagle Centre Campbelltown.  Corinne spoke with the group about what the Nagle Centre offers the Macarthur community.   

 The Nagle Centre is located at 22 Iolanthe Street, Campbelltown.  It is a joint venture between St Vincent de Paul Society and the Presentation Sisters.  The Presentation Sisters are a Roman Catholic religious institute founded by Venerable Honora “Nano” Nagle in Cork, Ireland in 1775.  

 The Centre operates with a small group of paid workers, but the majority of work is carried out by volunteers.  These volunteers provide administrative support, help in the kitchen, or carry out any maintenance work required.  

 The Nagle Centre offers family care and support services for people of the Macarthur area who are experiencing homelessness, crisis, disadvantage or otherwise require support.  This support takes various forms from help with utility account payments, advocacy, referrals to other services or clothing vouchers.  The Centre also offers free counselling (by appointment) as well as an open door dining room which provides a number of meal services throughout the week.  The Nagle Centre also refers families in need to local St Vincent de Paul Society Conferences who can assist with food vouchers or home visits.  

 Some other services the Nagle Centre offers include:

• Macarthur No Interest Loan Scheme - providing access to affordable credit for essential household items without creating additional financial hardship.
• Wellness support programs - anxiety support groups, therapeutic yoga and general care and support.
• Education programs - free literacy course for basic reading, writing skills and university course through the Australian Catholic University.

• Refugee Camp Excursion 

The Mini Vinnies group visited the “Refugee Camp In My Neighbourhood” in the grounds of Western Sydney University, Parramatta Campus.  

 This is a simulated and interactive camp.  We were shown around the camp by guides with various refugee and asylum seeker backgrounds.  Our guides shared their personal stories with us of their journeys of how and why they had to flee from their home country, the challenges they faced in their search for safety and protection, and how they were able to settle in Australia.  

 The Refugee Camp was able to further our understanding of the refugee experience.  During this tour, by listening to our guides lived experiences, we were able to gain further understanding of the reasons why people have to flee their home country, the issues and barriers they face in attempting to seek asylum and settle in Australia - things like not having any identification, not being able to speak English and the impact their journey has on their mental and physical wellbeing.  It was enlightening to hear the experiences of those who had escaped persecution to find peace in Australia and wonderful to listen to their desire and willingness to give back to this beautiful country that gave them a home.  

Term 4 2022 - projects and activities to look forward to in Term 4 include:

• St Vincent de Paul store excursion 

In Week 6, the Mini Vinnies group will travel to the local Vinnies store at Macquarie Fields.  While at the store, each student will be provided with a small budget that they will use to purchase an outfit (shirt, blouse, shorts, jeans, skirt, dress, shoes, etc).

The need to fund the many services and programs Vinnies offer (for example, people experiencing disadvantage or homelessness, to provide crisis accommodation for people experiencing domestic or family violence, assisting with health, addiction or financial issues), brought about the opening of the NSW Vinnies Shops.  The first NSW Vinnies Shop opened in 1922 in Newtown and there are now 226 shops across NSW.  The money raised from each item sold in Vinnies Shops goes towards helping those in the local community.  

• De Fashionista De Vinnies

In Week 8, Mini Vinnies students will be invited to model their Vinnies Store outfits, on a fashion runway, in front of the whole school.  Accompanying each model will be a narrator, who will describe their model's outfit, including the total cost of the outfit. 

The aim of the Vinnies store excursion and the fashion show is to help improve awareness of how a small price paid for a good-looking outfit can make a huge difference towards assisting those in need - "From little things big things grow."

• Talent Quest and Hamper handover

Each year at Christmas time, CatholicCare seeks to bring some extra joy and hope to children and young people in foster care through their Fostering Futures Foster Care program.  The CatholicCare Foster Care program provides short term, long term and respite care for vulnerable children and young people who are unable to live with their birth parents.

Mini Vinnies is inviting all students to take part in the Holy Family Talent Quest [NAME TO BE DETERMINED].  The Holy Family Mini Vinnies Talent Quest is open to all students in the school, and entry is only a gold coin donation. 

Auditions will be held during Friday lunchtime of week 5 (11 November) and Friday lunchtime of week 7 (25 November).  The Holy Family Mini Vinnies Talent Quest Grand Final will be held in week 8 (2 December).

All donations received from the Holy Family Mini Vinnie's Talent Quest will go directly towards buying a gift for a vulnerable child or young person in foster care to try to help to make their Christmas a little brighter.

Mini Vinnies students will visit classrooms soon to provide further information regarding the audition process.

Thank you for your ongoing encouragement and support of the Mini Vinnies group.

Annie Day

Mini Vinnies Secretary