2020 Annual Report

Acting President’s Annual Report for AGM

12th November 2020

It is my privilege to be presenting the Annual report for the 2019/2020 year 😊

Initially, I would like to express very warm thanks to the Managing Committee of the Braidwood Life Centre for the co-operative work throughout the year and their wonderful support in carrying out the work of the Centre. Additionally, thanks to the businesses and general community of Braidwood and villages for supporting our work of assisting community throughout the 2019/2020 period.

This year has been particularly fraught with difficulty, in surviving drought, the prolonged Summer Fires and enduring the Covid 19 pandemic.

Deep gratitude and special mention for the energy and commitment of David Avery, our President throughout the period herein reported on up until the last week of August, 2020. David will never be away from the work of Braidwood Life Centre. Though he now lives in Christchurch NZ, his buoyancy, love and support throughout the years will always be remembered in our hearts. Very best wishes and thanks go from all of us to David, Lynda and family.

As a body, Braidwood Life Centre continues to grow in connection with community in Braidwood and surrounds; and in understanding the needs of the community and maintaining commitment to meeting as best we can those needs with respect and care.

Special mention in summary form is offered in sharing with our members the work of the year:

• The BLC Committee has met monthly for eleven meetings throughout the year.

• The weekly Thursday Support Rooms have remained opened to community seeking assistance weekly from 10:00 -12:00 noon over this period, with the exception of several weeks from early April until the end of May when we had to close due to Covid health restrictions. On average, six people per week have been assisted by our volunteer staff. Thanks to all committed volunteers in being on roster throughout the year to assist community.

During the period from the end of March until the start of June 2020, in the first wave of Covid, people were seen individually by making phone appointments as required, one at a time. Many forms of support have been offered to community, with over 400 people supported throughout the year. Our work intensified during the prolonged Black Summer Fires.

The Braidwood Life Centre rooms opened on a daily basis Monday – Friday during the intensity of fires and evacuations – offering clothes, linen, food, shoes etc. Volunteers facilitated the space from 9.30 to 4pm each day. So many generous donations were received locally and from afar for distribution to individuals and families affected. The BLC also supported community in the National Theatre Evacuation space.

• Many other community groups have used the facilities at BLC throughout the year. Namely,

The Health Dept Tai Chi classes on a Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning, taught by Helen Small: Friday mornings Playgroup for young families; the Community Eating Together weekly lunch project funded through Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal. This project was suspended from mid-December and not restarted due to the prolonged Summer Fires and Covid health restrictions; The Boards and Beats Youth Group met fortnightly on a Sunday afternoon up until the Covid restrictions began.

Various other local community groups used the main room for meetings, due to the renovations/building at the Hospital and renovations at Braidwood Central School. Braidwood Youth Performing Arts (BYPAA), Braidwood School debating teams and school music lessons utilised the space.

• BLC supports the Duke of Edinburgh Awards program, with 13 students at various stages of completing their awards. The Duke of Edinburgh activities continued through the year till restrictions of Covid 19 pandemic. Many thanks to Kim Stewart and volunteers for their dedicated attention and work in co-ordinating the programme and supporting young Duke students.

• Libby Smith, a health worker from Dementia NSW, was available together with one of our volunteers fortnightly on Tuesdays. This provided immense support to those needing this service in our community. Libby resigned from Dementia NSW and the service was suspended through the Covid restrictions.

• The acquisition of Gumtree Cottage and its positioning on the grounds of St Andrews Anglican Church, Braidwood, with the intention to provide emergency accommodation for those in need. The Development Application was approved by QPRC. The cost of this D.A. was $26,800.00 and an exemption from this cost was sought over a period.

Note: just a few weeks ago these fees were waived by the QPRC Councillors at QPRC Councillor’s October meeting. This occurred due to a submission stressing that we are a charitable non-profit association committed to developing the property for the benefit of those in need in our community.

* Community Development projects which came to fruition with support from small grants from community funding bodies:

- Senior’s Week Luncheon with Tai Chai demonstrations,

- ‘Suicide, the Ripple Effect’ film screening and group sharing after;

- Tune up days to support farmers experiencing hardship during the drought and supporting better health. 30 people took advantage of the Tune Up health services; many services contributed to these events.

- Community Eating Together, where people came together to share low cost, nutritional and seasonal food recipes. Initially Oz Harvest offered six weekly sessions then, with funding from FRRR, (Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal) the gathering continued till the onset of Covid 19.

- Braidwood Says No to Violence Champion meetings and educational days. Thanks to the Committee and to Hollie Bakerboljovac for facilitating the group and the education days;

- Community Eating Well project funded through Feed Appeal, supporting food parcel distribution to individuals and families in need. The food parcels consist of healthy, staple food items.

- The Christmas Hamper distribution and lunch BBQ. Organised by Vinnies Conference Braidwood and Braidwood Life Centre, occurred again. 80 Hampers and IGA vouchers were distributed in community and a lovely BBQ lunch and day shared. Thanks to Braidwood Community Bank, for their generous support.

- Thank you to QPRC Recovery team for their support after the Summer Fires;

Sincere gratitude to the faithful, regular individual financial supporters of BLC, the donations received from the three Braidwood churches, the Lodge of Truth, Provisions Deli (donated food staples), the NSW and ACT Sikh Community (food parcels) The Major’s Creek and Braidwood Volunteer Fire Sheds (food supplies) and QPRC Emergency Services (food supplies).

Thanks to Braidwood IGA for permitting BLC to place baskets in the store into which community donate pet food for distribution to those in need.

Thanks to Braidwood Men’s Shed for support In constructing items to support the Centre’s projects and make things easier for storage.

Thanks to Braidwood Bendigo Community Bank for support throughout the year.

We particularly thank the Braidwood BendigoCommunity Bank and donors in our community who donated $60,000 to the Braidwood Community Help Fund, which was set up specifically to assist those people and businesses who were directly impacted by the prolonged Summer Fires. The Fund provided small amounts of direct financial assistance to people who lost buildings and infrastructure in the summer Fires. The Fund also provided fuel vouchers as a gesture of appreciation to those volunteers who helped with local Mozzies helping to fight fires. The Help Fund is administered separately from the BLC account through a committee including David Avery, Rhyll Tozer, Sue Murray, Cathy Ffrench and David Gray.

May I take this opportunity to once again say a heartfelt thank you to all involved, for your interest and support of the Braidwood Life Centre’s work, to support those in need and develop projects to support resilience, wellness and wellbeing in our community.

It has been a most difficult year in many ways and we have continued to contribute in the best ways to support community. We wish you all a safe and peaceful Christmas and New Year period.

Sincere thanks, Maria Bakas-Booker, Acting Chair.