Speech - National Conference 2007 - Perkins Award - Presented by Prof. John Warhurst

2007 AWARDS
PERKINS AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN SERVICE INDIVIDUAL

COFFS HARBOUR
TUESDAY 11 SEPTEMBER 2007

JOHN WARHURST
BOARD MEMBER, CATHOLIC SOCIAL SERVICES AUSTRALIA
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PERKINS AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN SERVICE - INDIVIDUAL

WINNER
Marina Gray
St Vincent de Paul Society
Conference President, Bourke

I am delighted tonight to announce the winner of the Perkins Award for Excellence in Service.

This award is presented to an individual who has shown outstanding commitment to service. The award is open to people from our agencies and also to people in the wider community.

The award is presented in honour of Bishop Eric Perkins, who spent his life committed to the Church's outreach to the poor and was the first Victorian priest to qualify as a social worker.

He was ordained a priest in 1940 and in partnership with Monsignor JF McCosker he had a major impact on national Catholic social policy, through peak bodies such as the National Catholic Welfare Committee and its successor the Australian Catholic Social Welfare Commission.

Tonight's winner is: Marina Gray, Conference President of the St Vincent de Paul Society in Bourke in western New South Wales for her purpose built trailer.

Marina was concerned for the welfare of people living in outback towns and settlements where no St Vincent de Paul services existed, let alone many other necessary services.

Because of the ongoing drought, casual work has been hard to come by.

The trailer transports clothing and other goods to these remote areas and at Christmas it is used to deliver goods, toys and hampers to people in need.

The trips also provide the opportunity for workers to provide help with food and other day to day needs like electricity and phone bills.

The trailer travels from Bourke to Brewarrina, a 200km round trip.

It also visits Engonnia which is a 220km round trip and Weilmoringle which is a 700km return trip. Trips have also been extended to Ivanhoe and other new locations are being planned.

The trailer visits are an occasion of social interaction and enjoyment for everyone.

The trailer was approved by the Narromine Bourke Regional Council in 2004 at an initial cost of $7205, at which time Marina and Vinnies volunteers set about raising the necessary funds.

The trips are heavily subsidised by the Society as accommodation and travel expenses exceed the money recovered from the sale of goods, which are priced to enable needy people to purchase with dignity.

The Vinnies trailer does not solve all the social challenges facing people in remote communities, but it does, with innovation, express the value and dignity of all people, no matter what their circumstances, or where they live.

Marina Gray has travelled from Bourke and is here with us this evening to accept the award.

CONTACT Judith Tokley 0408 824 306 / 02 6285 1366