


The Don Bosco Brunswick
Youth Foundation Inc.

Purpose
The Foundation was established and later incorporated in 1981, to raise funds in support of the Don Bosco Youth Centre and Hostel.
The Foundation organizes fundraising events and seeks financial assistance from philanthropic trusts, business organizations, generous and good-willed individuals and families. In seeking financial, logistic and consultative support from local, State and Federal governments, the Foundation applies for grants and is a driver for related and pertinent government initiatives and visions benefiting the broad range of our multicultural community youth.
The Foundation started an Opportunity Shop in 2001 to raise funds for additional support to the Youth Centre and Hostel as well as provide support to the Salesian Missions in the Pacific.
The Foundation manages the day-to-day running of the Opportunity Shop with the assistance of nearly 40 volunteers (including some disabled volunteers).
Awards
The Don Bosco Brunswick Youth Foundation has received the following awards;
The Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Trust for Young Australians, 1989 Award for services to teenagers and "street kids" in providing refuge to those unable to reside with relatives.
Rotary Club of Pascoe Vale 1993-94 James Esselemont Award for Service to the Community - awarded to Mr. S. Romanin.
Victoria's Awards for Excellence in Multicultural Affairs - 2005 to the Don Brunswick Youth Foundation Inc. for Service Delivery to Multicultural Community - Youth Services. (Ref. http://www.multicultural.vic.gov.au
Victoria's Awards for Excellence in Multicultural Affairs - 2006 Meritorious Service to the Community Award for outstanding service to the Vietnamese Community - awarded to Fr. A Quang SDB.
Victoria's Awards for Excellence in Multicultural Affairs - 2007 Award for Meritorious Service in the Community - awarded to Mr. S. Romanin.
City of Moreland "Senior Citizen of the Year" awarded to Br Michael Lynch SDB
Please consider the future and wellbeing of young people by offering your help and support, by making a donation or remembering The Don Bosco Youth Foundation Inc. in your Will.
For more information about the Salesians of Don Bosco, please visit http://www.sdb.org.au/
CONTENTS
1. List of Directors – 2010
4. Youth Centre Co-ordinator’s Report
DIRECTORS
Patron
Professor David de Kretser, AO
Governor of
Mr. G. Walters,
A.A.I.V., F.R.E.I.
Judge F. Walsh, A.M.,
Q.C.,
Mr. D. Sowersby,
A.R.E.I.,
Mr. M. Seear
Vice -
Mr. S. Romanin,
C.P.A.
Fr. J. Murphy, S.D.B.
Treasurer
Fr. A. Quang,
S.D.B.
Mr. A. Frigo, J.P.
Mr. N. Germano,
A.S.A.
Mr. A. Menhennitt
Fr. P. Kerin,
S.D.B.
Mr. J. Richardson
Mr. M. Dubock
Barrister at Law
Telephone: (03) 9383 5333
Fax: (03) 9386 3326
Email: foundation@donbosco.org.au
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
As Chairman of the Foundation I am once again extremely proud and pleased
to present my sixth Annual Report on another successful 12 months to 31
December 2010.
Our Foundation was established in 1982 to assist in managing the loan
debt of the Don Bosco Youth Centre and Hostel following a major rebuilding
programme, and to assist in funding the ongoing operational costs of the
Centre. Our task of supporting
the Youth Centre and Hostel has continued to be made easier by the wonderful
support of many generous organisations, philanthropic trusts, Government
entities and benefactors over these many years.
We thank them sincerely for their support.
The Don Bosco Centre, now in its 71st year of
unbroken service, continues to play an important role in the lives of the
multiculturally diverse youth of the inner northern suburbs of Melbourne, as
well as providing low cost accommodation to young students and apprentices
from rural Victoria, suburbia and overseas. We,
as a Foundation, are very pleased to play an important role in supporting
the operations of the Centre.
Our major community event in 2010 was the Fun & Food Festa held on
Saturday 20 November 2010 at “Ferraro Receptions” Campbellfield.
The event was again a great success and I sincerely thank all who
helped in the many tasks associated with the running of this event.
Appended to my report is an article by our administration,
highlighting the major aspects of the Fun & Food Festa.
The Foundation’s Opportunity Shop, located at 368 Sydney Road, Brunswick,
which was opened in June 2001, continues to be an outstanding success.
Mr. Joe Richardson and fellow Directors are supported by many
dedicated volunteers and wonderful donors. I
thank them all most sincerely for their commitment, enthusiasm and
generosity in support of the Opportunity Shop.
I would also like to commend the Managers of the Opportunity Shop who
support the use of disabled volunteers wherever possible, thus further
benefiting the community.
We opened a new Opportunity Shop (No. 2) in March 2010. It is located
next to the Youth Centre at 713 Sydney Road Brunswick.
The low running costs are due to our
landlord being the Salesians, resulting in significant savings in outlays.
Funds distributed in 2010 by Opportunity Shop No. 1 were as follows:
·
$60,000 Don Bosco Youth Centre and
Hostel
·
$20,000 Australian Salesian Missions Overseas Aid
Fund.
The Don Bosco Youth Centre and the Hostel are both high maintenance areas
requiring regular replacement and updating of equipment and facilities,
particularly with the need to comply with stringent health and safety
requirements.
General activities throughout the year were as
follows:
·
Major projects in the Youth Centre in 2010 were the redevelopment of its two
administrative offices, the updating
of the front entrance to the Youth Centre and the
refurbishment of the kitchenette.
·
In the Hostel a number of new beds and furnishings were purchased.
In relation to the major works undertaken in 2010 I wish to specifically thank and gratefully acknowledge the following philanthropic organisations for their financial support:
·
The William Angliss (Victoria) Charitable Fund
·
The Trust Company of Australia
·
The Melbourne Newsboys Club Foundation
·
The Fawkner Bingo Centre
The Moreland City Council again provided their
generous annual Community Grant of $10,000 to the Youth Centre which
significantly helps the Youth Centre provide many services free of charge to
the culturally diverse youth of Moreland.
In closing I refer you to the accompanying reports
by the Rector/Hostel Co-ordinator, the Co-ordinator of the Youth Centre, the
Manager of our Opportunity Shop, as well as the financial statements of the
Centre for the year ended 31 December 2010.
As Chairman of the Foundation I offer my sincere thanks to our Secretary, Mr. Martin Seear and our Treasurer, Mr. Nino Romanin for their stirling work and to my fellow Directors for their continued commitment to the Foundation.
Greg Walters
Chairman
The Don Bosco Brunswick
Youth Foundation’s
Annual ‘Fun & Food Festa’
held
on
The 2010 ‘Fun & Food Festa’ was the Foundation’s 17th Community
Celebration. The first ‘Festa’
was held in the Don Bosco Brunswick Youth Centre in 1994 as a thank you and
celebration for all our wonderful supporters of diverse cultural
backgrounds, whose efforts enable the Youth Centre and Hostel to succeed.
The occasion has always been highlighted by the drawing of our Major
Raffle. Our ‘Major Raffle’
tickets @ $2 each, were distributed to our supporters throughout Victoria
and offered excellent prizes including airline tickets, ski holidays,
weekend luxury accommodation etc.
The Festa commenced with a blessing from the Youth Centre & Hostel’s
Rector, Fr John Murphy and was hosted by our Foundation’s Vice-Chairman Mr
David Sowersby. The large number
of guests proceeded to enjoy a very happy and successful evening.
We again thank the enormous contribution of Nicoletta and Peter De Cinque
who again were able to organise around 100 people from the South Eastern
Suburbs to attend the night; this traditional support is vital to the
success of the night.
The music was again provided by our staunch supporters Enrico and Rita
Constantini and their wonderful band ‘Speedway’.
They have provided their wonderful music free of charge since 1994.
Other entertainment provided throughout the night included auction items,
spinning wheel segment and the very popular lucky envelopes for some great
prizes.
Towards the end of the night the Major Raffle was
drawn which, in addition to prior ticket sales, was very well supported on
the evening.
The Victorian Multicultural Commission (VMC)
through their Community Grants Program, awarded the Foundation a grant to
pay for buses to safely transport a large number of our Italian supporters
from the South Eastern Suburbs.
The VMC is always looking to support and encourage diverse cultures and we
thank the Commission for its support this year.
Our sponsors on the night, many of whom have supported us over many years
are mentioned below and we ask that readers please note and support their
services wherever possible.
·
Abruzzo Club
Brunswick
9387 5955
·
Absolute Tranquility
Glenroy
9357 3634
·
Alepat Taylor P/L
Preston
9487 2599
·
AMS Imaging
Sth Melbourne
9690 6800
·
Bergerac Restaurant
Melbourne
9629 2868
·
Bertocchi Smallgoods
Thomastown
9355 5104
·
Cafelicious
Coburg
9354 1801
·
Cecconi’s Cantina
Melbourne
9663 0222
·
Central Catholic Bookshop
Melbourne
9639 0844
·
Chelston Pty Ltd
Melbourne
9500 9923
·
Children’s Palace Toys
Yarraville
9687 2599
·
Classy Colour Copy
Brunswick
9384 6206
·
DMK Business Systems
Port Arlington
5259 2831
·
Dubock Funerals
West Brunswick
9384 1100
·
Enoteca Sileno
Carlton North
9389 7000
·
Fabbris Meats
Campbellfield
9357 0900
·
Ferraro Receptions
Campbellfield
9357 2200
·
Georgelin’s Florist
Coburg
9386 2827
·
Goldberg, J (Solicitor)
0412259854
·
Grenda’s Bus Services
Dandenong
9791 2988
·
Grollo Australia Pty Ltd
Northland
8480 0400
·
I Carusi Pizza
Brunswick
9386 5522
·
Incani Imports
Coburg
9383 1166
·
Joe & Daughters Fruit Supply Brunswick
9386 3080
·
M & R Car Services
Coburg
9384 0403
·
Matt Wynne Designer Jeweller North Carlton
9347 5773
·
Montal Printing
Coburg
9386 1766
·
Moreland Council
Moreland
9240 1111
·
Mulqueen Services
North Coburg
9354 3215
·
Pan Australian Travel
Melbourne
9347 9677
·
Paul’s Uni Hair Care
Coburg
9383 5592
·
Piedimonte’s Supermarket
North Fitzroy
9481 1600
·
Pizza Farro
Thornbury
9484 2040
·
Red Butterfly
Brunswick
9386 9669
·
Rupertswood Mansion
Sunbury
9740 5020
·
Speedway Music
Brunswick
9387 1703
·
Victorian Multicultural Commission
9651 0651
·
Vinnie’s Fruits
Coburg
9354 1201
·
Whelan Kartaway
North Melbourne
9329 0800
We wish to especially welcome on board and acknowledge new sponsors for
the night:-
For any enquiries about the Don Bosco Brunswick Youth Foundation, Foundation
Opportunity Shop or Youth Centre and Hostel please refer to either our
website
www.donbosco.org.au,
phone direct on 03 9386 3948 or
contact our Secretary, Mr. Martin Seear on mobile 0428 195544 and or
personal assistant Luisa Masimalo on mobile 0412 295141 (specifically
regarding the Foundation).
RECTOR’S REPORT
As we come to the end of another year I wish to express my gratitude and
thanks for the wonderful effort of so many people who through their hard
work and generosity have enabled the work at Don Bosco Youth Centre and
Hostel to continue and grow.
In the Hostel we have increased the facilities and now cater for 45
residents. The need is so great
that there is no need to advertise.
Our name is well known.
The care, support and encouragement given to these young men enables them to
secure their future and allow their dreams to grow to fruition.
It is indeed wonderful to see these individuals meet the challenges
life throws at them and to grow to maturity.
They become young men who are able to give as they have been given.
They will become the leaders of tomorrow and I am confident from my
position as Rector, and what I see, that we are in safe hands.
The Youth Centre’s activities will be addressed by Fr Peter Kerin who
directs that section of the complex.
Just let me say that with Brother David O’Brien and his wonderful
team of volunteers the great work continues.
This year sections of the Youth Centre were upgraded and that was
only possible through the financial support of The William Angliss
(Victoria) Charitable Fund, the Fawkner Bingo Club and the Don Bosco
Opportunity Shops.
This brings me to another point where I wish to recognise and thank both the
Don Bosco Foundation, as they are very much a “hands on” group, and the many
volunteers that man the two Opportunity Shops situation in Sydney Road,
Brunswick. Without them the
great work at Don Bosco would not be able to continue.
Fr. John
Murphy, SDB
The Don Bosco Youth Centre continues to give children and teenagers a fun
place that is friendly and well supervised, with a whole range of
recreational facilities and other activities to enjoy with their friends.
The focus of our Don Bosco Youth Centre involves ‘Weekend’, ‘After
School’ and ‘School Holiday’ programs which we run free of charge for all
local children, teenagers and families.
Every week some 1,500 children and teenagers use the Centre.
During the year Br David O’Brien and myself took 20 of our Youth Centre
volunteers to the opening night of Circus Oz at Federation Square.
It was wonderful to enjoy the evening together as a group, and in
this way to acknowledge the many ways in which they benefit our Centre.
We are blessed with the help of our Salesian brothers and sisters
from our Formation Houses of Clifton Hill and Broadmeadows.
The Community Welfare students from the Lonsdale Institute continue
to do 200 hours work experience at our Centre.
We train them and supervise their placement, and in return they help
us run the Centre. We do not
lose their help altogether when they complete their Placement, since many of
them continue here as Birthday Party supervisors.
The Don Bosco Youth Centre is in great demand as a training venue.
Our Centre continues to be a wonderful and exciting mix of cultures,
countries and religions. About
50% of the children and teenagers are Christian and 50% Muslim, and they
come from many different countries including Lebanon, Turkey, Greece, Italy,
Iraq, Philippines, Mauritius and Iran.
We all work hard together to provide a Centre where all the children,
teenagers and families learn to live in peace, friendship, understanding and
justice… like it should be everywhere.
Fr. Peter Kerin, SDB
Year 2010 was a challenging year due to the general economic downturn which
contributed to the decline in our sales to $161,420.
The annual distribution to the Brunswick Youth Centre and the
Salesian Missions in Samoa in 2010 was $80,000.
The total amount distributed since opening in 2001 to-date is
$581,000.
We are greatly indebted to all our volunteers for their great support to the
Don Bosco cause. Some of the
volunteers have been serving since we opened in 2001 and some are
volunteering at both shops.