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.

 Mr Richardson’s report on this year’s Opportunity Shops activities follows later in this Annual Report and provides interesting details of their operations.

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

 As a result of renovations undertaken in 2010 we were pleased to unveil two plaques in the Youth Centre.  The first plaque was in acknowledgment of the significant contribution of the William Angliss (Victoria) Charitable Fund to the continued community work of the Don Bosco Youth Centre and Hostel.  The second plaque was in acknowledgement of the Fawkner Bingo Centre’s donation towards upgrading of the Youth Centre kitchenette.  The unveiling ceremony took place in October 2010.

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 20 November, 2010 at the ‘Ferraro Receptions’,

14 Onslow Avenue, Campbellfield

                                                                                                 Report by M.R. Seear

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

Wine International (WIV)     Melbourne     0403053836

We wish to especially welcome on board and acknowledge new sponsors for the night:-

• M. Dubock Pty Ltd (Dubock Funerals) whose generous donation subsidized administrative costs for the night.
• J. Goldberg, Solicitor who sponsored an entire table of guests.

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).

 

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.

 Finally, as I rejoice at the history of Don Bosco Brunswick - at what it has achieved for young people since 1940 - I pray that it will continue to make a difference for the young continuously into the future.  I pray also for all of you who have been part of it and every organization which supports us so wonderfully.

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.

There is also an extensive network of school groups and community youth groups who come here to use our Youth Centre.  The Brunswick English Language Centre is one of these groups worthy of particular note.  The students are all refugee teenagers learning English full-time for 6 months before continuing their education in a mainstream school.  They have used our recreation centre every Friday afternoon for many years.  The students and staff are a delight to have here

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.

We have benefited greatly from the renovations to our Kitchenette, Entrance Foyer, Canteen and 2 Youth Centre Offices, made possible through the generosity of The William Angliss (Victoria) Charitable Fund, the Fawkner Bingo Fund and our Don Bosco Opportunity Shops.

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.

 In March 2010 we opened a second Opportunity Shop adjacent to the Don Bosco Youth Centre at 713 Sydney Road Brunswick, about 1 km from our No. 1 shop which is located at 368 Sydney Road, Brunswick.  As we receive so many donations of clothes etc. it was felt necessary to open our Shop No. 2 as a second outlet.  Sales in the new shop are improving and new customers are supporting this new venture.  The new shop is a good advertisement for the Youth Centre due to its location, and customers are making many enquiries about the good work being carried out for the young people of the area in the Youth Centre.

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.

 We also wish to thank all our loyal customers many of whom are young University students who appreciate our low prices for quality goods and furniture.  We are particularly grateful to our generous donors of goods who support us in our important objectives of supporting the work of the Salesians of Don Bosco in Brunswick and the Missions in the Pacific.

Joe Richardson