Report compiled by outgoing president Joy Cavenagh.
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It is with great pleasure that I present the Annual Report for Yass Branch in our 100th year of service to Red Cross and the Yass community, our branch being the third oldest in the State after Sydney and Newcastle. The first meeting was held in Yass on 17th August 1914, just after the outbreak of World War 1.
We have had another very successful year beginning with a luncheon at Banjo's followed by our AGM where a good roll up of members and also guests from Binalong Branch and Zone Rep Noleen Hazel/ attended. President Anna Binning stood down to concentrate on her health issues, and we thank Anna for her dedicated service. All executive positions were filled and Noleen gave her Annual Report.
In October I was privileged to attend the Red Cross AGM at the Menzies Hotel in Sydney where I accepted on behalf of the Yass Branch the Third Place Certificate in the Margaret Waddell Trophy. A great honour for our branch.
In November we had two Open Gardens and historic Old Linton homestead. We thank Di Cuthbertson, from "Wattle Flat" and the Johnson from "Dundoos" for their generosity in opening their gardens for Red Cross and Steve lifts for opening "Old Linton". We had the gardening expert Cedric Bryant to speak at both gardens and with entry fees, stalls, catering for morning and afternoon teas and lunch, plus raffles etc we raised $9300-75 on the day. Another open garden day is planned for 16th November this year as Janice and Gavin Walker have kindly offered their beautiful garden fora Red Cross fundraising day.
We commenced this year in January with a lovely luncheon at Bimbi Turner's homestead with 12 members enjoying each others company and the delicious food. This was a great way to start our year and we are very grateful to Bimbi for her hospitality.
In March, Helen Nesbitt and Gloria Carlos organised a band of very willing High School and Mount Carmel students for Red Cross Calling. Members provided morning tea and cool drinks for the callers when they returned and $1723-70 was raised.
In March Noleen and I attended the Yass Primary School along with Penny from ACT Red Cross to initiate a Breakfast Club at the School which is proving to be very successful as between 40 and 60 children have breakfast each morning. Many of these children have breakfast at home at around 6AM so that they can catch buses into town, so by the time that they arrive at school they are really hungry.
A team of Telecross and Red Cross volunteers provided refreshments again this year for the annual 24 hour Relay for Life walk which was much appreciated by the walkers.
On Anzac Day I made and laid a wreath at the Cenotaph on behalf of our branch at the very moving and very well attended 11AM service which seems to be growing in attendance each year. Being 100 years since the outbreak of World War 1, it was a special Anzac Day.
Our branch members also participate in Telecross which is co-ordinated by Nancye Lee, and are also rostered for Meals on Wheels and the making and distribution of Trauma Teddies.
Yass Primary School invited some of our members to speak at School Assembly on 9th May, to familiarise the children with some of the services that Red Cross provides throughout the world. The school celebrated World Red Cross Day on the 8th May by making and displaying a Happy Birthday to Red Cross banner to hang on the fence outside the school as well as hosting a "Wear Red" mufti day to raise money for a Red Cross project.
On 20th May we were honoured to host the Zone 19 Conference celebrating 100 years of continual service to the Yass Community. We were honoured to have as our guest speakers Mr Michael Legge, the National President of Australian Red Cross, John McLennan, the Chairman of the NSW Advisory Board, and Sophie Mackey, Manager of the Young Women's Program. The presentations by these three speakers were very interesting and inspirational, and a highlight of the conference. The venue at Swagger's Conference Room looked very festive as we had decorated with Red Cross memorabilia and uniforms of Red Cross nurses on mannequins kindly loaned from the Yass Museum, and a Junior Red Cross uniform on a child size doll. These were all organised by Gloria Carlos, Roma Langley and Bimbi Turner. The room was also decorated with red and white balloons, Red Cross banners, white tablecloths with red serviettes and red and white floral decorations both on the tables and around the room. I thank you all very much for all arriving at the venue on the previous afternoon, as it was such a team effort. Many compliments were received on the beautiful venue from the delegates from other branches. The moming and afternoon tea and slice with coffee for lunch was prepared by all of us, and was delicious.
On 28th June we held a Street Stall and had wonderful support from members with lots of delicious cakes and goods on sale. We also held a raffle on the day and in three hours we raised $623-65.
We are planning a Gala Dinner this year which will be a big celebration of our 100th year. It will be held here at the Ex-Services Club on 9th August. The guest speaker at our dinner will be Capt Bede Tongs OAM MM (Ret) who was awarded the Military Medal for action on the Kokoda Track on 17th October 1942, and with support from members and the Yass
community we are looking forward to a wonderful evening. For our 100th Anniversary, the NRMA has agreed that we can mount a window display in their window to advertise our 100 years, and this we will do in the next couple of weeks. For this we are grateful.
Our Honour Stamp for the year is $22427-58.
Our secretary for the past twenty-seven years, Nancye Lee, Is not standing for re-election at this meeting, so on behalf of all the present members as well as past members I want to thank her for an amazing record of service to Red Cross and the local community. Nancye has agreed to continue as the Telecross co-ordinator and for this we are also grateful.
I too, am not standing for re-election as President and I want to extend a big "Thank You" to you all for all your support and the effort that has gone into making this year such a success.
I also want to say thank you to our Zone 19 Representative Noleen Hazell. "Thank You" Noleen for your listening ear and ongoing support and counsel. It is much appreciated.
Finally, to the incoming executive I give my good wishes, and know that as we work as a team in the coming year we shall enjoy the journey while promoting the continuing work of Red Cross at the beginning of the second hundred years of our branch.
New executives of Red Cross, Yass
Vicki Brassil - president
Karen Williams - secretary
Julie Webster - treasurer