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<p>For 160 years, Vinnies WA has stood alongside Western Australians doing it tough — providing a hand up, not a handout. From emergency relief and food support to housing assistance and mental health services, Vinnies is there when it matters most.<br>Our work reaches across the state — into cities, towns, and remote communities — helping people facing homelessness, financial hardship, domestic violence, and social isolation.<br>What makes us unique is the compassion of our people. From our dedicated volunteers in Vinnies shops, to the outreach workers supporting people in crisis, Vinnies WA is powered by community, for community.</p>

1865 and onwards

The St Vincent de Paul Society's rich history which began in 1865 in Western Australia, This is the timeline of the St Vincent de Paul Society movement in Australia.

Vinnies WA: Our Journey

Our Journey

Rich Text

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<p>St Vincent de Paul was born in France.</p>

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<p>Foundation of Western Australia.</p>

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<p>Frederic Ozanam who established the St Vincent de Paul Society was born in Paris on 23 April 1833.</p>

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<p>Gerald Ward established the St Vincent de Paul Society in Australia and became the first president of the St Francis Conference in Melbourne.</p>

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<p>St Vincent de Paul Society established in Perth, WA with the first Conference meeting with founding President John Gorman held on 24 July 1865.</p>

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<p>John Gorman passed away and the Society ceased for around 30 years.</p>

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<p>The Society was officially re-constituted on 26 June 1911 and Timothy Quilian was the first State President. The First WA Conference started at Highgate Hill.&nbsp;</p>

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<p>The first Issue of 'The Vincentian', the official newsletter of St Vincent de Paul Society WA, was published on 25 July 1914.</p>

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<p>St Vincent's Foundling Home (orphanage) opened up in Subiaco.</p>

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<p>The Society of St Vincent de Paul, Western Australia was officially incorporated.&nbsp;</p>

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<p>The first grant from the Lotteries Commission – 100 Pounds – was received on 21 March 1933.</p>

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<p>Overseas Relief Assistance commenced and now includes the 'Twinning', 'Assist A Student' and 'Special Projects'.&nbsp;<br>Twinning began across Australia in 1964 including WA, and by 1980 there were 40 twinned conferences operating.&nbsp;The Society was charged with running the Seamans Institute, an accommodation house which was used to house sea farers in Fremantle until 1962.</p>

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<p>Keaney House was established in Alma Road, North Perth by the Society of St Vincent de Paul. It was a hostel for up to nine ‘working youths’, with a focus on aftercare for former child migrants from Christian Brothers institutions, mostly from Clontarf. This function ceased in 1965 and the building was later used as a hostel for migrant families.</p>

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<p>On April 13, 1956 a Relic of St Vincent de Paul was given to us for public veneration. It was presented by Sister Louis, the Superior General of the Congregation of the Mission of the Society of the Daughters of Charity NSW. The Daughters of Charity Congregation was founded in 1633 in France by St Vincent de Paul and St Louise de Marillac.</p>
<p>A round gilt reliquary was ordered and the sacred relic housed inside.&nbsp;The wooden frame was fashioned by Br Bruce Lewis, President, Glendalough Conference in 1987.&nbsp;The finished article includes the reliquary, an engraving of St Vincent de Paul, a certificate of authenticity, and a photograph of the glass and silver case holding the waxen image of St Vincent de Paul which houses his bones.</p>
<p>The Relic is housed in the Chapel at Ozanam House in Canning Vale, WA.</p>

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<p>Camillus House Night Shelter for man opened on 28 April 1957. The service was run by volunteer members of the Society. Bill Schocker built the home and was the subsequent manager. He is a recipient of civil awards and Papal Blessing in 1978. Bill was a member of the Society at the Cathedral Conference.&nbsp;</p>

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<p>Services to support the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community in the Kimberley region began.</p>

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<p>The first Vinnies shop opened at 318 Bulwer Street, North Perth, staffed by women volunteers. </p>

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<p>The second Vinnies shop opened in July on 46 8th Avenue, Maylands. This shop was managed by the ladies of the Catholic Women’s League.&nbsp;</p>

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<p>The third Vinnies shop opened on Helena Street in Midland with the first appointed St Vincent de Paul Society WA manager.</p>
<p>The first Distribution Centre opened at Osborne Park.</p>

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<p class="MsoNormal">The Society logo was designed.<br><o:p></o:p>The hand of Christ blessing the cup. The hand of love offering the cup. The hand of suffering receiving the cup</p>

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<p>The Kimberley Missions Conference was established.</p>

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<p>Women were officially accepted as Members and amalgamated with the Men's Society. Prior to this they were operating but were classed as “auxiliaries”.</p>
<p>The Society employed its first paid employee, Mary Cogan, as an Administration Officer.</p>

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<p>The Bronte Street East Perth development and refurbishment was completed and the building was named Ozanam House.</p>
<p>The Society, in conjunction with Alcoholics Anonymous, established a hostel named Waterloo House. It provided a live-in facility and supportive environment for alcoholics.</p>

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<p>First Aboriginal Initiative by the Society – St Norberts Hostel – by the Anawim Conference who operated a 24-hour care and accommodation facility.</p>

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<p>The 'Migrant and Refugee Outreach' started. Conferences provided furniture, clothing and access to special loans to help displaced persons to get settled.</p>

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<p>The Society initiated work-experience programs for unemployed youth, referred to as the Voluntary Youth Program.</p>

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<p>Beginnings of the state-of-the-art Call Centre the Society operates today.</p>
<p>Historically people in need contacted their Parish Priest who referred them to the closest conference, however in 1981 calls had increased so much that they were received at Head Office in Camillus House in Bronte Street who relayed them to the relevant conference.</p>

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<p>The Society established two hostels in Bunbury and Geraldton and the Hainsworth Food Outlet was established. This service sold food at cheap prices to people who had pension cards.</p>

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<p class="MsoNormal">Worldwide celebrations for 150 Years of the Society’s founding in Paris by Frederic Ozanam. A Celebration Mass was held at St Mary’s Cathedral with 700 in attendance.</p>

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<p>A Centre for homeless youth was established in Scarborough named the Emmanuel Bailey House.</p>

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<p class="MsoNormal">The Federal Government funded two Camillus house employees and another staff at the Geraldton Night Shelter. This was the first time St Vincent de Paul Society WA had paid employees. We now have over 300 employees in Western Australia.</p>

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<p>Ozanam House opened a book shop in East Perth providing affordable religious books, objects and Christmas cards.</p>

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<p>Vincentian House, a refuge for homeless men, was in Midland established.</p>
<p>The new St Vincent de Paul Centre was opened in Kwinana which represented a new concept in the provision of 'Special Works' - a multipurpose facility that contained a drop-in centre, clothes store and furniture storage area.&nbsp;</p>

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<p>The inaugural youth camp for disadvantaged kids was held by the Youth Program.</p>

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<p class="MsoNormal">John Meahan was elected WA State President and in 1998 he was elected National Vice President – the first West Australian to be elected to this position. <br><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">St Vincent de Paul Society WA established a Mental Health Service with Keith Wilson as a Chairperson.</p>

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<p>The St Vincent de Paul Society WA established a Mental Health Service, Vincentcare, and Keith Wilson was its Chairperson.&nbsp;</p>

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<p>Frederic Ozanam was beatified in Paris and became Blessed Frederick Ozanam.<br><o:p></o:p>A state celebration was held at St Mary’s Cathedral in Perth.</p>

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<p class="MsoNormal">Gerry Darwin, Sculptor and member of Armadale Conference made a bust of Frederic Ozanam for every State Council in Australia. It sits in the foyer at Ozanam House in Canning Vale.&nbsp;</p>

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<p>Passages Youth Engagement Hub was established in Perth.</p>

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<p class="MsoNormal">Brian Bull OA APM was elected State President in Western Australia and his Induction Mass was held at St Mary’s Cathedral.</p>

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<p>Tom Fisher was appointed first WA State Archivist by Brian Bull. Tom was a long-time member of the Society.</p>
<p>The Society Headquarters moved from 9 Bronte Street in East Perth (the site of &nbsp;Camillus House) to 76 Abernethy Road Belmont on 9 April 2001.</p>
<p>Tom Fisher was appointed first WA State Archivist by Brian Bull.</p>

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<p>The new State President Genevieve De Souza was commissioned on 4 September 2005.&nbsp;She was the first female State President in WA.</p>

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<p>A Call Centre was established to centralise the Society’s Emergency Relief Assistance.</p>

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<p>The Vincentian Village was completed and 'Vincentcare' was well regarded in the community and the mental health and social services sector. The Mental Health Service 'Vincentcare' received the St John of God Health Care Group 'Charity of the Year' award.</p>

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<p>The first SVdPWA CEO Sleepout was held.</p>

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<p>Passages Youth Engagement Hub was established in Peel.</p>

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<p>The St Vincent de Paul Society celebrates 150 years in Western Australia.</p>

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<p>Tom Fisher House, an intensive intervention service for people experiencing homelessness, was established in Highgate.</p>

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<p>Ozanam House in Canning Vale was built to consolidate administration offices and distribution centre. The Chapel in this building is named The Chapel of St Vincent de Paul.&nbsp;</p>

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<p>The Financial Counselling Service received the funding to manage the National Debt Helpline for Western Australia.</p>

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<p>The St Vincent de Paul Society in Western Australia developed its first Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP).</p>

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<p>Wandjoo Bidi, a low barrier supported accommodation service managed by Vinnies WA Homelessness Services, was established.</p>

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<p>Luxe Designer Fashion Hire was established in Subiaco.</p>

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<p>The Joondalup Support Centre was re-opened.</p>