Charity to celebrate 50 years

Joy of giving: St Vincent De Paul Grafton centre manager Pauline Grant, second from left, celebrates the store’s 50th year with day co-ordinators, from left, Monica McTaggart, Eileen Thorpe, Beryl Wilson and Colleen Schaeffer.

SAINT Vinnie's in Grafton turns 50 this month, but the society's history of generosity in the area harks back to the 1930s when a small band of St Vincent de Paul brothers opened a wardrobe in the basement of St Mary's Infants School to help people affected by the Great Depression.

“People queued up for clothing,” said centre president Pauline Grant.

“Wives fitted out needy women – it was sad when they had to turn people away because there was nothing left.”

The day after the twice-weekly “wardrobe” was opened, Mrs Grant said, Father O'Byrne, along with local women and boys, would doorknock to collect clothes for the next opening.

Local butcher Alec Roger would mend shoes for the store and offer meals to the needy.

The wardrobe was moved to the Royal Hotel after the floods of 1950 and 1954 before it was moved again to Bill and Dot Dougherty's home in Villiers Street.

Permission was granted to establish a store in Grafton in 1960 – the first store in the Diocese of Lismore and one of few outside the metropolitan centres.

The society bought the former Daily Examiner building in Victoria Street (pictured) on September 24, 1960, and while renovations took place a temporary shop was established near the viaduct in Prince Street behind Toflers.

The newly-renovated Victoria Street shop was opened in December, 1964.

A few administrative changes took place in the next couple of decades before the shop was moved to its present location, 16 Prince Street, and opened for business on September 24, 1989.

The latest renovations to the centre were carried out in early 2008, Mrs Grant said.

“We are very proud of our lovely, modern store and are continually receiving compliments,” she said.

Mrs Grant said every person working at the centre was a volunteer and found the experience rewarding and fun.

She said the centre kept a special collection of items for families in crisis.

Celebrations for the 50th birthday included a luncheon for volunteers at the Grafton District Services Club last Friday and a thanksgiving mass at St Mary's on Saturday.

Mrs Grant said the centre was also preparing for a Spring Splendour Day on Saturday, September 18, at which previously unreleased stock of linen, clothing and bric-a-brac would be available for sale.