Trafalgar groups needs volunteers

The impending retirement of two Trafalgar community stalwarts could spell the end of two of Trafalgar’s oldest community groups.

Between them, Jenny Wilde and Frank Gridley hold five crucial positions on the Trafalgar Senior Citizens and DIDCOT (The drop in day centre of Trafalgar).

Mrs Wilde is secretary treasurer of DIDCOT and president of the senior citizens, while Mr Gridley is community bus driver for DIDCOT and secretary-treasurer and bus driver for the senior citizens.

Next month Jenny Wilde is retiring as secretary-treasurer after 30-plus years of service and Frank Gridley is stepping down after 18 years.

At the moment, Mr Gridley says, there’s no sign of anyone willing to take their places, which means the two organisations could be forced to close.

“That would be a great shame because they have both done a great deal of good work for many decades.”

DIDCOT was founded some 40 years ago by Cr Sheila Ferguson and Ruth Sullivan to raise funds to build Andrews House, an assisted living home in Trafalgar.

Rex and Eva Bateson and committee members have organised the club for more than 20 years.

Money raised by a simple soup and sandwich lunch every Tuesday is donated to local organisations, including the West Gippsland and Latrobe Regional Hospitals.

The senior citizens club was founded by Canon Turner in 1967.

DIDCOT’s annual meeting will be held at the Trafalgar Community Centre on Tuesday, July 5. New members are welcome.

For more information, call Frank Gridley on 5633 1803.