Annual dads dinner raises $23,320
More than $23,000 was raised at Olivia’s Place annual dinner and charity auction last week.
The event with the theme of Celebrate Dads was held at the Warragul Reception and Conference Centre.
A charity auction was conducted by auctioneer Paul Phillips while the MC for the evening was Adam Nelson.
Guests included Member for Narracan Gary Blackwood
The success of the evening will ensure that the pregnancy and early parenting resource centre can continue to operate until the end of the year.
Centre manager Kirsten Finger gave a brief address to the 129 strong room, including some stirring testimonials from clients and local service workers who have utilised the services offered.
The testimonials shared highlighted the importance placed on the existence of Olivia’s Place within the community, and the value and high quality of the services provided.
Testimonials were followed by a call to action from Kirsten, asking those attending, and the greater community to take the important step of contacting local councillors and state government representatives Gary Blackwood and Mermber for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing to encourage and request them to specifically support Olivia’s Place to continue services in 2017.
When two local mothers- Kirsten Finger, a paramedic, and Melissa Raymond a pharmacistfounded Olivia’s Place in 2012, they were able to do so with the financial support and governance of a national organisation, Pregnancy and Parenting Resource Centre. PPRC provided initial seed funding, and ongoing governance (and associated expenses) for the last four years.
Ms Finger said it was always the intention that Olivia’s Place grow in independence as an organisation and eventually begin to self-govern. Both PPRC and Olivia’s Place feel that now is the time for this change to occur.
In 2017, Olivia’s Place will be an independently governed organisation.
Ms Finger said Gary Blackwood and Harriet Shing were working together to attempt to source government funding for Olivia’s Place.