News
15 July, 2022
Caboolture group donates more than $30,000
THE Knights of the Southern Cross (KSC) in Caboolture has donated and committed more than $30,000 to local and national charitable causes in the past couple of years, according to spokesperson Kevin Donaldson.
The KSC (Branch 90) is a group of men drawn from the Living Waters Catholic parish which stretches from Bribie to Kilcoy.
Mr Donaldson said the donations and commitments had occurred “among the dizzying, and at times paralysing events of the past 18 months, locally and across the world”.
Mr Donaldson said members attributed this achievement “to the continuing generous support of some wonderful local businesses and community organisations who have partnered with us over many years”.
Examples of the organisation’s outreach include:
• $8,000 to the Veterans Care Association headed by Gary Stone, a returned veteran;
• $5,000 to the Jesuit Refugee Services (JRS) to be directed principally towards assisting development of skills and employment opportunities, particularly for refugees displaced by recent events in Afghanistan;
• $2,000 to the Maximilian Kolbe St Vincent de Paul Special Works Ministry. This Ministry supports the Catholic Chaplaincy team working in the Woodford prison, particularly with men who need assistance when leaving the prison;
• $2,000 to the School Chaplaincy Appeal (supporting local students’ social needs);
• $10,000 across 2021-2022 via a partnership with Coast2Bay (C2B) to assist struggling local families with rental support and to assist with family pressures arising from incidents of domestic violence. Another $5,000 has been set aside to ensure Branch 90 is positioned to allocate an additional $5,000 support in 2023;
• A $12,000 donation comprising: (a) $10,000 to Orange Sky Laundry to procure and fit out a new van for homeless in Caboolture; (b) $2,000 to Caboolture Community Action Group (CCA). The Moreton Bay Regional Council awarded Branch 90 a Certificate of Appreciation for this community gesture. Support for the program continues;
• Periodic donations to support the Caboolture Public Hospital Chaplaincy program (co-ordinated by St Peter’s parish’s Audrey Choo);
• In past years Branch 90 has contributed to other projects including assisting young people/ parishioners: (i) to attend World Youth Days in Sydney, Madrid, Rio de Janeiro;
• For decades Branch 90 has also striven to give social, moral and interactive support to other causes including the residents and staff at Wamuran Park, a local facility for residents struggling with substance abuse, and to Lavally Lodge – a community of adults with disabilities. For decades Branch 90 members visited Wamuran Park and sponsored and participated in cricket matches with the Lavally Lodge Community;
• Branch 90 was also fortunate for its association with Fr Lyall Cowell, long term Australian Army Chaplain, friend and supporter of Branch 90 of the KSC. Fr Lyall passed away on December 5, 2021, after a battle with ill health.
“Our organisation is indebted to a number of local businesses and community organisations without whose support few of our achievements would have been possible,” Mr Donaldson said.
He expressed his organisation’s particular appreciation to:
• Brian Leeson, Proprietor of Trader Dukes Bar and Restaurant at King’s Circle, who generously offered Branch 90 the opportunity to run Friday night meat tray raffles. This fundraising association with Trader Dukes (TD), coupled with the generosity of the TD patrons, continues to be the mainstay of Branch 90’s fundraising;
• Logan and Ellyce Baines of Get Butchered (of Kings Circle Caboolture);
• the Bunnings Group, trading locally as Bunnings Warehouse, Morayfield, who have allocated slots for Branch 90 under Bunnings Sausage Sizzle Community Activities program;
• Rotary (Caboolture) which invited Branch 90 to help staff their booths at Morayfield Shopping Centre for Rotary’s Christmas raffle;
• Branch 90 is also indebted to the generosity of the management of the Woolworths Super Centre at Morayfield and to the team at the SPAR Convenience Store, Kings Circle Caboolture.
