Members from the St Mary’s Kingaroy St Vincent de Paul Society Conference celebrated the group’s 80th birthday on Sunday
February 28, 2024
Members of the Kingaroy’s St Vincent de Paul Society gathered together with friends and supporters on Sunday to celebrate 80 years of helping the local community.
The St Mary’s Kingaroy Conference was founded on January 14, 1944, and over the years has supported thousands of local residents, with the need growing over the decades.
A spokesperson said that in 2023, the Kingaroy conference helped 752 people, providing nearly $30,000 in direct financial aid (including food and groceries) as well as emotional support.
This was up nearly 7 per cent from 2022 and 8 per cent from 2021.
There are currently 19 members in the Kingaroy group; the oldest is Michael Carroll, 83, who has been giving back to the Kingaroy community through his work with the Society for more than 60 years.
Michael, who now lives at Orana, was presented on Sunday with an Associate Life Membership by St Vincent de Paul Society Northern Diocese president Beryl Rowan.
The Carroll family name has been linked to the Catholic parish in Kingaroy since the foundation of the town.
Michael is a descendant of Dan and Bridget Carroll, who built the first home in Kingaroy and donated the land upon which the Catholic Church and St Mary’s Catholic College stand.
Other local St Vincent de Paul Society members were also honoured on Sunday, with certificates presented to current Conference president Mary James and long-serving members Peter Janz and Sue Lambert.
The St Mary’s Kingaroy Conference was established about half a century after the first in Queensland, at St Brigid’s Catholic Church, Red Hill, on February 18, 1894.
The Red Hill Conference was formed to help people and families affected by the 1893 Brisbane floods.
The St Vincent de Paul Society as a whole traces its history back to journalist and lawyer Frederic Ozanam who formed the charitable organisation in Paris in 1833.
Frederic Ozanam was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1997.
Michael Carroll was presented with a long-service certificate and Life Membership by St Vincent de Paul Society Northern Diocese president Beryl RowanSt Vincent de Paul member Peter Janz was presented with a certificate in recognition of his dedication to the local conference over the past two decades
Certificates were also presented to long-serving member Sue Lambert …
… and to Kingaroy Conference president Mary James, who has also been a member for more than 20 years
Members of the St Mary’s Kingaroy Conference posed for photos with supporters, members of other conferences who travelled to Kingaroy for the celebration, and relatives of former Kingaroy membersMichael Carroll was surprised by the presentation of his Life Membership pin and certificate during a pause in MassMembers of the Carroll family and Fr Stanley Orji congratulated Michael after MassEighty years twice over … Michael Carroll was helped to cut the 80th anniversary cake by Brisbane visitor Patrick McCormack, who will be turning 80 on March 2Kingaroy Catholic Parish Priest Fr Stanley Orji with Kingaroy St Vincent de Paul president Mary James, Michael Carroll, Patrick McCormack and event organiser (and St Vinnies member) Kay DoveDan Dowling and Fran Murray from the Margate St Vincent de Paul Conference … St Vinnies’ members also came from Murgon, Deception Bay and Hervey Bay for the celebrationSt Vincent de Paul Society Northern Diocese membership and development officer Mariana Passeggi with local conference president Mary James and St Joseph’s Murgon conference vice-president Cecily Fry and Kevin Fry, from ProstonKevin McCormack, from Adelaide; Kay Dove, Kingaroy; and Patrick McCormack, BrisbaneCherry and Denis Carroll, and Dennis Seng, all from KingaroyDavid Parker, from Wondai; and Terry Kearney, KumbiaChelsea, Ann and Joseph Carroll … Ann flew up from Sydney for the day, while Joseph came from BrisbaneAfter the presentations, members of the local St Vincent de Paul conference hosted a morning tea in the church hall
Thank you for your support of St Vincent de Paul in this community. 80 years was certainly worth celebrating and acknowledging Michael Carroll’s involvement for over 60 years was very special. Your generosity in taking the photos and of course your story will go down in our history.
Our Conference has never put itself forward for media attention for all of its good works over the 80 year period, so it was wonderful to receive this acknowledgement.
Thank you to those from Vinnies and members of other Conferences who travelled as well as our local Parish community who celebrated with us.
Congratulations Michael Carroll on your long service and well deserved Life Membership awards. Your contribution to our community in various organizations such as St Vinnie’s and CTC has been outstanding. Thank you. You are an excellent role model and inspiration to all.
Thank you for your support of St Vincent de Paul in this community. 80 years was certainly worth celebrating and acknowledging Michael Carroll’s involvement for over 60 years was very special. Your generosity in taking the photos and of course your story will go down in our history.
Our Conference has never put itself forward for media attention for all of its good works over the 80 year period, so it was wonderful to receive this acknowledgement.
Thank you to those from Vinnies and members of other Conferences who travelled as well as our local Parish community who celebrated with us.
It was a wonderful celebration of the work that Vinnies has done over many years.
Congratulations Michael Carroll on your long service and well deserved Life Membership awards. Your contribution to our community in various organizations such as St Vinnie’s and CTC has been outstanding. Thank you. You are an excellent role model and inspiration to all.