Left to right - John Forkan, Father Terry Hickling, Anne Forkan, Jerry & Bernie Franckowiak, Liam O'Dea, Nancy & Mike Murphy and Father Kevin Noble

We have a membership of diverse ages, occupations and faith traditions, work at numerous community needs, and liaise with other organisations.   We meet monthly  on the last Sunday of the month at 10:30 AM for an 11AM start - at the Parish Centre in the southern end of Palmerin Street, next door to the St. Mary's Primary School, 163 Palmerin St.  

We welcome all wishing to join our work and fellowship.   We are currently seeking an auspicing body for St. Mary's Youth Placement Project. Young people who are homeless for a variety of reasons, many who are finding it hard continuing and  attending school, will be housed and welcomed into homes of Warwick families. The funds for this are in place, but finding an organisation to run it with administrational facilities, social welfare officer and insurance access is proving difficult.

We have several "irons in the fire" on this and will report any outcome.  The group is examining our ability to link up with "Rosies", a community based mobile youth service operating at night in the park on weekends into the small hours - to provide food, drink and a meeting point for young people would have nowhere to go, for various reasons - but can meet in safety with friendly welcome by the Rosie’s volunteers. One of our members is currently doing this work and others will join her.  

We coordinate with Rotary Tenterfield, and priests overseas in making parish donations available for providing needs in Timor Leste for villagers. These include solar lighting, transporting building materials and foodstuffs to the mountainous village, solar powered sewing machines for women to increase their families' incomes. Other provisions and training ventures are being considered.  

Our group has produced a very small community directory in conjunction with our local council. This directory, "Welcome to Our Community For Newcomers to Warwick" lists only the most vital contacts for the most marginalised people arriving with needs to know affordable childcare, medical hospital, Centrelink and emergency accommodation services.  

We recently hosted a Multicultural Lunch at the Parish Centre for English Second Language students from TAFE. It was hoped that, by coming together in such friendly surroundings, that confidence would be built for those with little English ability and that this would lead to inclusion in the community and lasting friendships. The day was very successful with lots of delicious food brought by all to share and lots of fun and music. Some of the most shy students didn't come and we hope to "catch them in our net of friendship" at the next such gathering.  

There was recently a call by the National Human Rights Consultative Committee for submissions from the whole nation on individuals' perceptions of human rights status in this country. We have learned there were more than 15,000 submissions received and they included ours. We spoke from our hearts and minds to participate in this valuable opportunity to speak up to our government.  

Our Mental Health involvement in our community has been researched and we will be attending training modules being arranged by St. Vincent de Paul when the officer visits Warwick. In the meantime, we show modules of the excellent DVD, "Understanding Mental Health " produced by Viniest - at our meetings.  

We recently showed Geoffrey Robertson's Hypothetical, "Closing the Gap" relating to Indigenous needs and shortfall.   We all enjoyed this witty and timely reminder of the state of the lives of so many of the First Peoples.  In October Sr. Sue Flood, Education Officer with the Social Justice Commission will be making her Environmental Education Presentation at the Parish Centre.  The  wider community is welcome to hear Sr. Sue and learn more of the ways and means we can deliver our responsibilities to our world, Planet Earth, and all in it.  Click here to get in touch with the Warwick group.