Meeting 31 Oct 2017
- Di McKenzie is a founding member of Bill’s Place Charity café
- Bikers Toy Run Recognition
- Bob Pascoe 90
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Ted introduced our guest speaker for the evening. She had been of good humour throughout what had been a rowdy but fun filled meeting and she did not disappoint with her continued interaction during her interesting presentation. Di McKenzie is a local Novocastrian and a proud and active member of the Hamilton Wesley Church where she works as a volunteer. A former accountant with an obvious mind for figures and business she was one of the founding member of Bills Place
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Having an asset like a church that is only open for in reality only a few hours a week is not a good use for something situated where the Wesley church is in the heart of a city surrounded by pleasant grounds and a community with many and varied needs that stretch well beyond a Sunday service. Dot and her Wesley colleagues therefore determined a facility where parishioners and general community could drop in and share time with other like souls, getting away from their stress and troubles and sharing something as simple as a coffee, a chat or even a meal. Following a business case to the Diocesan Synod and support from both them and the Wesley Church Council financially a kitchen, coffee shop and meeting place was established in the church. Its goals were to support the principles of fair trade, provide an income stream to support charity and after all expenses to donate the surplus to charity. The concept of fair trade she explained really underpins the operation. Fair trade is a social movement whose stated goal is to help producers in developing countries achieve better trading conditions and to promote sustainable farming and business. Members of the movement advocate the payment of higher prices to exporters, as well as improved social and environmental standards. The movement focuses in particular on commodities, or products which are typically exported from developing countries to developed countries, most notably handicrafts, coffee, cocoa, wine, fresh fruit, chocolate and flowers. Bill’s Place endeavours to stock and use such items in their operations. As Dot explained buying products from producers in developing countries at a fair price is a more efficient way of promoting sustainable development than traditional charity and aid. The members were obviously intrigued by the name and she explained that during the establishment and planning there was an
obvious need for a kitchen. A parishioner named Bill had occupied a room that turned out to be strategically located in the church where he based his volunteer works. By skillful and courteous negotiations and equally supportive and generous cooperation Bill gave up his room for the greater good and relocated his activities. Hence the name. It operates currently three days a week and for a reasonable price offers a home style meal and of course fair trade coffee. Since operations began $77,000 has been donated to charity and the initial loans paid off. One of the major fundraisers in recent times has been the annual Christmas tree decoration display and popular voting competition. Organisations decorate a tree that is displayed in the church for the month before Christmas and visitors vote by their donations for their favourite tree. All the funds raised plus $250 per tree donated to each tree by Bills Place goes to the nominated tree charity. Charlestown Rotary will this year enter a tree and the proceeds will go to the Rotary Foundation. A great idea that will both put the Rotary Foundation in the eyes of the public and generate funds. Gordon Hughes in one of his best responses thanked Di for her presentation and commended her for both the initiative and the opportunity for our club to be involved.
obvious need for a kitchen. A parishioner named Bill had occupied a room that turned out to be strategically located in the church where he based his volunteer works. By skillful and courteous negotiations and equally supportive and generous cooperation Bill gave up his room for the greater good and relocated his activities. Hence the name. It operates currently three days a week and for a reasonable price offers a home style meal and of course fair trade coffee. Since operations began $77,000 has been donated to charity and the initial loans paid off. One of the major fundraisers in recent times has been the annual Christmas tree decoration display and popular voting competition. Organisations decorate a tree that is displayed in the church for the month before Christmas and visitors vote by their donations for their favourite tree. All the funds raised plus $250 per tree donated to each tree by Bills Place goes to the nominated tree charity. Charlestown Rotary will this year enter a tree and the proceeds will go to the Rotary Foundation. A great idea that will both put the Rotary Foundation in the eyes of the public and generate funds. Gordon Hughes in one of his best responses thanked Di for her presentation and commended her for both the initiative and the opportunity for our club to be involved.
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