Spinal Cord Injuries Australia; Australian Red Cross; Yooralla; Community Chef; St Vincent de Paul Society

On Monday 14 May 2012, at Whitten Oval, Footscray West, the Governor-General Ms Quentin Bryce AC CVO and Mr Michael Bryce AM AE, as guests of the Vice-Chancellor of Victoria University, Professor Peter Dawkins, and Board Director of Spinal Cord Injuries Australia, Ms Michele Adair, attended a reception at which the Governor-General, as Patron, officially launched the Spinal Cord Injuries Australia ‘Walk On’ program in Melbourne.

Afterwards, at the Australian Red Cross National Warehouse, Altona, the Governor-General as Patron, and Mr Bryce, as guests of the Chair of the Victorian Red Cross Divisional Board, Mr John Hood, met with volunteers on recognition of National Volunteers’ Week.

Later, at the UCAN Café, Altona North, the Governor-General and Mr Bryce, as guests of the Chairman of Yooralla, Mr Bruce Bonyhady AM, and Chief Executive Officer of Yooralla, Mr Sanjib Roy, met with Yooralla staff, UCAN Café staff and clients of the various Yooralla community services.

Then, at the Community Chef Regional Kitchen, Altona, the Governor-General and Mr Bryce, as guests of the Chairman, Mr Bill Jaboor, and Chief Executive Officer, Mr Joe Ciccarone, met with Community Chef staff in recognition of the 60th anniversary of Meals on Wheels.

In the evening, in North Melbourne and Fitzroy, the Governor-General and Mr Bryce assisted with the St Vincent de Paul Society soup van meal service, accompanied by the Victorian President of the St Vincent de Paul Society, Mr Tony Tome, and Victorian Chief Executive Officer of the St Vincent de Paul Society, Mr Brian Dalton.