On Saturday 17 December, Anglicare Victoria hosted its annual reunion for heritage clients. This was the fifth time we have held a Christmas lunch for people who spent time as children in any of the homes or institutions run by Anglicare Victoria’s founding missions: the Mission of St James and St John, St John’s Home for Boys and Girls and the Mission to the Streets and Lanes.
We had a great turnout with over 40 attendees. For the first time we were able to invite a much-loved, former superintendent from one of the homes, Bob Flavell, whose own children also grew up on the property he managed for many years, St Pauls Phillip Island. New friends were made and some old friends reunited with a group of ‘old boys’ from St Paul’s and Bob gathering around for a ‘team photo’ at end of the day. Much fun was had by all with commitments from the attendees to come back next year.
“It is such an important event for us as an agency to reflect on our past, and to acknowledge the work of the former missions in caring for vulnerable kids.
The bond that holds this group together and keeps them coming back every year is their shared experience of spending time as children away from their families living in institutional care.
Many of our heritage clients look forward to the opportunity all year to share memories and a Christmas meal with old friends,” said Eithne Donlon, Acting Director of Quality at Anglicare Victoria.
To help other young people living in Foster Care, please visit https://giving.anglicarevic.org.au/
