By CASEY NEILL
“SOME of our clients will starve.”
This was the dire warning from Springvale Benevolent Society volunteer and councillor Roz Blades last week after the Federal Government withdrew its support for the group.
The society has been providing food vouchers, blankets and other assistance to the community for 53 years next month and received Department of Social Services (DSS) funding for the past 20 years.
But Cr Blades was devastated to receive an email addressed “dear applicant” stating that the department had rejected the society’s recent grant application.
“Dear grant applicant, after 53 years? Come on,” she said.
“It’s a slap in the face.
“Centrelink refers to us. They’re a Federal Government agency and they refer to us.
“But the Federal Government won’t fund us.
“It’s an inhumane decision. No one will look after the families we look after.
“They’re struggling. Some are disabled. Some are refugees.
“People will starve and it will be on their heads.”
The email said the grants round had been a highly competitive process and the society had not been selected as a preferred applicant.
The society last year received $70,000 and spent almost $100,000 in total.
“We’ve still got money coming from the council – there’s a funding agreement – and we’re still well-supported by churches and schools,” Cr Blades said.
But making up the $70,000 shortfall will be near-impossible and she’s hoping the government will change its mind.
“We’re hopefull that we can convince them by the weight of evidence,” she said.
“We can actually prove what we’ve done.”
Society president Joe Rechichi has nearly 650 people on his books, including 500 children.
“I’ve lost some sleep. I can’t even sleep at night,” he said.
“The unemployment rate is 20 per cent-plus and it’s going to get worse.
“I know what it’s like as a child to go without. I don’t want people under my care to go without.
“I feel terrible to have to make a decision – who’s going to have food on the table and who’s not going to have food on the table.”
Mr Rechichi became involved with the society in 1986, assisting wife Teresa. He’s worked there full-time since 2009 and 12 years ago took the leadership.
“I hope the government can reverse their decision. Certainly it’s not the way to run the country. It’s not,” he said.
“We provide a free service, and that’s the part of it that really hurts.
“We open our hearts to assist people and they take the funds away.”
Isaacs MP Mark Dreyfus said the decision was cruel and damaging.
“The social dividend derived from this relatively modest amount of funding is enormous,” he said.
“To cut this service will devastate some of the most vulnerable in our community.”
The Journal contacted the Department of Social Services but did not receive a response.
