Increase goes to charity

By Melissa Meehan
GREATER Dandenong councillor Jim Memeti will give away $5000 of his councillor pay increase.
Cr Memeti said he made the decision a couple of months back to use his pay increase to give back to the community.
“I voted for the increase last year because some of the councillors need the extra money,” he said.
“But I’ve decided to give mine back to the community in the form of the Dandenong RSL, Dandenong Benevolent Society, Dandenong Lions, Wellsprings for Women and Cornerstone.”
Cr Memeti presented a cheque worth $1000 to Dandenong RSL honorary member Cate Altamura for her charity Helping Ugandan Generations (HUG).
“I called John Filmer from the RSL and asked him whether there was something that the RSL thought needed a donation for,” he said.
“John called me back last week and said he had the perfect person to give it to.”
Ms Altamura was shocked by the donation.
“It is a huge surprise,” she said.
“It is the biggest donation we have received.”
HUG was founded by Ms Altamura after she travelled to Uganda as a television journalist.
“I knew then that I had to do something, so I came home and registered the charity.”
She has since travelled to Uganda with goods for villagers up to twice a year.
“I need to go with the goods so that I know they reach their destination,” she said.
“John and the RSL have been so helpful in the past, and it is so great that Cr Memeti has made this donation.
“The $1000 will go towards building a new school.”
Dandenong RSL aged care, community and volunteer co-ordinator John Filmer said he was pleased to be able to identify someone who could use the money, especially for such a “wonderful cause”.
“Cate works hard to be able to take items over to Uganda and even pays her own way to make sure the items get to them,” Mr Filmer said.
“It is wonderful to see someone making a difference.”