Group carries on -with greater appeal

By Shaun Inguanzo
CARRY ON is a welfare group that over its 75-year history has made a point of keeping quiet.
The Victorian charity compares itself to Legacy in that it provides welfare support for ex-defence force servicemen and women, and their partners.
But it is different in the sense that the servicemen and women do not have to have served overseas to receive its help.
Carry On is this year celebrating 75 years of providing educational and housing support to those who have risked their lives for the nation and yet may struggle to survive in everyday civilian life.
Dandenong branch member of 26 years, 84-year-old Jack Wade, said that most people had not heard about Carry On because it had deliberately remained ‘behind the scenes’.
“It used to be about keeping it a secret,” he said.
“We felt, and still feel strongly, that a man in trouble doesn’t want his story to be all over the countryside.
“We like to help a person, but leave him with his dignity.”
But times have changed, and with desperate causes of all types springing up and vying for publicity, Carry On must now enter the spotlight – albeit conservatively – and appeal for new members who can ‘carry on’ the good work and ensure its survival.
The Dandenong branch is responsible for overseeing the placement of struggling ex-servicemen and women, and their partners or widows, into homes around Noble Park.
The organisation owns five in Namur Street, but relies on a strong relationship with the Department of Human Services to place its veterans into affordable public housing around Noble Park.
Mr Wade said Carry On offered volunteers a rewarding sense of achievement because there was nothing better than finding a home for a person, or helping to cover education costs for their children.
“It is a wonderful organisation with a lot of wonderful objectives,” he said.
“But it has a first-class aim, and that is looking after those in trouble.”
Mr Wade said volunteers needed to have life experience and be able to help manage Carry On’s assets.
“As all service organisations are now struggling to survive, we have had to change membership rules, and the simple reason is that there are not a lot of people about who are willing to volunteer,” Mr Wade said.
But Mr Wade said he was confident there were ‘decent people’ out there who would be interested in becoming involved.
The Dandenong branch has 11 members, Mr Wade said, and anyone interested in joining should contact him on 9792 5649.