50 years’ help

By Nicole Williams
FIFTY years and countless food vouchers later, the Springvale Benevolent Society has at least another 50 years to go.
The City of Greater Dandenong last week honoured the benevolent society at a civic reception at the Springvale council offices last week.
Benevolent Society member and MP for the South Eastern Metropolitan region, Lee Tarlamis, awarded the first Wes Eggleston Community Award to founder and long-time member, John Beus.
“The culmination of the third anniversary of Wes’ death and the 50th anniversary prompted me to establish the Wes Eggleston Community Award,” Mr Tarlamis said.
“Wes helped provide the comfort and dignity everyone deserves but not everyone can afford.
“I became involved with the Benevolent Society in 1997 and I cannot describe how rewarding it was to do the work, what it taught me and how it drove me to help others.”
President Joe Rechichi also reflected on the contribution of Mr Beus to the long standing community group.
“John Beus was one of the founding members and has been the core of the society for 50 years,” Mr Rechichi said.
“He still wants to come to every meeting.”
Mr Rechichi said the journey from the first meeting in 1962 until now had been remarkable.
In the early days, the Springvale Benevolent Society assisted with two or three individual cases and staggered to raise 127 pounds from a street stall in 1963.
Thesedays, the group had 40 calls a week and an annual budget of more than $70,000.
“I hope in 50 years someone stands here today and says the same things,” Mr Rechichi said.
“We meet people from different parts of the world who we help – and it is done with discretion, love and care.”
Mr Rechichi also awarded life membership and certificates of appreciation for years of service to the 20 members of the benevolent society.