Comment
A bit of this and a bit of that …
with Brian Shakes, Over 50s Association
It’s seems such a short time since I was wishing all the readers best wishes for a joyous festive season and a happy New Year, and yet here we are again, already.
As an organisation we’ve had an interesting year, where we’ve come to grips with some new directions for the future of this organisation and put actions into place accordingly, and of course this work will continue in 2005.
Our decisions and actions were given unanimous support at our Annual General Meeting in late October. This meeting, by the way, was a much more emotional occasion than most AGMs! In fact, I suspect at a couple of stages, there was the odd damp eye in the auditorium.
Firstly, 98-years-old Stan Gilmour, founder of this organisation 50 years ago, gave the keynote address. His own continuing enthusiasm and joy in living, and his compassion for, and understanding of, the plight of mature age unemployed people shone from this remarkable man. This organisation has had many many reasons over the years to be grateful for his insight, ability and good will.
And then we presented Life Memberships to two of our stalwarts. It’s not often that anything happens around the Over 50s’ offices in Melbourne that Ron Palmer or Roma Silver don’t know about – but in this case we caught them both by surprise!
Roma has been a mainstay of the office for 15 years. What began as a stint of volunteering became over the years an almost full-time office manager position. There would be few people who have had contact with us in person or over the phone in that time who won’t have spoken with Roma, and I think she carries more information and history about this organisation around in her head than perhaps even I do.
Ron is about to take his second retirement, when he finishes up with us after 15 years volunteering a couple of days a week. In that time, he has run our employment service, been chief purchasing officer and done a myriad of other tasks that keep the organisation ticking along.
Ron, who has just turned 80, has decided its time he hung up the tie and stopped battling the peakhour train crowds.
Speaking of the employment service, workingconnections launched an expanded service in mid November. We now have an Employment Board displayed on the upgraded website – www.workingconnections.com – though we continue to fill most of the positions via direct matching.
The changes we’ve made reflect the various levels of service that are currently provided by Grace and Pauline, and now include two levels of membership for workseekers and two service options for employers, along with a résumé assessment service.
workingconnections will be closing down for about three weeks over Christmas and New Year, along with the rest of the Over 50s Association. There will, however, be an emergency number available during that period. Details will be on the answering service after 16 December.
So, again, the best wishes to all readers and their families, and we look forward to a safe and productive New Year.
• Brian Shakes is chief executive officer of ARPA Over 50s Association.
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