1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979

Children & Families 

Albert van Moorst appointed as a youth worker in Broadmeadows with the aim of developing self-sustaining local leadership on a family basis.  He worked through community organisations to establish contact with families and form groups each consisting of several families sharing leisure and spare time activities.  Four six-day camps took groups of young people to the Grampians, Big River, Tarwin River and Wilson’s Promontory.  This program began in September for three years, funded by the Leith Trust. ^[1]  Read what was written about this in 'Action' June 1973.  See Manual for Mobile camping 1971 by Graeme Bull, the BSL Senior Youth Worker

BSL staff at their annual conference decided “they would attempt to formulate a model for the development of integrated family treatment”.  Following this, the Family Centre Proposal arose out of “discussions between the Revd. P.J. Hollingworth, Assistant Director of Social Services, Mrs. J. O’Neill, Research Department, Mrs J. Davey, Social Work Service and Mr G. Bull, Youth and Children’s Services”.  ^[2]

General aims and methods for a Family Centre program produced by staff and accepted by the BSL Board (November)^[3] 

Social Service Bureau and Youth Centre closed to make way for the radical Family Centre project  (?when were Bureau, CLC & YC established?) 

Family Day Care Service, where children of working mothers are cared for by other mothers in their own homes with help and guidance from a social worker and kindergarten teacher, began in September as a three year pilot project funded by four Melbourne Trusts.  Mrs Barbara Spalding carried out the studies that led to the experiment first introduced in Australia by the BSL.^[4] Read the proposal Limurru Neighbourhood Centre, 24 November 1982 

The Children's Leisure Centre (also known as the Creative Leisure Centre) which provided after school play for Fitzroy children was closed in September, a decision made easier by the opening of a play program on the Atherton Gardens Estate (opposite) by the Victorian Playgrounds & Recreation Association.  The Centre was to be absorbed into the planned Family Centre to open in October 1972. ^[5]

In its fourth year of operation the Family Planning Clinic was attended by 709 patients, 346 of whom were new. The clinic reduced the number of weekly sessions from three to two from October, given the establishment of clinics by the Family Planning Association, hospitals and a number of municipal councils.  The decision was also taken to close the clinic at the end of 1972. ^[6]

In December the BSL's Christmas Toy Club distributed toys to members for over 1,000 children.  To join the Club parents paid $1 if they had up to two children and $2 for three or more.  Then they chose presents for the children from a wide selection of toys. ^[7]

Community Issues 

The Brotherhood decided to close the social work service in Broadmeadows in March and offered to support the Broadmeadows Welfare Advisory Committee by paying the salary of a community development worker in the area for a two-year period.  The aim was to help develop programs which are indigenous and for which local people are responsible.   "In our involvement in Broadmeadows we are examining how best the resources of centrally based welfare agencies like the Brotherhood can be shared with areas that are seriously deficient in community resources." ^[8]

Fitzroy Ecumenical Centre and the BSL jointly appointed a social policy officer with responsibility for research and fact gathering on questions related to social policy in areas such as housing and drawing together the information needed to advocate appropriate policies. ^[9]

High-rise towers completed on Atherton Gardens Estate at 125 Napier Street and 90 & 140 Brunswick Street,

Fitzroy (a total of 184 dwellings & 561 people removed in 1966-1969 for 4 towers and 800 flats) ^[10]

Through the Pensions Reform Campaign  (formerly the Pensioners Little Budget Campaign - David Scott was the Honorary Secretary) the Brotherhood, in conjunction with other organisations, attempted to persuade the Commonwealth Government of the need for a thorough review and reform of social security programs in all areas of social welfare.  ^[11]

The BSL hosted a one-day visit in May of participants in a Canberra-based International Training Course in Development Administration.  Administrators from India, Indonesia, Korea, Malawi, Nigeria, Nepal, New Guinea, the Philippines, Singapore and Pakistan.  The day included talks on the development of Melbourne and the role of the Housing Commission, a bus tour of inner suburbs to examine the variety of housing development, and input and discussion on outer suburban development and the social problems associated with urban redevelopment. ^[12] 

Employment & Training 

Newsprint Salvage Division (later renamed Laurence Industries) opened at West Heidelberg, a 'sheltered workshop' processing newspapers and providing employment for rehabilitees from psychiatric hospitals. Groups of young people from schools & churches collected the paper on a voluntary basis at the weekends.^[13] 

Fundraising & Resources 

Blue Flames Homes Exhibition in East Burwood, featuring twenty architect designed homes that used gas heating and cooking was opened by the Victorian Minister for Housing.  All proceeds, including the 20 cents entrance fee per adult and the surplus profit from the sale of the homes, went to the BSL. (April) ^[14]

Three new auxiliaries formed - the Sandpipers (Sandringham), Baymont (Bayswater/Vermont) and Ivanhoe.  A new shop opened in Ivanhoe in mid-June, staffed by auxiliary members. Shops in Footscray and Westgarth Street, Fitzroy, were closed.  The Westgarth Street shop moved to join the Furniture Shop in Brunswick Street, vacating the premises to accommodate the up to six voluntary helpers who received the phone calls requesting clothing pick-ups. ^[15] 

Older People 

Completion and opening in August of the 30-bed personal care hostel - Cox Court Hostel - at Carrum Downs. The 19-bed second stage development at Bendigo was completed in September. Building of a similar hostel commenced at St Laurence Park, Lara. ^[16]

Heavy demand for home delivery of meals, with many referrals by doctors and social workers, saw 3,529 mid-day meals delivered in the twelve months (1970-1971)  ^[17]

Final works at the new dining room at the Coolibah Centre were completed by the carpenters, tilers, electricians and carpet layers at 12.45 pm on Christmas Day - just in time for Christmas dinner to be served to 166 pensioners. ^[18]

Organisational aspects (BSL) 

At the annual staff conference in April a general meeting was held to form the BSL Credit Co-operative Ltd ^[19]

Companions of St Laurence held their inaugural meeting 7 June 1971. This was a group of people with long connection to the Brotherhood - a number had worked alongside Father Tucker - who kept in touch with the Brotherhood through regular meetings and supported it through prayer and intercession.  A copy of the letter written to Micheal Challen from Peter Hollingworth suggesting, that the Companions be established is available here.  ^[20] Read about this in 'Action' June 1970 , see brochure here

In October staff numbered 215, an increase from 67 in 1958 ^[21]

The Brotherhood of St Laurence Incorporation Act (1971) came into force on 30 November 1971, dissolving St Laurence Trust Proprietary Limited and St Laurence Industries Pty. Ltd. and establishing the Brotherhood of St Laurence as a Body Corporate, a legal entity. ^[22]BSL_Legal_Incorporation_Memo_1971.pdf  BSL_Incorporation_Act_1971-11-30_[before_updates].pdf

The Brotherhood was incorporated by an Act of the Victorian Parliament, after several years' discussion and negotiations with the Attorney General. The Brotherhood wanted to retain a link with the Anglican Church and to have a constitution that enabled members of staff to have a say in decision making as they had in the days when the Brotherhood was a community. By the provisions of the Act, the Board of Directors comprises five clerical members and five lay people including the Executive Director. Five staff members attend and while not having voting rights, are entitled to participate in all Board discussions.

Source: The Brotherhood of St Laurence: an introduction 1976

People 

David Scott elected President of the Victorian Council of Social Service ^[23] 

Refugees & Settlement 

Publication of Two Worlds: School and the migrant family - A look at the attitudes of eighty migrant children and their parents, funded by the Leith Trust ^[24]

Young People 

Seven camps held in January - six were small mobile camps of eight girls or youths aged between twelve to seventeen years and four leaders.  These went to the Alpine High Plains, Port Campbell, Merrimbula, Licola and Mitta Mitta.  One was a residential camp for 24 boys aged between nine and thirteen years held at Wangaratta, hosted by the Apex Club.  ^[25]

The mobile adventure camping program held a total of 25 camps, taking small groups of  boys and girls from the inner suburbs to such places as Wyperfield National Park, Mt Gambier, Wilson's Promontory and Lake Victoria. ^[26]

In June the BSL's Youth Department introduced their first School Mobile Camp.  Nine boys from the George Street State School spent eight days touring the North East of Victoria with two teachers and two youth leaders from the BSL.  The aim of the camps was to provide a service for schools which did not have adequate resources of their own, and in the process assist teachers and children to establish satisfactory relationships, to establish an opportunity for environmental studies and a working situation in which the teachers can develop an understanding of the needs of the children.  The BSL also published a manual Mobile Camping by Graeme Bull (BSL's senior youth worker), based on his six years experience of such camps.  ^[27]