THE generosity of the Southend community was officially recognised this week when its Red Cross branch marked its 50th anniversary.
The 14 members raised a remarkable $12,000 over the past year for the international humanitarian organisation.
The tally was the best of any South Australian Red Cross branch in a town with a town population of less than 500.
The effort was welcomed by all – including foundation members Evelyn Jackway and Bev Fabris – who have maintained membership over the past five decades.
The birthday celebrations took the form of an afternoon tea at the Southend Community Club on Monday.
Among the guests at the gathering of 30 were Red Cross vice-patron Libby Furner, Wattle Range Mayor Des Noll and Red Cross regional director David Walshaw.
The trio made congratulatory speeches with 98-year-old Lorna Bowman, who served as Red Cross regional president for several years in the 1980s.
Ms Bowman said a busy round of meetings, speeches and fundraisers were held in the era as Red Cross boasted 14 branches in the region.
Supporting her as regional secretary was Gwen Whittington and the pair sat side-by-side at Monday’s celebration.
The 50th birthday celebrations had been overseen by Southend Red Cross president Corinne Tedham.
She said the branch had raised significant sums with stalls and social events over the past half-a-century.
“Most of our 14 members are now elderly and our fundraising is now mainly raffles,” Ms Tedham said.
Southend branch secretary Meredith Hardy was proud to support an organisation with such a world-wide reach.
SPECIAL CELEBRATION: Former Southend Red Cross member Maria Fabris (centre) was joined by her daughters Julia Dunsford (left) and Sabina Green and 30 others when the international humanitarian organisation marked the 50th birthday of its seaside branch at the Southend Community Club on Monday afternoon.
“We know the money we raise will be well used by Red Cross somewhere,” Ms Hardy said.
“It is a good feeling to know that you are doing something.”
On a personal note, Mr Walshaw said he had received an internal promotion by Red Cross and would now oversee the southern part of South Australia including a portion of the metropolitan area.
Mr Walshaw said he would continue to live in Millicent and be based in the Red Cross office at Mount Gambier.
