By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
THE Hallam branch of the Red Cross celebrated the charity’s centenary a few months early this week, holding a special morning tea on Tuesday to commemorate the origins of the organisation.
While the Hallam branch has been operating for 35 years, since 13 June 1979, the Red Cross organisation began as the Australian Branch of the British Red Cross Society on 13 August 1914 at Government House in Melbourne.
But Hallam secretary Betty Keen, who has held the role for over 15 years, said she and volunteers from the branch wanted to commemorate the centenary earlier than expected in order to alert the community to their group’s desperate need for support.
The Hallam branch is now recognised as a ‘Friends of Red Cross’ group due to its dwindling volunteer base, numbering just 15.
“It’s getting very difficult because we’re getting older and people work later. If we don’t get new members, people that have computer skills, we will struggle to continue,” Ms Keen, 86, said.
“We’re losing members. That’s what we’re aiming for, new members, because we couldn’t get anyone to be part of a committee this year.”
The Hallam centenary began on Tuesday from 10am at the Hallam Community Centre and carried on into the afternoon with a host of activities undertaken including a craft display, knitting, a raffle and a group reflection on the organisation as a whole.
Original members from the Hallam branch were in attendance, as well as friends and non-members who Ms Keen had encouraged to attend.
Ms Keen’s passion for the Red Cross was evident as she urged the community to engage with the now century-old organisation.
She said new members at Hallam were always welcome, especially those with “knowledge of modern technology.”
“We’re always asking people if they want to join,” she said.
“We need people to help the Red Cross work in all areas because its volunteers go to the floods and the fire victims. They do a lot of overseas work and engage in overseas appeals.”
Currently, there are roughly one million Red Cross members, volunteers, donors, staff and supporters.
For more information, visit http://www.redcross.org.au/
