Care Parcel Program - "Make a Digger Smile"
History of the Parcel Program
Father Len and Mrs Anne Harrop of the former Oxenford/Coomera RSL Sub Branch (now known as North Gold Coast) commenced the Parcel program in 2006. Alone, they identified recipients in Afghanistan, researched the administration of the parcels, sourced goods, packed and posted them.
At the end of 2008, deteriorating health prevented Fr Len and Anne from continuing the work. Gold Coast District Council resolved to take the project on board and send 100 parcels every 3 months to troops serving in Afghanistan.
Sadly, Father Len passed away Friday 17th July 2009
The Parcels were initially funded by Oxenford /Coomera RSL Sub Branch (now known as North Gold Coast Sub Branch) with assistance from Gold Coast District. The District then identified this project as one that monies raised by Girl in a Million entrants could support.
The Girl in a Million Quest ended in August 2009, its 50th anniversary, and consequently, new sources of income/sponsorship need to be sourced.
Between December 08 and December 09, 520 parcels were sent to troops serving in Afghanistan and on HMAS Melbourne.
In 2010, parcels were packed on four occasions with a total of 439 parcels being sent. Explosive Detection Dogs parcels were sent and December parcels also included 30 to Troops serving in Timor.
2011 Parcels were packed in the Runaway Bay Shopping Village and Centre Management was most supportive. Thank you - again.
June 2011 parcels were packed at Australia Fair Shopping Centre and thanks are extended to Ms Denise Cullen and Center Management for their support.
The next batch of parcels will be packed on Thursday, 1st March 2012 and hosted by the Beenleigh RSL Sub Branch.
Donations
$25 will buy a box for a digger.
IF YOU CAN SPONSOR THE PARCELS IN ANY WAY,
PLEASE CONTACT
info@goldcoastrsl.org
We will also accept donations of the following items as long as they have not passed their used by dates:
145 gm Tubes of Vegemite
200gm Plastic Jars of Peanut Butter
90gm Tubes of toothpaste
Small plastic containers of fruit
50ml containers of Hand Sanitisers
Cheese Sticks
Bags of Fun Size Mars, Snickers, Milky Way, Kit Kat etc
30 to 65 gm bars of chocolates such as mars bars, snickers, cherry ripe, Cadbury chocolates etc
Meusli Bars
60ml Hand Sanitiser
The items must be small enough to fit into a Bx1 post box.
March 2011
Runaway Bay Shopping Village
June 2011
Australia Fair Shopping Centre
