We bring you news of Ron and Eileen Jay, whom many of you will remember well. [Ron sent us a card for Christmas] …

Ron was a local lad in Semaphore and Largs Bay. His first job was as a Telegram Boy in the Post Office. Somewhere along the way he transferred into other Govern-ment departments and at the end of his career was Head of the Australian Quarantine Service in Canberra.

Ron and Eileen retired back to Semaphore, renewed their many friendships and be-came involved in parish life again. Ron particularly liked St Vinnies and the work he could do there, helping those who needed it. AOS, as an offshoot of St Vinnies, and Ron’s interest in shipping through AQIS, soon had him involved as offsider to Fr Jim Tuohy, from whom he took over when Fr Jim retired through ill health.

Ron and Eileen moved to Tugun on the Gold Coast in 1997 or thereabouts.

Up there, Ron continued his St Vinnies work, visiting people either in his trusty Mercedes or on his motorbike.

Sadly, ill health dogged Eileen and Ron became her carer. A nasty fall last October left Ron with a crushed chest when he fell over her wheeler— but worse his fall broke both her arms too and at Christmas she was still in hospital.

Ron’s efforts with St Vinnies and AOS received recognition on Australia Day 2007. He was summoned to Government House in Brisbane and awarded the “Order of Australia” for his lifetime of service to others.

Congratulations, Ron, the award is richly deserved.

Richard Lloyd

Albany Stella Maris Director, David Lomas, has reported that they are a 100% volunteer centre and unfortunately, like most small centres, the Director needs a break. David is taking 3 months leave to tour Australia with his wife Marilou. Unfortunately there are no volunteers available to keep the centre open while David and his wife are away so the centre will close its doors from early June to late July, 2008. It is disappointing for David after putting in such hard work that there is nobody who can step into his shoes. One of the largest problems with ports like Albany is the lack of financial viability to employ a person to run the centre, as is the case with many small centres.