2005/06

Brendan Fitzgerald was President this year. Secretary was Bridget Burke.

The first event of the year was a Fashion Show run jointly with Dungarvan Shopping Centre for St. Joseph's Hospital. It was a huge success, and a tribute to the teams from the Club and the Shopping Centre. It was the start of a long and beneficial relationship between them.

An appeal for the Pakistan Earthquake Disaster was taken up by the Club, when members manned two large containers for donations from the public.

After an extensive look at the operations of the Christmas Appeal, a full walk of West Waterford was undertaken by John Coade's daughter, Laura, to ensure that all businesses were updated for contact. This took place in September. The HQ for the Appeal moved to the Shopping Centre, in our brand new purpose built mobile unit. This has proved it's worth since in providing comfortable surroundings, with no need for shopping around for a location.  The December meeting also welcomed Billy McCarthy and Ger O'Beirne from WLRfm, when some issues relative to the Appeal were ironed out. Overall the Appeal was very successful again.

Post Christmas, a sub committee comprising Pat Fahy, John Coade and Phyllis Davis was set iup to look at future fundraisers. Following on their deliberations, a Table Quiz night was held in March, which had many novel questions and was regarded as being a great innovation. A big thanks to Patricia Coade who set the questions - she certainly tested our grey matter.

Following on a generous donation from an anonymous benefactor, the Club was in a position to set up an Education Bursary, which helped many with their college expenses in the following years.

The Club organised Diabetes Screening in Grattan Square in June, with the help of Bridget Burke and many of her work colleagues. The mobile unit was used, and many of the public availed of this excellent initiative.

The Club was grateful to the members who continued to organise Service Events such as the Trabolgan Holiday, Hospital Visits and the Christmas Swim.