ANYONE with investments would know how tough the past year or so has been to get a decent return, and none more so than United Way Glenelg.

The benevolent institution held its annual meeting in the Portland library last week.

Executive officer Nicole Carr told those in attendance that “it was a bumper year for our community programs and grants” with $178,000 given out in 2022.

That included $62,000 through Shark Pitch, $48,000 from the Lewis Court Fund and winter care packages, $38,000 via the Dolly Parton Imagination Library and $27,000 from Community Fund distributions.

United Way earned $115,000 in investment income, though there were unrealised losses of $147,000.

“This was expected given the tumultuous year in the financial markets and given (United Way’s) long term investment strategy,” Ms Carr said.

Aside from investments and Shark Pitch donations, the workplace giving program contributed $35,000 and a further $12,000 was raised from the Abandoned event.

United Way recorded a $146,339 loss overall, with capital reserves now standing about $2 million.

The numbers tell one side of the story – United Way Glenelg’s reason for existence told the other.

President Marg Wagner said the organisation had focused on innovation in the past 12-18 months – “modernising, looking at different ways of doing work for our community”.

“We’ve got a lot to be proud of and I hope that we have assisted you to thrive,” she told the annual meeting.

That was for all corners of the shire, and that was particularly important given United Way’s Casterton-based board member, the artist Rowan, had stepped down.

“It’s a big thing to be a board member from Casterton,” Ms Wagner said.

“But COVID taught us to be working virtually. Nicole and I went to Casterton to do a bit of chatting around the community, spreading the good news about United Way to all corners of the shire.”

 Rowan wasn’t the only board member to retire, others including Kristine Godfrey and Yvette Parker.

Rob Tozer and Jane Ruge were elected as new board members, while Ms Wagner and Kara King were re-elected.

Les Horovitz also stepped down after 10 years of service, mainly as treasurer.

“Les consistently brought invaluable financial expertise and played a vital role in the organisation’s governance,” Ms Wagner said.

“His exceptional contributions have significantly bettered United Way Glenelg.

“He’s a true volunteer.”

Mr Horovitz said bringing accounting systems online and taking on the Lewis Court Fund were two of the major events during his time.

“We did a lot of really great work,” he said.

“United Way Glenelg continues to do really great work, thanks to the board members, and Nicole and Marg..

“For me when you volunteer for an organisation like United Way the main thing that comes out of it are the connections you make and the friends you make.”

Guest speaker for the event was Marjone Zeeman, educational leader at Elsa MacLeod Kindergarten.

The kinder has been part of the Dolly Parton Imagination Library initiative since 2021 – where children are given a new book every month from birth to when they start school.

“We are passionate about books, we have a lot of books, it is something that means a lot to us,” Ms Zeeman said.

“Last year and the year before there was quite a waitlist and a lot of our kids couldn’t get on it (the library).”

The kinder paid for subscriptions for three-year-old and four-year-old students.

“That was really good for us, we can share that with them and share that joy of having a new book,” Ms Zeeman said.

“And they get to share that with Mum and Dad at home.”

Taking part in the library led to the Magic of Storytime initiative, and that led to Ms Carr asking if the kinder was keen to take part with the residents at Heywood Rural Health’s aged care facility.

“We jumped at the chance,” Ms Zeeman said.

While both residents and children were hesitant at first “by the end of the year they were singing and dancing together”.

“It’s been really, really valuable for us that we can do that,” she said.

● Anyone interested in joining the United Way Glenelg board can contact Nicole Carr at mail@unitedwayglenelg.com.au or 0410 513 305.