Greg says farewell to PICAL

THE centre manager and face of Phillip Island Community & Adult Learning Centre (PICAL) Greg Thompson has made the challenging decision to step down as president as of June 30. 

After four years operating the day-to-day management of PICAL and overseeing the crisis centre - helping individuals and families overcome dire situations, Greg said he is grateful for his time, and this isn’t goodbye but farewell. 

Greg started with PICAL four years ago, initially appointed to revive the organisation and on his first week in operation the East Gippsland bushfires hit, and the centre was called upon to assist with families who had evacuated their homes. 

It was that period that Greg witnessed the community come together – responding simultaneously to help in a communal effort. 

From that day forward PICAL became the central centre for individuals and families in need. 

After moving PICAL across to their new two sites, it was Greg’s time to announce that this would be his last year.

A lot of the volunteers have been alongside him through the whole journey and he emphasised the fact that, “bigger than one person, bigger than one committee, it seems to have taken on a life of its own, and whilst people will come and go, the institution will keep going on and on.”

Greg has been the day-to-day face for people coming into PICAL for the past four years, but he is confident that with the 103 volunteers that selflessly dedicate their time to the centre, ‘the operation of PICAL is in good hands.’ 

At the last annual general meeting, the committee said goodbye to a few members who have served their term, but welcomed three new committee members who will manage the operation behind the scenes, and Greg’s successor will soon be appointed in the coming weeks. 

The preparation of the new PICAL site was on the cards from when Greg first started, and despite being separated onto two different sites, Greg said, “we are really pleased with this swish new facility, albeit it’s a lot smaller than what we had, so fitting everything in is a constant challenge.”

“But we’re operating and getting busier and busier and being split into two different campuses means were still working on getting the community garden and the training sheds up and running, and that’s my only regret of stepping down on June 30 is that I won’t be the general manager of PICAL to see that site come to fruition, but I will be signing up as a volunteer for the community garden.” 

Greg oversaw the operation of PICAL through the bushfires, through the pandemic and today he manages the operation of the site and the crisis centre that is seeing the community battle through the rise in the cost of living, and it is for this reason that Greg will continue to connect with his community – to help them through this crucial time. 

“Through the pandemic and for the past four years the community garden at the last site was a part of the food relief supply chain, when supermarket shelves were empty, our garden was a source for the cooking volunteers to provide 200 meals a week for those in need,” said Greg. 

“Apart from our primary purpose being upskilling people who need that training for employment purposes and helping to get people back on their own two feet so that they’re ready to be upskilled - so they’re ready to regain enlightenment. Another strong ethos that’s always run through people is environmental sustainability. So, the garden was also very much in accord with the circular economy principles. 

“So, what we really also want to do with the garden is bring people in for a social connection purpose, do some training for upskilling purpose, but in the middle of all that, we want to start running Independent Living Programs to either for people who live with a disability so that the garden becomes a home for them or as a place to go to after they finish school.”

Greg has worked closely with families during his time at PICAL, making connections and seeing firsthand the programs that can be and need to be developed to help the community and with this exceptional knowledge Greg will continue to lead and create a pathway for those in need. 

‘This isn’t goodbye, but simply farewell.’ 
The volunteers at PICAL gathered last week in celebration of National Volunteers Week to give their thanks to Greg and the new committee members who together have put their best foot forward to assist the community.