One dollar counts

I READ with interest recent articles on Rhys Williams� latest community and entrepreneurial initiatives, and I wish him well.

It leads my thoughts however to other community services within our region that do equally good work, but perhaps do not perhaps receive the same public recognition.

Peel Community Legal Services is one such organisation. The highly professional team of solicitors, tenancy advocates, admin staff and volunteers believe passionately that all Australians should have access to free basic legal advice. Over the past 10 years, more than 30.000 Peel residents have benefited from the service.

With the population growth in WA, and Mandurah and the Peel region especially, this number is increasing rapidly.

It is perhaps not generally appreciated that this service relies wholly on outside funding, predominantly from State and federal governments.

Now with budget cutbacks, the future of this valuable asset to the people of the Peel region is uncertain, as some funding has already been withdrawn, and it is likely that more will follow.

I work as a volunteer with PCLS, and I have been full of admiration for everyone concerned with this special service.

No one is turned away, everyone is treated with courtesy, kindness and respect, confronting situations (and there have been a few) are dealt with in a caring and professional manner.

Even though the service is free, the donations box at reception hardly ever has any contributions.

It would be a sad reflection on our society if we were to lose this vital community service through ignorance and apathy.

I cannot help but reflect that if everyone of those previous recipients of the service had contributed one dollar, and present recipients did the same, the future of PCLS would perhaps not look so bleak.

WENDY HARMAN, Meadow Springs.