By Mick O'Farrell, President, St John the Baptist Conference Freshwater  

Harbord Conference was formed on 28 October 1957. A quick look at the Letter of Aggregation shows it is in English and French.  

I don't have any details of members at that time but I do have a record for March 1978.  

We have to remember that in those days, members were largely men. The ladies in the parish belonged to the St Therese Society.  

There were 25 members and 11 associate members. They all worked full time and did visits at night. Requests for help came through the parish priest.  

The Conference would raise funds by delivering phone books for the Post Office, having cake days after Mass and a whole range of activities relying on the generosity of parishioners.  

Every two months they would have a truck at church for clothing donations.  

 Some of the phone numbers from the time were 932 530 or 972 020. How times have changed!  

These members have now all gone to Heaven for their just reward.  

I feel the Society has grown into the organisation it is today thanks to all the hard work of every Society member from those days, and we can reach out to those in need in the helpful and compassionate ways of the present.  

There are now eight members in the Conference at Freshwater (old Harbord), as we carry on the mission to help those who need our help.