The St Vincent de Paul Society NSW welcomes its new State President, Mr Peter Houweling.
 
Peter has been an active member of St John the Evangelist Parish Conference Dapto since being posted to Wollongong as a primary teacher in the 1970s, where he raised his family, and later served as a school principal.
 
Over many years of service to the St Vincent de Paul Society, Peter has served as NSW Vice-President - Membership, President’s Vice-President, Wollongong Central Council President, and Central Illawarra Regional Council President. 
 
“The Society’s unique strength to make a difference lies in the unwavering commitment and collaboration of our members, volunteers and employees,” Mr Houweling said.
 
“I am honoured and grateful to have been elected as the new State Council President and I look forward to serving and fostering a spirit of humility, simplicity and charity that is at the heart of our mission,” he said. 
 
Peter believes that the Society’s future is in increasing the work of the Society in community to help more people, building on the strength of collaboration that exists for all our people – members, volunteers and employees, supporting Conference Presidents and an increased focus on local parishes and youth engagement.
 
"Our focus must be on increasing the number of aggregated Conferences, particularly special, social justice, and youth conferences, where younger members feel valued and can become our next generation of leaders,” he said.
 
Peter says that it is also important to him that our actions align with our Vincentian mission in cultivating the strength, compassion and purpose of the Society through servant leadership at all levels. 
 
Richard Stewart, Board Chair of the St Vincent de Paul Society NSW, welcomed Peter Houweling as NSW State Council President.
 
"I look forward to working with Peter in his role as State Council President to deliver on the mission of the organisation to provide care to people experiencing disadvantage and poverty," Richard said.
 
Peter Houweling will lead the State Council of the St Vincent de Paul Society NSW for a four-year term.