PICAL farewells Greg

It has been a month since Greg Thompson left the role as manager of the Phillip Island Community and Learning Centre.

And at a farewell event at the Phillip Island Golf Club last week, he said, he has been “busier than ever”.

Not only has Greg become the go-to person to MC an event, most recently the Island Harmony Choir concert, but he has also finally got round to unpacking furniture from four years ago.

“Everything that I hadn’t done when I moved to the island for the role of manager I’m doing now,” said Greg.

In a speech to about 80 PICAL volunteers, committee members and supporters, Greg said in its 40-year history, the organisation had made significant progress.

“Today should be a celebration of what PICAL has achieved,” he told the crowd.

“The number of volunteers at PICAL makes it the largest in South Gippsland – from the team collecting food from supermarkets – to the garden committee and staff at reception.

“PICAL is bigger than one person. It has become an institution on the island.”

Volunteers Hilda Piening and Grace Wilkinson gave a speech saying it was thanks to Greg’s “kindness, generosity and big heart” that even those doing it the toughest on the island felt seen.

PICAL committee member Sally Matthews, who has been with the organisation since 1985, said Greg “had taken care of us for so many years and now it is time for him to take care of himself.”

David Rooks is the new PICAL centre manager (and current Island Ward councillor) and said he looked forward to understanding how PICAL operates from the inside out.