About Us
Welcome to Maryvale Friendly Society
Maryvale Friendly Society is based in Australian Paper's Maryvale Mill in the Latrobe Valley in Victoria. We have over 700 member families — mainly the employees of the Mill or companies associated with it — who may need our assistance at some time.
Founded as a traditional mutual self-help organisation, the Society has been an integral part of the support fabric of the Maryvale Mill for nearly 70 years. Over that time we have assisted many hundreds of members and their families during the difficult and tragic times in their lives.
We provide discretionary mutual support and financial assistance to members and their families in their time of need. We currently have a range of benefits and services unheard of in many workplaces.
In recent years, the Society has responded to changing workplace demographics, social trends and the contemporary needs of members and their families by expanding our range of benefits and services.
Our focus – as always – is helping families cope in their time of need.
What We Do...
Our mission is to support our Members and their dependants in their time of need — providing them with discretionary benefits and services, or other welfare that enhances their health and wellbeing.
How We Do It...
The Society funds its operation with weekly contributions from its Members, enabling the Society to offer Members— and their families — access to a range of benefits and services to help them through many events in their lives, for example;
- 'Maternity' or 'Baby Bonus' — a weekly allowance (Members only) and/or a gift voucher for a new baby in the family.
- 'Travel & Accommodation' — refunds, if you need medical treatment for a sick family Member in hospital in Melbourne.
- 'Sick & Accident' — a weekly allowance to help you recuperate.
- 'Home Care ‐ we can provide a range of services to help families with housekeeping, yard maintenance, etc.
Our Past...
The first meeting of the Maryvale Friendly Society was held by a group of visionary employees and staff at Australian Paper's Maryvale Mill on the 18th September 1942. While many similar societies evolved into many of today’s insurance companies, health funds, scholarship funds and nursing homes, hospitals, community welfare organisations or just faded away — the Maryvale Friendly Society has remained true to our founders' vision... Simply caring for each other and using our mutual funds to help families cope in their time of need.
Our Future...
The future of the society is defined by decades of providing compassionate support, caring and aid to our Members and their families in their time of need, often in distressing or tragic circumstances.
These experiences − and the Members Constitution − provide the philosophical principles that guide the board and influence their decisions regarding the operations, governance, policy, leadership and strategic direction of the Society.
In responding to the contemporary needs and expectations of members and their families — the Board Members combined their personal knowledge and experiences, fairness to the evident needs of members and those guiding principles, in determining the range of benefits and services provided, or how the Society should assist families.
An awareness of the sometimes precarious balance of family life and the need to work and the workplace environment, financial woes and rising costs, the social pressures and trends influencing our families, including the rising tide of mental illness as a leading burden on the wellbeing of individuals and the community, all influence the deliberations of the Board as they consider the purpose and future of the Society.
The Board Members are aware of their stewardship obligations, the need for prudent decision making and ensuring the financial stability and durability of the Society.
The Board´s objective is to ´Keep it Safe — and Make it Great!´
