A Message from Justin After The Vinnies CEO Sleepout 2022

Courtney Trewin • June 24, 2022

Managing Partner Justin Enright reflects on the 2022 Vinnies CEO Sleepout

Well as I sit here at Norwest office the pervading thoughts to mind following last nites CEO Sleep Out in no uncertain order were…..:

How homelessness is such a growing issue in our society and that the concept of people having a “home” is cornerstone to society;
How it is equally about not just service delivery to the disadvantaged and those in need……it is as much about those people in a situation with a sense of hopelessness and no way out knowing that there is another human being in the world who cares about their predicament and is interested in them;
How special I think the people are who work in all manner of service delivery be it at Vinnies or other like type organisations……their dedication, desire to help and servitude to others is inspiring…
How grateful I am for a hot shower and a hot coffee the morning after a freezing cold nite with little to no sleep;
Footnote for myself….double check I have my sleeping bag in my vehicle as well as my swag next year…..the swag in isolation is not up to it even in a warmer Sydney evening !

I arrived at White Bay yesterday in good time for registration after 5pm

We were allocated into groups of folk who were then fortunate to be able to listen at close confines to the stories of both people who have been in need of help from Vinnies and also from Vinnies volunteers on frontline food van services as well as case workers.

This gives rise to a cocktail of emotions - confronting, disturbing and full of hope all at once if that makes sense.

Following this session folk were then able to find a spot to put their sleeping bag and cardboard down.

As a big open waterfront area some folk opt for the protection of the overhanging awning. Always the boy from the region myself I had to take a waterfront view…..

We then dispensed back to the main auditorium for deliveries of addresses from Vinnies Execs on how funds are disbursed and the progress of fundraising to date.

An interval then allowed for the standard issue soup and bread roll.

This was followed by more accounts from people outlaying their vulnerable stories to the audience.

I cant think of anything much more brave really than to bare all like that to a large audience.

The proceedings ended by about 10pm and it was a case of bunkering down as best as possible.

An early rise this morning of course as not really conditions for feeling like making the most of the waterfront view.

Thank you to everyone for their support and enthusiasm for my participation.

I thoroughly enjoyed it and found it renewing as always.

Have a wonderful Friday.

Best Regards

Justin

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Michael Kennedy Retires from Morse Group

By Justin Enright • October 12, 2023

Michael Kennedy, FCPA Strategic Business Advisor at Morse Group based at our Norwest practice office has marked his last day as a professional accountant on 30 June 2023. Michael started his journey in professional accounting commencing work as a graduate accountant in 1976 at then Price Waterhouse after completing a Bachelor of Commerce with Honours at the University of NSW. After training as an auditor and completing what was then called the Professional Year Michael yearned to go back to the Country after originating off a farm from Tallimba near West Wyalong in the Central West of NSW. Shortly thereafter Michael took a role in Dubbo working for Frank Darcy in Dubbo with a large proportion of primary production clients from the Coonamble area and other parts of Western NSW. Just two years later Michael was Frank Darcy’s Partner and Darcy Kennedy came into being. In the ensuing 24 years Darcy Kennedy grew into an award winning team of more than 100 with 12 Partners. After Darcy Kennedy transitioned into Investor Group now known as Findex Michael moved back to Sydney. This saw Michael as a Partner in a firm at Norwest being Macquarie Partners for 4 years and then Deloitte as a Partner for a further 4 years. In 2016 Michael commenced at Morse Group and shortly thereafter the Norwest practice office of Morse Group was established by himself and Justin Enright. This was the Renaissance of the client facing advice facet of Michael’s career. The Norwest office has continued to be the fastest growing practice office in Morse Group since. Michael most recently focused on advising clients (especially family groups) across Morse Group on tax and business development strategies with emphasis on the tax aspects of superannuation and self managed superannuation funds. Value laden high quality client advice was the key driver throughout Michael’s career in professional accounting. “I leave the profession with no regrets after a wonderful journey …not bad for a boy from Tallimba…and now finishing with 7 wonderful years at Regional firm Morse Group which is 90 years old and thriving…led by Justin Enright who worked at Darcy Kennedy as a graduate in the early 90s and is modelling his firm on the values and client service we extolled in Dubbo “said Michael Kennedy. “There are extremely few people in the world who it can be said “do more for an organisation than what the organisation has done for them”. Michael Kennedy is one such person. He has multiple examples of the same stretching from the start of his regional career at Darcy Kennedy through to the finale at Morse Group. We at Morse Group are extremely proud of and thank Michael for all of his client service, counsel, guidance, mentoring and generosity. Testament to this is the outpouring of gratitude from a plethora of advisors who Michael has mentored over many years. We congratulate Michael on this extraordinary career and wish himself, wife Kaylene and extended family all the very best for a well earned retirement” said Justin Enright, Managing Partner of Morse Group.