Wednesday, November 30, 2016

Cultural exchange

Cultural Exchange
A group of women from the Community Migrant Resource Centre in Sydney visited the Mid North Coast region during a recent cultural exchange. 

24 women migrants and refugees from Rwanda, Burundi, Iraq, Afghanistan, Sudan and China were included in the visit, which took in Port Macquarie's Koala Hospital and Sea Acres Rainforest Centre.
The women stayed with local families through the Home Among the Gum Trees network.
Cultures were showcased through food at a fabulous cultural exchange dinner held at the Sea Scouts Hall in Port Macquarie.
According to Community Migrant Resource Centre spokesperson Dativah Nitsios, going into regional areas and interacting with people to share cultures promotes social inclusion
She likened the recent visit to a celebration.

It is hoped further visits will be arranged via the local Home Among the Gum Trees program.
Last meeting for 2016
Just a reminder our last MNC Refugee Support Group meeting for the year will be held at 10am on Saturday December 3rd, at Wauchope Arts Hall.

You are invited to contribute some Christmas gifts for the Syrian refugee families in Newcastle.
Please make sure any gifts for children are in good condition, educational, hand made or wooden and not throw away plastic - Lego or construction toys an exception.
If you would like to join us for lunch, bring along a plate of food to share.
If you have any queries or suggestions for the group, why not post them on our Facebook page?

Sunday, October 16, 2016

Meeting, meal and Christmas gift collection

Our last MNC Refugee Support Group meeting for the year will be held at 10am on Saturday December 3rd, at Wauchope Arts Hall. 
We are inviting members and friends to contribute some Christmas gifts for the Syrian refugee families in Newcastle.
Please make sure any gifts for children are in good condition, educational, hand made or wooden and not throw away plastic - Lego or construction stuff an exception.
If you would like to join us for lunch, bring along a plate of food to share.
If you have any queries or suggestions for the group, why not post them on our Facebook page?

Wednesday, June 29, 2016

Westport students' heartwarming approach

As a member of the Mid North Coast Refugee Group, Krissa Wilkinson was invited to Westport Campus to receive a donation of $300 raised by English Studies students. As part of Harmony Day activities the class worked together for eight weeks to plan the event celebrating the diversity and difference of our Australian community.
“It is easy to feel overwhelmed by the enormity of the refugee issue but it is important to know that we can make a difference," Krisssa said.
Class members were delighted to learn that their donation helped to provide bicycles for refugees in Germany.
"We have been overwhelmed by the compassion in our community for refugees and many still contact us asking how they can help," said Krissa Wilkinson.
Teacher Katherine Henderson is proud of her students.
"They were happy to donate funds to the Mid North Coast Refugee Support Group," she said.
"The Year 12 students planned and executed the Campus celebration as part of the English Studies course, demonstrating exemplary event planning skills and team work."
"Their decision to give the proceeds of the day to the Refugee Support Group is testament to their admirable awareness of current issues and the holistic education they receive here at Westport Campus."
Refugees in Bielefeld Germany
The English Studies course offers senior students not seeking an ATAR a practical, engaging option tying language skills to ‘real world’ situations. This exciting and highly practical course offers students at Westport Campus an opportunity to develop a deeper understanding of how language skills can set them on the path to success in their chosen career. Just another example of how Westport Campus delivers innovative, 21st Century learning to students across the academic spectrum.




Tuesday, June 14, 2016

Laurieton market stall - June 18, 2016

The Mid North Coast Refugee Support Group team will be at the Laurieton Riverwalk Markets on Sunday June 18.
Come and say hello, buy some produce and help raise awareness for Refugee Week.
Laurieton Riverwalk Markets are held on the 3rd Sunday of every month at Bruce Porter Reserve, on the banks of the beautiful Camden Haven River at Laurieton.
The Riverwalk Markets showcase local produce, gourmet foods, arts and craft, plants, bric-a-brac and live music. 

Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC) fundraiser
ASRC will hold a fundraising Telethon from 7am - 8:30pm on Monday June 20 (World Refugee Day) - call 1300 MYASRC (1300 692 772) to make a donation.
The Telethon aims to bring awareness to the 1,500 refugees who are bravely protesting and fighting for their freedom on Manus and Nauru, plus the estimated 24,500 people in Australia now who are fighting for their freedom, with little/no access to justice. 
The goal is to raise $100,000 during the Telethon which can provide over 3,000 hours of legal assistance so people's claims can be heard, and they have a fighting chance to find safety here in Australia. 

Wednesday, May 11, 2016

A Community Forum with Father Frank Brennan


WHY SHOULD WE CARE ABOUT REFUGEES? 


A Community Forum with Father Frank Brennan, social justice advocate, professor of law and author.
Thursday May 19 at 6.30pm.
Frank Brennan has long challenged our supposedly Christian government’s treatment of asylum seekers asking "Is our morality at sea with the refugees?"
There are currently about 60 million people displaced by war – the biggest humanitarian disaster since World War II.
Australia must stop breaching the human rights of Asylum Seekers and offer sanctuary to more refugees. Brennan believes that behind all the legal technicalities and political argument about boat people, there is room for deeper ethical reflection and a more principled proposal.
Community members are invited to hear Father Frank Brennan address these issues and to participate in a Q&A session.
Refreshments will be provided.
Thursday May 19 at 6.30 pm, presented by the Mid North Coast Refugee Support Group, the forum is at Hastings Secondary College (formerly Port Macquarie High School) in Owen St Port Macquarie. Tickets $20; $10 concession. 
Doors open a 6 for a 6.30 start.

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

Local knitters make a differrence

Heart-warming new photographs from Germany have arrived showing displaced Syrian refugee children now based in Europe wearing items lovingly made by local knitters, crocheters and craftspeople.
A large number of Mid North Coast residents responded to the call to create warm, cozy items, including the Kendall Craft Group, who supported the Knitting the Future community arts project last year.
Community members moved to help asylum seekers can be involved in the next MNC Refugee Support Group fundraising event on Saturday April 16, 2016.
There will be a market at the Wauchope Arts Hall from 3pm selling preloved items and afternoon tea.
Live music will feature Styx 'n Stonz.
Anyone can donate items in good condition- please call Krissa to arrange 0429 854 733.
A shared meal will follow the market and everyone is welcome to bring a plate of food to share.
After the meal there will be an evening screening of the film Stormy Waters, which reviews the history of migration to Australia and the treatment of asylum seekers today, and asks “is there a better way?".

For more information on the fundraiser contact Krissa Wilkinson on 0429 854 733.
To be part of stage 2 of the MNCoast Refugee Support Group's knitting project please contact Mavis Barnes on 6559 4339.

Wednesday, March 16, 2016

Knitting the future

750 refugees will be settled in Newcastle this month.
When the cooler weather arrives, many will need warm clothes.
To assist our Mid North Coast Refugee Support Group community knitting program will get back into gear.
This time we are putting a special call-out for knitted items for children up to school age.
We'd also like to implement a 'Sharing Shawls' program whereby local women donate one of their warm shawls or scarves. Surely we all have a spare one in the wardrobe!?
Mavis Barnes will coordinate the knitting this year - her number is 6559-4339.

A reminder about last year's 'Knitting the future' campaign
Pictured below are images from last year's 'Knitting the future' campaign, which included a session at the library where artists painted and drew women knitting, as a way of celebrating the centenary of Grace Cossington Smith's famous painting of her sister knitting for the WW1 troops in 1915.
 


 And below is a pic of some of our knitting arriving in Berlin!




Tuesday, February 9, 2016

A 'Let Them Stay' refugee rally was held in Port Macquarie on February 8.
Click here to go to our Facebook page to read about this and other Mid North Coast Refugee Support Group activities.