Next gathering

Our next gathering will be held on Saturday 22/6/24 at the Uniting Church in Port Macquarie from 10:30am and will include a shared lunch.

Welcome to 2024

 

February Update:
NEW COMMITTEE  Following our AGM last year we have a new committee and many thanks to the people who have offered to help. It was agreed that the committee will meet every 2 months to discuss and make decisions about the running of the group. Following these meetings information will be shared with the group.
For more information about the meetings or to offer ideas, suggestions and help please email mncrsg@gmail.com.

President: Janette Jones, Vice President: Leslie Tierney, Secretary: Julia Shearsby, Treasurer: Stephen Nicholson, Fundraising organiser: Petra Thun, Committee members: Beth Flynn and Tony Williams

At the committee we decided to inform members using their own cars for MNCRSG activities should have comprehensive car insurance or at least understand that the MNCRSG insurance does not cover car damage.

BREAKING NEWS  All the Tamils who were on SHEV and moved to our area now have permanent residency. Some have waited about 10 years. So this is a good reason to celebrate.

Also, Olga, a Ukrainian refugee has just received regular work in Aged Care and will be studying Cert 3 in Aged Care.

For Christmas the Lutheran Church gave all the refugees gift vouchers which were very much appreciated. They also received hampers and a new child’s bike from the Catholic Church.

GATHERINGS  We are planning for four family fun type days where we can get together with people who support refugees and the refugees. The March gathering on Saturday March 23 will be held at the Baptist Church (18 McIntyre Cl). Bring some morning tea/ lunch to share and see you there from 10am-1pm. Thanks to the Baptist Church.

Please keep these dates in mind for gatherings to be held at Port Macquarie Uniting Church; 22 June 24, 28 September24, 23 November 24 AGM and Christmas celebration

FUND RAISING Mandy Yates and Petra Thun did a market at Kendall and raised $393 for our organisation. Fantastic effort! There will be another stall on 28^th March. There are plans to do a Bunnings BBQ and once we have the dates we will let you know.

PRIVACY The committee are developing a privacy policy. In the interim we want to remind people of the importance of keeping information about the refugee’s private unless you are given permission to share it.

GRANT We are looking at applying for a grant to update our flyers, make a display banner and posters. There is also a suggestion that we should update our website too. If you are interested in helping with assisting and developing promotional material please email us.

THANKS EVERYONE FOR YOUR SUPPORT

AGM date announced (+ Christmas gathering)

The Annual General Meeting for the Mid North Coast Refugee Support Group has been set down for Saturday 4th November, 2023.

The meeting will commence at 10.30am at the Baptist Church, 18 McIntyre Close Port Macquarie followed by a shared lunch from 11.30am. 

This will be our Christmas 🎄 gathering. All welcome.

 

Next gathering in Port Macquarie

Our next Gathering will be on Saturday 12th August at 10am for a shared morning tea with the refugees at Port Macquarie Uniting Church.

Visitors (and new volunteers) very welcome!

150 people attended our Multicultural Lunch in June (see image below). It was a wonderful gathering - read more in our July 2023 newsletter. 

Shelly Beach Gathering June 10, 2023

NEXT GATHERING

The next gathering for the Mid North Coast Refugee Support Group will be at Shelly Beach Port Macquarie on June 10.

Join us at 10am for a shared morning tea with refugees. If the weather is problematic we will gather at the Port Macquarie Uniting Church.

Multicultural feast/luncheon & entertainment

MNCRSG invites you to a multicultural feast/luncheon on Saturday June 24, 2023 from midday.

Join others in our community as we raise awarenes about refugees and asylum-seekers and the positive contributions they make.

A 2 course lunch featuring Burmese and Tamil foods will be shared, plus fabulous entertainment by the Baptist Ukelele Group, U3A international dancers, some Burmese dancing and the voice of Terry Memory.

When: Saturday June 24, 2023 12-2:45pm

Where: Port Macquarie Uniting Church

Cost: Adults $15, Pensioner $10, Family $30

Bookings: www.trybooking.com/CGWPQ

This event is subsidised by Port Macquarie-Hastings Council.

April Gathering

 A gathering with local refugees will be held at Shelley Beach on Saturday April 15th at 10am, with a shared morning tea.

The latest information will be shared and discussed. 

If it is raining we will meet at the Port Macquarie Uniting Church.

Next meeting

Our next gathering will be 11th February at Shelley Beach starting at 10am, with a shared lunch with the refugees at 12 noon.

Any queries - email janlit2002@gmail.com

 

Next meeting

The next Mid North Coast Refugee Support Group Gathering will be:

Date : Feb 11, 2023 at Shelley Beach 10am

The gathering will be followed by a shared lunch with some refugees.

For latest news regarding the group, see our Facebook page - facebook.com/groups

Mid North Coast Refugee Support Group AGM

Please be advised of the following notice re the 2022 AGM:

Date: Saturday 29th October 10 till 12

Place: Port Macquarie Uniting Church
1 Sherwood Rd, Port Macquarie

AGM meeting followed by a shared lunch with the refugees.

 

Meeting place update

Fri 12/8/2022
Due to the wet weather - the meeting/lunch will be held at the Uniting Church in Prt Macquarie tomorrow morning at 10am.

Please do not attend if unwell.

Next meeting

Our next meeting will be held on Saturday August 13 at Shelley Beach (Port Macquarie) 10am till 12pm followed by a picnic lunch with some refugees. 

People can email mncrsg@gmail.com to find out where the meeting will be if wet. 

Tin Hta Nu shares her story

https://www.portnews.com.au/story/7788615/kendall-resident-shares-story-to-raise-awareness-of-refugee-plight/?cs=257

This week the Port Macquarie News published a story about our Refugee Week activities and shared some of the story of local refugee advocate Tin Hta Nu.

Tin, who lives in Kendall (near Laurieton and  Port Macquarie) founded the Mid North Coast Refugee Support Group to raise awareness about the plight of asylum seekers.

Friday night's screening will take place from 6.30pm at Port Macquarie Community College, 4 Albert Circuit Port Macquarie - gold coin donation and supper available. Further information is available here, and on our Facebook page or click on the image link below to view the 90 sec trailer.

Film night to mark Refugee Week

We would like you to  join us to mark Refugee Week on Friday 24th June.

We will be screening a film called "Freedom Stories", which tells the resilient stories of refugees who were former 'boat people' who are now contributing to Australian society.

Time: 6.30pm till 9pm

Venue: Port Macquarie Community College, 4 Albert Circuit Port Macquarie 

Gold coin donation and supper available. 

 Looking forward to seeing you all there. 

SAVE THE DATE:

NEXT MEETING - our next general meeting and social gathering will be held at a beautiful property in Kendall from 10am on 30 July. If you would like to attend and meet other members and refugee families, please email juliashearsby5@gmail.com. 

BBQ FUNDRAISER - come and buy a sausage at Bunnings Port Macquarie on Sat  9 July, and find out more about our group 

AGM - our Annual General Meeting and BBQ lunch will be held at the Uniting Church on Sherwood Rd Port Macquarie on Saturday 29 October starting at 10am. For more information email juliashearsby5@gmail.com

Watch this space for our final meeting for the year and Christmas party in November / December. 

Remember our Facebook page has details and updates regarding meetings and events - www.facebook.com

May happenings

Hi there

NEXT MEETING
Please be aware the next MNCRSG meeting will take place on 28/5 at Shelly Beach (accessible from Pacific Drive, Port Macquarie) at 10am. See our Facebook page for any late notices or wet weather updates.

FUNDRAISING BBQ
Also in May is our Bunnings Port Macquarie BBQ fundraiser on May 22. The BBQ runs from 8am -  4pm, including set up time. We need about 4 people covering the stall for most of that time. If you can help, even for an hour, please let us know - email juliashearsby5@gmail.com. 

Highlights of the year

Our members have been very generous in making donations to support individuals both in our area and for those in detention waiting for the opportunity to be resettled in Canada. 

Thank you to all our members who responded to our requests for money. Every time we have asked for financial support our members have responded immediately. 

This is so heartening especially in a year when many people are struggling financially. 

There are many ways that our members continue to provide support to the families who have settled here. Members continue to provide ongoing accommodation. Our members have also helped throughout the year with transport, job seeking, completing forms, negotiating complicated systems and simply keeping in touch which is possibly the most important of all. 

Although we have not been able to host any families for a holiday through Home Among the Gum Trees (HAGT) this year, we made a donation to HAGT Sydney who has been providing financial support to Asylum Seekers who have lost jobs because of covid and are unable to access Centrelink benefits.

Because of covid we have had limited opportunities to meet and enjoy social events. However, we were fortunate to be able to meet at Tin and Ian’s house in June.

It was so nice to get together, have a general meeting and share and enjoy lunch at such a beautiful property. Thank you so much to Tin and Ian for being wonderful hosts. 

We are not meeting in December but hopefully next year we will be able to meet socially every second month starting in February. 

We are looking forward to catching up at Bago Vineyards in February.

AGM - this Sat (Oct 9, 2021) outside Wauchope Arts Hall

 

Film event fundraiser on World Refugee Day 2021

Mid North Coast Refugee Support Group, in collaboration with Wauchope Community Arts Council, will mark World Refugee Day with a screening of ‘Scattered People’, a 58 minute documentary film outlining what happens when Australian musicians go into a Brisbane detention centre to share music.

The film features Missy Higgins, John Butler, Harry James Angus (The Cat Empire), Katie Noonan, Michael Franti, Archie Roach, Dan Sultan and Robbie James, who talk about the power of music, its ability to break through barriers, unite people and create shared experiences.

In addition to the film there will be live music from local musicians Helen Mottee and Deb King. 

Please bring cash as the event will fundraise for refugee musicians (and to purchase afternoon tea).

Date: Sunday June 20, 2021. Check-in from 1.30pm; music from 2pm

Tickets ($20) are available from Monday May 31 here.

NB audience limit of 80 people applies. For more on the film or to see the trailer go to www.scatteredpeoplefilm.org/

Raffle winners announced

 Many thanks to all who supported our fundraising raffle.

RAFFLE WINNERS

1st Prize (ticket no 354) Donna Austin

2nd Prize (ticket no 61) Marg Duffy

3rd Prize (ticket no 29)  Marcus Ludriks

4th Prize (ticket no 523)  (anon - donated to flood appeal)

5th Prize (ticket no 455)  Pamela Jackson

6th Prize (ticket no 444)  Anne-Kathryn Kiehn

The winners were delighted with their prizes!

Thanks again, Julia, Janette and MNCRSG team.

February 2021 meeting

 Hi there,

Our next meeting will be held on Saturday 13/2/21 at Wauchope Arts Hall from 10 am.

Minutes from the last meeting are available to members upon request.

Our raffle is live! It will be drawn on the 20/3/21.

www.rafflelink.com.au/mncrsg-fundraiser

Thanks so much to those who generously donated prizes. 

Julia S