A word from the Chairperson Hello members of BRMC. I hope you are keeping well with our Ballarat cold season. My best wishes to you, your family and close ones. I want to apologise to you for the lapse with the newsletter. We hope to continue our Newsletter on a regular basis from now on.
NAME OUR NEWSLETTER! It’s time to get creative as our newsletter is in need of a name. Help us out and you could win a prize! Best name wins! Send your suggestion before 18/08 to admin@brmc.org.au.
The General Meetings at BRMC still have good attendances, and the sharing of information at these meetings has been very valuable for members. Currently we are updating our membership list, which is growing quite rapidly. Please ensure your contact details are up-to-date. BRMC also values all partnership organisations for their support and collegiality. We are pleased to announce that the present official opening hours of GPlace are 9am to 5pm on Tuesday to Thursday with excellent reception service. We look forward to your continuing support.
Sundram Sivamalai
A very special Refugee Week 2014 We have had a very special Refugee Week this year in Ballarat. Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA) and Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC) joined us for the state-wide launch at the Ballarat Town Hall on the 17th of June, with a flag raising ceremony followed by brilliant and moving speeches. City of Ballarat Councillor Belinda Coates also formally launched Ballarat as a Refugee Welcome Zone. “It may be very cold in Ballarat, but we’ve got warm hearts,” she said. Refugee Week is Australia’s peak annual activity to inform the public about refugees and asylum seekers while also celebrating the positive contributions made by refugees. This year’s theme was Restoring Hope.
Ballarat Library Outreach th
When: Tue, 19 Aug, 2-4pm Where: GPlace Hall Library is coming to GPlace on the 3rd Tuesday of each month.
Multicultural Senior Sports and Fun Day When: Tue, 19th Aug, 10am-1.30pm Where: to be confirmed Includes morning tea, lunch and fun activities. Cost:: $5.00 p/p, pay on the day
Bookings essential - 53325941
Interfaith Public Forum: Compassion as an essential ingredient for a better community Special speakers from different faith traditions, group session, Q&A and supper to follow When: Fri, 22nd Aug, from 6pm Where: M.A.D.E. (102 Stawell St Sth) Cost: $5 donation to cover costs
Hepburn Moorabool Lunch When: Wed, 27th Aug, 11.30-1.30pm Where: Newlyn Hotel
Bookings essential - 53325941 * participation restricted to locals from the Hepburn Moorabool Shire.
100th World Day of Migrants and Refugees Dinner st
When: Sun, 31 Aug, from Where: GPlace hall Cost: to be confirmed Fundraiser for Ballarat Refugee and Asylum Seeker Support Network.
Community events were held during the week and were a huge success. We had a great attendance in all events, from movies to luncheons, religious services to performances, activities at the library and special guest speakers around the city. “The depth of commitment to Refugee Week in the Ballarat area is illustrated by the involvement of eighteen diverse community groups, schools and organisations who have worked together to create a wonderful week of events” said our EO, Ann Foley. We acknowledge the contribution of so many people that made possible the huge success of this Refugee Week, volunteers and staff members of each one of these organisations.
GPLACE Community Garden A green space to stay active, exchange knowledge and share fresh produce In two years the GPLACE Community Garden has come a long way. Built with funding secured by Mt. Clear SVCAL in 2012, the garden has become a community space of intercultural and intergenerational exchange. The garden first gained broader attention from the community at our GPLACE Open Day in October 2013. Organisations based at GPLACE quickly recognised its potential as a space were we all could come together to mingle, exchange gardening skills and grow fresh produce to be shared. One month after the Open Day, we held our first joint working bee including seniors from U3A, Mt. Clear students and BRMC members of all ages and diverse cultural backgrounds. People brought plant donations from their own backyards as well as from nurseries to kick off the garden. Since then, our groups regularly get together for joint activities in the garden. Mt. Clear students have dedicated themselves to building projects including a sun shade for the sitting area, a water tank, a bricklaying course to raise the beds, and unique art works throughout the garden. The next major project to tackle is a compost. U3A have started a monthly gardening class following our first working bee from the big interest of members in gardening activities. BRMC has linked the garden with our Multicultural Tucker program, providing fresh herbs for the monthly lunch. We have started a regular gardening group with seniors from diverse backgrounds who enjoy sharing their knowledge on plants and experience in gardening. Throughout summer and autumn we had fantastic harvests of fresh vegetables, salads and herbs which we enjoyed together in BBQs and our harvest lunch in June. Now that winter has slowed our gardening down a bit, we can’t wait for spring with many ideas on future activities and planting endeavours. We would like this garden to be used by the broader community for market days, BBQS, meetings or just mingling in this healthy, lively and inspiring environment. If you would like to be involved in the garden, please contact Katja on 5332 5941.
Life’s Journey Bishop Garry Wetherill and Bishop Paul Bird will share their thoughts and experiences throughout life. When: Thu, 4th Sep, from 7pm Where: Mr. Rede Rest.(203 Dana St) Cost: $25 p/p, supper included nibbles and drinks on arrival. RSVP by 25/08 - Georgina 0408 109 471
Save the date! Black Tie and Ladies to Impress Gala Ball - 4th of October from 7pm at Craig’s Hotel
General Athreminder to join us for our General Meeting on the Meeting 5 of August from 7pm at GPlace. More info 5332 5941 Library comes to GPlace every third Tuesday In July we had the first visit of the Central Highlands Ballarat Library Outreach, on Tuesday (15/7). The librarians were at GPlace with all sorts of resources, including books, magazines, DVD’s, e-Audio and e -Books. The idea of the Library Outreach is to be closer to the community, and being at GPlace and working collaboratively with BRMC, it will offer publications in other languages, to also attend our culturally diverse community. Library members will be able to browse, read and borrow resources as well as place books on hold and collect them. If you are not a member, it will also be possible to get your membership sorted out. On this first visit, we had a great Afternoon Tea Dance. Visit the Library Outreach at GPlace on the third Tuesday of each month from 2pm to 4pm. Let us know if there are any specific library publications or services that you would like to have access to through the outreach services!
English language classes and home tutoring for adult migrants BRMC offers English assistance to adult migrants in Ballarat in the form of small classes, or may provide one-to-one tutors who can assist with individual language needs. BRMC conducts General Conversation classes every Friday from 1pm to 3pm at City of Ballarat Library. There is a small charge for attendance at our class and for those placed with an individual tutor. Please discuss with the Coordinator. When tutors are provided they usually meet with the student for 1-2 hours per week in the client’s home (or a mutually agreed venue). Tutors help to develop English skills according to the needs of the migrant, e.g. help with everyday social and family needs, general English, study skills, jobseeking. Clients eligible for the AMEP (Department of Immigration English program) will be referred to SMB (Ballarat’s Federation University TAFE Campus). For more information please contact the Coordinator, Judy Brumby , Telephone: 5332 5941 or 5332 5942, Email: judyb@brmc.org.au
Community Gardening Interested in gardening? Come along and plant, water or weed at the Community Garden. Contact 5332 5941
General English Conversation Class 1-3pm, every Friday at City of Ballarat Library
Community Shed Meets fortnightly for 3 hours. A great way to contribute with the community, learning or sharing skills, with the added bonus of making friends and having a good time.
Homework Club Every Wednesday from 45.30pm at Ballarat Library
Yoga classes Every Monday from 5.306.30pm at GPlace $8 per session, please bring your own Yoga Mat
Multicultural Tucker
2nd Wednesday of each month
Count us in Shaping Inclusive Communities - Community Expo Alzheimer’s Australia Vic, in partnership with Ballarat Regional Multicultural Council Inc. (BRMC), will be hosting a Community Expo in Ballarat this September to celebrate Dementia Awareness Month. This community expo will be an informative and fun social event for seniors. It aims to promote a healthy and active lifestyle within Culturally Inclusive Dementia-Friendly communities.
Multicultural Women’s Dance Group Every Friday from 5-6pm at Eastwood Leisure Centre Free classes More information BRMC 5332 5941
Thu, 25th Sept, 10am–2pm, GPlace Enquiries: Mary Slater Alzheimer’s Australia Vic, email mary.slater@alzheimers.org.au - Phone 03 5331 8571
HOMEWORK CLUB BRMC, Ballarat Library and CMY are offering a Homework Club for students from a culturally or linguistically diverse background. Students receive assistance with their school/course work by a trained tutor in an inclusive and comfortable environment. Homework Club runs every Wednesday from 4 to 5.30pm at the Ballarat Library Meeting Room. Contact Meire de Mello on 0457 321 979 or come to the Library on Wednesdays 4pm and talk to us.
Funding rounds Multicultural Senior Citizens Organisational Support 2015 Opening soon! Grants Information Line on 1300 366 356.
Information on organ donation now available in 18 different languages DonateLife has produced a new suite of resources in 18 languages to help culturally and linguistically diverse communities with family discussion and decision-making about organ and tissue donation. The new translated resources include the standard DonateLife brochure, which provides information on facts, myths and help with making donation decisions as well as the registration form for the Australian Organ Donor Register (AODR). In addition materials to support donor families after a loved one has donated have also been translated. The ‘Understanding Death and Donation’ booklet assists with understanding the donation process and support their decisionmaking and the ‘In Reflection’ booklet provides information for donor families in dealing with the grieving process.
Dwali the Festival of Lights coming up in October The Ballarat Indian Association Inc. has now open expression of interest for opportunities to take part in their “Dwali” the Festival of Lights. Contact the Association before 29 th of August to express your interest in participating as:
The resources are now available in 18 languages: Arabic, Chinese (traditional), Greek, Hindi, Italian, Spanish, Turkish, Vietnamese, Chinese (simplified), Korean, Dinka, Somali, Dari, Punjabi, Indonesian (Bahasa), Macedonian, Serbian and Croatian.
Performer, Food stall holder; Volunteer; Kid’s activities facilitator; others The Festival will happen the 11th of October at the Ballarat Lodge & Convention Centre. Keep an eye on this space for more information on the Festival.
These resources are the latest initiative of the ‘DonateLife…the greatest gift’ community education campaign. This campaign, conducted in consultation with religious and community leaders, is a national strategic priority to ensure access to culturally appropriate and inlanguage resources for diverse faith and cultural communities in Australia.
Expression of Interest open
All in-language resources available for download at
Contact: Meeta Narsi tbiainc@gmail.com www.ballaratindianassociation.com
are
www.do natelif e.g ov. au/fo r -thecommunity/multicultural-resources.
A footnote from Ann at the EO desk Congratulations to our new Administrator, Mariana Gondim de Paiva for producing and sending you our first of the new edition of our Newsletter. Mariana joins our growing BRMC office team bringing multicultural services and advocacy to Ballarat and region. We have been working with City of Ballarat, CMY and Ballarat Community Health Centre to provide a Multicultural Information Place located at the entrance of the library . Feel free to drop in and say hello or seek information at the ‘MIP’. Other work with our partners includes: the City of Ballarat Multicultural Summit to be held at the Town Hall on 6 August; CMY forthcoming Youth Leadership Conference 24-25th of September; AFL Goldfields Region Indigenous and Multicultural Engagement Strategy; GPLACE consortium partners working to secure our future at GPLACE; Ballarat Refugee and Asylum Seeker Support Network fundraising and Federation University Student Volunteer Expo. Thanks always to the BRMC staff, our BRMC volunteers and also BRMC Executive who support us, especially me, with their time and skills in governance of BRMC. I hope to see many members at the BRMC General Meeting next Tuesday 5 August at 7pm. Ann Foley
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