Post on 26-Feb-2020
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Volume 17, 2015
Multicultural Community Services of Central Australia
Akzente - accenten - accenti - उच्चारण - アクセント- akcentami - τονισμού - 악센트 - 口音 - naglasno - akcenty - acentos - accente - акценты - اللكنات
Multicultural Community
Services of Central
Australia Inc.
2/20 Parsons Street
PO Box 1160 Alice Springs NT
Tel: (08) 89528776
Fax: (08) 89525176
Email: info@mcsca.org.au
Web: www.mcsca.org.au
ABN: 90 639 917 989
Opening Hours:
8.30—4.30
Monday to Thursday
Accents
Quarterly Newsletter
Editor:
Marguerite Baptiste-Rooke
margueritebr@outlook.com
SPECIAL EDITION NEWSLETTER
Ind
ian
Da
nce
r
Hon. Peter Styles, NT Minister for Multicultural Affairs, with the Mabuhay
“Filipino” Dance Group
Hiwot performing the “Ethiopian
Coffee Ceremony” at the Harmony
Day Celebration
3
KEEPING THE UNITY IN COMMUNITY
This year’s Big Day Out in Harmony on 9th May 2015 was the biggest and brightest of them all, according to at least 550 people who were delighted and amazed throughout the afternoon’s performance program. Big Day Out in Harmony is MCSCA’s signature community event, Alice’s local adjunct to Harmony Day celebrations held around Australia in March. Of course, the wise people at MCSCA schedule the event in the cooler month of May, thus encouraging more people to come out to participate and celebrate in more comfortable conditions. As usual, the event’s emcee, The G Man, Gerry Lyons, made people instantly comfortable as he introduced the program and the welcoming committee, in this case of a group of tuneful female traditional owners, led by Ms Barbara Satour. After a welcome to country and a set of songs from these ladies, it was time for the crowd to stand as one as the Australian national anthem rang out under the bluest of skies, to the accompaniment of the galah and corella chorus.
The audience listened attentively as the Hon. Peter Styles, the Minister for Multicultural Affairs, gave his address and welcome , and stated that he was pleased to be in Alice Springs and great to see that Multiculturalism is well and alive, followed by the Alice Springs Mayor, Mr Damien Ryan and the MCSCA Acting Chairperson, Ms Michele Castagna. Michele, a friend and supporter of the multicultural community for many decades, reminded us that even though she had been accorded the honour of Centralian of the Year and felt herself to be Aussie through and through, she would never forget or be inspired by her Italian heritage and traditions. She concluded with another tradition she has put in place at public and patriotic events by leading her audience through several renditions of the spirited refrain: “Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, oi, oi, oi!” The G Man then invited ethnic community leaders to make a short address describing how their people have come to live, work, and settle in Central Australia, amply illustrating the fact that we are a true and diverse multicultural community. They said that their people were attracted to and grounded by the Australian ethos of the fair go for all, and had brought richness, character and creativity to their local community.
Who could be richer in character and creativity then the rainbow-cloaked King Marong from Gambia, who set the scene with his irrepressible drumming rhythm, and exhortations to the crowd to “shake it like an African.” The King really got the show on the road, and before too long the dance floor was moving and shaking with many sets of shoulders, hips and booty swaying to the energy and joy of the West African drumbeat.
Ho
n. P
eter Styles
Co
mm
un
ity L
ea
de
rs
Welcome to Country by the Central Arrente Group
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Many dancers followed on stage to showcase their traditions of music and movement, including the
belly dancers, the Malayalee, Filipino and Fijian groups, and the Angelic Voices Choir -
Zimbabwean and New Zealander men and women who produced a beautiful chorus - as well as a
memorable performance from Leticia Keane of Studio B. King Marong and his Multicultural drummers
returned to the stage to demonstrate their newly-acquired talents.
The seasoned, although youthful professionals, Drum Atweme, also drummed up a storm with their well-honed and precise talents. Their director, Peter Lowson and former Centralian of the Year, reminded us that more than 60 young people from the town camps had passed through the ranks of the group, enabling the drummers to rightly earn national acclaim over at least a couple of decades. And who could forget the beautiful and delicate presentations of national dress and design at the costume parade, a time-honored highlight of Big Day Out’s cultural program? Men and women, boys and girls and families proudly displayed their exquisitely designed and tailored outfits to the great appreciation of the audience. How wonderful to overcome their shyness and promote their pride in the spirit of sharing.
While all the action was occupying centre stage, there was plenty going on around the lawns, including face-painting and kite-making for the kids, henna hand tattooing, free coffee sampling (Ethiopian coffee making ceremony by Hiwot and Safia Sheke, the first of its kind in Alice Springs), and a range of delicious food to satisfy the inner grumblings.
As the late afternoon shadows and the cooling air brought the event to a close, final thanks were made, and a comment put out there that, if possible, next year’s Big Day Out in Harmony would be even more spicy and spectacular. Fran Stoops the Community Development Officer from Alice Springs Town Council, and Marguerite and her Team MCSCA and volunteers ought to be congratulated for bringing the community together again to celebrate and share…and for reminding us of the boundless benefits of keeping the unity in community.
King Marong & The Multicultural Drum Group Performance at the “Big Day Out in Harmony “
Fa
ce P
ain
ting
with
Mu
m
Ro
che
lle &
da
ug
hte
r Eu
nice
Kite
Ma
kin
g
5
Th
e B
elly
Da
nce
rs Drum Ateweme—Indigenous Drumming
Yo
un
g In
dia
n P
erfo
rme
rs
Mabuhay “Bulilit” Dance Group
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Alice
Sp
ring
s Fijia
n A
ssocia
tion
Filip
ino
Da
nce
M
ala
ya
lee
Ch
ildre
n’s G
rou
p
P
E
R
F
O
R
M
A
N
C
E
S
Ind
ian
Da
nce
rs
Th
e A
ng
elic V
oice
s—Z
imb
ab
we
an
an
d
Ne
w Z
ea
lan
de
r Ch
oir
7
Alice
Sp
ring
s Fijia
n A
ssocia
tion
Elfy: Australian
National Anthem
Studio B Performer:
Leticia Keane
Co
stum
e P
ara
de
—P
hilip
pin
es
Sa
fia
an
d H
iwo
t
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Multicultural Community Services of Central Australia
together with the Nepalese Community of Alice
Springs organised a Fundraising sausage sizzle and
cake stall on Sunday, 24th May 2015 at the Todd Mall
Market.
We raised $2,111. The money raised will be used to
buy zinc sheets and then distribute to the people in
villages affected by the earthquakes so they can have a
good shelter. With the amount of money raised it will be enough to build tin roof houses for
approximately 70 people.
Thank you goes to the Hon. Adam Giles, NT Chief
Minister, for supplying sausages, bread and other
items; to French couple Jean-Pierre and Anna
Rodot for providing the cakes for the cake stall,
and also all the volunteers who helped with the
sausage sizzle.
The fundraising was a great success due to the
assistance of all the above.
On Saturday 2nd May, Multicultural Leaders were invited to a breakfast meeting with the Chief Minis-
ter Hon. Adam Giles, and the Hon. Peter Styles, Minister for Multicultural Affairs. The two main is-
sues raised were:
1. A shared community facility suitable for use by multicultural groups in Alice Springs.
2. More options for courses at CDU so that Alice Springs residents do not have to travel interstate
for further studies.
These issues are being followed up by ministerial advisor Ms Linda Fazeldeen. The meeting was also
an opportunity for the Chief Minister to get to know the leaders of each group.
We thank the Chief Minister for the invitation and we look forward to such meetings in the future.
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Multicultural Community Services of Central Australia (MCSCA) support and assist the CALD community by providing the following services, programs and facilities from our office and Hub meeting space at 20 Parsons Street. We are open office hours Monday through Thursday. Please phone Criste to make a confidential appointment with our settlement coordinator or outreach officer on 8952 8776.
SETTLEMENT SERVICES: Federal Government Funding
We provide confidential casework services, referral and information sessions on a range of topics to newly-arrived migrants. We aim to encourage and nurture self-reliance and confidence, pro-moting community access and participation in mainstream society and services. This program
aims to help newly-arrived migrants get to know their local community and to access the range of services on offer.
EMERGENCY RELIEF: Federal Government Funding
MCSCA maintains a small emergency relief fund for families experiencing short-term financial
stress. Information and eligibility is available on application.
Funding for operational, staff and projects providing services to Multicultural
Community: NT Government Funding
This program is designed to assist CALD communities participate more fully in the cultural life of their new country and community. We can assist the formation and incorporation of social and
cultural organisations for ethnic communities. This program also enables MCSCA to organise community events to promote and celebrate multiculturalism, for example, the annual Harmony
Day celebrations and End of Year Get Together, thus raising community awareness of the richness and diversity of our Central Australian ethnic cultures.
SUSU MAMA: Playgroup: Federal Government Funding
This long-running and much-loved multicultural playgroup, facilitated by MCSCA, enables parents and children to meet weekly in a convenient and comfortable CBD location. This program helps families to make friends and have fun, enjoying various hands-on activities
organised by our enthusiastic and welcoming playgroup coordinator. Susu Mama meets every Friday at the Alice Springs Youth Community Centre—Wills Terrace,
Alice Springs from 9.30 to 11.30 am.
COMMUNITY HUB: NT Government Funding
Our community hub space just in front of our office premises on Parsons Street is available for hire and use by not-for-profit organisations individuals and other groups. (No charge for community groups). Visit our website at www.mcsca.org.au for applications and conditions of use.
Please call in and say hello! We welcome the opportunity to support you and your family as you get to know
your new community and make new friends. We like to think of ourselves as a one-stop-shop for information
and support as you start your new life in Australia’s unique and welcoming Red Centre.
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Multicultural Community Services
of Central Australia invites you to:
Co
mp
ute
r
If you are interested please call
Marguerite on 8952 8776
to arrange the days and times of
the sessions.
Picture above: Nepal Group Representatives accepted a donation of $500 for the Nepal Earthquake Appeal from
Anna & Jean-Pierre Rodot of Froggies Rendez-vous—French Group with MCSCA Coordinator, Marguerite Baptiste-Rooke