Volume 2, 2009 June

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 ABN: 90 639 917 989

Accents Quarterly Newsletter

Editor:

Criste Evangelista multic@mcsca.org.au

Management Committee 2008 - 2009

Office bearers

Dep. Chair: Michele Castagna Secretary: Teodora Yaneva Treasurer: David Campbell

Committee Members Anna Kenny

Kamile Georgious Isam Khalid Elhasen

Lindsay Wright Jennifer Standish-White

Buke Tunne

In this issue...

From the Deputy chair…

SGP Funding

Harmony Day, Together in the Diversity...

Susu Mama info & photos

Health (Eye)

Recipes

Multicultural Picnic Photos

Thought for the Day………..

―It is not our differences that divide us.

It is our inability to recognise, accept

and celebrate those differences” ~

Audre Lorde

From the Chair...

Settlement Grant Program

Marguerite Baptiste-

Rooke

This program is for the settlement of newly arrived refugees from

6 months—5 years after arrival in Australia. Currently there are

approximately 100 migrants/refugees in this category in Alice Springs.

This financial year, July 2009 to June 2010. The MCSCA can only provide

1 1/2 day settlement services under SGP Program due to reduction in fund-

ing from DIAC.

The following is the new hours of services delivery for the Settlement

Grant Programme.

Monday: 8.30am —4.30pm

Thursday: 1.00pm— 4.30pm

Watch this space in the next newsletter for more information on SGP

issues.

“Watch out for this page on the next issue of ACCENT for more news on SGP”

I attended both the Citizenship Ceremonies this year held during the Har-

mony Day –March 2009 and Territory Day—July 2009 and I would like

to congratulate the past, present and future persons and families on

becoming an Australian Citizen. It is recognised that this is a very impor-

tant and special day for all who undertaken the oath or affirmation in be-

coming a true blue Aussie. As a reminder of the obligations and expecta-

tions of becoming a citizen the oath is included.

Below is the Affirmation by an Australian Citizen:

As an Australian citizen,

I affirm my loyalty to Australia and its people,

whose democratic beliefs I share,

whose rights and liberties I respect,

and whose laws I uphold and obey.

For further information on Citizenship contact the

Citizenship Information Line on 131 880 or visit website at

www.citizenship.gov.au

Michele Castagna

Harmony Day Together in the Diversity...

I would like to thank the MCS for the tireless job

they have done for all Migrants in Central Aus-

tralia. It was really a huge success for we the

Sudanese dance group on Harmony Day the 22nd

of March 2009. It was a historical day in Central

Australia because it was the first of the Sudanese

culture was shown in this land.

Above all, without support of the MCS with $

700 used for body painting and uniforms that

you offered to us we couldn’t have performed

well, it was a great effort. Thanks very much

MCS for your support. We hope in the near

future there will be more different cultures who

will participate with all migrant groups to show

their culture for the coming year 2010. This

year’s performance will attract everyone to partici-

pate for the next Harmony Day. Your support

enabled our dance group to dress up in our cultural

way; all the Sudanese dance groups are very proud

for their culture to be shown in Central Australia

and they do really appreciate your support .

Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to thank my

country men for what they have done last month.

Folks it was absolutely amazing because our culture

was successfully viewed by others culture and it

was really a good symbol for us in this land. We

knew that Australia is a diverse nation; everyone is

proud of his/her culture. I knew that we won the

gold medal because everyone talking about our

performance; boys you did a tremendous job. I`m

very optimistic our group will not disappear again

and we will continue to improve.

Those who participated on Harmony Day are as

follow:

1. Kuk Tongyik Bol

2. Ruach Mayuet Deng

3. Olang Nending Dol

4. Gatruop Dhol

5. Biel Ruach Deng

6. Koang Thok Wang

7. Isaac Thok Moses

Ultimately, I would like to thank all the Migrants

who participated on Harmony day to show their cul-

ture to others culture, it’s a good experience for us

to learn our culture, and also it’s good for our next

generation or our children to be educated with our

cultures.

On behalf of the Sudanese Dance group and myself,

I would like to thank all the general Alice Springs

Community, the Town Council and MCS for their

support for Harmony Day. We look forward to it

again in the coming year.

Kind Regards

Isaac Thok Moses

Sudanese Dance Group Organiser

Page 3

Page 4

Harmony Day Celebration

Filipino Dancers—Tinikling

Shimmering Sands—Belly Dancers

Drum Atwemme

Kids costume competition

School Multi Choir

Maori Group

Harmony Day was celebrated at the Todd Mall, Alice

Springs on the 22nd March 2009. It was well received by the

ethnic communities in Alice Springs. Thank you to the joint

effort of the Harmony Day Planning Committee. (ASP Town

Council, Tourism Central Australia, Volunteering SA &NT,

In Cite Youth Arts, MCSCA & 8CCC FM.

Proudly Sponsored by NT Government.

HOW TO WRITE A PRESS REALEASE

Page 5

Harmony Day Celebration

A guide for new and emerging communities and for everyone!

Have something to say and say it as clearly as you can.

One thought…….one sentence.

No more that 25 words per sentence

Who—what—where—why—when and how.

Ask yourself these questions.

Your job with the press release.

Write a headline to attract attention.

Read your release for clarity of meaning and rewrite if necessary.

Shorten your content but retain the essential facts.

Link into other areas if relevant.

Add background and points of contact.

Check your grammar and if possible let someone else read it.

Kill any clichés.

Make sure names are correct.

(This is taken a workshop attended some time ago. It is useful when writing a press release, a

business letter, a motion, comments or minutes for a meeting.)

EYE HEALTH

Diet can play a role in good eye health. Studies suggest that diet is im-portant in reducing the risk of Macular Degeneration (MD) and in progression. Eating a healthy well balanced diet, high in antioxidants, vitamins and other nutrients can help keep our eyes healthy. If you are concerned you are not getting enough nutrients in your diet, you may in using a supplement in consultation with your doctor. Omega -3 Fatty Acids are important to your eye health. They are found in high levels in he retina and are involved in cell renewal and development. They can be found in high concentrations in oily varieties of fish such as salmon, tuna, anchovies and sardines.

Research suggests that eating fish 2-3 times a week can reduce your

risk of developing MD and may help slow down the progression.

Any changes to diet & Lifestyle should be undertaken in consulta-

tion with your doctor

Page 6

Information session—

Childhood Preventative Health

At the Playgroup –Uniting Church Hall

Picnic at the Olive Pink

Picnic at

the Olive

Pink

Botanic

Gardens

Mothers Day Celebration at the Playgroup

Multicultural Playgroup All mothers to be, mothers with babies and young children are invited to join in weekly get together, exchanging stories, information and have fun. Playgroup is on every Friday from 10.30 am—12.30pm at the Uniting Church Hall. Please contact Criste on 8952 8776 for further information. This program is non-religious/non-denominational. ALL WELCOME.

Susu Mama Group is sponsored by FaHCSIA.

Ingredients: 1/2 tspn white peppercorns 3 large garlic cloves 2 tspn cooking salt 2 chicken stock cubes 2 fresh sweet corn shredded 3 grated carrots 1/2 bunch chopped spring onions 1 cup peas 3 cups plain flour 500-600 ml water 1 egg Method Using a mortar and pestle ground down the peppercorns, garlic, salt and stock cubes. Add this to the remaining ingredients and mix to-gether. Place spoonfuls of the mixture into boiling oil and fry until golden. Remove from oil and drain.

Page 7

Pork Menudo (Philippine Style)

Estimated preparation & cooking time: 50

minutes

1/2 kilo pork (cut into small chunks)

1/4 kilo pork liver (cut into small cubes)

5 pieces chorizo Bilbao (also cut in small

pieces)

4 potatoes (peeled, cut in small cubes,

fried)

1 green and 1 red bell pepper (diced)

1 cup chickpeas

1/4 cup raisins

1/2 teaspoon paprika

1 cup pork or chicken stock

2 teaspoons of patis (fish sauce)

3 tablespoons oil

1 tablespoon atsuete oil (optional)

3 tomatoes (diced)

1 small head of garlic (minced)

1 medium size onion (diced)

In a pan or wok, heat cooking oil and

atsuete oil.

Saute garlic, onion. Then add the pork,

liver, chorizo de Bilabo, tomatoes,

bell pepper, paprika, patis and the

stock.

Cover and bring to a boil. Simmer for 20

minutes or until the pork is tender.

Add the chickpeas, potatoes and raisins.

Boil of another 2 minutes.

Salt and pepper to taste.

Serve hot with white rice.

Menudo Ingredients:

Menudo Cooking Instructions:

FRITTERS (Indonesian Style)

by Ari

Lentil Soup (Sudan) Ingredients

2 cups Ads Magroosh (split red lentils)

2 quarts stock (either chicken or lamb)

2 medium onions

1 medium tomato

1 medium carrot

2 tablespoons finely chopped onions

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 tablespoons lemon juice

2 teaspoons

Kammun -Cumin

Salt & pepper

1. Chop the vegetables into medium-size chunks

2. Wash lentils

3. Put stock into a 4-5 quart pot and bring to boil

add the onions, carrot, tomato and lentils to stock. lower

the heat to simmer and cook for about 1/2 hour or until

the lentils are tender

5. Puree the mixture in either a food processor

or blender and return to pot.

6. Saute the finely chopped onions in the olive

oil until they are soft and brown.

7. Add the cumin, lemon juice ,sauted onions,

salt and pepper to soup and stir slowly over low

heat for about 3 minutes.

If you have any recipes please email us on

multic@mcsca.org.au

Page 8

MCSCA celebrated the Refugee Week at the telegraph Station on the 28th June 2009.