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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

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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

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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

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un

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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

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with

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Kite

Ma

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Th

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elly

Da

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rs Drum Ateweme—Indigenous Drumming

Yo

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Mabuhay “Bulilit” Dance Group

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Alice

Sp

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ssocia

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Filip

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M

ala

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Ch

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Ind

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Alice

Sp

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ssocia

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Elfy: Australian

National Anthem

Studio B Performer:

Leticia Keane

Co

stum

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de

—P

hilip

pin

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Sa

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More Photos….”Big Day Out in Harmony” - Town Council Lawns

Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony

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MCSCA Sausage Sizzle

Ba

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Africa

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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