On World Red Cross
Day, we asked:
What does Red Cross
mean to you?
Issue 2, 2012
Newsletter
for
members
and volunteers
ACT/SE NSW edition
P5 Pat’s fight for clean
water
P6 World Red Cross
Day 2012
P7 Helping hands
P9 Our Parliamentary
Friends
President and CEO Message
Over the past 150 years, the Red
Cross Red Crescent Movement has
come to mean so much to so many
people. In a video that was screened
at World Red Cross Day events
around the country, we explored what
our work meant to you: the people
who are involved with it every day.
You may recall in June 2008, the Board
endorsed a new strategic direction for
Red Cross services to better assist the
most disadvantaged people in the most
disadvantaged communities.
We are pleased to announce the
release of the Services Renewal
Report 2008 – 2011, which reflects on
Red Cross’ key achievements in
implementing the three-year Services
Renewal reform agenda.
The key findings show that Red Cross
must continue implementing the seven
priority areas, Ways of Working and
cross-cutting themes so we can
achieve our strategic outcomes and
benefit from the significant
organisational capacity built over the
last three years.
Volunteers, members and staff should
be proud that in addition to the
significant progress in Services
Renewal, Red Cross also managed
the impacts of major unforeseen
pressures, including the global
financial crisis and the Black Saturday
bushfires in 2009.
As the report marks the closure of the
three-year services renewal process,
our work will now focus on community
development approaches and
embedding quality, monitoring and
evaluation into all programs and
services, consistent with strategic plans
and our Red Cross Ways of Working.
We hope you enjoy reading the latest
news from Red Cross. It’s easy to make
a difference and support us through
donating, leaving a gift in your Will or by
volunteering. Call 1800 811 700 or visit
redcross.org.au for more information.
Thank you for your support on behalf
of those who cannot thank you for
themselves.
Michael Legge
President
Australian Red Cross
Robert Tickner
Chief Executive Officer
Australian Red Cross
Red Cross/Cole Bennetts.
We asked members, volunteers and
staff to submit pictures of themselves
holding up signs with an answer that
epitomised their view of Red Cross.
For us, ‘the power of humanity’ and
‘integrity’ are key to what we do here
and underpin our Fundamental
Principles and values.
Services Renewal update
Red Cross/Louise M Cooper.
The past few months have
been a busy and exciting time
for Red Cross. We launched
the Parliamentary Friends of
Australian Red Cross in
Canberra on 7 May, and the
following day, held
celebrations in our offices and
branches to celebrate World
Red Cross Red Crescent Day
to recognise the fantastic
work of Red Cross people
(page 6).
On 7 May, we launched the Parliamentary Friends of Australian Red
Cross at Parliament House in Canberra (see page 9).
PAGE 2
Cover photo: Australian Red Cross
Michael Legge joined in the World Red Cross Day celebrations at Red
Cross House in Sydney, which was also attended by Her Excellency
Professor Marie Bashir AC CVO.
Chair and Executive Director Message
Welcome to the latest edition of our
newsletter. In this edition we introduce
the new Chair of our Divisional
Advisory Board, Arati Waldegrave.
Arati first joined Red Cross in 1995 as
a university student, and has
volunteered in Australia and overseas
with the Oakland Blood Services of
American Red Cross, and served on
the Central Region Board of New
Zealand as Deputy Chair.
Amongst many highlights over the
past few months was the Run, Walk,
Roll event organised by Reclink
Australia, and the World Red Cross
Red Crescent event in May at the
Swiss Embassy, where some of our
volunteers, staff and partner
organisations were presented with
National Red Cross awards.
Our engagement with Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander peoples
continues actively in the SE NSW
region, particularly in the Wallaga
Lake area. We are thrilled to support
a local Aboriginal Arts festival and
provide a prize for the inaugural
Aboriginal Arts award.
Each year our Ball Committee
organises a gala event to fundraise for
our local services and this year’s
theme is ‘A touch of burlesque’.
Held at the Hyatt in Canberra on 8
September, we are asking our
corporate supporters, service
organisations and the community to
support this local fundraising event.
We are aiming to grow our
membership and in our next edition we
will be asking for your help.
Whether it is supporting people in youth
programs, supporting asylum seekers
and other people affected by migration
policies, or older people isolated in
home or community, volunteers and
members are essential to our work.
Thank you for your ongoing
commitment and support.
Meet our new Chair –
Arati Waldegrave
I am honoured and excited to be the
new Chair of the ACT Divisional
Advisory Board. Red Cross has
allowed me to connect with an
international movement of people
committed to the same Fundamental
Principles regardless of the country or
city that I have lived in. For me, the
Fundamental Principles of Humanity,
Universality and Neutrality are even
more important today in a partisan
world than they were when Henri
Dunant founded this Movement. As
Red Cross people, we understand the
importance of the rights of every
human being regardless of race,
religion, language or other affiliation
and we commit to helping those more
vulnerable than ourselves. This is what
makes Red Cross such an impressive
organisation and one with which I have
been proud to be associated with for
so many years.
Do you have a Red Cross story?
Do you want to win a signed copy of Pat Farmer’s new book Pole
to Pole: One man, 20 million steps (page 5)? Send us an inspiring
story about the work you are doing for Red Cross in making a
difference to thousands in Australia and abroad. The best five
stories will win a signed copy of the book, worth $32.99, and may
be published in a future issue of Newsletter for members and
volunteers. In this issue, we feature Win and Bob Crabtree’s
decades of voluntary service with Red Cross (page 8). Send your
stories to [email protected].
Arati Waldegrave
ACT/SE NSW
Divisional Advisory
Board Chair
Joan Hughes
Executive Director
ACT/SE NSW
Have you banked
your Red Cross
Calling funds?
A big thank you to everyone who
was involved in Red Cross
Calling 2012. Just a reminder if
you haven’t already done so,
please bank any raised funds as
soon as possible, as we need to
receive all funds for this year’s
Red Cross Calling effort by Friday
29 June 2012.
When depositing funds, we
would appreciate you returning
your banking remittance form to
the Red Cross Calling team as
soon as possible after banking,
so that we can accurately track
your fundraising efforts. If you
have any questions please call us
on 1800 008 831.
Once again, thank you for all your
hard work in supporting Red
Cross Calling this year.
A new home for
NSW Red Cross
From 25 June, NSW staff from
Red Cross House in Clarence
Street and York Street will be
moving to a new premises at
St Andrew’s House, Level 4, 464
Kent Street, Sydney NSW 2000.
Telephone: (02) 9229 4111
Facsimile: (02) 9229 4244
Email: [email protected]
Newsletter for members and volunteers PAGE 3
Red Cross Calling
Red Cross/Drew Weatherstone
Major Brian Franklin from the Army
Barracks in Bandiana Victoria, was
keen for his recruits from the Army
Logistic Training Centre to get
involved, raising more than $10,000 as
they worked alongside Red Cross
members to collect funds in both
Albury and Wodonga.
Sydney Girls High School students raised more than $14,000 in their Red Cross Calling efforts.
Walking around your local
area in March, you may have
seen our Red Cross
volunteers out in force raising
funds for our annual Red
Cross Calling event.
With more than 470 branches, 2,000
volunteers, 50 schools, 90 community
service groups, 35 defence force
bases and 75 retail stores
participating, it was a phenomenal
effort by committed Australians to
support Red Cross’ everyday work.
This year, many branches chose to
host events rather than conduct a
door knock. Some of the more popular
events included street stalls,
St Patrick’s Day luncheons and open
garden events. Members were
provided with posters, t-shirts,
sandwich bags, coasters and donation
boxes to assist with their fundraising.
“The Australian Defence Force has an
historical linkage with Red Cross,”
Major Franklin says. “Over the years
[Red Cross] has provided outstanding
support to our members both in and
out of conflict.”
On National Schools Day in March,
150 students from Sydney Girls High
School took over Martin Place and the
CBD, with their strong effort raising
$14,000. From Melbourne High
School, 300 students raised an
impressive $27,000.
In the next issue of Newsletter for
members and volunteers, we will
be announcing the grand total raised
for this year’s event. Thank you to
our dedicated members, volunteers,
staff and supporters of Red Cross
Calling 2012.
Help those doing it tough
Many people know Red Cross
is there to help when largescale disasters strike but
we also help thousands of
people who are doing it tough
every day.
With donations currently 20 per
cent lower than expected this financial
year, we’re facing a shortfall of almost
$8 million in public funding for our
day-to-day work.
This June we have launched our Doing
It Tough Appeal, which will raise muchneeded funds so we can continue our
vital work with people in need.
Whether it’s helping locals get back on
their feet after a fire, cyclone or flood,
providing a daily phone call to an
isolated or elderly Australian or helping
PAGE 4
to bring clean water for drinking,
cooking and washing to families in
communities across Laos, Timor-Leste
or Cambodia, Red Cross is there.
A donation will help people like Karim,
who escaped the rising flood waters in
Queensland in January 2011 and
sought refuge in a Red Cross
evacuation centre. “It was really good
to have a place to go,” says Karim. “I
would have been ruined if I hadn’t
gone to the recovery centre. They had
clothes and all your supplies.”
When you make a tax-deductible gift
to Red Cross before June 30, your
donation can have a greater impact on
the lives of many. For more information
and to donate by June 30, visit
redcross.org.au or call 1800 811 700.
Help those
doing it tough
Donate before 30th June
1800 811 700 redcross.org.au
Pat Farmer
Pat’s fight for clean water
For most of us, we’re lucky to
clock up a five kilometre daily
walk around the block. But for
Pat Farmer, his epic trek from
the North to South Pole
resulted in him running an
average 80 km a day across
dangerous terrain and
destroying 22 pairs of shoes in
the process.
The former politician and ultramarathon runner covered almost
21,000 km in 10 months in order to
raise awareness and money for Red
Cross’ water and sanitation programs
around the world. An estimated four
million people die each year from
diseases associated with lack of
access to safe drinking water,
inadequate sanitation and poor
hygiene. Monies raised have already
been used to fund a project in Com,
Timor-Leste, to provide extra latrines
and hygiene education to a local
school, and also connect the school
and a regional clinic to Com’s clean
water supply.
Pat has documented his epic journey
in a new book, Pole to Pole: One Man,
20 Million Steps, which was launched
on 22 March by former Prime Minister
the Hon John Howard at NSW
Parliament House. Written in diary entry
format, Pat reveals the lows and highs
of his ten-month expedition, from
suffering dehydration, throat infections
and facial sores, to the amazing people
he encountered along the way.
“Never let anyone tell you that
Americans lack a sense of humour”,
he writes, recalling the amusing offers
to ‘help him find the rest of his car’
while dragging two 30kg tyres along
behind him on his training runs.
Pat’s journey began in the North
Pole in April 2011, from where he
travelled through Canada, the United
States, Central America, South
America, and eventually to the South
Pole. Persisting through the extreme
temperatures of the Arctic to the
deserts of Peru, Pat’s run reads
more like a script from TV show
Man Vs Wild.
“I felt broken and beaten so many
times,” he says. “Luckily I had a great
regime where I looked after my body in
the evenings…I went through 22 pairs
of running shoes, one pair of snow
shoes, two pairs of boots.”
His decision to raise money and
awareness for water and sanitation
came from his travel experiences
around third world countries, where he
found that people were becoming ill or
dying from diseases related to poor
sanitation or lack of access to fresh
drinking water.
“Red Cross water and sanitation
programs form part of an integrated
community health approach…” he
writes. “I admire Red Cross because
they don’t give a hoot about politics,
race or religion. They care only for
helping those in need.”
Pole to Pole publishers, Allen
& Unwin, are offering Australian
Red Cross staff, members
and volunteers a special
discounted price of $24.60 for
a copy of Pat’s book, which
includes $8 for postage. Visit
allenandunwin.com and enter
the promotional code (case
sensitive) PTP25. Online orders
must be paid for with a credit
card at the time of purchase
and this promotion cannot be
used with any other discount or
offer. Be quick - this offer is
valid until 30 June 2012.
Newsletter for members and volunteers PAGE 5
This year, Australian Red Cross
focused on three core areas in our
celebrations: voluntary service, youth
and our everyday work and asked
‘What does Red Cross mean to you?’
Across the country, the World Red
Cross Day video made its debut,
featuring inspiring words from our
members, staff and volunteers
alongside well known ambassadors
Guy Sebastian and Kate Richie. The
question, ‘What does Red Cross mean
to you?’ encouraged people to have
their photos taken at local events,
holding up a card with their own
perspectives written down.
Locally, Red Cross staff, volunteers
and members celebrated the day
with invited dignitaries, government
officials and members of the public.
In NSW, Her Excellency Professor
Marie Bashir AC, CVO, Governor of
New South Wales was among the
invited attendees at Red Cross
House, while the Premier of Western
Australia, the Hon Colin Barnett and
Mrs Tonya McCusker (wife of the
PAGE 6
Red Cross/Louise M Cooper.
Red Cross members,
volunteers, staff and
supporters across Australia
celebrated World Red Cross
Red Crescent Day on 8 May
2012, honouring the birthday
of our founder Henri Dunant.
Red Cross/Andrea Lee
Red Cross/Alberto Zimmermann
Celebrating World Red Cross Day 2012
Award recipient Judith Walker from the Singleton
Branch in NSW with Her Excellency Professor
Bashir and John MacLennan, Chair NSW
Divisional Advisory Board.
Members and volunteers celebrated World Red
Cross Day in South Australia.
Governor of WA and WA Patron)
were in attendance.
Special Adviser to the Australian and
International Federation of Red Cross
and Red Crescent Societies,
presented a seminar on humanitarian
diplomacy in Brisbane’s Australian
Institute of International Affairs.
Multicultural dancers and inspirational
volunteer stories were shared at the
Tasmanian celebrations, local staff in
the Migrant Support Team and
international humanitarian law team in
South Australia presented at the
University of Adelaide, and the National
Board celebrated at an event in the
Victorian office. Also in Victoria, Patron
Elizabeth Chernov, wife of the Governor
of Victoria, presented National and
Divisional awards to recipients at
Government House in Melbourne.
Up north, a casual ‘Territory-style’
BBQ was held in the garden at the
Larrakeyah office in the Northern
Territory and Christopher Lamb,
At Parliament House, Canberra, the
historical event ‘Parliamentary Friends
of Australian Red Cross’ was launched
on 7 May, and an additional
celebration was held at the Embassy
of Switzerland on 16 May, with many
youth members and representatives
involved in the event.
Thank you to everyone involved in
organising the World Red Cross Day
celebrations this year and to all those
who submitted their photos to show
what Red Cross meant to them.
The Red Cross Supporter Services
Centre in Melbourne is a buzzing hub
of activity: answering telephone calls,
processing all donations from regular
giving donors to disaster appeals, and
providing receipting, banking and
reconciliation services.
In 2009, the team was finding it
challenging to take staff off the phones
to deal with the large volumes of mail
received on a daily basis, so they
called for volunteers to assist them.
“We approached Alpha Autism [an
organisation providing support to
people over 14 years] because they
had already helped us out in the past
with Red Cross Calling,” Senior
Supporter Services Team Member,
Pranee Mitchell says.
One volunteer, Jeffrey Von’t Steen, had
previously been involved with Red
Cross Calling and was interested in
doing more work for Red Cross. When
Pranee realised he had an Advanced
Diploma of Business (Accounting), she
arranged for him to do some work in
the reconciliations department.
For Jeffrey, this change has been a
welcome opportunity to use his
educational experience.
“When I first started with Red Cross, [I
was] working in the warehouse with Red
Cross Calling and putting together tins
and kits. Since then I have moved into
the Supporter Services Centre as one of
the mail support officers,” Jeffrey says.
Volunteer Theo has been working in the
Supporter Services Centre since 2011 opening
mail and updating the database.
“I come in three days a week and my
duties vary from opening and sorting
mail, updating the MAVIS database
and more recently, assisting the
reconciliations team with workplace
giving, which I enjoy very much.”
Later in 2011, volunteer Theo
Papalaskaris also came on board from
Alpha, and commenced in a similar role
opening mail and updating the database.
“When Theo started with us, he was
very quiet and shy,” Pranee says.
“After he’d been with us a while, his
father told me that Theo really enjoyed
coming into work and seemed like a
whole different person.”
Red Cross
Two volunteers from the
Supporter Services Centre are
making a huge difference
donating their skills and time
to Red Cross.
Red Cross/Alberto Zimmermann
Helping hands
Working in the reconciliations department
has given Jeffrey a chance to use his tertiary
qualifications for a good cause.
nice and I like the afternoon teas,”
Theo says.
Having joined the Red Cross staff
soccer team, Theo’s confidence and
social skills have improved.
“It has been great having Theo and
Jeffrey working with us,” Pranee says.
“We rely heavily on them and we really
value their input and contribution to
the team.”
“I enjoy coming into work each day as
it keeps me busy and I like playing
soccer for Red Cross. The people are
To find out about other volunteer or
career opportunities near you, visit
redcross.org.au.
Government grant helps our work
This grant makes a critical
contribution to our work
across Australia, allowing Red
Cross to continue delivering
humanitarian relief and community
support services.
Australian Red Cross, as part of the
International Red Cross and Red
Crescent Movement, has a specific
mandate to support public authorities
in their humanitarian work. Our
auxiliary status means we work with
governments at all levels to focus on
humanitarian needs and work in an
impartial and independent manner and
the Government’s General Purpose
Grant is indispensable to helping us
continue our humanitarian work.
Red Cross/Cole Bennetts
Australian Red Cross is
grateful to the Australian
Government, Prime Minister
Julia Gillard and Minister for
Health Tanya Plibersek, for
continuing our Annual
General Purpose Grant of
$5 million in the 2012-2013
Federal Budget.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard met with
young humanitarians from the ACT at the
Parliamentary Friends of Australian Red
Cross launch event.
Newsletter for members and volunteers PAGE 7
Life long Red Cross supporter Win Crabtree
recalls the generosity and support of her late
husband Bob to Red Cross since 1963.
Red Cross has a history of
selfless people who give all
they can and then a bit more.
Win and Bob Crabtree are Red
Cross heroes who have shown
great dedication to Red Cross
for more than 40 years.
Over a cup of tea, Win Crabtree
praised the service and dedication
shown by her husband Bob who first
became involved with Red Cross in
1963. Unfortunately after years of
declining health Bob passed away
last Christmas at 90 years of age.
Bob served in World War II as a pilot
in England, where he witnessed the
work of Red Cross for the first time.
Win recalls the times they spent on
the phones asking for donations in
the former Victorian state offices in
South Melbourne, organising the first
Red Cross Ball in 1981, participating
in numerous fundraising events and
Bob’s pivotal role in arranging a
record-breaking run across Australia
with the Metropolitan Fire Brigade
(Melbourne) in 1983.
In 1986, Bob was recognised for
more than 20 years of blood
donation and was awarded a badge
for giving blood more than 100
times, totalling 10 times the total
blood weight of the donor. They both
received their long service medals at
Government House in 1993, and Win
also received the Red Cross ‘Special
Award of Merit’ the same year.
To find out about volunteering
opportunities near you, or to help
Red Cross raise funds for those who
need it most, visit redcross.org.au.
PAGE 8
Good health to
Ambrym community
More than 530 people on the
Vanuatu island of Ambrym
now have better access to
water and improved sanitation
facilities thanks to a Red
Cross health project.
The infrastructure developed during
the two-year project – which included
15 bore wells and 150 improved toilets
for households and schools – was
formally handed over by Red Cross to
the Vanuatu Government and local
communities last month.
The project, a partnership between
Vanuatu and Australian Red Cross,
and the communities of Craig Cove
and Baiap, was in response to
ongoing water shortages in the area.
Most of Ambrym’s population relies on
rainwater for their fresh water needs.
During the annual dry season, the
water storage tanks and wells in
villages on the western side of the
island regularly run dry. Drinking from
coconuts and washing in the sea
become the only options.
The bore wells will now provide a
supplementary source of water for key
household needs, such as washing,
cleaning and cooking, conserving the
valuable rainwater for drinking.
In conjunction with this infrastructure,
local Red Cross staff and volunteers
taught the community about the
importance of basic hygiene to help
tackle water-borne diseases such
as diarrhoea.
Red Cross/Joe Cropp.
Red Cross/Alberto Zimmermann
A lifetime
of service
The new bore wells in Ambrym will now
provide a supplementary source of water for
key household needs.
on people’s innate abilities to resolve
their own problems.
“The underlying basis of the project is
that lasting change comes from
understanding and community
involvement,” she says. “An
understanding of the importance of
sanitation and hygiene results in good
practice. Direct community
involvement and ownership helps to
ensure the sustainability of the
practices and the resources.”
With the conclusion of its work in
Craig Cove and Baiap, Red Cross is
now working with other communities
on Ambrym to develop similar projects
tailored to local needs.
Community members also attended
workshops on why improved
sanitation facilities are important for
community health. Red Cross then
provided technical support and
building materials for people wanting
to construct new toilets.
Ms Walsh says that as well as
improving the community’s general
health, these water and sanitation
projects will provide a base for future
development in the area. “Communities
that have had to concentrate all their
efforts on collecting enough water will
have the time and new skills to deal
with other challenges.”
Australian Red Cross Pacific
Manager, Kathleen Walsh, says the
community health program has built
To find out more about Red Cross
water and sanitation programs
overseas, visit redcross.org.au.
For 40 years, our Telecross
program has provided the
elderly and housebound with a
reassuring daily phone call to
ensure they are safe and well.
Telecross began in South Australia in
1972 as a telephone club with next to
no funding, yet plenty of member and
volunteer support.
Today, Telecross operates in every state
and territory across Australia. Volunteers
provide phone calls 365 days a year to
check on 4,800 clients who are at risk of
an accident or sudden illness going
unnoticed. Calls support people to
continue to live independently in their
own homes, providing peace of mind
and a friendly voice, perhaps the only
one they’ll hear all day.
Red Cross celebrates four decades of
Telecross this year, with celebratory
events beginning on 7 June in Adelaide.
Representatives from the
Commonwealth Bank will take the
opportunity to announce their support
for the program with a $250,000
donation and a pledge to provide 100
Commonwealth Bank staff to volunteer
for Telecross. Commonwealth Bank
ambassador Maggie Beer will lend her
support at the event and hopes to draw
attention to the dedication of the
thousands of volunteers.
The program has made a huge
difference to many vulnerable people
across Australia. In Western Australia,
a 95-year-old woman was referred to
Telecross by her son, who told Red
Cross that his mother was very
resistant to getting help from anyone.
It took a few telephone conversations
with her before she agreed to receive
the morning calls. A month later, one
of her sons contacted the Telecross
office saying he was astounded in her
change of attitude. He said that prior
Red Cross/Cole Bennetts
Our Parliamentary Friends
The Parliamentary Friends of Australian Red Cross was launched on 7 May, with support from leaders
of all major political parties.
On 7 May, political leaders from all
major parties came together to
support the humanitarian values and
work of Red Cross.
At a celebration attended by the
Prime Minister Julia Gillard; Leader of
the Opposition Tony Abbott; Leader
of The Nationals Warren Truss; and
Leader of the Australian Greens
Christine Milne, we launched an
exciting initiative: the Parliamentary
Friends of Australian Red Cross.
The four leaders, along with coconvenors of the group – Senator
Christine Milne, Mr Graham Perrett MP,
Mrs Jane Prentice MP and The Hon
Bruce Scott MP – signed an historic
record recognising the support of all
political parties for the work of Red Cross.
Parliamentary Friends of Australian
Red Cross is made up of more than
100 members and senators from all
political parties as well as
independent representatives of the
Australian Parliament.
“Red Cross is an impartial and neutral
humanitarian organisation which is
able to successfully unite people
Red Cross
A reassuring call
Still growing: a new Telecross call centre
opened at the Ipswich City Council complex in
May. From left, Ipswich mayor Paul Pisasale,
volunteer Raylene O’Hare, Executive Director of
QLD Kevin Keefe and volunteer Dudley Stone.
to her Telecross calls, she had isolated
herself and rarely invited anyone into
her home but she was now calmer
with her family and friendlier toward
her neighbours. He said he believed
the reason for this was that she felt
more secure as a result of knowing
that someone would be checking on
her each morning.
If you would like to be involved as a
Telecross volunteer, contact your local
office (details on page 12).
behind our humanitarian ideas,”
Robert Tickner said at the launch.
“We are proud to be part of an
organisation which brings people
together to work for humanitarian
values and vulnerable people,
irrespective of their political
differences.”
President Michael Legge said the
group demonstrates how our
humanitarian values and
Fundamental Principles can mobilise
the power of humanity to improve
the lives of vulnerable people.
“Our Parliamentary Friends have a
unique capacity to champion the
principle of humanity by actively
raising matters of concern and
telling people in their local
communities about our everyday
work,” Mr Legge said.
We look forward to our
Parliamentary Friends continuing to
show their support by encouraging
volunteering and helping to spread
information about the work of Red
Cross in the community.
Newsletter for members and volunteers PAGE 9
Working in partnership with
Reclink Australia
The Run, Walk, Roll event was
developed by Reclink Australia in
partnership with the ACT Government
and community organisations and
encourages service providers, clients,
residents and government agencies
to get active and run, walk or roll
around the beautiful shores of Lake
Burley Griffin.
Reclink Australia plays a significant role
in the food security programs that Red
Cross delivers throughout the inner
north of Canberra. With the residents’
assistance, Reclink has established
two thriving community gardens,
which have already made a
considerable impact within the
community relating to a sense of
ownership and pride. The gardens
Red Cross
In March this year, Red Cross
ACT/SE NSW won the
inaugural Community Cup for
Run, Walk, Roll with 30 staff
and volunteers participating.
Red Cross ACT/SE NSW won the inaugural Community Cup for Run, Walk, Roll with 30 staff
and volunteers participating.
have also improved the residents’
nutrition through access to fresh
produce, one of the three pillars of our
food security work.
With the establishment of these
relationships, Reclink has partnered
with Red Cross to reach this
vulnerable population that may have
otherwise been unsupported. Through
our food security initiatives we are able
to work with individuals and the local
communities to deliver healthy, active
and practical outcomes to improve
the quality of life of our members of
these communities.
Red Cross has been given ACT
Government funding to hold a Food
Security Expo and Forum on World
Food Day in October. We are currently
working with the Health Promotions
Branch to organise this high profile
event and will be engaging with all our
key partners to bring this event to life,
just as Reclink has done with Run,
Walk, Roll.
Youth in
Action
Youth Services and the YAC built a giant
Rubik’s Cube, which was the symbol for
the national event, and stakeholders,
sector workers, consumers, clients and
attendees were encouraged to write
their ideas for potential solutions to
youth homelessness on the squares of
the Rubik’s cube.
PAGE 10
Red Cross
On 18 April, Youth Services and the
Youth Action Committee (YAC)
attended the National Youth
Homelessness Matters Day expo in
Garema Place, Canberra facilitated by
the Youth Coalition of the ACT. The
YAC engaged the public with a survey
to gauge the depth of public knowledge
about youth homelessness.
Participants pasted solutions to youth homelessness on the giant Rubik’s cube, creating an
interactive space to share thoughts about the problems faced by young people on the streets.
This year’s international theme was
‘youth on the move’, and many young
people were involved in the
celebrations, including Kids Pantry
who catered and served food,
performers Nova Scotia and Team
Rockit dance group. Three youth MCs
were interviewed by ACT/SE NSW
Executive Director Joan Hughes on
what Red Cross meant to them.
Ambassador Stutz, ACT Greens leader Meredith
Hunter, ACT/SE NSW Executive Director Joan
Hughes, Minister of Education ACT Government
Dr Chris Bourke and Mrs Esther Stutz.
The winner of the first Red Cross
Indigenous Art Award was Cheryl
Davison, a local Narooma artist
who has also had international
interest in her work.
All entries were placed on exhibition
for one week to allow the
community to view all the art work.
Khin Nyo Nyo San was awarded the Youth
Meritorious Service Award, which recognises
a young member under 25 who has served
exceptionally in pursuit of the national youth goals.
National awards were presented by
Marcel Stutz, the Ambassador of
Switzerland to Australia, and his wife
Mrs Esther Stutz. Among the
recipients were Khin Nyo Nyo San who
was awarded the Youth Meritorious
Service Award and Mike Varga and
Lauren Nelson who both received a
Distinguished Service Award for
showing exceptional leadership for
more than six years.
Red Cross
On 16 May, we celebrated World Red
Cross Red Crescent Day with a special
event at the Embassy of Switzerland in
Canberra. One hundred guests
attended, including Divisional Advisory
Board and committee members,
Solferino and Dunant members,
volunteers, Ministers of the Legislative
Assembly, government
representatives, Ambassadors from
other embassies, staff, youth,
corporate partners and service
provider colleagues.
In April, Red Cross in ACT/SE NSW
supported the Montague Arts and
Crafts Society Indigenous Art
Competition through the
establishment of the Red Cross
Indigenous Art Award. This award
recognises the traditional owners of
the land and the expression of this
meaning through the arts.
Red Cross/Cole Bennetts
Mrs Esther Stutz, Ambassador of Switzerland
to Australia Marcel Stutz, ACT/SE NSW Chair
Arati Waldergrave and ACT/SE NSW Executive
Director Joan Hughes.
Supporting
our local
Indigenous
artists
Red Cross/Cole Bennetts
Red Cross/Cole Bennetts
World Red Cross Day
at the Swiss Embassy
Cheryl is presented the Red Cross
Indigenous Art Award by Shanna Provost,
Aboriginal Engagement Coordinator,
Australian Red Cross ACT/SE NSW.
Join us as partners in Migrant Support
Through our Migrant Support
Programs, we are working to
help clients from Afghanistan,
Iran, and Sri Lanka on a
regular basis.
At present, the majority of clients on
this program have not found
accommodation or employment. Many
are approaching their six week
deadlines, and still need to find
suitable housing and work.
Clients receive transitory support,
which includes the provision of
temporary accommodation, and after
six weeks clients are expected to have
their own permanent accommodation
and employment.
Please contact us to help:
• If you have links in the real estate
industry or to employers who may be
willing to give these people a fair go.
• If you can volunteer to assist our staff
in sourcing accommodation and
jobs. We are looking at establishing a
Volunteer Housing and Employment
Assistance Network that will meet
regularly and develop strategies to
source accommodation and
employment for clients.
If you can help, contact the ACT/SE
NSW office on (02) 6234 7600 or visit
redcross.org.au.
Newsletter for members and volunteers PAGE 11
Bake the world a better place
Spiced Bread and Butter Pudding (serves 6)
800g panettone*
marionskitchen.com.au
50g unsalted butter,
softened, plus extra
for greasing
Big Cake Bake ambassador, Marion Grasby.
Save the date! Big Cake Bake
is back this year in August, so
get ready to bake up a storm
in your workplace, home or
local community!
Your favourite cake, slice, pie, cupcake
or dessert will raise funds to support
the everyday work of Red Cross. You
may like to do a morning or afternoon
tea, cake sale or baking competition
– the opportunities are endless!
2 tsp Chinese five
spice powder
150g castor sugar
500ml milk
600ml cream
1 tsp vanilla extract
4 eggs
ice cream to serve
*Panettone is a sweet
Italian bread available in
supermarkets or gourmet
food stores. If unavailable,
substitute brioche or
thick white bread slices
(crusts removed).
The official event date is Monday 27
August and to help inspire you, Red
Cross Ambassador Marion Grasby has
shared her delicious recipe for Spiced
Bread and Butter Pudding.
Preheat oven to 160°C. Lightly grease a
1.5L ovenproof dish with softened butter.
Butter one side of each slice of
panettone. Layer slices, slightly
overlapping, into greased ovenproof dish.
Place sugar, Chinese five spice, milk,
cream, vanilla extract and eggs into a
large bowl. Whisk until well combined.
Strain egg mixture, pour over the bread.
Stand for 20 minutes so that the bread
absorbs most of the liquid. Then bake in
a preheated oven for 45-50 minutes or
until the pudding is just set and the top
is golden brown.
Serve warm with ice cream.
Bake ahead and reheat: Pudding can be
baked ahead, cooled and then reheated
when ready to serve. To reheat, cover
with foil and warm for 20-30 minutes in a
160°C oven. Or bake in a microwaveproof dish and reheat in the microwave.
For other celebrity recipes or to register, visit bigcakebake.org.au
or call 1800 652 635.
What drives you to volunteer?
Australian Red Cross is working with
the Swiss Federal Institute of
Technology to explore the motives to
provide voluntary service.
The research project also involves the
French, German, Austrian, Swiss,
Lithuanian, Czech, British, and Swedish
National Societies, as well as the
International Federation of Red Cross
and Red Crescent Societies in Geneva.
This is an interesting research project
which will help to uncover what
volunteers share across nations, and
especially across National Societies.
ACT/SE NSW
Cnr. Hindmarsh Drive and Palmer Streets
Garran ACT 2605
PO Box 610 Mawson ACT 2607
Telephone: (02) 6234 7600
Facsimile: (02) 6234 7650
Email: [email protected]
PAGE 12
Red Cross volunteers are invited to
participate in an online survey before
30 June – http://tiny.cc/rek7ew.
Findings will be circulated through
future editions of Newsletter for
members and volunteers. For further
information, please email the Research
Unit at [email protected] or
telephone (03) 8327 7795.
National Office
155 Pelham Street Carlton South VIC 3053
PO Box 196 Carlton South VIC 3053
Telephone: (03) 9345 1800
Facsimile: (03) 9348 2513
Email: [email protected]