Category: Community

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Vote for Peter in the Westfield Local Heroes Awards

Peter Wheeler. Photo: Hadeel Al Badhran

Dear Volunteers and Supporters of Uniting Barwon,

Uniting Barwon Volunteer Peter Wheeler is one of 6 finalists in the Westfield Local Heroes awards with the chance to win a grant of $10,000 for Uniting Barwon Norlane.

Peter needs your vote!

Please forward this link to your network of family, friends, colleagues and neighbours.

To vote for Peter, click on this link:

https://surveys.reputation.com/surveys3/run?tenantKey=7afa4106785&templateId=5e5d972a8cdc3757b64dcb04&locationCode=supportoffice&property-value-heroID=921&property-value-centrecode=geelong&locale=en_US

Volunteer Peter Wheeler has created an Op Shop and community space that offers much more than second-hand clothes and household goods. With his vision and drive, Uniting Barwon’s new Norlane Op Shop is also a safe place for disaffected locals to socialise and seek help. There are comfy sofas where any members of the community can read a book, have a chat, relax and enjoy a cuppa, plus a kids’ corner with toys, books and puzzles. Thanks to Peter’s dynamic and inclusive approach, there has been a surge in volunteers and shoppers as word of mouth spreads. He is proud that the Op Shop has saved several tons of goods from ending up in landfill each month, while helping those in need.

“We have community members who, by volunteering and participating, have gained an improved level of self-worth,” Peter says.

Peter is driving further initiatives, before COVID-19 restrictions, including a community arts program and literacy and numeracy programs, conversational English for new arrivals (in conjunction with Diversitat), Messy Mums group (an evening program for parents and kids), an evening wellness program (some yoga and relaxation), community internet café, a vegie garden supporting provision of free light lunches from our approved kitchen, community engagement events, including community movie nights and regular car boot sales with sausage sizzles.

“Any profit made from the shop goes to our Emergency Relief Program for those in greatest need in our community.”

Voting closes on 14 September.

Thank you for your vote!

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Sunday 30th of August is Share Sunday for Uniting

Dear Friends,

The focus of Share Sunday this year is on Youth Homelessness, with the theme ‘A place to call home.’

Your congregation was sent a pack that shared the story of Bronte and how Uniting supported her through a challenging time in her life.

Unfortunately there have been delivery delays with Australia Post, meaning many of you have not received these resources to use on Sunday.

If any members of your congregation would like to make a donation as part of Share Sunday, we have created an online page where members of your congregation can securely make donations directly to our Share Sunday Appeal – https://www.unitingvictas.org.au/share-sunday/donate/

Many thanks for your ongoing support.

Kind Regards,

Dale

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New staffing arrangements at St Luke’s Preschool

Some of the learners enjoying time together at St Luke’s Preschool

Cathy Coles, the Early Learning Co-ordinator at Uniting, has written to advise that there are new staffing arrangements at St Luke’s Preschool:

“With the resignation of our permanent team leader and early childhood teacher, Tanya Henry, Uniting has undertaken a recruitment process and it is with great pleasure that we can announce the outcome.

We are delighted to announce that Emma Lane has been appointed and will be stepping into the St Luke’s Highton Team Leader role in an ongoing capacity.

In addition, we are further delighted to announce that Caroline Davies has been appointed to our permanent early childhood teacher role at St Luke’s Highton Preschool. 

 In the past months both Emma and Caroline during the challenges of COVID-19 have shown resilience and compassion while navigating the daily challenges this has presented.  They have collaborated with the team at St Luke’s Highton and demonstrated all of Uniting’s values. We are delighted that they are now both permanently part of our Uniting team.

Please join me in congratulating both Emma and Caroline to their roles at St Luke’s Highton Preschool.

It’s great to hear that this ministry of caring for and education young children and supporting their families continues at the St Luke’s Preschool and we give thanks for the skills and dedication that Emma and Caroline bring to their roles.  It has been a very challenging year and these two educators have met the challenges with grace, commitment and compassion.

We give thanks also for the many years of care, education and leadership provided by Tanya Henry and we wish her the very best in her future activities.

Be sure to give the St Luke’s preschool team a smile and wave if you see them in the yard when you’re visiting St Luke’s!

 

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Mission Outreach Ministry Team and Environment Action Group Meetings

Here’s a quick update regarding these ministry and mission teams.

Mission Outreach Ministry Team

  • The team is not meeting monthly but rather staying in touch via the phone.
  • Material support for refugees is still available but now happening by appointment and with contactless pickup.
  • Bread deliveries are not happening at the moment as Ken has “retired” as the organiser.  This wonderful connecting ministry has been deeply appreciated by many refugee families over the years and we are grateful for all the volunteers who have helped to make it happen.  There is certainly an opportunity for another leader to take up this ministry, should you feel a call and have a van – though we will need to navigate our way through protocols needed to keep everyone safe during the COVID19 pandemic.

Environment Action Group

  • Is not meeting monthly but group members are keeping in touch with one another and doing what online action that they can
  • Recycling can still be dropped off at the church during open times
  • Repair Cafe is suspended until it is safe for groups to meet again

 

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Days for Girls Group are selling masks as a fundraiser

Photo by Vera Davidova on Unsplash

The Days for Girls sewing group (which would normally be meeting at St Luke’s to sew reusable pads for girls in countries where feminine hygiene products are difficult to source) is now making reusable fabric masks and selling them to fundraise for the organisation.

If you would like to purchase a mask for around $10-15, please contact Deb by email geelongwaurnpondsvic@daysforgirls.org

If you would like to know more about the Days for Girls group, check out their website here:

https://www.daysforgirls.org/australia

 

Stay well folks!

 

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Mask Makers needed for Uniting

Photo by Vera Davidova on Unsplash

Dear Friends,

Uniting Vic.Tas is calling on volunteers to make reusable, fabric face masks.

Victorian health authorities have made it mandatory for people in Metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire to wear a face mask when outside their home, and recommend that people from regional areas also wear a mask if physical distancing is not possible.

An increase in demand for face masks is making it hard for many vulnerable and marginalised people in our communities to access them.

By having cloth masks available for low-risk situations, we can ensure our supply of surgical masks can be used where they are needed most.

If you are handy with a sewing machine or needle and thread, we’d love your help in making face masks, which will be distributed across our services.

Our community in Canberra have already begun sewing up a storm, you can read about it here.

To register your interest or obtain more information, please visit our website or call our team on 1800 668 426.

Once you’ve finished sewing the masks, please mail them to our Dallas Warehouse, which is using COVID-19 safety measures to receive and store items

Uniting Vic.Tas
38-40 Phillip Street
Dallas, VIC 3047

Any contributions will be gratefully received. Masks will be distributed across Uniting Vic.Tas and Uniting AgeWell services.

Thank you for your help during these trying times as we support people in need.

Best Regards

Dale

Dale Barker-Harrington

Community Fundraising Coordinator

Community & External Relations

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Winter lights for Dark nights in July

We’ve hunted teddy bears and drawn rainbows – now that long winter nights are here, what better time to bust out the Christmas lights to bring a bit of joy and show our support for everyone working to keep our community safe. You could string up a heart, a rainbow, or a message of love and light – use your imagination!

Light up the dark nights with hope at your house

Take a photo of your lights and send them to info@stlukesuca.org.au – get your street involved and let’s share hope in Highton!

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Christ Church Winter Woolies and Wonders Market

From our friends at Christ Church in Geelong:

Don’t miss the Winter Woolies and Wonders Market

at Christ Church Hall, cnr Moorabool and McKillop Streets, Geelong…

on Saturday 27th June 2020 from 9.30am- 1.30pm….

including –

  • knitted and wearable items
  • cakes and slices
  • jams and preserves
  • plants and bargain bins!

… and lots more too!

….social distancing and all health restrictions will be met, and there’s lots of on site parking! …don’t miss this great opportunity to get that special present for that special someone.. or for yourself! …

…don’t miss the 2020 Woolies Market!

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House Church Sunday 19th July: A Christian Perspective on Racism

Black Lives Matter  …  All Lives Matter  …  A Christian Perspective on Racism.

Date:                Sunday 19 July 2020

Time:                5.00 pm to 7.00 pm

Venue:              Zoom meeting.  Link to be advised.

Speaker:           David Manks.


Please find attached Background Papers.  You are not necessarily expected to read all of the Background Papers in preparation for House Church.  However, if you could read some it will assist our discussion.  This discussion has been rescheduled from the June meeting, which was abandoned because only a few could attend.

Background Papers

Supper:            NA

Worship:          Judy Clark

Apologies:       St Luke’s Office info@stlukesuca.org.au or 5244 2997