Newsletter for 4 October 2016 Rural Australians for Refugees Bellingen and Nambucca Districts

Report from Valla Beach Market

Next popup roadside demos

Message from the Asylum Seekers Centre

Report from Valla Beach Market

We held another excellent market on Saturday at Valla Beach. The weather was beautiful, the crowds arrived and we had a busy morning. Lots of interesting conversations, more signatures on our petition, generous donations to the Asylum Seekers Centre and good sales of our merchandise. All the profits from sales are donated to the ASC, so we are hopeful that we will be able to send them a third donation after our next market.

Our next market will be the Harbourside market in Coffs on Sunday 23rd October. We are looking for helpers from 9.00 am until 1.30 pm. If you can join us for a while, then please let Mike know by emailing him at: mandm.griffin2@bigpond.com. 

 

Roadside Demonstrations 

We have now planned the next four roadside demonstrations as follows:

Thursday  13th October: We will be in Toormina,  and we will be located near the fire station, on Hogbin Drive, in the direction of the Sawtell Garden Centre.

Thursday 27th October : We will be outside the Big Banana in Coffs Harbour.

Thursday 10th November: We will be by the side of the Pacific Highway, adjacent to the Plaza Shopping Centre in Nambucca Heads.

Thursday 24th November: We will be in Bellingen town centre, adjacent to the public library on Waterfall Way.

All the demos will be from 3.00 pm until 4.30 pm. Please consider joining us at one or all of the demos, as they are a very effective way of getting our message across about the appalling treatment of asylum seekers by our government. If you can join us, then please let Robin know by emailing him at: robinhesketh@hotmail.com.

 

 

 

A message from the Asylum Seekers Centre

 

Following receipt of our second donation of $150 to the ASC, we recently received the following thank you letter from  the CEO, which we think you will be interested to read.

 

Dear Mike,   Thank you very much for your donation of $150.00, a wonderful result of your community fundraising efforts. These funds will help us provide a range of vital services to clients at the Centre.   We currently provide practical and social support to over 1,500 people who are seeking asylum while living in the local community. These women, men and children, from over 74 different countries, have commonly fled persecution, war and torture to seek a new life of peace and security.   Our professional staff and volunteers provide services ranging from health care and counselling to legal advice, accommodation and financial support, employment assistance, education, a Food Bank and daily meals. These services respond to the needs, strengths and capabilities of each person seeking asylum - helping them to build new lives for themselves.   The Asylum Seekers Centre is 95% funded by community donations from generous people like you. Thank you. Together we can make a real difference for people seeking asylum.         Yours sincerely,   Frances Rush Chief Executive Officer

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People signing our petition at the Valla Beach Markets on Saturday

Our blog is at http://bellorar.blogspot.com.au and includes articles from many sources and letters to politicians and newspapers

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