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Edmund Rice Tapas Evening

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Edmund Rice Tapas Evening – Sydney

Congratulations to Anthony Ryan who organized the very successful Edmund Rice Tapas Evening, attended by around 150 people on November 4 at Piers 8+9, Millers Point, Sydney. The aim of this inaugural function was to launch the process of establishing a network of support among the fraternity of past students of Christian Brothers’ schools in NSW. This network will enable the Edmund Rice Foundation to promote and support financially, Oceania Province’s development and justice programs, which target impoverished and disempowered peoples in our region. The particular focus on November 4 was Callan Services, PNG, Edmund Rice Camps NSW and Indigenous Education and Advocacy Programs conducted through Edmund Rice Centre, Homebush, NSW.

Chair of the Event Committee and MC for the evening was Sydney based international executive and management consultant, Anthony Fanning. Keynote Speaker, former Australian Human Rights Commissioner, Chris Sidoti, human rights lawyer and international human rights consultant, invited all to become founding members of a network that will enable the great pioneering work begun by Br Ambrose Treacy in New South Wales, which has made a huge contribution to every field of Australian life over the past 136 years, to continue. Many attendees agreed to become table captains for a large fundraising and profiling event to be held in the Sydney Convention Centre in June 2012.

For photo set of Edmund Rice Tapas Evening – click here

Pictured: Keynote Speaker – Chris Sidoti (2nd from left) with guests

On November 9, 2011
By Finley Stupkin
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St. Francis Xavier College, Beaconsfield & Berwick – Africa Appeal

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Congratulations to the St. Francis Xavier College, Beaconsfield & Berwick Campuses, on another wonderfully successful Africa Appeal, which has now been a feature of College life for the past 12 years. Over that time, the St. Francis Xavier College Africa Appeal has raised over $175,000 in support of Edmund Rice projects and programs in East Africa and in particular the Ruben Centre. Through its annual Africa Appeal the College expresses its commitment to Social Justice, enables students to embrace the lives of people living in poverty in Africa and involves them in awareness raising in the wider community. Over a series of weekends, teams of senior students visited the local Catholic Parishes of St. Michael’s, Berwick, St. Patrick’s, Pakenham and Our Lady Help of Christians, Narre Warren to speak at all Masses, distribute literature and be available to chat with parishioners. This year the combined parishes contributed in excess of $20,000 to the Appeal. The College also works in partnership with the community of St. Catherine’s Primary School, Berwick. Over several weeks, St. Francis Xavier students and staff engage in a wide variety of school based fundraising activities, some of which are embedded in specific learning areas and double as assessment tasks. This year’s activities also featured the silent auction of a new BMX bike presented by College Principal, Mr Paul Desmond. The Foundation is especially grateful to Bernadette Barlow, who has been the principal animator of the Appeal from its beginning.

Pictured: Students who led the Appeal at Pakenham Parish & Yr. 10 Home Economics Class Pizza Stall Lunchtime Fundraiser

On November 2, 2011
By Finley Stupkin
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500 Supporters’ Group Racing Luncheon

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500 Supporters’ Group Spring Racing Luncheon

Congratulations to Patrick O’Brien (Chair, The 500 Supporters’ Group) members of the 500 Supporters’ Group committee and to the Group’s many friends and supporters on a most successful Spring Carnival Racing Luncheon held yesterday, October 25, in the Olympic Room at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Close to 400 people attended a most successful function in support of health, education and development projects in some of the most impoverished parts of East Africa, particularly the Ruben Centre in Nairobi, Kenya. Br Frank O’Shea, Director of Ruben Centre, joined the gathering via Skype and was interviewed by Madeleine O’Brien about the latest developments at the Centre. Frank thanked all for their ongoing support, without which the Centre’s services would be severely limited.

The Ruben Centre provides life changing services and opportunities for the vulnerable people of the Mukuru slum about 10 km from central Nairobi. Ruben school accommodates around 1700 children from nursery to Grade 8. The clinic is the only community health facility in the slum and provides a range of medical services. Through training in sewing and tailoring and through a micro-credit scheme, the Vocational and Community Development Units enhance self-employment opportunities for local people.

The Edmund Rice Foundation is again deeply indebted to Master of Ceremonies, Leon Weigard OAM, who has generously hosted these functions for many years. The Foundation is very grateful to Guests of Honour, Colin Madden (part-owner of champion Australian thoroughbred mare, Black Caviar), Michael Burn (Chairman, VRC) and former champion Australian jockeys Pat Hyland, Simon Marshall and John Letts. The Foundation is also grateful to the VRC for making the 1965 and 2011 Melbourne Cups available for display.

More information about the 500 Supporters’ Group visit: http://www.the500supportersgroup.org/

Pictured: Master of Ceremonies Leon Wiegard with former champion Australian jockeys Pat Hyland & Simon Marshall

On October 26, 2011
By Finley Stupkin
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Terrace Timor Network – Christmas Promotion 2011

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The Terrace Timor Network (TTN), a group of current and former parents, staff and students of St Joseph’s College, Gregory Terrace, Brisbane, is a not-for-profit organisation supporting the design, production, marketing and sale of unique locally made quality Timorese products. All proceeds are returned to the makers and their communities in Timor Leste. The TTN works in partnership with Comunidade Edmund Rice (CER), managed by the Christian Brothers in Timor Leste, which supports projects and initiatives in health, education and economic development. These projects are undertaken in partnership with local rural communities in the mountains beyond Dili.

Timorese families grow and harvest a premium organic coffee in the Ermera district of Timor Leste, roasted by Blue Sky Coffee to produce a rich, mellow, high quality organic coffee marketed in Australia by the TTN as Just Coffee. About 60 women employed in an Arts and Craft Co-operative produce beautiful and reasonably priced hand-made occasional cards and gift tags featuring traditional Timorese weaving (Tais). The range contains both Timorese and Australian themes and includes bookmarks and wristbands.

The TTN has designed and released a range of Christmas Gift Packs featuring the above products: Small Justice Pack (including a bag of Just Coffee), Gift Box of All-Occasion Cards, Christmas Card Pack and a Gift Tag Pack. Your purchase of these Justice Products would make a significant difference in enabling Timorese artisans and farmers to continue to trade their way out of poverty.

For more information about the TTN’s Christmas Promotion Gift Packs and ordering details, click here on TTN Justice Products – Christmas Range. Orders must be accompanied by payment no later than Friday, 28 October. Also, visit the TTN website at http://www.justiceproducts.org/

Pictured: Working with traditional Timorese cloth – Art & Craft Co-operative – CER

On October 12, 2011
By Finley Stupkin
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