Everyone wants to read! Schools assisted by NGOs
Reading
is important. The Exodus Foundation is in Alexandria
and now the Smith Family’s reading program, Learning for Life is operating in
the same suburb. The Smith Family will run the “Student to Student” reading
program over terms 2 and 3 in 2008, with the help of mentor students from local
schools. The students will ring their reading buddies three times a week and
the mentor students will read to them for about 20 minutes. This program has
been running for eight years and is expanding next year at record numbers. To
support the student mentors, the Smith Family requires capable and caring
community members to volunteer as mentor supervisors. The mentor supervisors
encourage and support the mentor students, by phoning them every week or
fortnight and “catching-up”, and also by helping with any problems. If you are
interested in helping, ring the Smith Family on 9699 9820 or drop in to their office
at Alexandria Park Community Centre. It’s good to see NGOs working hard
encouraging reading among the young people in the inner city community.
Hillsong on the move
Leigh Coleman,
who for years has, among other things, run Hillsong’s welfare services, is
moving on from Hillsong. Now it seems that Hillsong will vacate the old Good Government
Building in Little
Eveleigh Street.
A glimmer of hope on Redfern
Street
This column has long been concerned about the St Vincent’s Presbytery on Redfern Street that’s been in a state of
decay for years. Now there seems to be a ray of hope as a prominent business
person has made an offer to the Catholic Archdiocese for the old building and,
we understand, the sheltered workshop that is next door to the old courthouse.
Something has to happen to the old Presbytery building – hopefully soon.
Redfern artist makes it worthwhile going to Balmain
Redfern artist, Pamela Neville, will be represented in an
exhibition at the Balmain Watch House in February. Pamela has been painting
full time for the past fve years and produces mainly small expressive works in
oils and mixed media – personal responses to the land and its colour. Her works
have been hung in numerous exhibitions, including the Camden Art Prize, Fishers
Ghost Art Prize and the Surry Hills Festival. She has recently completed two
years at the Sydney Gallery School Meadowbank TAFE where her works were highly
regarded. She is represented in numerous private collections, both here and
interstate. Some of her recent works are by invitation of the Balmain Peninsula
Park Painters. This group has been meeting regularly for a number of years in
the open spaces of Balmain. A special focus of this year’s exhibition will
include the working tugs moored in front of the Colgate buildings on Mort Bay.
The group will hold its 4th Annual Exhibition for one weekend only at the
Balmain Watch House, 179 Darling
Street Balmain at 10-4pm on Saturday February 23
and Sunday February 24. The opening will be from 6-8pm on Friday February 22.
The Festival makes a motza for Surry Hills
Neighbourhood Centre
The Surry Hills Neighbourhood
Centre, now homeless since it had to move out of the Surry
Hills Library building in Crown
Street, is being redeveloped. Its child-care
service is operating over in Pine
Street, Chippendale, and its administration is at
the rear of the Bourke
Street Public
School. They have had a tough year but the
Festival in 2007 was a great success if the amount raised is anything to go by.
Linda Scott, the Chairperson, told
this column that they raised $75,000. If you’re interested in having a say in
the future of the Centre, why not join them at their Planning Day? It will be
held on Saturday March 15. Ring the Centre on 9310 2888 for more details.
Marching on Canberra
to turn back racism
On Tuesday February 12, a busload of people from the Redfern
Aboriginal community is off to Canberra
to take part in a rally at Parliament House. The group says it wants to
mobilise people for the re-instatement of the Racial Discrimination Act, demand
an immediate review of the Northern
Territory intervention, end welfare quarantines,
compulsory land acquisition and “mission manager” powers. It is also calling
for the implementation of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous
Peoples. We will have a report for you on their protest next month.
For more information ring Shane Phillips 0414 077 631.
Another pub goes for extended hours
The Beresford Hotel in Bourke Street, Surry Hills, currently has
approval for hours of operation from 10am to 1am the following day, Monday to
Sunday. The management wants to extend these hours to 3am. Imagine living next
door to a pub that is open to 3am! If you live near the Beresford in Bourke Street, why
not email and tell us what you think? If you live next door to any pub that
opens to 3am and it doesn’t bother you, we would love to hear from you. Email
me trevrssh@bigpond.net.au
Source:
South Sydney Herald February 2008 – www.southsydneyherald.com.au