Tree of Truths
This week at the Castlemaine RAR letter writing and creative arts table, we created truth leaves with facts and feelings around refugees and asylum seekers. We then be added our leaves to our Tree of Truths.
Solidarity with Eaten Fish
The Castlemaine Rural Australians for Refugees (RAR) Letter writing and creative arts table was back in action today with participants showing solidarity with Mr Eaten Fish. An award winning cartoonist from Iran languishing on Manus Island.
We made placards showing our solidarity with Mr Eaten Fish for the weekly vigil for refugees and Asylum Seekers, held on Wednesdays at the steps of the Market Building in Castlemaine, 7-8pm
Concertina books with messages of support
The kids participating at the Castlemaine RAR creative arts table made concertina booklets with messages of support for refugees and asylum seekers. We wanted to make our booklets as long as possible to fill many pages with love and support.
Gift Boxes for Refugees
The kids at the RAR(Castlemaine) Creative Arts table decorated and filled gift boxes for those languishing in Australian detention centres. With the upcoming gift giving festivities we felt it necessary not forget people detained, suffering in horrific conditions and hope these gift boxes provide some moment of relief, where they can know we are thinking of them.
Laminating Placards
In response to the bill threatening a lifetime ban on asylum seekers arriving by boat to Australia after 2013, the RAR(Castlemaine) Creative Arts table made placards for upcoming rallies protesting this horrific bill. #banthebill
Market Art Summer Exhibition
Four of my sculptures are currently on display at the Market Art Summer Exhibition at the Market Building in Castlemaine.
The Market Art Summer Exhibition is held in the Castlemaine Visitor Information Centre on Mostyn Street until Sunday 12 February.
For more information: Mount Alexander Shire website.
Chatterboxes with messages of support
The kids at the Creative Arts table decided to make chatterboxes with messages of support for the children in detention. We imagined they could play the chatterbox game and end with words of hope.
The Greeting Card Project
The RAR(Castlemaine) Creative Arts table has gotten on board the Greeting Card Project and created birthday cards for Mr. Dutton expressing concern over children in detention.
"The Greeting Card Project 18th November.
Happy Birthday, Mr. Dutton
Peter Dutton, Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, was born 18/11/1970 - so he has a birthday coming up.
The Melbourne Grandmothers Against Detention of Refugee Children had the wonderful idea of all their members sending Mr. Dutton a Happy Birthday card.
Let’s all get on board with this idea.
Include a polite message:
§ Remind him, on his birthday, that the children on Nauru have had too many birthdays detained there. #BringThemHere
§ Address the envelope to:
Hon. Peter Dutton,
Minister for Immigration and Border Protection,
PO Box 6022, Parliament House, Canberra 2600
§ Write a respectful greeting
§ Include a reminder that you have not forgotten the Nauru children who have nothing to celebrate on their birthdays.
§ Include the #BringThemHere hashtag
§ Sign it.
§ Post the card just before 13/11 … allowing for snail mail delivery time!
For the cost of a (discount value) card and $1 stamp, this represents an affordable collective action in which we can all can participate (no meetings required!), all share the cost (under $3 each), all share the effort (5-10mins of time) AND make the processing of so many cards through the Parliament House postal delivery system hard to ignore.
As Minister Dutton’s birthday falls on a non-sitting day, you might also send a second card to his electoral address:
§ The Honourable Peter Dutton
Member for Dickson
PO Box 2012
Strathpine, Queensland 4500
If you would like to follow up with a phone call to ensure he has remembered the children from Nauru on his birthday, the phone number is Phone: (07) 3205 9977" (text from RAR Castlamaine email)
Doctors for Refugees Rally, Sat 5 Nov 2016
The RAR Castlemaine Creative Arts table created a wonderful poster for display at the #DoctorsForRefugees rally at the State Library in Melbourne. We were all very proud of what we made together and I was honoured to show Castlemaine represented at the rally.