marlborough migrant centre newsletter summer feb 2012
DESCRIPTION
Newsletter for Summer 2012: The latest quarterly newsletter of the Marlborough Migrant Centre.TRANSCRIPT
* Promoting and Facilitating Unity in Diversity* ‘’
Summer, February 2012
Marlborough Migrant Centre Newsletter
Summer 2012 Newsletter
We are open Monday to Friday, from 10am to 2pm: Marlborough Migrant Centre Marlborough House, 21 Henry St, Blenheim. Phone: 579 6410 Email: [email protected] Web: www.marlboroughonline.co.nz/mmc
* Promoting and Facilitating Unity in Diversity *
*One Community – Many Faces*
Welcome to our Summer Newsletter
Summer has been a very changeable season, so far. However, February is usually a lovely warm settled month, so it’s time to enjoy all that Marlborough has to offer. Marlborough offers gorgeous scenery in which there are many opportunities to ‘play’. Enjoy our local food, wine, rivers, beaches, forests, and more. Summer at the Marlborough Migrant Centre is our time for planning our big festival event of the year: the Marlborough Multicultural Festival, which is being held on Saturday 3 March 2012 in Pollard Park. Margaret Western, Marlborough Migrant Centre Fieldworker and Marlborough Newcomers Network Coordinator, is very busy organising many events and assisting migrants and newcomers to Marlborough. Margaret has a team working on the 2012 Marlborough Multicultural Festival, and we are all getting excited as the event date gets closer! Join us in celebrating Marlborough’s cultural diversity with music, food, arts, crafts, information stalls and much fun for everyone. Thank you to everyone who has joined as a member of the Marlborough Migrant Centre. For more information, or to join, come in to the office. You can sign up for a year for only $5 and keep up with events and happenings for 2012.
Your MMC Coordinator, Katrina Oliver
The Stall of the Marlborough Migrant Centre at the 2011 Marlborough Multicultural Festival. Jen Hopkins, representing English Language Partners, and Katrina Oliver, coordinator of the Marlborough Migrant
Centre.
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Word from the Chair 2012 marks the seventh year the Marlborough Multicultural Festival has been held. The festival is the biggest event of the year for the Marlborough Migrant Centre in terms of organisation, and public profile. Of course, our other work is equally important, however the Multicultural Festival is a real opportunity for a celebration of what's great about the diversity in our community. While Margaret Western, our fieldworker, is officially responsible for organising the festival, it takes a team effort from lots of people to make the event a success. If you'd like to volunteer to help on the day, or would like to represent your ethnic group either with a performance or in some other way, get in touch with Margaret, as many hands make light work, and the success of the festival in past years has been the result of everyone who's participated, whether as performers, volunteers, food stall holders, community organisation or as members of the public who turn up to support the event. Your support is important, and it's a great way to be part of what the Marlborough Migrant Centre does.
Chris Cookson
Chairperson
At the 2011 Multicultural Festival, a Kiribati group performed. In this photo, one of the Kiribati performers holds the Kiribati flag. Saturday 26 February 2011. Photo by Chris Cookson
This photo shows a group of performers from Vanuatu performing at the 2011 Multicultural Festival, on Saturday 26 February 2011 Photo by Chris Cookson
Contact details for Margaret Western:
Mobile phone 022 657 9018 Email [email protected]
position
We are pleased to inform you that the Marlborough Migrant Centre has been trained by the Office of Ethnic Affairs to deliver the one day Intercultural Awareness and Communication (IAC) training programme to organisations in the Marlborough area. The programme has been designed by the Office of Ethnic Affairs and aims to help workplaces and organisations increase their intercultural awareness and effectiveness and to enhance interpersonal communication skills. When: Two half day sessions 8:45am-12:30pm, Wednesday 28 March & Wednesday 4 April 2012
Where: Room E1, NMIT Campus, 85 Budge Street, Blenheim Who: Participants from the Public service, NGOs, charities, the voluntary and
community sector or any interested individuals Cost: $35 per person (Note: Workshop fee is not for profit; covers basic running costs only.) Cost includes the IAC Manual for workshop participants Gain an understanding of:
Culture Communication Relationships between cultures
Relationships and effective workplace interactions
Ways to improve intercultural communication
This programme is designed to enable participants to develop more awareness of their cultural characteristics and those of others - so that they can communicate more effectively across cultural boundaries. The training focuses on using effective communication to build the kinds of relationships that lead to effective workplace interactions.
BOOKINGS ARE ESSENTIAL - SPACES ARE LIMITED For more information contact:
Marlborough Migrant Centre Marlborough House 21 Henry St, Blenheim Phone: 579 6410 Email: [email protected]
NEWS!
INTERCULTURAL AWARENESS AND COMMUNICATION TRAINING
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Morning Tea at Pollard Park
Join friends for morning tea at Pollard Park, Parker Street, Blenheim. Come along for a coffee and chat. Bring your own cup. Tea/coffee will be provided. Meet on the grassed area next to the children’s playground. Morning tea will be cancelled if raining. When: Monday 13 February 2012, 10:00am to 11:30am
Newcomers Network Potluck Dinner Once every two months from 6:00pm at Marlborough House, 21 Henry Street, corner George and Henry Streets, Blenheim. Please bring a plate of food, enough for you or your family, and some to share. This is a great chance to try different food and ask for recipes, and to meet new people and share experiences! When: Friday, 17 February 2012, 6.00pm to 8.00pm
Coffee, Cake and Chat Morning
Come along and join us for coffee, cake and a chat with new and old friends.
Held at Marlborough Migrant Centre, Marlborough House, 21 Henry Street,
Blenheim.
When: Friday 24 February 2012, 10:30am to 12:00pm (noon)
Coffee, Wine and Chat Evening
Come along and enjoy a coffee or glass of wine, good company and friendship at
Chequers Café, 24 Scott Street, Blenheim.
When: Tuesday 28 February 2012, 7:00pm to 9:00pm
The Marlborough Multicultural Festival Come along to Pollard Park for a day filled with music, dance, crafts, ethnic food and fun. An opportunity to witness the special celebration of cultural diversity in Marlborough. This annual festival will be held at Pollard Park, Parker Street, Blenheim. When: Saturday 3 March 2012, 11:00am to 4:00pm
We are always looking for new ideas for regular activities (eg movie nights, chess club, book club etc) and people wanting to co-ordinate a particular activity. Please get in touch if you would like to become an activities coordinator! Marlborough Newcomers’ Network Margaret Western phone 022 657 9018 / Office 579 6410 Email [email protected] Website: www.newcomers.co.nz/marlborough
Newcomers Network Calendar
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Join the
Marlborough
Newcomers
Network! It’s
FREE to join!
Call us on Ph:
022 657 9018
(03) 579 2460
Connect with
us. The
Marlborough
Newcomers
Network is on
Facebook!
Look up our
page and click
the ‘Like’
button.
Page 5 of 6 Marlborough Migrant Centre Summer Newsletter
English Language Partners
International Calendar and Selected Commemorative Dates
23 January Chinese New Year, Yuan Tan. The beginning of the New Lunar Year. 2012 is the Year of the Dragon.
26 January Australia Day, National Day of Australia 5 February Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday, Islamic. This date marks the birthday of Muhammad,
regarded by Muslims as a messenger and prophet of God. 6 February Waitangi Day, National Day of New Zealand. Marks the signing of the Treaty of
Waitangi in 1840, when representatives of the British Crown and over 500 Maori chiefs signed what is New Zealand’s founding document.
15 February Nirvana Day, Buddhist. This day is an observance of the death of the Buddha (Mahayana tradition).
16 February Independence Day, Lithuania. 21 February Shrove Tuesday, Christian. Shrove Tuesday is the day before Lent. Pancakes are
traditionally eaten on this day. 21 February International Mother Language Day, UNESCO Observed every year since February 2000 to promote linguistic and cultural diversity
and multilingualism. 22 February Tibetan New Year (Losar), Buddhist. Losar is an occasion to dispel the obstacles and
negativities of the old year and is marked with activities that symbolise purification. 22 February Ash Wednesday, Lent Begins, Christian. Lent is the period of 40 days which comes
before Easter in the Christian calendar, traditionally a time of fasting and reflection. It begins with Ash Wednesday.
1 March St David’s Day, National Day of Wales. St David's Day, which commemorates the patron saint of Wales, has been a national day of celebration for Welsh people since the 18th century, featuring parades, festivities and singing.
3 March Marlborough Multicultural Festival, celebrating Race Relations in New Zealand. Celebrating Marlborough’s cultural diversity with music, food, arts, crafts, information stalls and much fun for everyone in Pollard Park, Blenheim.
8 March Magha Puja, Buddhist. Also known as Sangha Day, this day celebrates the community of followers of the teachings of Buddha (Theravada tradition).
8 March Purim, Jewish. Purim commemorates the time when the Jewish people living in Persia were saved from extermination by the courage of a young Jewish woman called Esther.
8 March Holi, Hindu. Holi is a boisterous festival with people smearing each other with coloured water and bright powders. Originally a festival to celebrate good harvests and fertility of the land, Holi also commemorates some key figures in Hindu mythology.
14 March New Year, Nanakshahi - year 544, Sikh. The Sikh calendar is called the Nanakshahi Calendar and takes its name from Guru Nanak, who founded the Sikh religion more than 500 years ago.
21 March Race Relations Day, New Zealand. Race Relations Day is the time to reflect on our journey as a culturally diverse nation. The 2012 theme is “Aotearoa, A Fair Go for All”. International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, United Nations. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights affirms that 'all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights'. The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination reminds us of our collective responsibility for promoting and protecting this ideal.
23 March National Day, Pakistan 25 March Independence Day, Greece
If you would like to have a display or help with informing the public about an event for your national day or celebration, then please contact us. We have wall space outside our office and have many national flags available. We would be more than happy to assist you or your group.
Our mission is to promote and facilitate unity in diversity in
Marlborough.
Our key services are:
* Supporting newcomers to Marlborough
* Helping organisations and agencies with migrant matters
* Education/awareness raising
* Social functions and events
* Promoting Marlborough as a multi-cultural province and celebrating
cultural diversity
We are always looking for people who would like to become a ‘Friend of
the Migrant Centre’, get involved in our committee working groups or in
any other way. And we would be happy to hear from businesses and
organisations that would like to support us, financially or otherwise.
Please get in touch with us for more information. Thank you.
More Information about the Marlborough Migrant Centre:
Marlborough Migrant Centre Marlborough House
21 Henry St Blenheim 7201
Phone: 03-579 6410
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:
www.marlboroughonline.co.nz
Facebook: Search for our page:
Marlborough Migrant Centre Then click the ‘Like’ button.
*One Community – Many Faces*
Other Interesting Information
Picton Resource Centre, Mariners Mall, High St, Picton, 10am- 1pm Monday to Friday. They work within the community of Picton and the Marlborough Sounds assisting with community based information and promoting of local events. Ph. 573 7790. Email [email protected]
Renwick News and Views: Contact Vicki Harrison Jones to get a copy sent to you. Phone (03) 572 9688 or email [email protected] . Website: www.renwicksportscentre.co.nz
Community Gardens at 85 Budge St, behind NMIT. Community edible gardens. If anyone/any ethnic, cultural community group is interested in joining in, then please contact the Trustees Manager, Tina Fortune, ph. 021 0242 3496
Riversdale Community House newsletter: Contact Sue to get a copy sent to you: Phone 578 0469 or email [email protected]
Starting a Business? Inland Revenue offers FREE courses at the NMIT Campus: Introduction to Business Tax Seminar, GST Workshop, and Rental Income Workshop. Bookings are essential. Phone 0800 377 774 or email [email protected]
The Parents Centre runs child birth education classes for new parents (evenings) and a popular ‘baby and you’ course (day time) for mums and new babies. These run about 6 times a year with people grouped together depending on babies’ birth dates. These then continue as more informal coffee groups. Contact the Parents Centre. Phone 027 5223002 email: [email protected] .
Marlborough Farmers Market every Sunday until June, 9am to 12pm at the A and P Showgrounds, corner of Maxwell Road and Alabama Road, Blenheim. Rain or Shine!
Marlborough4Fun Event Guide: for regular activities and events in Marlborough , monthly supplement in the Saturday Express newspaper or www.marlborough4fun.co.nz.
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