MDAA sHARE Newsletter December 2008 MDAA Contact details: by phone: (02) 9891 6400 or 1800 629 072 by fax: (02) 9635 5355 by e-mail: mdaa@mdaa.org.au Website: www.mdaa.org.au by writing: PO Box 9381, Harris Park NSW 2150 by coming to the office: Monday -Friday, 9.00am - 5.00pm, 40 Albion Street, Harris Park NSW 2150 In this issue: MDAA AGM Planning for 2009 George Ayoub's Farewell Page 1 MDAA AGM On 26 November MDAA members got together for the Annual General Meeting to elect a new Committee. After the formalities, consumers, friends and workers joined with our members and the fun started. For more details and photos see pages 2 & 3. MDAA Holiday Closure The office will be closed for the Christmas holidays from 25 December 2008 and will open again on 05 January 2009. Raising Kids Together Booklet & DVD This booklet & DVD was produced for families with a child or young person with disability from Afghanistan, Iraq & Sudan. If you would like to have a free copy please call MDAA on (02) 9891 6400. MDAA Planning for 2009 and End of Year Celebration MDAA would like to invite you to give us feedback on our work this year and help us to plan for Consumer Forums for next year. Also, we want to celebrate the end of 2008 with all our members and consumers. When: Wednesday, 17 December 2008 Time: 10:30 am - 12 noon, then lunch Where: MDAA Office, 40 Albion Street, Harris Park Please bring a plate to share for lunch & we will draw lucky door prizes. Call Judith on . 9891 6400 by Tuesday 16 December to say if you are coming. MDAA Welcomes Lyn Lormer, new Assistant Director: (picture of Lyn) Hi everyone! It is a pleasure for me to be working at MDAA with such a professional group of people who are dedicated to ensure the rights of NESB people with disability. I hope to make a positive contribution to MDAA and that over time I will get to know you all - so if you are in the office please introduce yourself. Pages 2 and 3 (Pictures of MDAA members electing the new Committee for 2008-2009 and general audiernce celebrating the day). Please find a Committee Members bios on pages Five and Six) MDAA would like to thank Doughie Herd, from the NSW Disability Council who acted as the Returning Officer during the AGM and George Ayoub, former MDAA Advocate, who was the MC for the day. As usual we had plenty of nice multicultural food to share. Here are light moments after the AGM captured in pictures. MDAA is lucky to have such wonderful artists who performed for us. Among the items were: Afghan dancing by Sher and Sarah; belly dancing (R n B style) by Hannen from Lebanon; Fijian-Indian dancing by Nicole. Then our own CIWDA Advocate, Stephen made a majestic entrance wearing the traditional Scottish kilt. He played on his bag pipe, Waltzing Matilda and Amazing Grace. Not to be outdone our Treasurer, David Abello performed an old song and Raquel Zarate sang beautifully for everyone. The surprise for the day was the MDAA choir singing “It’s a Small World”. Then we had line dancing doing the Macarena, Nutbush and the Chicken Dance. When people got excited and took control of the Boncato’s karaoke machine, the singing competition begun. Some were pleasant and others were ear-shattering but it was all for fun! Some did not want to go home and wanted to keep singing. An important part of the celebration is the awarding of certificates of appreciation to volunteers who had supported MDAA. Page 4 MDAA participated in many activities in celebration of the International Day for People with Disability. We set up stalls in Cabramatta and Parramatta Centrelink offices with advocates, Community Voices and volunteers managing the stalls. We partnered with Parramatta Council and other disability organisations in a big celebration on 2 December with many of our members providing entertainment and support. On 3 December, some staff from MDAA spoke during the launch of the resource kit “Looking After Me” Project of the Penrith Women’s Health. The kit aims to develop the skills of women with intellectual disability in understanding and developing healthy and meaningful relationships. Geaorge Ayoub's Farewell At the end of November, we said goodbye to our long standing and remarkable, Individual Advocate George Ayoub whom most of our clients & members know. George also was an excellent MDAA ambassador and of course, a computer whiz guy!! As one colleague said: “I would always remember him every time I have a problem with the computer!!!. Best wishes to George!! Religious and Significant Days JANUARY 1 Mary, Mother of God Catholic Christian Feast of St Basil Orthodox Christian Gantan- sai (New Year) Shinto 3 Vasant Panchami ** Hindu 5 Twelfth Night Christian Birthday of Guru Gobindh Singh Sahib Sikh 6 Epiphany Orthodox Christian Feast of the Theophany Orthodox Christian 7 Christmas /Nativity of Christ Orthodox Christian Ashura* Islam 11 Mahayana Buddhist New Year** Buddhist Baptism of Jesus Christian 13 Maghi Sikh 18 World Religion Day Baha’i 26 Chinese New Year Confucian/Daoist/ Buddhist FEBRUARY 2 Presentation of Jesus in the Temple (Candle Mass) Christian 9 Tu B’shvat* Jewish Nirvana Day** (Mahayana) Buddhist Meatfare (Judgement) Sunday Orthodox Christian 23 Maha Shivaratri ** Hindu 24 Shrove Tuesday Christian Ash Wednesday (Lent begins) Christian Note: * Usually begins sunset the day before; ** local customs may vary this date. Dates and information largely obtained from the Interfaith Calendar ( www.interfaithcalendar.org/2009.htm). More details about each day can be found at www.mdaa.org.au on the Frequently Asked Page Questions page. Pages 5 and 6 David Abello (picture) He has been on the Committee of MDAA for ten years. He is the Vice Chairperson and Treasurer. He has been active in the disability movement over the last 25 years. He works as a social policy researcher at the University of New South Wales. David has psychiatric and physical disability. Rachel Lazarov (picture) Rachel came from Bulgaria with her son in 1980. Overseas she graduated and worked as a Nurse. In Australia she got a Diploma in Social Welfare, she started working as an Advocate until 2000 when her vision deteriorated even further and she went to do voluntary community work. In 2002 Rachel had a serious train accident and suddenly she became a double amputee, she soon learned to walk on her own. Currently she is member of MDAA Committee. Milanka Zivanovic (picture) Milanka came from Serbia in 1969 and has a vision impairment. She has been involved with MDAA since it started. She has represented MDAA in different forums and meeting with politicians and governments bodies. She is very active and juggles the roles of being a carer to her elderly parents, a wife, a mother and a grandmother. Milanka has a very busy schedule and is always on the run but always gives time to MDAA. Dulia Mandinic (picture) Dulia came to Australia from South America with her family. A service in Redfern told her that it would be good for her to go to MDAA and get help and support for some personal matters. She looks after her daughter as well as the rest of the family. She feels happy to be part of MDAA Committee, giving something back to the community. “I feel comfortable to go there and I feel understood” she said. Anne Napoli (picture) Former Deputy Mayor and current Griffith Council Member: “Our town is a multicultural one, with 52 nationalities, a fantastic combination, everyone has something to contribute, each of them is Australian but do not forget the richness of their culture. My son and I have been lobbying for years to break barriers at schools and services. Four years ago, I got in contact with MDAA and thought it was a good opportunity to work more and promote the message”. George Buxbaum (picture) (On leave). George was born to Ukrainian parents who came to Australia from Poland in the mid 1950's. He was born here in Australia and feels strongly about this and his mixed heritage. He is one of the longest standing members of the MDAA Committee and works with other community organisations, parenting and self advocacy groups. He also likes computers and enjoys sharing his knowledge with other people. Gerard Nayna (picture) Gerard came to Australia from Mauritus, and in 1998 met an MDAA worker, a young lady who invited him to come for a visit. At one of MDAA’s activities he met Yussra and later married.her. They now have 2 lovely boys. He says “being part of the Committee will be a good experience and I would like to use my promotional skills to help all MDAA members”. Erlinda Van Der Brack (picture) “I went to meet some people at the Social Security Appeals Tribunal and they referred me to MDAA to get some support. I wanted to be a member of the Committee to share my experiences and help others. Coming to MDAA activities gives me that feeling of belonging”, she says. Pusparanee Mcintosh (picture) Pusparanee came from Malaysia a few years ago. “I had a lot of issues with housing, and an organisation for people with disability sent me to MDAA. Susan Laguna assisted me to get help with different needs. After, I thought I could give something back as a member of the MDAA Committee. This makes me feel I am part of an organisation that helps people with disability from an NESB”. Tony Shoushani (picture) “I speak Arabic and English and was born in Lebanon. My family came to Australia when I was a baby. I want to broaden my horizon and learn more about disability, go out and talk about it without shame. I became a member of the MDAA Committee and got involved in some meetings and training. I want to help promote MDAA and assist more people to become members”. Athana Fan (picture) She is a mother of teen age twins, Rebecca and Iris who both have intellectual disability. “I joined MDAA because they help me if I have problems and I want to volunteer. My girls attend the activities of the Women with Disability Network and socialise with other women”. Chris Livanos (No picture available) She is from Greek background and was MDAA’s former Executive Director. She was elected to the MDAA Committee at the recent AGM. Alberto Castillo (On leave)(No picture available). He is a carer.