Start Newsletter MDAA sHARE Newsletter April 2009 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: Healthy Life Style Consumer Forum Community Voices Carmelita in Wonderland Page 1 MDAA HEALTHY LIFE STYLE CONSUMER FORUM On 11 March 2009, MDAA held the Consumer Forum “Healthy Life Style”. We had a very interesting discussion with our 24 consumers and members about nutrition, health and gentle exercise. The session was run by Ms Joyce Broughton, Nutritionist and Ms Camelia Bedwany, Bilingual Community Worker from SWAHS Multicultural Health. We would like to share with you some of the consumer/member comments about the forum: “The forum was informative and friendly”; “a message sent to keep us healthy”, “the food was delicious, practiced some of gentle exercises during the forum”. Page 2 Community Voices and Other MDAA Bits 3 March 2009 : Bankstown Council Age and Disability Forum On the morning of Tuesday 3 March, Tony Shoushani—CV member—got up early to make it on time to the Bankstown Age & Disability Forum. About 45 workers from service providers and local government organisations got together to listen to the guest speakers as well as to suggest strategies to address the identified issues. Some attendees came to congratulate Tony on his presentation and encourage him to continue speaking up for the rights of people with disability. Tony was excited and happy to share his story with everyone. Our thanks to the organisers and Debbie Giacomin who sent us the invitation and took care of us on the day. Paul Spiteri (Holroyd City Council Worker) and Sean Langshaw (Disability South West Services) were also speakers on the day. 6 March 2009 : International Women's Day celebration in Cabramatta Nidhi Shekaran from CV joined the International Women's Day celebration at Cabramatta, Advocate Gordana and Shu from our staff were present at the MDAA stall on the day. Staff members and volunteers were very active in providing information about advocacy, the Womens' Network and CV. Singer Ace Boncato performed on the day as well as Belly Dancer Hannen Abdallah. Liliane Lukoki was the guest speaker at the main event. Women from different cultures and countries made the day a successful activity. 9 March: Disability Rights Awareness Training in Parramatta CV member Roger Fyfe made his maiden speech at Parramatta on 9 March 2009. CV members are people with disability from different backgrounds, their families, carers or friends who are trained in public speaking. CV is run by City & Inner West Disability Advocacy (CIWDA). Cultural Abilities trainers Theresa and Joyce were running a Disability Rights Awareness Program for designated ethnic workers and invited Roger as a guest speaker. He was excited and very happy to share his story with all the workers. Questions were asked and answered and everybody was satisfied. Congratulations Roger!!! Thanks to Theresa and Joyce. Page 3 12 March: Disability Awareness Training in Hurstville Roger Fyfe made another CV Presentation at the Disability Awareness training ran by MDAA Cultural Abilities at Hurstville. About 20 workers were present on the day and everybody expressed how relevant it was to have Roger as part of the training to share his story of having a disability and dealing with the system. Theresa and Maria from Cultural Abilities were the organisers. 19 March: CV at Harmony Day in Meadowbank TAFE CV members Hannen and Luis went to Meadowbank TAFE to participate in Harmony Day organised by Ryde Council and TAFE. Many people including students attended the event, visiting the stalls which provided a range of information. People who came to the MDAA stall took pamphlets and asked for information while others took photos so we decided to join them and take some pictures too. It was a busy day but a rewarding one. 1 April: Bankstown Age and Disability Expo Luis from CV was present at the MDAA stall on the day. A lot of people from different backgrounds came and stall and took our information home. Around 50 workers from disability services were also there. Music, artistic presentations and workshops filled the day out. 23 April: Russian Migrants Information Day in Maroubra. 29 April: Accessible Arts Disability Awareness Training in Bankstown. Roger from CV-CIWDA was a guest speaker at Accessible Arts. He contributed his creative experiences to the seminar on artistic elements to be considered when involving people with disability in any events or entertainment activities. Page 4 Wonderful Holiday Blitz of Carmelita Bongco - there was early winter so chilly and cold but what matters is the warmth and happiness that glows all around us, especially for me who was literally spoiled by my loveable brother and his growing family. As everything was planned in advance there was truly nothing to worry about despite the recession. I do not like to resize or crop this photo because all of us are here with the very famous icons of Mickey & Minnie Mouse, always game to be with excited groups. Anyone of my nephews and nieces could push me in my transport lightweight wheelchair because our accommodation was just a few meters across the road from Disneyland. Everyone did their share in preparing the food, snacks and drinks because it is a bit expensive buying inside anyway. I can honestly say that Disneyland is not only for kids. None of us expected such a huge crowd – millions of them coming from different countries – traffic of wheelchairs, trolleys, prams, old and young people enjoying different scenarios. We patiently waited up to midnight just to see the world famous Eurhytmics of Mickey Mouse which was performed on the water. Disabled people were treated well and respected by everyone – everywhere I went I could really notice it and compared this with Australia. All the buses and trains are easily accessible – no need for portable ramps – because going in and coming out are on the level of the street. This is a wake up call for the Federal, State and Local governments all over Australia, not only here in Sydney. Religious and Significant Days May-June May 2 Twelfth Day of Ridvan* Baha’i Yom HaSho’ah * Jewish 9 Buddha Day (Visakha Puja/ Vesak) ** Buddhist 21 Ascension of Christ Christian 23 Declaration of the Bab * Baha’i 26 National Sorry Day Orthodox Christian 29 Ascension of Baha’u’llah * Baha’i 29 - 30 Shavuot * Jewish 31 Pentecost Christian 7 Pentecost Orthodox Christian 14 All Saints’ Day Orthodox Christian Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev Sahib Sikh 16 Day of the African Child Celebrated across Africa 20 World Refugee Day United Nations 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 Questions page. Insert 1 Rachel on Susan ((By Rachel Lazarov)... Hello everybody! In January this year, I knew about a special occasion which I want to share with you all. One of our workers at MDAA has reached half a century. We believe that as we get older we get wiser and this special day had arrived for my dear colleague, our Individual Advocacy Coordinator-Susan Laguna! She has been with MDAA for donkey years and has become a part of our furniture! I have known Susan since we started MDAA in 1992, and I think that most people feel comfortable around her even if she is old now. We can tell her how we feel even if we do make mistakes and she will always say “It’s ok! What can we do about it or how can we do it differently?” She is a very dedicated worker and fair and we are lucky to have her in our organisation, as I am sure you all agree with me. My only complaint about Susan is that she has made me overweight like her- you see I had a body like Bo Derek before I met Susan!. Susan kept feeding me Filipino food and she does it to everyone in MDAA so they will end up like her. It’s a Filipino conspiracy! As a gift to her, I decided to organise a party in my house and I invited some of our consumers and some of my friends with a disability. We had fun, singing, dancing and joking around! Being Jewish I also celebrated on that same day, the Festival of Lights (Chanukah) which is to remember a miracle that happened when the Jews were sent to the desert by God for 40 years. They found a jar of oil which burned for 8 days and provided them with light. As remembrance, we Jewish people light one candle of a different colour, each day for 8 days. The part of this festival which I like best is that I get to eat bigggg doughnuts with jam fillings after the celebration. You must have seen this big candle holder in Martin Place and Bondi Beach during Hanukah and people go singing and dancing around it. I wish Susan a Happy Birthday and may she grow older gracefully not grumpily! Joyce says good bye to MDAA  The two  plus years at MDAA have been a very special time for me. You all as colleagues contributed to that experience. I have learned so much, I absorbed, learned again to question and puzzle over so many issues, concepts and ideas. That makes it all so much fun. When I think of it I was pretty cocky when I arrived. I felt I knew a bit about cultural competency and the issues of access to services etc. I had a good reality check. I know I have still a long way to go now. All of you  work at so many levels, at the coal face, as well advocating for social change, and you do this in so many ways. Not easy but you all do this really well, I think.  In the last year of training it has amazed me how well MDAA is known and respected......Adieu and see you soon.. later… Insert 2 MDAA is organising a Consumer Forum Do you know your rights and responsibilities as a tenant of private or public accommodation? Having trouble with your landlord? Then come along and hear Adele Francis from WESTERN SYDNEY TENANTS SERVICE who might be to answer your questions Date: 20 May 2009 Time: 9:30 am – 12 noon Place: MDAAA office in Harris Park, 40 Albion Street Ring Judith or Vanco by 18 May 2009 on 9891 6400 if you want to attend this session End od newsletter