Thrive Garden Project
While many of us are on holidays, the Thrive Garden is working is working super hard. Green beans are appearing almost overnight, pumpkins are forming and the herbs are bursting with vigour. Tiny chillies are forming and tomatoes too. We are harvesting Thai basil, mint, Vietnamese mint, silverbeet and green beans, lots of green beans.
The wicking beds are doing a marvellous job. Instead of watering every day, these beds are watered every 4 to 5 days. Because the plants draw the water up from a bottom reservoir rather than the top of the bed, less water is lost to evaporation conserving our precious water.
The Thrive Garden is a pilot growing project supported by The Ballarat Foundation and the Victorian Government to increase access to culturally resonant fresh food to Ballarat’s diverse multicultural communities. For more information contact thrive@brmc.org.au.
Community Engagement Team
Developing Our Children Together Project: Participant Recruitment
We invite you to participate in our new Community Engagement Project ‘Developing Our Children Together’, supported by the Victorian Government Strategic Partnerships Program and the Strategic Engagement Coordination Program.
We will provide parenting support through collaborative partnerships with Government and community service providers of early childhood services, which will support you in accessing a range of appropriate services based on your needs.
Who: Multicultural parents with children under the age of 5
When: Starting from early March 2021
Where: Ballarat Welcome Centre, 25-39 Barkly Street, Ballarat VIC 3350
Session Length: 2 hours / session (1 hour: information workshop, 1 hour: socialisation time with other parents and children)
Planned Workshop Topics: Children’s Health and Safety, Activities for Children and Socialisation, Bringing Up a Child Speaking Two Languages, Out of School Hours Care (OSHC), Primary School, Mental Wellbeing for Parents and Children.
Fee: Free of charge
Childminding and refreshments will be provided.
If you would like to join this program or need further information, please contact Community Engagement Team Leader, Heeyoung: hy.lim@brmc.org.au.
Cricket and Gift Donations from the Wendouree Cricket Club
During the summer and Christmas period BRMC received donations from the Wendouree Cricket Club through their work with the Cricket Without Boundaries program. Donations include wooden and plastic cricket bats, stumps, shirts, helmets, balls, pads, and protective gear. So far, the Islamic Society of Ballarat and the Ballarat Indian Association have collected some of the equipment. We have a few packs of cricket items available for any other associations that may be interested.
We also received donations of stationery, toys and gifts to be used in BRMC programs such as Developing Our Children Together, Diversity Homework Club and the Miniroos Soccer Program. We thank the Wendouree Cricket Club and the Cricket Without Boundaries program for their donations and amazing work in supporting BRMC, our associations and our community.
For more information or to receive some cricket items, contact Community Engagement Worker, Lunorphare: lk.folly@brmc.org.au.
Good Governance Program
Centre for Participations have scheduled six Zoom Workshops for community organisations in 2021. Contact the Ballarat Host Coordinator Sarabjit at s.kaur@brmc.org.au to book a spot for your community organisation.
Diversity Homework Club
Here are some photos of our member students with their MY Education Award certificates and reading vouchers:
Social Support
The magic of Christmas filled the room and our hearts at December Multicultural Tucker. It was so wonderful to see everyone together sharing a lovely Christmas lunch.
If you know someone who would benefit from BRMC Social Support Services, contact Teresa on 0417 109 052 or t.azzopardi@brmc.org.au.
Call for Stepping Stones Mentors
Stepping Stones is looking for volunteers interested in working closely with a participant to provide one-on-one mentorship in 2021.
If you are interested, contact Deborah Klein, Stepping Stones Ballarat Regional Coordinator: steppingstones@brmc.org.au or 0457 934 728.
BRMC Podcast: Community Matters
We are inviting the community of Ballarat to take part in this project and help share stories from around the world. We are looking for all ages, from the youth of our community to the seniors in our community, because your story matters and we want to hear it and share it.
New podcast episodes out soon!
Our first two conversations, with host Bobby Mehta, are with Rachel Muir and Yvon Davis. Rachel is a well-known local Aboriginal woman and active community member and Yvon is a migrant from the Netherlands who continues to be an energetic and thoughtful contributor to the Ballarat community. Keep an eye on the BRMC Facebook page for the release of these podcasts.
If you would like to share your story through conversation, please contact us to express your interest and schedule a date. Get in touch with Lamourette Folly at lamourette.f@brmc.org.au or 0405 855 656.
