June 23, 2012 - Newcastle Event Report Thankyou for an extremely inspiring day. The various contributions were all excellent and came together as a most moving and powerful day.

Anna Jaaniste - Walk Together Attendee Wow what an inspiring incredible day. I feel honoured to be living in Newcastle amongst such beautiful inclusive people.

Jo McGregor - RANN

TABLE OF CONTENTS

EVENT SUMMARY 4 OBJECTIVES 4 KEYNOTE SPEAKERS AND EVENT HIGHLIGHTS 5 MEDIA AND MARKETING 6 EVENT ATTENDANCE 8 EVENT SPONSORS 9 WELCOME TO 10 CONTACT INFORMATION 10

What an awesome event. Congratulations to all the organisers and thank you - it was a privilege to be a part of it.

Robyn Warner Causley: Walk Together Attendee EVENT SUMMARY On June 23, 2012 at 1pm, 350 Novocastrians took part in the inaugural Walk Together event beginning at Central Promenade Newcastle and ending at the Newcastle Maritime Centre in Honeysuckle, with a small festival celebrating the diverse cultures that make up the Australian experience.

Walk Together also took place in 10 capital cities and several regional cities around the nation and was a very successful day, with over 10,000 people in attendance across the nation.

Walk Together Newcastle was a celebration of all that diversity adds to our society, culture and community as we recognised that we have all walked different paths to become part of the combined Australian journey.

It gave everyone in the community—long-term Australians, Indigenous Australians, refugees, migrants, international students and all other Australian citizens—the chance to welcome the latest arrivals to our community and to demonstrate our support for its beautiful multicultural reality.

So proud to be a part of such a great day, congratulations. I can’t wait for next year’s Walk Together event!

Luke Pearson - Aboriginal Educator

OBJECTIVES Walk Together exists to call out the best in the Australian character, our inclusive, generous, compassionate and welcoming nature in a large demonstration of the nation we'd like to become. Through the event itself and the subsequent media coverage we hope that this initiative promoted the positive impacts of living in a diverse society.

We also hope that new arrivals to Newcastle will know that there were 350 Novocastrians who came together for the event who want to help them thrive here in Newcastle and enjoy the freedom and peace they have come here for. Today makes me feel welcome and a part of the Newcastle community. Newcastle is my home and my refuge. Today I am a proud African Australian.

Jerome Rugaruza - Former Refugee

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS AND EVENT HIGHLIGHTS Those who attended Walk Together heard powerful insights and testimonies from Novocastrians such as Elder, Aunty Sandra Griffin, Therese Doyle from the Refugee Action Network Newcastle, Jerome Rugaruza from Africa Australia Alliance for Peace and Reconciliation, Luke Pearson an Aboriginal Educator, Councillor Michael Osbourne from Newcastle City Council and Kwabo Batende from Northern Settlement Services and the Grainery Christian Network.

Those in attendance and those who were dining or enjoying the sun in the Honeysuckle precinct were also treated to an awesome community festival featuring the Nguarra Bu Aboriginal dancers, the Congolese Karibu Gospel Choir and local African singer songwriter, Berias Masseque.

Special thanks to the team of incredible volunteers who made the day successful including Jo McGregor, Nicole Molyneux, Julie Marsh, Graeme Marsh, Stephen Bonamy, Victoria Bonamy, Rick McCann, Geoff Foster and Nathan Notley.

Many stories, one community. It was such a great turn out of people making a statement that refugees are welcome in Newcastle.

Michael Osborne: Councillor - Newcastle City Council MEDIA AND MARKETING Walk Together gained strong media exposure prior to the event with 9% of attendees hearing about the event through press ads and radio interviews. The event also received coverage on NBN TV News and in post the event.

Thanks to Andrew and family for organising the wonderful “Walk Together” on Saturday. I loved the dancers and singers and especially hearing Jerome’s story. Let’s do it again next year!

Therese Doyle - RANN

MEDIA MENTIONS 21st June 2012 - KOFM/NXFM News - 1233 ABC Radio News 22nd June 2012 - 1233 ABC Newcastle Afternoons Program Interview - 2GO Saturday Breakfast Pre-Record Interview 23rd June - NBN Television Local News 25th June - Newcastle Herald Story

Thanks again to Andrew, Amanda and all the crew from Walk Together. Fabulous Job.

Dr Paul Hodge: Australian African Association for Reconciliation and Peace Walk Together Press Ad – Newcastle Herald

Walk Together Herald News Story

Walk Together NBN News Story (Click here to view) EVENT ATTENDANCE Of the 350 attendees at the walk 140 were asked how they heard about it. The results of this survey can be found in the table below.

23% 20% 16% 8%

Facebook Word of GetUp Refugee Action Website Mouth Website Network Newcastle EVENT ATTENDANCE 5% 5% 5% 4%

1233 ABC Radio Twitter Northern Newcastle Herald Interview Website Settlement Services Advertisement

MEDIA MENTIONS 21st June3% 2012 2% 2% 2% - KOFM/NXFM News Work or Penola University of Socialist - 1233 ABC Radio News Personal Email House Newcastle Alliance 22nd June 2012 - 1233 ABC Newcastle Afternoons Program Interview - 2GO Saturday Breakfast Pre-Record Interview 23rd June - NBN Television2% Local News 2% 1% 25th June Peppermint Newcastle Christians - NewcastleMagazine Herald Story Greens Party for Peace

How fortunate we had the opportunity for making our lives richer, more interesting, more giving, and providing an opportunity for us to practise sharing, humanity and understanding.

Diane Lenham - Walk Together Attendee I am proud to be a part of a group of people who are playing a part in creating the kind of community we’d like to live in and the character of a nation we can be proud of.

Andrew Marsh - Walk Together Event Organiser

EVENT SPONSORS Welcome to Australia is very grateful for the support received from major partner Newcastle City Council. Many thanks to Chris Tola and Drew Ferguson-Tait from the events team at council. Without your support we would not have had such a successful event.

Thanks also to Frank and the team at Newcastle Signarama for donating signage for the event and to Geoff Foster, Rick Mc Cann and Nathan Notley from Church180 for donating their time and PA and Sound equipment.

We also appreciated the cooperation and support of Silo Restaurant and Bar and Acquazul Restaurant who also provided volunteers with free coffees on the day. Thanks also to Toni Cappiello and the team at the Hunter Development Council for their assistance. Finally, a big thank you to Deb Mastello and Anne Van Der Valk from the Newcastle Maritime Centre for your help and support.

Many Thanks to our Event Sponsors

Many Thanks to our Offical Media Partner WELCOME TO AUSTRALIA Welcome to Australia exists to engage everyday Australians in the task of cultivating a culture of welcome in our nation. The Australia we love is known for its diversity, compassion, generosity and commitment to giving all people a fair go. We’d like to find many different ways that individuals, families, businesses and other organisations can work together to continue to develop these values in our communities, work places, schools and institutions.

Visit www.welcometoaustralia.org.au and add your photo to the one million welcomer’s gallery.

Email [email protected] about getting involved in the Welcome to Australia movement or to make a donation. You can also find out about local volunteering and mentoring opportunities to support new arrivals.

We want to create a culture where all people can know they belong so do what you can to create a culture of welcome in your street, school, workplace and neighbourhood. Throw a welcome party. When you see someone who looks or sounds or acts differently to you, smile, introduce yourself and make a new friend.

CONTACT US Welcome to Australia (Newcastle) Branch Director: Andrew Marsh Email: [email protected] Phone: 0421 795 907 Facebook: www.facebook.com/welcome.newcastle Website: www.welcometoaustralia.org.au Twitter: @wtanewcastle