Hi I am Kathy, a volunteer with the Dandenong Ranges Oxfam group. On Australia Day we ran a Close the Gap stall at the Belgrave Survival Day Festival, a local community celebration of Aboriginal culture, with Aboriginal music, dance and stalls. We have done so for six years. We started with an umbrella and some stickers, pledge forms, a poster and tattoos for the kids.
Each year the festival has grown and so has our stall. We now do DIY face painting. Mums had great fun painting their own kids in aboriginal flag colours. This year we added a Bush Tucker Biccies and Muffins stand with lemon myrtle and muffins and wattle seed shortbread. We also sold Oxfam shop bush food, jams, herbs and sauces. We got heaps of pledges signed and people interested in doing their own events on Close the Gap Day, as well as raising some money.
It really is a fun day. Why not do your own activity like DIY face painting or bush tucker at your club or school for Close the Gap Day on March 21st, just register on the web site for info and materials.
Kathy Tyler, Dandenong Ranges Oxfam group