Monday 28 July 2014


Cultural Festival

Date:  Tuesday 2 September, 2014

It will be a day to celebrate the wonderful diversity within our organisation and our community with entertainment and food. If people wish to come in their cultural costumes that would be great. 

More information will be released closer to the date.

We hope to see everyone there!
NATIONAL VOLUNTEER’S WEEK

Dates: 26 May 2014 - 30 May 2014

The National Volunteer week provides an opportunity to highlight the role of volunteers in our community. LMCC organised a special morning tea for each day of the week, as our way to show appreciation to the people who are the backbone of our organisation.
  
Without our volunteers, we would not be able to run the Centre or offer as many different classes and services for you.
  
Many volunteers - committee of management, tutors and office, work behind the scene, in classes and at front of house contributing their time, knowledge and skills.  

Thank you to all the volunteers for their continuous support, we recognise and appreciate all the hard work that you do.
Bette Ellis Multicultural Morning Tea

Date: Wednesday 21 May, 2014

LMCC hosted our own Bette Ellis Multicultural Morning Tea held on the 21st of May.  Many people attended and bought food to share.
  
This was an opportunity for students, tutors and volunteers to get together over a cup of tea or coffee, enjoying a bite to eat with good company whilst  raising money to help Cancer Council beat cancer.  

Our guest speaker was Meg Rynderman, a volunteer with the Cancer Council.  She spoke about her brave fight with cancer and how she remained positive throughout her battle.  Meg is now symptom free and enjoying life with her family.
  
The Committee of Management and staff would like to thank everyone who attended the Bette Ellis Multicultural Morning Tea and generously donated.  We are pleased to say that $854.90 was raised for Cancer Research.     

Thank you to our generous community at LMCC.
Blue Lotus Water Garden Excursion

Date: Thursday 27 March, 2014

Rhyll’s class set off on an excursion to the Blue Lotus Water Garden at Yarra Junction. We had been told that the lotuses were in full bloom as we arrived. We were not disappointed as there were hundreds of exquisite flowers in various shades of pink and cream, lemon and mauve as well as many lovely water lilies growing in four ponds, interconnected by Oriental bridges. On entering the giant Amazon lily glasshouse, we were amazed to find lily pads as large as one of Kiki’s Spanakopita dishes and it’s even able to provide a lovely waterbed for a little baby.  There was also a very good restaurant, an interesting gift shop and a retail nursery where you can buy a lotus to beautify your garden.

My Chinese students told me that the lotus plant can be used in many ways; the lotus paste is used in traditional moon cakes, the leaves used to wrap sticky rice, the seeds are crushed and mixed with hot water for a health tonic, and the seeds and roots are used in soups and stir fries. A busy gardener told us that there are two types, tropical and temperate climate lotuses. From these photos taken by Virginia Young, you can see the real beauty of these heavenly flowers. If you want a day in paradise, please go and visit the Blue Lotus Water Garden in late March or early April and don’t forget to take your camera.

By Rhyll Rivett
30th Anniversary Celebration

Date:  Sunday 09 March, 2014

LMCC’s 30th Anniversary celebrations on 9th March recapped 30 years of service in the community with photographic and multimedia display; Performances from our current participants and groups; and speeches from our current and past volunteers.

Our 30th Anniversary Project “Learning Together 30 Years” was funded by the Australian Government through the Diversity and Social Cohesion Programme.

30 Years! A remarkable accomplishment for a centre amid location changes, government changes local, state and federal and policy changes that started out as a small operation with volunteers giving tirelessly of themselves to the people they provided services to.

At the core of  LMCC  are the people and the friendly, non-threatening and welcoming community. LMCC’s mission of “Helping migrants and  refugees living in Australia” has not wavered in 30 years. The “Dream” as our founder Sister Miriam Boland has termed LMCC, continues to evolve adapting to  policy changes and the environment it finds itself in. Volunteers continue to remain an integral part of the centre - the COM providing strategic vision; tutors and office volunteers assisting with delivering programs.