Wednesday 11 March 2015

In memory of Julie Roberts

Date:  Wednesday 5th November, 2014


Louise Multicultural Community Centre was saddened by the passing of Julie Roberts on Wednesday 5th November 2014.

When Julie Roberts retired in 1983 from employment in the Education Department, she knew she wasn’t ready to give up teaching altogether. So when, in 1984, she was asked by Sister Miriam Boland (dec) to co-ordinate the English program at her newly opened centre, she was delighted to accept!

She quickly began to realise that the job description of “English Coordinator” was almost peripheral to meeting the needs of the countless refugees. “English,” she said, was “caught on” not “taught” as their friends learned to trust them.

Even more than “teaching” English, Julie appreciated the privilege of being regarded as a friend or surrogate mum and grandma to people who had been forced to flee their homelands and were making a new life in a strange new land.  She became a Life Member of Louise in 2005 and retired from volunteering in 2012.

Julie’s twenty-eight years of selfless commitment to countless migrants, refugees and participants at Louise was an inspiration. She was a much loved member of the LMCC family and she will be deeply missed. Our condolences go out her husband Reg, four children and ten grandchildren.

- Sarah Price-


Exercusion to Geelong

Date:  Wednesday 29th October, 2014


On Wednesday 29th October 2014, LMCC students, tutors and staff travelled to Geelong for the day.
We arrived in Geelong, and picked up our Tour Guide, Colin Mockett. As we drove through the main roads of Geelong, Colin explained to us Geelong’s history.

Our first stop for the day was the Geelong Waterfront at Eastern Beach. Many took their photos with the famous wooden sculptures and we also admired the views of the yachts, ocean and pier.

Our second stop brought us to the Geelong Botanic Gardens. The Gardens featured stunning plants, flowers and greenery. Although we wished for some more time in the gardens we hopped back on the bus for our final destination, the Geelong Mural.

The Geelong Mural proved to be a spectacular display! The history of Geelong is depicted through intricate mosaic picture art. The mural stands 32 metres long by 2 metres high on an entire wall of the State Government Building.

The weather was on our side as we enjoyed our picnic lunches in the sunshine overlooking the waterfront and we enjoyed a great coffee at the local café. Our Geelong trip came to an end and we headed home to LMCC.

Thank you to all who attended as it was a fantastic day and to the staff as well for organising our excursion!

A very special thank you to Mission Op Shop for sponsoring this excursion!
Annual General Meeting (AGM)

Date:  Wednesday 22nd October, 2014


The 2014 AGM took place on the 22nd of October at Louise Multicultural Community Centre. My role this year was to take minutes during the meeting. President Ruth Lee welcomed everyone and in her report, thanked staff and volunteers for their work. She reflected on the 30th Anniversary celebrations and the sad passing of our founder, Sister Miri-am Boland. This being her last year as President, Ruth wished the Com-mittee of Management all the best for the future and hoped that they will continue to strive to fulfill Sr. Miriam’s objectives.

Following that, Centre Manager Klaudia Lozo began her report by talking about the achievements for 2014 and thanking the Committee of Management, staff, volunteers and students for contributing to that success. She talked about the history of LMCC and Sister Miriam, and highlighted the success of 2013-2014’s major events, including the establishment of the LMCC Resource Library made possible by Rotary funding, 30th Anniversary, and outreach partnership with St. John’s Mitcham Parish. She also talked about the successful volunteer program which has successfully transitioned multiple volunteers into positions of paid employment.

There was the election of four executive positions and six new ordinary members. Ruth Lee gave a speech honouring Sister Miriam Boland and talked about the development of a trust in her name. New President Julie Hawkey then presented Ruth with a certificate and flowers to acknowledge her six years of presidency and 12 years of service. The 2014 AGM was then declared closed and everyone was invited to the Art Show and Soiree.
Art Show

Date:  Wednesday 22nd October, 2014


LMCC held its inaugural Art Show on 22nd October 2014 at Nations Foyer, Whitehorse Artspace, Box Hill Town Hall. Our Patron, The Hon. Alastair Nicholson opened our Art Show commenting on the quality and variety of the art pieces presented. There were approximately sixty guests attended the Soiree, where all our guests enjoyed some refreshments, accompanied by lovely live music by Judy Ho.

There were 27 submissions from artists with various backgrounds across Victoria. From painting on scarf to pressed flowers arranged as a peony. Each art piece demonstrated the uniqueness of the individual artist. Four paintings were sold during the exhibition. It was a memorable event!

Thank you to all staff, volunteers and artists for their support.

Wednesday 4 March 2015

Excursion to the National Gallery of Victoria

Date:  Thursday 21st August, 2014

Rhyll's class together with Joan Adamson met at Box Hill Central station in the early morning for an excursion to an excursion to the National Gallery of Victoria, The NGU.  They were amused and surprised to see a display of brightly coloured polar bears, covered not in fur but in hundreds of features when they arrived at the Gallery.  Each of the eight bears were in different positions.  Some looking very playful and one even flying down to join the others from the second floor. They had visited the William Blake exhibition and other displays of very fine art works from China, Tibet, Japan, India, Indonesia and other Asian countries.