TAS - Australian Red Cross

Issue 1, 2012
Newsletter
for members
and volunteers
TAS edition
P4 Red Cross Calling
P5 Messages from
the inside
P8 A thousand extra
miles to recovery
P9 The man with the
golden arm

PAGE 2
AROUND AUSTRALIA
Message from the
President and CEO
Michael Legge
President
Australian Red Cross
Robert Tickner
Chief Executive Officer
Australian Red Cross
Welcome to another year full
of new opportunities and ways
you can contribute to the
community, helping the most
vulnerable people in Australia
and overseas.
The success of Red Cross as the
largest humanitarian organisation in
the world rests on the work of trained
and experienced volunteers in our
emergency and everyday work.
This year, at the National Emergency
Awards recognition events, four Red
Cross volunteers, Tony Cullen, Des
Dowie, Jeffrey Hubbard and Bruce
Smith were recognised for their
contribution to helping Australians
affected by natural disasters with
inaugural National Emergency Medals.
These four volunteers represent the
huge contribution made by our
thousands of Red Cross members,
volunteers and supporters across
Australia and around the world.
The Awards were presented by the Prime
Minister at a ceremony in Canberra on
Australia Day and at an event in
recognition of the Black Saturday
bushfires in Flowerdale, Victoria.
You can read more about their
remarkable contributions in the
Queensland Floods and Victorian
Bushfires on our website.
This year we will be consulting widely
to develop a new organisation-wide
strategy on Voluntary Service through
Australian Red Cross to guide our
work in this area. We look forward to
updating you and involving you in
this exciting project.
We hope you enjoy this edition of the
newsletter. You can read more about
our work in the recently published
Annual Report 2010-2011, available
on our website redcross.org.au.
L to R; Des Dowie, Tony Cullen, Michael Legge
and Kevin Keeffe at the inaugural National
Emergency Medals presentation on Australia Day.
Jeff Hubbard is presented with his National
Emergency Medal by the Prime Minister.
Photo: Australian Red Cross/Commonwealth
Government.
New President for Australian Red Cross
Michael Legge was elected
as President of Australian
Red Cross on 8 December
2011 at the Annual General
Meeting in Hobart.
Michael has a long and distinguished
involvement with Red Cross and
served as Vice President for the eight
years prior to his new appointment.
He joined Red Cross in 1986 as a
young and enthusiastic volunteer
ambulance driver with the St Marys
branch in Tasmania.
Since then, his involvement with Red
Cross has taken him from rural
Tasmania as far afield as Mongolia,
Pakistan and the Pacific. He has also
represented Australian Red Cross
internationally, both as an Australian
delegate and speaker at international
forums, and as an active participant
in decision-making for the Movement.
Michael and his wife Sophie are the
proud parents of three school-aged
children and they are the
hardworking owners of a sheep
farm in Tasmania. Australian Red
Cross congratulates Michael on his
election and look forward to his
leadership initiatives.
In addition, we are delighted to
report that the immediate past
President of Australian Red Cross
Greg Vickery AM has been elected
to the Standing Commission of the
International Red Cross and Red
Crescent Movement.
This is a tremendous personal
achievement for Greg and also a huge
honour for Australia and our region.
Cover photo: Australian Red Cross/Louise Cooper

TAS NEWS
PAGE 3
Message from the Chair
and Executive Director
Welcome to 2012.
We trust you all had a good
break and enjoyed the festive
season with your families and
friends. In the last edition we
noted the excellent
contributions Red Cross in
Tasmania had made to the
work of Australian Red Cross
in 2011, crowned by our
hosting of the most successful
National Conference and
associated events.
The National Conference was held in
Hobart on December 9 and 10 and
attracted over 450 Red Cross
members, volunteers and staff to our
wonderful state. This event was
extremely successful and is being held
in high regard as the most successful
Red Cross National Conference to
date. The Conference included a
moving and inspiring Oration
presented by Yves Daccord, Director-
General of the ICRC, who travelled
from Geneva to join us. We would like
to thank everyone involved who
contributed to making this event an
outstanding example of the
professionalism, enthusiasm and
passion of Australian Red Cross.
Other highlights of 2011 include the
creation of the Community Detention
team which is supporting vulnerable
people in a very changeable,
demanding and sensitive environment,
the formation of the Red Cross
University Society in Hobart which we
hope to expand to Launceston and
the North-West in 2012, and the
opening of the new and expanded
northern headquarters of Red Cross
in Mowbray.
We are sure 2012 will have its
challenges, but we are equally sure that
working together we will meet every
one of them and continue to grow and
mature as a group and as individuals.
Let’s all look forward to a successful
new year in which we make the best
use of our talents and of our resources
to bring meaning to our shared
mission of improving the lives of
vulnerable people.
As always, please feel free to provide
feedback to tasinfo@redcross.org.au.
Do you have a Red Cross story?
We would like to hear how you, our valued members and
volunteers, are making a difference.
If you have an idea for a story, or are holding an event that we
can cover, please get in touch.
Please contact your local membership coordinator (contact
details on back).
Best wishes,
Michael Howarth
TAS Divisional Chair
Great ideas
can travel
Dr Ian Burke
Executive Director TAS
The Greg Vickery Scholarship
has been established this year by
the Australian Red Cross Board in
honour of the retiring President, Mr
Greg Vickery AM who continues to
serve Red Cross as a member, a
volunteer and a leader after nearly
40 years. Greg’s involvement with
Red Cross continues at the highest
levels following his appointment as
Chair of the Standing Commission
of the International Movement.
The scholarship, valued at $25,000,
will be awarded annually to fund a
joint international learning experience
for a Red Cross volunteer or member
and a Red Cross staff member. It will
be a fantastic collaborative
experience and have a direct benefit
for Australian Red Cross.
We encourage members and
volunteers to collaborate with a staff
member and submit the required
joint application by 31 May, 2012.
For further details about how to
apply or the selection criteria, please
contact Cathy Stillwell, at cstillwell@
redcross.org.au or 07 3367 7450.
Newsletter for members and volunteers

PAGE 4
AROUND AUSTRALIA
Red Cross Calling
Local hero Cliff Baker from Monash, Victoria,
has worked tirelessly to raise funds for Red
Cross Calling. Photo: Australian Red Cross
Local heroes may come without
capes and superpowers but the
work that they do is nothing
short of miraculous.
This year as part of our Red Cross
Calling campaign we are looking to
recognise all those local heroes who
are living in communities across
Australia and help Red Cross support
vulnerable people both locally and
throughout the world.
One local hero is well known to our
Red Cross Calling team: Cliff Baker
from Monash, Victoria. Cliff has
worked tirelessly with Red Cross
Calling for a number of years, and
raised more than $44,000 last year
– an astonishing effort.
Cliff visits the schools in his area to talk
to students about Red Cross and
works with student volunteers to
coordinate Red Cross Calling
fundraisers. He then personally
delivers fundraising kits to the schools
involved, organises street collections
and finally collects and banks all the
money that they raise.
We know that there are many more
local heroes out there who have
contributed in equally important ways
and on a daily basis. This year for Red
Cross Calling we are asking you to
send in your local hero stories.
A local hero could be anyone who has
shown overwhelming support for Red
Cross. This could be:
• A local community member who
has been involved for a long period
of time or has raised significant
funds for Red Cross
• A Red Cross program manager
who has worked closely with local
communities in their region
• Someone who has volunteered
with Red Cross either in a time of
crisis or in support of one of our
everyday programs.
Please send your stories of your local
hero, including a short description of
why you think they fit the title to
rcc@redcross.org.au or mail to Local
Hero Story, Red Cross Calling, Level 9,
17 York St, Sydney NSW 2000.
These stories will help us in our
upcoming promotions of Red Cross
Calling campaigns.
Red Cross Calling is on during March.
For more information or to fundraise
for us, visit our website at redcross.
org.au, call us on 1800 811 700 or
email us at communityfundraising@
redcross.org.au.
East Africa Drought Appeal
2011 now closed
Thank you for your tremendous efforts in fundraising for the East
Africa Drought Appeal 2011. The final day for fundraising is 29
February and all funds must be banked by 30 March 2012.
Japan tsunami
one year on
This March marks 12 months since
a destructive earthquake and
tsunami severely affected
communities across north east
Japan. The signs of recovery are
clear, with most of the debris now
removed and shops and businesses
gradually reopening in many places.
Generally, people are facing
considerable challenges living in
cramped temporary housing,
especially during the winter season.
Many people are stressed about the
slow pace of reconstruction and feel
uncertain about the future.
The Australian Red Cross Japan
and Pacific Disaster Appeal 2011
raised more than $27 million and
funds raised through the appeal
have been forwarded to Japanese
Red Cross Society, which
responded within hours of the
earthquake with medical teams
and relief supplies. Red Cross
remains committed to assisting in
the long term recovery of affected
communities in the months and
years ahead.
To find out more about the
ongoing assistance to Japan,
visit redcross.org.au.
Wills for life
If you would like to leave
your footprint by contributing
to the vital work of Red
Cross in Australia and across
the world, why not remember
us in your Will. We can put
you in touch with a solicitor
who can help you write or
change your Will for only
$75. To find out how to leave
a bequest for Red Cross
please contact us by calling
1800 811 700 or email
bequests@redcross.org.au.

AROUND AUSTRALIA
PAGE 5
Messages from the inside
p Respect (above)
Aiming towards respecting our Elders
Teaching future leader.
t Inner Spirit (left)
Our inner spirit gives us that strength
to believe within ourselves. When our
spirit feels strong, your mind is
strong. Our inner spirit also keeps our
families together, our communities
strong and our culture alive.
“I learnt that we need to be
proud of our culture, our
community, to say no to drugs
and alcohol” SAM (save-amate)
Our Way education
participant from Whyalla.
At the Port Augusta Prison in South
Australia, a group of young Aboriginal
men in low security are preparing for
their release by creating beautiful
artwork with strong messages about
their personal experiences. They are
part of the Red Cross SAM Our Way
program, which focuses on training
and mentoring in rural and remote
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
communities. The program targets
known risks such as depression,
anxiety, violence and problematic
substance abuse in young people.
Based on a successful urban project,
SAM Our Way runs throughout South
Australia, Queensland, Northern
Territory and Western Australia using
preventative, educational and early
intervention approaches with
communities to build sustainable
models of care.
“The yarning was good. I learnt about
keeping healthy, drugs and alcohol,
our culture, keeping strong. Not to be
ashamed about who we are,” says
one SAM Our Way education
participant from Whyalla. “I really
enjoyed the sessions; it was really
good to learn about it. It was cool.”
The focus of the project in the Port
Augusta Prison has been on
developing a shared story that
highlights the journey that the men
have taken before, during and after
their incarceration.
As part of the story, the men have
created artwork that highlight a series
of messages within the shared story.
The messages focus on the historical
and structural factors that have led to
high rates of disadvantage and
disempowerment among Aboriginal
communities, and the role that drug
use plays in Aboriginal incarceration.
“Alcohol can change our ways of
thinking and will also affect our
judgement. There are also choices to
avoid those problems involving
alcohol and other drugs. Which path
will you take?” reads one message.
Another man writes, “Our inner spirit
gives us that strength to believe within
ourselves. When our spirit feels
strong, your mind is strong. Our inner
spirit also keeps our families together,
our communities strong and our
culture alive.”
With these messages in mind, these
young men now prepare to re-join their
communities and their artwork can be
used as a tool for promoting behaviour
change in other young people.
For more information about the SAM
Our Way program or to find out how
you can help visit redcross.org.au or
call 03 9345 1800.
Newsletter for members and volunteers

PAGE 6
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
A troubled paradise
Sivapalam Sundaram not only survived the 2004
tsunami but also a violent 30-year civil conflict
in Sri Lanka. Photo: Australian Red Cross /
Nadeeka Arambewela
Sivapalam’s home town, an
idyllic seaside village in
northern Sri Lanka, has seen
tsunami destruction and 30
years of war. Sivapalam has
lived through all of it. Now he
talks about rebuilding his home
with the help of his surviving
family and Red Cross.
Sivapalam Sundaram used to fish the
waters every day. Then they turned on
the village. He tells of the deafening,
deep roaring as the wave charged
through the town. The 2004 tsunami
stole his wife and left him clinging
desperately to his fence, fighting the
water. He then sought safety at the
Hindu temple (kovil) with what was left
of his family.
Displacement and fearing for his life are
not new to Sivapalam. He has not only
survived one of the most destructive
natural disasters in recent history but also
a violent 30-year civil conflict in Sri Lanka.
Sivapalam lives in Mamunai village –
an isolated, breathtakingly beautiful
seaside village located in the Northern
Province. However, the white sand and
palms disguise the brutal fighting that
this village has witnessed. In years
following the tsunami, the conflict
intensified and the villagers were
largely housed in Internally Displaced
Persons camps.
Now Sivapalam has returned to his
village after his release from the camp.
His adult son has come back and they
have built two adjacent temporary
shelters with palm fronds and tin sheets
so that they are never too far from each
other. Even with this shelter they are
exposed to the elements and the
monsoon season is near.
Sivapalam is not too worried about the
rains, though. He shows me how his
kitchen garden has been moved to
accommodate the foundations of a new
house that will be built using the funds
contributed by Australian Red Cross. For
the first time in years, he will have
permanent shelter and a lockable door.
The Post Conflict Recovery Program
(PCRP) is a construction program
driven by participants and has proven
to be successful in other conflict and
tsunami-affected areas of Sri Lanka.
Cash grants are given to participants
like Sivapalam to start building. An
accompanying livelihoods and water
and sanitation grant offers extra
support. Red Cross works closely with
participants, managing and monitoring
the program, and ensuring that people
are technically supported throughout
the construction process.
Sivapalam’s granddaughter waves to
us from behind a tin sheet that forms
the wall of her current house.
Sivapalam nods quietly with a look of
pride as he acknowledges the little girl.
Her blitheness presents a contrast to
the contained emotion of her
grandfather who has survived so much
destruction and pain.
The war and the tsunami have left a
lasting legacy on those who have lived
through them. Although one cannot
erase memories of the past, continued
support will slowly rebuild lives and
renew hope. It is this hope that will
nurture the next generation of villagers,
like Sivapalam’s granddaughter, and
foster positive stories of seaside life in
the north of Sri Lanka.
For more information on our work with
vulnerable communities overseas or to
find out how you can help by
volunteering or making a donation go to
redcross.org.au or call 1800 811 700.
With shelter materials accessed via funds donated by Australian Red Cross to the Post Conflict
Recovery Program, Sivapalam Sundaram is rebuilding his home. Photo: Australian Red Cross /
Nadeeka Arambewela

INTERNATIONAL NEWS
PAGE 7
International scholarships
recognise Red Cross people
Whether in the field, at their desks, or in
our communities, Red Cross people
work hard to achieve amazing things.
Vinay Menon and Anita George are being
recognised for their commitment to
humanity through prestigious awards that
will send them abroad to pursue study.
Former national youth leader of
Australian Red Cross, Vinay Menon
has been awarded a prestigious
Rhodes scholarship to study at the
University of Oxford, England. Vinay’s
extensive humanitarian work has also
been recognised in Australia through
the WA Citizen of the Year award
(2008) and the National Young
People’s Human Rights Medal (2009).
This exceptional young man has a
medical degree (MBBS) and a medical
science degree (BMSc in child health)
from the University of Western Australia.
He was the co-founder and volunteer
leader of the Red Cross ‘World Aware’
program for young refugees.
Anita George – a team leader for the
Community Detention program at Red
Cross in Tasmania – has been awarded
After years of study and volunteering with Red
Cross, Vinay will journey to Oxford next July.
Photo courtesy of Vinay Menon
the Sir John Monash Foundation
scholarship and will undertake
postgraduate study at Paris’ Sciences
Po, a university dedicated to the study
of political and social sciences.
“I feel very honoured to be a recipient of
such a prestigious postgraduate
scholarship. The calibre of the other
recipients, both past and present, is
both humbling and inspiring,” says Anita.
Anita holds first-class honours degrees in
both Law and Psychology from the
University of Tasmania and has a diploma
Anita George has been awarded the
Sir John Monash Foundation scholarship.
Photo courtesy Anita George
in French. She is also well known as a
musician and has released three albums.
“My postgraduate studies will include
subjects relating to international
migration policy development, so I am
grateful for the opportunity to have
worked in the Australian migration
sphere as a human rights lawyer and
subsequently in my role with Australian
Red Cross,” Anita says.
Volunteer destinations: The Philippines
The Philippines is an extraordinarily
beautiful country. A place where
volunteers can really make a
difference. Australian Volunteers for
International Development (AVID) is an
Australian Government and AusAID
initiative. AVID representative, Shaun
Hazeldine gives the lowdown on
volunteering in the Philippines.
“The Philippines is plagued by natural
disasters – between 20-30 cyclones
each year. This has a real impact on
the country’s ongoing development.
Through AVID, we want to lend some
support to organisations working in
disaster management, and support
local communities to better prepare for
and withstand natural disasters.
Most assignments are about disaster
management, whether in climate
change, city-wide disaster planning,
logistics or working with Philippine Red
Cross staff in rural communities. One
day you could be in an office developing
a project plan; the next day you could be
100km away in the mountains talking to
farmers; and then you might be relaxing
on a gorgeous beach at one of the
country’s 6000 islands!
Philippine Red Cross will be a key
agency for AVID assignments. It will also
embed volunteers within local
government units that have responsibility
for coordination during disasters. It will
also work with organisations that
support at-risk young people.
As a volunteer, you need to be adaptable
and flexible, because things can change
direction from one day to the next. It can
take some time to settle in, so patience is
very important. It’s an extraordinarily
beautiful country and people are genuine
and friendly. Volunteers in the Philippines
make solid, lasting friendships and there
are many strong development agencies
to work with.”
Check out Shaun’s video at
redcross.org.au/volunteer-destinationsphilippines.aspx
AVID is an Australian Government,
AusAID initiative. Visit ausaid.gov.au/
volunteer and search for Red Cross
assignments or call us on 03 9345 1834.
Newsletter for members and volunteers

PAGE 8
AROUND AUSTRALIA
A thousand extra miles to recovery
Red Cross volunteer Jeff Hubbard and Red
Cross staff member Colin Sivalingum head to
Condamine to assist with the Queensland floods
response in 2011. Photo: Australian Red Cross
It is eye-opening how many people still
need a hand in their recovery, says
Red Cross emergency services
volunteer Jeff Hubbard. “Even though
many people are still doing it tough, it
is rewarding seeing how Red Cross
makes a difference,” he says.
“When you see people down on their
luck, it is always nice to help. I like
what Red Cross stands for. You know
that saying ‘someone goes that extra
mile? Well Red Cross goes the extra
thousand. How do I know? Because
I’ve done it.”
Jeff has spent much of his time over
the past year doing everyday
emergency services work, assisting
hundreds of people affected by the
floods across Queensland.
Jeff says the horrors of the Victorian
bushfires in 2009 inspired him to
volunteer with Red Cross emergency
services. Jeff didn’t hear from Red
Cross until towns in Queensland
started going underwater on 26
December, 2010 then “my phone was
going crazy”.
Jeff worked across Queensland in no
fewer than 12 evacuation and recovery
centres from Chinchilla in the south to
Cardwell in far north Queensland.
“A lot of people just wanted somebody
to talk to. (Where they needed specific
assistance) I referred them on to other
agencies and other service providers,”
he says. Often resulting in much
needed grants and financial assistance
so that people could get simple items
like kettles and white goods. “When
we did return, the smile and gratitude
made it all worthwhile.”
He remembers one woman with five
kids. “She had absolutely nothing. Now,
the house is fully decked out. For me
that is a good result. She was very
thankful and it was good to help them.”
Jeff says Red Cross was there for
communities who were in remote
areas and risked being forgotten. “I
was doing areas that I’d never even
heard of. Those areas never got a
mention on the TV.” Jeff will not forget
them. He was flown in to Condamine
by Black Hawk helicopter.
Jeff recalls a Condamine man living in
a tiny place. “He was living in a carport
and his landlord had told him that he
could move back in to his place,” Jeff
says. His place was “horrendous… full
of mud and toads” so Jeff referred him
on to a support service and he was
re-housed. “That’s a victory,” Jeff says
with a huge smile.
Our work with communities, in
Australia and overseas, in disaster
preparedness, response and recovery
is a crucial part of our everyday work.
There are thousands of Red Cross
volunteers like Jeff. We rely on the
service and hard work of volunteers to
help some of the most vulnerable
people in our communities.
You can make a donation to the
ongoing everyday and emergency
work of Red Cross by:
• giving monthly, leaving a bequest in
your will or making a one-off
donation to Disaster Relief and
Recovery by visiting redcross.org.au
or calling 1800 811 700
• or you can become a member of
the Disaster Relief and Recovery
team, go to redcross.org.au to
find out more.
Historic decision taken on nuclear weapons
Australian Red Cross has been
running an advocacy campaign,
Make Nuclear Weapons the Target.
We have been calling on the
Australian public and the international
community to support a convention
to ban the use of nuclear weapons.
In November, we took your views
and the results of our campaign
to an international Movement
meeting in Geneva. In an historic
decision the International Red
Cross and Red Crescent Movement
passed a resolution to work towards
a legally binding international
agreement to ensure nuclear
weapons are never used again and
are ultimately eliminated.
The decision is of critical importance as
it challenges the legitimacy of nuclear
weapons ever being used as a weapon
of war because of the catastrophic
humanitarian consequences, in
particular on civilians, and the threat to
climate change.
“Nuclear weapons are an increasing
threat to all civilian populations in the
event of conflict. If we can achieve
treaties to control the use of land mines
and cluster munitions, as we
successfully have, then we cannot turn
our backs on the need to get agreement
on a global convention to outlaw this evil
weapon forever,” Australian Red Cross
CEO, Robert Tickner says.
The decision to support the initiative
was taken by the Council of
Delegates of the Movement which is
comprised of representatives of the
International Committee of the Red
Cross, the 187 Red Cross and Red
Crescent National Societies and the
International Federation.
There is still much more to be done to
ban the use of nuclear weapons, and
we want you to be part of the journey.
You can join our campaign at
TargetNuclearWeapons.org.au.

AROUND AUSTRALIA
PAGE 9
The man with the golden arm
James Harrison gives blood that has been credited with saving the lives of 2.4 million Australian
babies. Photo: Australian Red Cross
Very few people in the world
could claim they have saved
millions of lives during their
lifetime but there is one man
in Australia who can.
Through his blood donations, James
Harrison has been credited with saving
the lives of 2.4 million Australian
babies. The 74-year-old has been
donating blood to the Red Cross
Blood Service for more than 50 years.
Making his 1000th donation in 2011,
James has also entered the Guinness
Book of Records.
James has a rare type of blood plasma
that is used to make lifesaving
injections given to mothers whose
blood is at risk of attacking and killing
their unborn babies.
The condition, called Haemolytic
Disease of the Newborn, potentially
affects 17 per cent of babies and is
caused when a mother and her baby
have different blood types.
The disease arises when a mother has
Rh (D) negative blood and her baby is
Rh (D) positive. The product derived
from James’ blood is called Anti-D and
is injected into at-risk mothers.
The Blood Service’s Anti-D Program
began in 1967 to help decrease the now
preventable deaths of unborn babies
during pregnancy. Every batch of Anti-D
ever made in Australia has some of
James Harrison’s blood in it, and one
batch, incredibly, even helped to protect
the life of his unborn grandson.
James is so committed to the program
that even after embarking on the great
Australian road trip with his wife for his
retirement, he stopped at major
centres along the way to keep
donating his life saving gift.
Anti-D Program Leader, Noemi
Bondar, says that there are now 192
active donors on the program.
However, this number is only just
sufficient to meet Australian needs.
“Anti-D can only be produced from the
blood of a select group of donors,”
says Noemi. “These donors all have
the Rh (D) negative blood type but
they also have an antibody called
Anti-D. Very few people, and even
fewer donors, have Anti-D, so we rely
heavily on these donors for this
important product.”
Noemi says that to maximise the
supply of Anti-D to meet demand, the
program is now able to stimulate the
development of Anti-D in specially
selected donors who initially do not
have it and boost the Anti-D levels of
donors who do. Men and women
past child-bearing age are the most
suitable candidates.
“Anti-D donors are then able to give
plasma donations as often as
fortnightly with each one being
tremendously valuable and gratefully
received,” says Noemi.
To find out how you can donate
to the Anti-D Program visit
donateblood.com.au or call 13 14 95.
Get the latest
updates from
Red Cross on
social media
Red Cross uses social
media to promote our work,
engage with our supporters,
boost our fundraising and
income activities and raise
brand awareness.
If you are on social media, here are
some of the ways you can learn about
and share Red Cross with the world.
• ‘Like’ Australian Red Cross’
Facebook page and share and
comment on our posts
facebook.com/
AustralianRedCross
• ‘Follow’ Australian Red Cross on
Twitter and retweet our tweets
@RedCrossAU
• Share links to Australian Red
Cross’ videos on YouTube
youtube.com/redcrossaust
• Set up a profile on LinkedIn and
include whether you are a
volunteer/member with
Australian Red Cross
linkedin.com/company/
australian-red-cross
Keen to get posting
and tweeting?
Here are a couple of ideas to
help you get started.
Facebook:
• I’m a volunteer for Australian
Red Cross. It’s such a rewarding
experience!
• I’m so proud to be a member of
Australian Red Cross. What an
inspirational organisation!
Twitter:
• Just spent the day #volunteering
for @RedCrossAU. Love their work!
• @RedCrossAU Calling is on in
#March – can’t wait!
Newsletter for members and volunteers

PAGE 10
TAS NEWS
Keeping It Together
The Keeping It Together
program is helping families
and children stay in touch with
parents, guardians or siblings
who are incarcerated in
Tasmania. Through the
project, children and young
people record stories, such as
reporting on sport and
recreational activities or their
school progress onto a CD,
which is then delivered to their
loved ones in jail.
Twenty-six children and young people
ranging from 2-12 years have
participated in the Keeping It Together
program. Volunteers help the families
record the CDs, with some of the
children reading stories and others
singing nursery rhymes.
“It’s a way of promoting positive
relationships. It’s also an underlying
literacy program to encourage kids to
enjoy reading. Parents who have low
literacy rates are also reading more
and improving their literacy skills,”
says Tracie Bowes, Red Cross Prison
Support Program Coordinator.
Parents in the prison system are
encouraged to produce CDs of their
own to their families and children.
Thirteen schools have supported the
program by providing space and
support for the participating children,
helping to reduce the negative stigma
experienced by a child with an
incarcerated parent.
Recently, a judge for the Speech
Pathology Australia Language and
Literacy Book of the year awards,
Malathi Ferdinando, donated a number
of books to the program.
“As a speech pathologist judging the
Upper Primary category I chose to
donate my books to Red Cross
Keeping It Together assists communication and wellbeing between children and their parents in the
prison system. Photo: Australian Red Cross/ Louise Cooper
Tasmania’s Keeping It Together
Program,” says Malathi.
When Malathi heard about the
Keeping It Together project she was
pleased to make a contribution.
Malathi was inspired by research
showing that not only are family
relationships at risk while a family
member is detained, but that
there is also a significant risk of the
family unit breaking down where
there has been limited opportunity to
sustain the relationship during the
period of detention.
The Keeping It Together program is
always looking for volunteers. Contact
Tracie Bowes on 03 6235 6014 or
email tbowes@redcross.org.au.
“I have been a
volunteer with Red
Cross for almost 20
years and being aware
of the wide range of
programs run by Red
Cross I was sure
there would be an
appropriate program
that would benefit from
this donation.”
Malathi Ferdinando,
Speech Pathologist and
Red Cross volunteer

TAS NEWS
PAGE 11
Volunteers for
international
humanitarian law
Red Cross Make Nuclear Weapons the Target flash mobs were activated simultaneously across
the country. Photo: Australian Red Cross.
Tasmania has an active group of
international humanitarian law (IHL)
volunteers, who have come together
through the University of Tasmania
Red Cross Society.
The group began in early 2011 with a
schools engagement program –
organising speakers to visit secondary
schools across Tasmania to raise
awareness about the laws of war. Since
then the group has visited more than 15
schools, organised and promoted IHL
events at the University of Tasmania,
and conducted IHL research.
Make Nuclear Weapons
the Target
Last October, 50 school students
participated in a flash mob in Hobart
in support of our Make Nuclear
Weapons the Target campaign.
The campaign is designed to raise
awareness about nuclear weapons
and their terrible humanitarian and
environmental costs.
The students re-inacted the aftermath
of a nuclear bomb attack in the
middle of Elizabeth Street Mall, by
lying on the ground pretending to be
mortally wounded. The flash mob
caught the attention of curious
shoppers and also local media. The
Tasmanian event was one of a
number of simultaneous flash mobs
held across the country.
To learn more about IHL or to become
a volunteer, go to redcross.org.au.
Peer to peer
Thanks to peer support, people in
prison have someone to talk to who
understands their situation. In
particular, people who are new to
prison or are at risk of suicide or self
harm are especially offered help
through the Peer Support program.
In 2009, 30,000 people were held in
Australian prisons, an increase of 39
percent in ten years. Research highlights
that offenders are often impacted by
broader patterns of exclusion and
disadvantage, with histories of abuse,
neglect, inadequate education,
unemployment, mental health, drug and
alcohol issues, homelessness and
intellectual disability.
As part of the Peer Support program,
offenders are trained as peer
supporters in areas such as mental
health, first aid, alcohol and other
drugs issues, blood borne viruses,
communication skills, and maintaining
confidentiality and advocacy. They
then offer support to others.
“As a worker, I couldn’t imagine working
for 24 hours straight but that’s what the
participants in the Peer Support
program do,” says Tracie Bowes, Prison
Support Program Coordinator. “Through
this program, I not only see them grow
personally but professionally.” When they
finish their 15 week training, peer supporters
receive a Certificate II in Community
Services, helping them with employment
opportunities after their release.
A post-release mentor scheme is also
being developed within the program.
Offenders will be matched with
volunteer mentors in the period leading
up to their release. The mentor will
facilitate and support people when they
are released to establish positive
networks in the community with a focus
on pursuing their sporting, recreational,
cultural or artistic interests.
On release from prison, many
offenders feel isolated and at risk.
Someone to talk to on the inside helps
them to prepare for their future.
For more information on the Peer
Support Program or to make a
donation visit redcross.org.au.
Newsletter for members and volunteers

PAGE 12
TAS NEWS
Red Cross National Conference 2011
Yves Daccord, Director General of the International
Committee of the Red Cross during his powerful
speech.. Photo: Australian Red Cross/ Stuart Harris
The Red Cross National Conference was a great opportunity for volunteers, members and staff to get together and contribute to the future of
Red Cross. Photo: Australian Red Cross/ Stuart Harris.
In December last year, Hobart
played host to Australian Red
Cross volunteers, members,
staff, and overseas delegates,
as they came together to
celebrate successes, share
ideas and chart the course for
our future directions and work.
The two-day Australian Red Cross
2011 National Conference was built
around the theme of “Building on
strengths – people, partners, place”.
The newly-elected President of
Australian Red Cross Michael Legge,
who hails from Tasmania, outlined his
vision for a vibrant Red Cross. This
includes a priority focus on youth
engagement, a commitment to a
strong revenue base and a more
diverse organisation.
The conference was officially opened
by Her Excellency Ms Quentin Bryce
AC, Governor-General of Australia and
Patron of Australian Red Cross. Ms
Bryce spoke warmly about the ways
Red Cross is ever present in our
communities, saying that “Red Cross
has a hold on all our hearts”.
Abbas Gullet, Secretary General Kenya
Red Cross, also spoke to conference
delegates about the inspiring work that
Kenya Red Cross is doing to assist
people in a region that is so often beset
by natural disasters, famine and conflict.
On day two of the conference, Yves
Daccord, Director General of the
International Committee of the Red
Cross, spoke about the current
challenges facing the international
Movement at a time of immense
change, including the impact of the
economic crisis, environmental
pressures and the changing nature of
armed conflict.
We also heard from President of the
Human Rights Commission the Hon.
Catherine Branson QC who gave the
Human Rights Day Address. Ms
Branson outlined the synergies
between the work of the Commission
and Red Cross to uphold humanitarian
principles, especially among people
experiencing vulnerability.
She highlighted our commitment to
supporting asylum seekers and
Indigenous communities as critical
humanitarian work.
The final keynote speech was from
Associate Professor Melanie
Oppenheimer, who provided an
update on the centenary history of
Australian Red Cross. Her book – The
Power of Humanity: 100 Years of
Australian Red Cross – will be
published in 2014.
To end the conference, Young
Humanitarians took to the stage to
present the final session – a guerrillastyle
video celebrating the National
Conference 2011, two remarkable days
of unlocking the power of humanity.
Tasmania
40 Melville Street Hobart TAS 7000
GPO Box 211 Hobart TAS 7001
Telephone: (03) 6235 6077
Facsimile (03) 6231 1250
Email: tasinfo@redcross.org.au
National Office
155 Pelham Street Carlton South VIC 3053
PO Box 196 Carlton South VIC 3053
Telephone: (03) 9345 1800
Facsimile: (03) 9348 2513
Email: natinfo@redcross.org.au