TAS - Australian Red Cross

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