News from PRACE

Here at Merrilands Community Centre, we’ve been fortunate enough to receive funding from the federal “iCET” project (infrastructure in community education and training).. a project managed by Deewr (The Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations). We’re going to build a new space for vocational education & training (VET), and a canteen for the hospitality program.

We’ll be documenting the process visually as we go.. here are the “before” photographs. This slideshow will update regularly.Visit our flickr site to comment on individual photos (or visit the iCET photo set).

Tags: development, funding, iCET, infrastructure, Merrilands Community Centre

On Tuesday the 16th of June at Merrilands Community Centre, the people of PRACE celebrated Refugee Week with stories and demonstrations of tea and coffee around the world. We had:

* Kenyan tea by Elizabeth,
* Greek coffee by Tina and Panayota,
* Indian tea by Surinder, and
* Japanese tea ceremony by Yuko.

Daniel from Fair Trade talked about the coffee trade around the world. In poor countries, farmers do not always get paid. In some places children are working long hours for no money. Fair Trade makes sure that the farmers get enough money for the coffee they grow. Oxfam Australia recommends Fair Trade coffee.

• Were you there?
• What did you enjoy most about the day?
• View some photos on the Preston Leader site, or
• Read the story from the Leader newspaper.

Thanks to everyone who came along, especially the wonderful people demonstrating their own tea and coffee.

photo credit: Darwin Bell

Tags: celebration, coffee, refugee week, tea

Remember the wonderful community oven launch from last year, when Ima Forni donated a wood-fired oven to the Merrilands Community Centre, and Vasili from Channel 31 came along to film the event? People cooked bread in the oven, people danced and sang together, there was music and feasting. (Story back here.)

Well now’s your chance to see your friends and colleagues on television! Channel 31 screened the show this week, and it’s being repeated Wednesday 6th May at 7.30pm.

If you don’t get Channel 31 on your television, you can find the video on their website at c31.org.au. (Search for “Vasili’s Garden”, and watch the program from 3rd May 09. Could be there for the next 6 weeks.)

It’s a great show, full of interviews with many people in the community, and also featuring Don the amazing horticulture teacher with his students.

Watch and enjoy! Tell your friends.

Plus:

• Find out more about our horticulture programs on the program information page.
• Find out more about Merrilands Community Centre via the Merrilands category.
• Still don’t know where Merrilands Community Centre is? We’re in Reservoir! Details here.

Tags: celebration, Channel 31, community, food, launch, oven, Vasili

PRACE is running three English Classes in the evening

• from 6 to 9pm
• on Tuesdays and Wednesdays
• at Merrilands Community Centre.

Places available for next term beginning 21 April, 2009.
Contact 9462 6077 to book an interview.
See this page for contact details

Tags: classes, English, ESL, evening

PRACE management and staff wish to congratulate all the 2008 graduates on achieving certificates/statements of attainment in Hospitality, Retail, Horticulture, Information Technology, English as a Second Language, Adult Literacy & VCAL. Approximately 130 certificates were issued throughout 2008.

Tags: certificate, congratulations, graduation

Our very first Twilight Market and Family Picnic was a great way to enjoy local community.

Tags: arts/craft, family, market, picnic

Rita, Deb and Ozlem have worked their magic to produce not only a wood-fired oven for the community, but also a student-authored recipe book with stories about culture and food.

Friday the 28th of November was the big day, and Vasili came along to host and film the event for Vasili’s Garden on Channel 31.

This was truly an event to remember. Thanks to all who came along. Master of Ceremonies (MC) for the day was Gabby Fakhri. This was a free event, with lunch provided (Halal).

Some photos from the day (30 second video – click play).

Here is a flyer to put on your wall. Oven-Launch-Invite (PDF132kb)

photo credit: DavidDennisPhotos.com

Tags: Channel 31, community, food, launch, oven, Vasili