The Welcome Scroll

As part of the Rural Australians for Refugees
National Conference in September 2016,
this new initiative was launched jointly by

  • Rural Australians for Refugees (RAR)
  • Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA)
  • Refugee Welcome Zone Councils (RWZ) 

Welcome Scroll Newsletter March 2018

2016

Bendigo – the Welcome Scroll was launched at the RAR National Conference in September 2016

2017

Melbourne – The Welcome Scroll’s National Journey was launched by Melbourne’s Lord Mayor.   The Scroll went on display at the Immigration Museum on Monday & Tuesday, 19-20 June, before travelling to the ACT.

The Welcome Scroll has travelled to Canberra and into SE NSW – Cooma, Bega, Eurobodalla, Braidwood, Queanbeyan, Bowral, Shellharbour, Wollongong, Goulburn, Yass, and Wagga Wagga before returning to Victoria, stopping briefly in Euroa. 

In September it was displayed at the Kensington Town Hall (Melbourne) at the Victorian Local Government Multicultural Issues Network Annual Forum:  Communities Without Borders: Council Collaboration for Social Cohesion.  

And then off to Gippsland where it visited Cardinia Shire, before returning to Melbourne for a visit to the City of Greater Dandenong.

2018

Our first stop this year has been in Ballarat where the Scroll was welcomed, and signed by Mayor Susanna McIntosh, as part of Ballarat’s Harmony Day celebrations.

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The Welcome Scroll was presented to
Rural Australians for Refugees by its maker, Max Govett.

I would like to acknowledge the City of Greater Bendigo for supporting this project, especially the work of the design team – headed up by Chris and Lena.

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Photo Below:
Mayor Christine Henderson, Mt Alexander Shire, and Mayor Rod Fyffe, City of Greater Bendigo, are the first Refugee Welcome Zone councils to sign on to the Welcome Scroll

RARConf030916 Dunn 28Mayor Christine Henderson, Mt Alexander Shire, and Mayor Rod Fyffe, City of Greater Bendigo, are the first Refugee Welcome Zone councils to sign on to the Welcome Scroll

The Welcome Scroll.

Why?
The National Journey of the Welcome Scroll is a reminder to us all of local government and community support for successful resettlement of refugees in Australia.

What?
The Welcome Scroll will function as a “baton” or “torch”, which will travel around Australia to Refugee Welcome Zones, leaving the National Rural Australians for Refugees Conference in Bendigo on 3rd September 2016.

Refugee Welcome Zones and the Welcome Scroll
It is hoped that the Welcome Scroll will be endorsed by representatives of all Local Councils who have chosen to become Refugee Welcome Zones.  The Scroll’s journey will confirm Local Government commitment to welcome refugees into our communities.

Unfortunately, it will not be possible to have the Welcome Scroll visit every Refugee Welcome Zone.   Therefore we invited all Refugee Welcome Zones to send an electronic signature or endorsement to be printed onto the Welcome Scroll in Bendigo prior to its journey around Australia.

The Welcome Scroll visits Bega in NSW. RAR member, Jan Govett with Bega Valley Mayor Kristy McBain

From the Bendigo Advertiser: 3 Sept, 2016

Bendigo leads the way

The Welcome Scroll is not a petition but a message of support for refugees from communities across Australia. It will journey through Australia’s Refugee Welcome Zones.

The Scroll [was] launched as part of the Rural Australians for Refugees conference in Bendigo this weekend.

Rural Australians for Refugees is joining forces with the Refugee Council of Australia and Local Government. 

“There is widespread and genuine local government and community support for policies and programs that lead to the successful resettlement of refugees.”

Ms Govett said the Welcome Scroll will travel through all states of Australia.

“The Welcome Scroll will be endorsed by representatives of those councils who have chosen to become Refugee Welcome Zones,” she said.

“The scroll, which features impressive hand-turned redgum handles, will function as a baton as it passes from council to council, spreading the welcome message throughout Australia.

“The Scroll’s journey will confirm local government commitment to welcome refugees into our communities.”

See also: