By ANTHONY CASTLE Thirty brave souls roughed it for the inaugural Salvos Sleepout SA at Parafield Gardens Salvos in Adelaide on Saturday 16 September. The sleepout was preceded by a community event including a barbeque served by Salvation Army Emergency Services volunteers and a range of community organisations providing information and activities for locals in northern Adelaide. About 100 people attended the community event. Sleepout participants raised close to $25,000 to go towards Salvation Army homelessness services. Both events were coordinated by a group of Salvos Mission Expressions including Parafield Gardens and Playford Corps, Doorways, Salvos Housing, Salvos Stores, Emergency Services, Chaplaincy and PR. Over more than six months of working together, everyone increased their understanding of The Salvation Army’s work in the community and developed a strong sense of team. Two sleepout participants shared why they got involved: One said, “I decided to sleep out because there is a homeless lady near my work who I walk past every day and, like everyone else, I think, ‘What can I do to help?’. So, when I heard about this on the radio, I thought, well, that is something small I can do.” Another said, “I know first-hand the effect of homelessness. I work with people in custody, and we don’t want our prison system to be a public health system. We need to do better. That’s why I am doing this sleepout – to raise money for people who are sleeping rough. We all have a role to play in ending this homelessness crisis in Australia.” Organisers said they were very grateful to Harcourts SA, Conveyancing SA, John Fulbrook MP and Fresh FM for funding and promotional support.

Nathan, a Salvation Army Moneycare financial counsellor with a decade of experience, says one of the most important messages this Anti-Poverty Week (15-21 October) is that there is no shame in asking for help, and that seeking support can lead to a path of financial freedom and stability. Based at the Morley Salvos in Western Australia, Nathan explains that embarrassment can stop some people who are struggling with financial stress from seeking support early from Salvation Army services such as Moneycare (free financial counselling) and Doorways (emergency support, case management and referrals). However, Nathan says, the earlier people find the courage to reach out for help, the more options and solutions are available. “It’s important to let creditors especially know what’s going on before the situation spirals, and they’re more likely to work with you and try to find a solution or a resolution. It can save a lot of heartache,” he says. Nathan says that financial difficulties and associated emotional struggles are a reality for many people. “I want people who may be struggling to know they are not alone and there is no shame in asking for help to get their life back on track. “It is so important to understand that anyone can struggle, no matter who they are, including many in the workforce.” Help under stress The Salvation Army’s Moneycare is a free financial service offering confidential and practical help and care to anyone struggling to cope with financial stress, or who needs support to sort their finances. Over the Financial Year 2021/2022 (FY21/22), Moneycare supported over 12,600 individuals Australia-wide. Of those individuals, 93 per cent reported Moneycare had an overall positive impact on their circumstances, and 88 per cent said they were able to manage their situation better after connecting with the service (2021/2022 Moneycare Outcome Measurement Annual Report). “The earlier you start to deal with financial stress, the better.” Additional Moneycare resources includeYou’re the Boss (an in-person financial skill building course) and Be the Boss (online course) as well as NILs (No Interest Loans). Nathan explains that one of the many benefits of financial counselling is that a financial counsellor can help “take the emotion out of a tough situation”, advocating with creditors on behalf of a community member. “When you’re stressed, you can’t always think straight and there is a lot of emotion. There can be a better outcome with someone advocating on behalf of a community member.” Life-changing support Nathan says financial counselling can be life-changing, not only in practical and financial terms, but also emotionally. “One of the great joys of my role is the changes that you see [financial counselling] makes to people’s lives,” Nathan says. “There are many people who have come through the doors with a sense of hopelessness, thinking they might have to go bankrupt or something similar. But as we walk and talk with them, they begin to see light at the end of the tunnel. “I worked with one community member who had severe depression, young children and debt on multiple credit cards,” Nathan says. “When I first saw the community member, they didn’t want to go on living. “They were sure they would lose their house. But the banks [in this case] waived the credit card debts and provided hardship support on their mortgage.” Nathan explains the community member was then able to manage the mortgage and the family got back on track emotionally as well as financially. “It doesn’t matter who you are, struggling financially takes a toll on your mental health, in some shape or form. [Positively and negatively] there’s a huge correlation with mental health and financial wellbeing.” The good news is there is support available along the path to financial, emotional and spiritual wellbeing. For an appointment with one of our Financial Counselling Team, call 1800 722 363. For emotional support and referrals, call Lifeline on 13 11 14. For more information on Anti-Poverty Week and resources, go to MySalvos here

This week is Anti-Poverty Week and Gambling Harm Awareness Week. Lara*, who has experienced both financial stress and been the victim of gambling harm, shares her story to encourage others, talking about the support she received from The Salvation Army’s Moneycare (free financial counselling service). BY LARA I am about to start a university degree, I am in the process of clearing my debts, and I am planning for a positive future. Only a few years ago, I couldn’t have imagined ever feeling hope again. In early 2020, I finally managed to leave my nearly 25-year abusive marriage. Leaving opened up a new set of challenges that I never envisioned. My ex-husband is a gambler, and during my marriage there was significant financial abuse. I basically had no access to money, only what he gave me. Just after I left him, my ex-husband [told me of] four credit cards in my name and said, “Good luck paying them off – they are all maxed out.” All up there was just under $62,000 worth of credit card debt in my name. Plus, my ex had not been paying the school fees, so suddenly I had a debt of several thousand dollars as well as unpaid rates, all up totalling over $70,000. Finding help After a significant family violence incident, I left the marital home in a hurry with only my children, a few clothes (mainly for the kids) and the family cat. After couch surfing with my children, I was fortunate enough to gain a rental a month later but was very stressed as to whether I would be able to keep it. A family member’s work colleague mentioned that Moneycare had really helped her in a similar situation. So, I called Moneycare. It was one of the best things I [ever] did. Taking control The Moneycare counsellor Kerrie (not her real name) was really helpful in supporting me to budget as well as arrange payment plans for the debts – plans I have honoured. I have now cleared all the credit card debt. I’m still working on the others, but I have never missed a payment. But more so, Kerrie never judged me. She helped me with the guilt and shame that came from being a victim of financial abuse. I was treated with dignity and respect and never [made to feel] stupid. As well as the debts, I had to set up a new household with nothing. Kerrie helped me create a workable budget, negotiate hardship arrangements for my utilities and let me know what other financial assistance was available to me. Looking back on that horrible and stressful time (which also included COVID lockdown and remote learning), I often felt like I was still being controlled by my ex-husband. But something Kerrie said to me at the beginning was, “You are now in control. You are in the driver’s seat, and you are filling your car with experts who will help you navigate.” She was right. Making dreams possible Kerrie also encouraged me to look beyond the current situation and to think about my goals. Initially, it was to just pay my rent and bills. But she kept me focused that this time would pass. My dream is to buy a small house in the country. It’s still a few years away (about seven, I think), but I have a plan and a savings goal. My university degree will provide me with the necessary qualifications to obtain work easily in the regional area of my choice. Once I finish university, I envision in a few years I will be able to buy that little house I dream of. *Lara’s name and some details have been changed for privacy. For more information on Anti-Poverty Week and resources, go to MySalvos here

And that’s when I kicked her cat. Sorry, you just caught the end of that. Let me start again. I was collecting for the Red Shield Appeal many years ago and was nearing the end of a long day. My feet were aching, my back was aching, my shoulders were aching, my soul was aching. There are only so many times you can get rejected in one day before you start to take it personally and react emotionally (“I know you’re in there, I saw the curtains move! Open the door or I’ll be back with a brass band tomorrow morning!”). Approaching a house in my final street for the day, I saw a small wooden sign stuck in the garden on a spike. The sign said, ‘A cat lover lives here’. I immediately thought, “What, in the garden? Is she buried alive? Should I call the police? Should I start digging?” Then I realised it was probably a reference to the house near the sign. And, sure enough, when the door opened after I’d rung the bell, a lady appeared with about six cats! I gave her the usual spiel about why I was there, and she smiled and said, “Oh, wonderful, I have something for you. Do you mind just stepping in while I close the door? I don’t want to lose any of my precious darlings.” I assumed she was talking about the cats, not wandering children. As a rule, I don’t enter houses when collecting for the Red Shield Appeal because you never know what surprises await you inside (and by surprises, I mean axe murderers, rabid dogs, Satanic cults and the smell of sauerkraut cooking or, alternately, Satanic murderers, sauerkraut cults and the smell of dogs cooking). However, she seemed safe enough, and I’d only be there a moment, so in I went. Big mistake. Or, as Julia Roberts would say, “Big mistake. BIG mistake.” Within 30 seconds, I had two cats purring around my ankles, three more trotting towards me, and one was sitting atop a hallway dresser, staring at me in what I can only describe as an aggressive and demeaning manner that I found personally confronting. I tolerated it for a minute before the lady of the house returned, gave me an envelope and said that she always supported The Salvation Army and had placed a sizeable donation in the envelope. She moved towards the door, and I made the mistake of doing three things at once: I turned to walk towards the door, I put the envelope in my donations bag, and I started to ask her if she wanted a receipt. And that’s when I kicked her cat. I hadn’t even seen it creeping up behind me, and as I turned and began to walk, I kicked it right in the face. It meowed loudly and flew backwards half a metre, landing in a water dish next to the front door. The lady threw her arms up and cried, “Petal!” and bent over to pick up the soggy, groggy moggy. I began to apologise, but as she cuddled and kissed the cat, she placed a gentle hand on my shoulder, pushing me out the door and then closed the door. I could hear her still talking to the cat, and I was standing all alone on her porch, so I just walked off. As I passed the sign that said, ‘A cat lover lives here’, I thought to myself, “Not what I’ve heard; I’ve heard the cats here get kicked in the head.” – Major Mal Davies and his wife Major Tracey are the Corps Officers at Adelaide City Salvos

BY ANTHONY CASTLE I see these little things in my neighbourhood and notice small signs of change. I watch the shoplifters glide through gaps in checkouts most Monday nights while I buy groceries. They walk quickly, with stoic looks on their faces, hands jammed into hooded tops, backpacks hugged tightly. They’re mostly teenagers, and the bored supermarket employees typically ignore them. The security guards pick their battles. When they do stop a shoplifter, the person in question offers a denial but typically dumps chocolate or gift cards onto the counter and storms off. More and more people are moving through the gaps of the checkouts differently these days. They aren’t teenagers taking knick-knacks or snacks as much. Nor are they as uncaring. They are older more often, with a different look on their faces, and I’ve realised something about what they are stealing. They are taking groceries. They need food. I live in a gentrifying area, and the signs of change are everywhere. Suburbs that have traditionally been social housing and working-class blocks are being bought up. Apartments are going up where asbestos-clad factories once stood. The old corner stores that smelled of linoleum and newspapers are becoming cafes and salons. “I see the signs of change, but increasingly, I see the signs of crisis as well.” It isn’t just the demographics that are changing. The number of rough sleepers who line the shore is growing, and the number of vans and cars parked by the beach is increasing. Curbs are cluttered with belongings as tenants clean out their houses, for-sale signs popping up in front yards. I see the implications of gentrification, but I see the impact of poverty also. I see the signs of change, but increasingly, I see the signs of crisis as well. Poverty is real We can sometimes forget about poverty in the national conversation. Poverty often isn’t a news story until it affects the middle class, and even then, it is spoken about in terms of economics and politics, subject to discussion and debate. The crisis in my neighbourhood is reflective of many of the issues across the nation right now. The Salvation Army’s social justice stocktake shows that people in my area are most concerned about mental health, housing affordability, homelessness, addiction and family violence – issues exacerbated by the factors the country currently faces. Inflation is at its peak. Wages and welfare have been stagnant for years. Interest rates have been climbing, and more than a million households are heading towards a mortgage cliff. These factors have converged to affect where people live and how they live at all, increasing the number of those in need. People are experiencing need who haven’t experienced it before. Remember the poor There is a Bible verse that has stuck in my mind for years, often when I think about poverty, from Galatians chapter 2, verse 10: “All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I had been eager to do all along.” The context of this passage is that early church leaders had been arguing about theology and what the church looked like. The Bible has thousands of references to the plight of the poor, its core narrative one of liberation and justice, and among all the discussions and debates among early church leaders there is this simple instruction from the heart of their faith – remember the poor. “... remember that poverty can affect anyone.” We can forget the poor in our country until we realise that need can affect everyone. My partner and I go over six years of budgets to discover that our costs have doubled in that time. We pay more for bread, electricity and a home than we ever have. I buy my groceries each Monday night, watching the small increases on the docket become larger increases, and I think about the little things around me. I look for the shoplifters now, sympathising with my neighbours, wondering if I should offer to buy them the food they need. Wondering if I can afford it. The big things matter. There are market forces and policies that create poverty and entrench it. Poverty isn’t necessary in a society as affluent as ours. As the Bible says, “However, ideally, there shouldn’t be any poor people among you”(Deuteronomy chapter 15, verse 4, The Voice Bible translation). We shouldn’t forget the larger factors that are creating crisis for so many right now, but we should also remember to look for the little things, for those neighbours around us more and more in need, and remember that poverty can affect anyone. To access the Anti-Poverty Week resources kits, go to mySalvos here

1. What is your current appointment and what do you find most satisfying about it? My current appointment is Area Officer, North Quensland. I can be fairly tenacious and what I find most satisfying is working alongside corps and centres to solve problems so mission can continue and expand. 2. Away from the appointment – if that’s possible! – what do you do to relax or unwind? In January, we left our children in Brisbane as we took up this appointment. With fewer family responsibilities, I have more time to relax in the garden and have started going to the gym. 3. What’s a favourite Christian song, and why do you like it? It’s a classic: ‘And Can it Be’ by John Wesley. I love the story it tells of our wonderful Saviour, the work of salvation, the transformation of lives and eternal life. 4. If you could have a good talk with a biblical character apart from Jesus, who would it be, and what would you talk about? I’d like to have a conversation with Mary, the mother of Jesus, and have her fill in all those ‘missing years’. What was Jesus like as a child and young adult? What things did she ‘store up and treasure in her heart’? How did she transition from seeing Jesus as her son to seeing him as God? 5. If you were talking to a group of Salvationists and they asked if you recommended officership or not, what would you say? I would say absolutely – but first, seek God and get a realistic sense of what is actually involved in officership. Interview by Major Mal Davies

Morwell Salvos will host a Community Service Expo on Wednesday, 18 October, from 10am to 3pm. “We wanted to provide something for the community so that they could come see different services available in one place,” event organiser Major Lenore Pack said. “So that if there was something that they needed, they could connect then and there. “What we have discovered is that people don’t realise what is available to help them. It might not just be about getting financial assistance but just what services can help them with whatever they need. “We have found that if people have never been in a situation where they have needed help, they just don’t know what is out there until that time. We are finding that people are needing access to different services, and we are hoping the expo can bring that for our community.” The day will showcase 32 services throughout the Gippsland region, such as NDIS help, financial aid, employment agencies and much more. Even Bunnings is supplying help to the event, with face painting for younger children who are too young to be in school. Fellow event planner Maya Bennett (Employment Plus Chaplain – Gippsland) said that if many people turn up, they may be able to do this as a regular event so that people can continue learning about these services. An edited version of a story courtesy of the Latrobe Valley Express. Author: Katrina Brandon

BY MAJOR MAL DAVIES You wander into a bookshop and, as you browse, you see the section of religious books. You pause and think of your days in Sunday school, perhaps many years ago, and you look specifically at the Bibles. Then you notice something odd: one Bible has the letters KJV on it, another has NIV, another has RSV, one says Good News and one says The Message. You know – from memory at least – that there’s only one Bible, but here they seem to be selling five different versions. Which is the real one? The Bible is the world’s best-selling book. However, it’s not the work of one writer, and it was written over a period of more than 1500 years. The Bible is not so much a book as a library. It contains 66 books, divided into an Old Testament (37 books) and a New Testament (29 books) written by more than 40 authors and in ancient Greek, Hebrew and Aramaic. Yes, that’s right: the Bible was not written in English. When the Christian Church began – around 2000 years ago, based on the teachings and life of Christ – it was recognised that some ‘sacred’ writings were circulating among believers. Some of these had been available for many years (like the Psalms and the earliest books in the Bible, such as Exodus and Deuteronomy), while some were brand new (such as the biographies of Jesus by Matthew, Mark, Luke and John). So, over several centuries, Church councils would meet to discuss which books should be collected together to form one holy book for Christians. Some were rejected (often because they seemed inconsistent with the other books), while some were accepted as they seemed accurate, helpful, consistent and even divinely inspired. In 405CE, Pope Damasus I released a Bible that became known as the Vulgate (from the same word that gives us ‘vulgar’, meaning popular or commonly used), a complete Bible of approved books for Christians to read. The Vulgate was a direct translation from the original languages; that is, the translators had translated ancient Greek, Hebrew and Aramaic into Latin. The first English Bible was released in 1384 by John Wycliffe, and it was a translation from the Latin Vulgate. In 1525, William Tyndale produced the first English New Testament translated directly from ancient Greek, and in 1535, Myles Coverdale produced the first whole Bible, in English, translated from the original languages. Several other translations were then produced before King James I released the King James Version (KJV) in 1611. It also became known as the Authorised Version as the official, royally authorised translation of the Bible. It dominated the Church for the next 270 years until it was revised and re-released in the 1880s as – surprise, surprise – the Revised Version. Many other translations have followed as the skill and understanding of translators have improved and to keep up to date with modern English. Distinct from these are Bible versions known as ‘paraphrases’. This is when the editors don’t translate from the original text but, instead, say: “Hmm, how would I say that?”. So, whereas a translator might put Psalm 23 verse one as, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want” (KJV), a paraphrase such as the Living Bible says, “Because the Lord is my shepherd, I have everything I need.” Is one of them wrong? No, they’re saying the same thing, just in a slightly different way. So, when you see different Bibles, feel free to look at the language they’re using – maybe one is easier to read for you than another, but don’t then conclude that one is wrong. They all tell the same truth – God loves you!

BY ANTHONY CASTLE Over 100 Salvo leaders attended the recent Missional Conversations workshop event in Subiaco. Organised by Dianne Jarvey, the Faith Communities Development Secretary for Western Australia Division, the initiative works alongside the division and supports what local leaders want to see happen in their spaces. “The Church is in a bit of a murky space right now, after COVID and with declining attendance,” Dianne explains. “We looked at what is happening and asked, ‘How are we leading in this liminal space?’ We know that mission doesn’t just happen – we have to be intentional about it. The idea is to have that missional conversation booked into the divisional calendar and open it up to leaders on the ground.” Invitations to Missional Conversations were extended to every officer and their leadership team in a missional space to have a bigger conversation around mission in Western Australia. Commissioner Miriam Gluyas spoke during workshop spaces, reflecting on what it means to lead when you don’t know where you’re going. Over 100 people were in attendance at The Third Place, a Salvos centre in Subiaco, with invitations to grow in future. “We can’t have it there again because it isn’t big enough now,” laughs Dianne. “The goal of the workshop space was to open up practical conversations about mission, rather than just sit for a lecture. I thought we’d have 40 people show up, but we had over 100!” Research reveals that while church attendance has dropped somewhat since COVID, interest in spirituality and a search for meaning has increased during these uncertain times. There can be a wariness of religion but a general openness to the benefit that faith and missional community can offer. “We hear a lot about the decline of the Church. You look at the statistics, though, what they say about falling participation in churches but also about people’s interest in spirituality, and you can focus on the opportunity. It’s about what people need, and how do we do that in a different context than just at 10am on a Sunday morning.” Attendees were invited to visualise what they wanted their future to be and to draw a picture. Each attendee and team would offer a different picture of a missional future, a starting point for conversation, and a different takeaway from the event. “We know the Church is changing, and we acknowledge that there are other models we can move to, we want to be somewhere new,” Dianne says. “Sometimes we do things because that’s the way we’ve always done them. It is time to do a new thing, to challenge and acknowledge the pain and grief of that. We’re in this liminal space, but God still works through us, and the choices we make now determine where we end up.” The Faith Communities Development Team will coordinate continual workshop events with the Western Australia Division, meeting next year in June and October, opening it up to more and more interested in that bigger conversation. “The aim is to build momentum. We’re asking, ‘Who else can we get here, how can we broaden this conversation? Who are the latest voices? What are local missional voices grappling with?’ Each event will have a different approach, specific missional conversations for different spaces but will have the same intention and the same conversation. We need to be talking about mission all the time.”

General Lyndon Buckingham has called Salvationists throughout the world to pray for peace in Israel, Gaza and the many other places in the world where there is strife and war. “We particularly think of, and pray for, the innocent people who are caught up in the conflict – sometimes experiencing injury or even losing their lives,” The Salvation Army’s world leader said today. “As the Psalmist says, ‘Let there be peace on the mountains and goodness on the hills for the people’ (Psalm 72:3 NCV).”

The City of Melbourne is boosting its support for people experiencing homelessness by partnering with The Salvation Army to offer meals and outreach services through a night-time cafe in the CBD. The renewed City East Hub, based at The Salvation Army’s Project 614 site at 69 Bourke Street, is making it easier for some of Melbourne’s most vulnerable people to access essential services. The service, launched in December 2022, features twilight meals and support seven days a week, as well as further support including: • After-hours outreach five days a week • Housing and homelessness advice • Showers and lockers “This highlights the commitment of The Salvation Army and City of Melbourne to support people experiencing homelessness in Melbourne,” Project 614 Corps Officer Major Brendan Nottle said. “It’s important because it puts focus on the partnership between the two organisations to provide practical support to connect people to pathways out of homelessness. “This is a clear and compassionate response from City of Melbourne to partner with The Salvation Army that demonstrates inclusion and that they care for the most vulnerable members of our community.” A pilot program partnership called the Homelessness Support Hub is building on existing services at Project 614, expanding its offering to reach even more people in need. As a part of the program, the City of Melbourne is partnering with service providers to offer even more assistance to those sleeping rough across the city. Health, Wellbeing and Belonging portfolio lead Councillor Dr Olivia Ball said, “This is a vital service that we are so proud to help deliver – providing targeted assistance, ongoing support and a warm meal at the end of the day. “Our objective is not to support people to remain homeless but to provide housing, which is why Make Room and our affordable housing targets are central to Homes Melbourne. “Only when people are housed securely can they begin to address the causes of homelessness.” As Australia’s most liveable city, we need to make sure there is accessible space for everyone in Melbourne – including our key workers, lower-income families and those experiencing and at-risk of homelessness. The City of Melbourne is also working with the Living Room to establish storage and locker services at their Hosier Lane Service, which will allow people experiencing homelessness to store their personal belongings safely and access a wide range of support. The Homelessness Support Hub program builds on the council’s work towards reducing homelessness in the City of Melbourne. City of Melbourne Lord Mayor Sally Capp said, “We’re proud to be partnering with the Salvos to ensure the most vulnerable members of our community get the support and care they deserve. “The support hub pilot program is part of Homes Melbourne’s work to create new pathways out of homelessness and reach even more people in need. “As Australia’s most liveable city, we need to make sure there is accessible space for everyone in Melbourne – including our key workers, lower-income families and those experiencing and at risk of homelessness.” Other key initiatives include the landmark Make Room project, which will convert a Council-owned building at 602 Little Bourke Street into secure, safe, supported accommodation and support services for people experiencing homelessness. Information sourced from a story by Tayla Oates at councilmagazine.com.au To watch a video on one of the Project 614’s street teams in action, click here

‘Many Cultures, One Hope’ is the theme of a multicultural celebration to be staged by Hurstville Salvos in Hurstville Plaza, southern Sydney, on Sunday 22 October. It will be a celebration of the diverse communities that call Hurstville home. “From Asia to Africa, Europe to the Americas, and everywhere in between, we are coming together to showcase the beauty of our differences and the power of our shared humanity,” said Nuria Gonsalves, the driving force behind ‘Many Cultures, One Hope’. Nuria is the Army’s CALD Community Engagement National Lead in the Intercultural and Disability Inclusion Team. The event is free and will include cultural performances by various local groups, including dance, music and performances from around the world. It’s also a family day with kids’ activities and entertainment on offer. Global cuisine will be featured with a variety of multicultural food stalls from local businesses. Information will be available on The Salvation Army’s free services, which are available locally. “It’s an opportunity to learn about The Salvation Army’s services and embrace different cultures. It’s also an opportunity to volunteer in the Hurstville community and build bridges of understanding,” Nuria said. “As we celebrate our diversity, we also recognise our commonality. Through dialogue, respect, and collaboration, we can create a brighter future for all.” The ‘Many Cultures, One Hope’ event is supported by Georges River Council, including Councillor Ben Wang, the Georges River Association, local businesses, volunteers and Major Sherrie Nicol and Lieutenant Beth Shao of the Hurstville Salvos. Details: Many Cultures, One Hope. Hurstville Plaza, 296 Forest Road, Hurstville. Sunday, October 22, 10.30am to 2pm. Everyone is welcome. People are encouraged to wear something that reflects their culture. *An edited version of an article courtesy of St George and Sutherland Shire Leader. Author: Jim Gainsford