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INFORM-A^CTION

Issue Number 35 - November 2000

The Growing Gap Update

The GROWING GAP marginal electorate campaign is progressing well. Since the last newsletter when the whole aim of the campaign was explained, several strategies have been developed and two meetings have been held in marginal electorates.

The Aspley and Zillmere parish social justice contacts jointly hosted an evening at Aspley to inform people of the campaign and to begin to organise. About 25 people attended. Coralie Kingston presented the three main issues the campaign will focus on and helped people understand the significance of these in terms of the growing gap. This information was reinforced when a member of the local St Vincent de Paul Society shared some of the stories of the people their members work with. These stories highlighted the daily reality of poverty in the two electorates of Lilley and Petrie. Annette Arnold explored with the group possible strategies and ways of engaging in the campaign and people were able to indicate future commitment and involvement. Two young Uniting Church people attended and they are very keen to network, as are the members of the local Catholic Women's League.

On Monday night 13 November, Fr John Scarrott and Mrs Maria Masterton at Salisbury hosted a similar meeting. All religious living in the electorate of Moreton (and there are over 70) were invited. People in the marginal electorate task group followed up this letter with a phone call. This proved to be effective as there were about 25 religious in attendance, and about 10 others who couldn't be there have asked to be kept up to date on the campaign. Maria Masterton from the local St Vincent de Paul Society gave some practical examples of the impact of this growing gap on people they work with. People were keen to be involved. The evening gave people an opportunity to find out who some of their neighbours are as well as setting up the basis of a good network in the electorate. The presence of a number of older religious in the electorate is wonderful as their wisdom and life experience will no doubt have some influence when talking with candidates. Like the Aspley meeting there was also the presence of younger people - Maria, from St Vinnies and Kathleen from the Edmund Rice community at Graceville.

There is still a lot of work to be done but a good infrastructure is being built for networking and organising.

For more information about the campaign please contact the SAO.

Note: The Briefing Note Fair Go - Fair Share (originally named The Growing Gap) is available online.

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		INFORM-A^CTION Issue Number 35 - November 2000 *The Growing Gap* Update The GROWING GAP marginal electorate campaign is progressing well. Since the last newsletter when the whole aim of the campaign was explained, several strategies have been developed and two meetings have been held in marginal electorates. The Aspley and Zillmere parish social justice contacts jointly hosted an evening at Aspley to inform people of the campaign and to begin to organise. About 25 people attended. Coralie Kingston presented the three main issues the campaign will focus on and helped people understand the significance of these in terms of the growing gap. This information was reinforced when a member of the local St Vincent de Paul Society shared some of the stories of the people their members work with. These stories highlighted the daily reality of poverty in the two electorates of Lilley and Petrie. Annette Arnold explored with the group possible strategies and ways of engaging in the campaign and people were able to indicate future commitment and involvement. Two young Uniting Church people attended and they are very keen to network, as are the members of the local Catholic Women's League. On Monday night 13 November, Fr John Scarrott and Mrs Maria Masterton at Salisbury hosted a similar meeting. All religious living in the electorate of Moreton (and there are over 70) were invited. People in the marginal electorate task group followed up this letter with a phone call. This proved to be effective as there were about 25 religious in attendance, and about 10 others who couldn't be there have asked to be kept up to date on the campaign. Maria Masterton from the local St Vincent de Paul Society gave some practical examples of the impact of this growing gap on people they work with. People were keen to be involved. The evening gave people an opportunity to find out who some of their neighbours are as well as setting up the basis of a good network in the electorate. The presence of a number of older religious in the electorate is wonderful as their wisdom and life experience will no doubt have some influence when talking with candidates. Like the Aspley meeting there was also the presence of younger people - Maria, from St Vinnies and Kathleen from the Edmund Rice community at Graceville. There is still a lot of work to be done but a good infrastructure is being built for networking and organising. For more information about the campaign please contact the SAO. Note: The Briefing Note Fair Go - Fair Share (originally named *The Growing Gap*) is available online. Next Newsletter Article Newsletter Index