Ivanhoe

Ivanhoe Local Group 315 was founded in 1982.

ABOUT the IVANHOE GROUP:
We were once a major fundraising group for Amnesty International Australia, but in recent years our focus has changed to writing letters. Ivanhoe Group members have written over 18,000 letters in the last eleven years. We have organised letter writing marathons and fundraising activities, arranged public meetings on indigenous rights and asylum seekers, contributed to human rights inquiries and participated in local community events.
During our Group's upcoming thirtieth anniversary celebrations in 2012, we will acknowledge the prisoners we have supported in AIA dossier campaigns for most of the last thirty years.

Monthly Meetings and Letter Writing Activities.
We meet regularly on the second Saturday of each month from 1.30 pm to 4.30 pm in Heidelberg, a north eastern metropolitan suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Our meeting format varies but it may include a short business meeting, open discussions on various human rights issues, book reviews and letter writing in defence of human rights around the world. Some meetings are dedicated solely to letter writing, where we supply Urgent Action appeals, addresses, letter writing materials and suggested guidelines, plus peer support and refreshments. Other meetings feature public speakers and discussions focussing on topical human rights issues. In addition, some members write letters and sign online petitions in their own time. In 2010, we wrote over 1250 letters, postcards, emails and aerograms for Amnesty International campaigns on human rights, refugees and Prisoners of Conscience.

Asylum Seekers
In the last few years, our Group has taken a special interest in asylum seekers and refugees. We are proud and humbled, alongside many other human rights activist groups, to have participated in the creation of the Siev X Memorial in Canberra. We have written many letters regarding Australia's policies and treatment of refugees and asylum seekers. We periodically collect non perishable foods and basic commodities for distribution via local refugee centres where some of our Group members are volunteers. Donations of canned foods, toiletries, household groceries and phone or transport cards etc are most welcome.

Indigenous Rights
Our Group has a special interest in the rights of indigenous Australians. We network with other local activist groups and are exploring ways to be more active on this issue in our local area.

Join Us
We are always happy to consider new and innovative ways to promote human rights with others who share our desire to make a difference. We welcome new members! Any potential letter writer who is willing to wield a pen to defend human rights is most welcome to join us and to participate in any of our activities. For our group's news and coming events
visit us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Amnesty-International-Ivanhoe-Local-Group/194674137230806

“It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.”

For meeting venues, dates or more information, please contact:
Secretary,
Ivanhoe Group 315, Amnesty International Australia,
PO Box 210, IVANHOE, VIC 3079
Tel: 03 9890 4203 : Fax: 03 98901601 : Email: aiivanhoe@bigblue.net.au

NOTE: Annual General Meeting of Ivanhoe Local Action Group of Amnesty International
Saturday, 11 February 2012
Meeting Room, Scots Uniting Church, 187 Burgundy St, Heidelberg
between 1.30 - 4.00 pm.
Further details at http://www.amnesty.org.au/vic/event/27846/

======= SOME EVENTS HELD in 2011 ====
Saturday 10 December 1:30 - 4:30pm
END OF YEAR CELEBRATION of a great year, including:
* the release of our stamp commemorating AI's 50th birthday
* the June Fassina and Clare Wositzky Awards
* our achievement of over 20,000 letters in 12 years!
Program included an afternoon of celebration with a toast to freedom, Letter Writing opportunities ("Write for Rights 2011"), a chance to catch up with others who have contributed to our successes over many years.

Sunday 20 November 9am - 4pm
SUPER SAUSAGE SIZZLE
Thanks to generous participants, donors and dedicated stalwarts who staffed the stall, this was an outstanding success.
The profits raised will help fund our group's letter writing efforts and other endeavours in the cause of human rights for the next 12 months.
~~~~~~~
Saturday 9 July 2011 from 1.00 - 4:00pm
CELEBRATING the LAUNCH of AI 50th ANNIVERSARY STAMP
The issue of a stamp to mark AI-50 was the initiative of members of our Ivanhoe Amnesty Group,
and finally achieved through their determined efforts and tireless perseverance.
To mark this unique launch, our July meeting was a special gathering,
beginning with a spirited and colourful "Stamp" up Burgundy St hill
followed by Letter Writing in our usual meeting venue,
and concluding with celebratory reminiscences, a toast to Freedom and a fine afternoon tea.
The 120 letters or cards written that afternoon brought our tally thus far in 2011 to 1,505
and over the past eleven and a half years to 19,529.
~~~~~~~~~~
Saturday 14 May 2011 from 1:30 pm
to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of Amnesty International
"REFUGEES and HUMAN RIGHTS" ~~ with Guest Speakers
Yousef Alreemawi and Sivan Barak (fromAustralian Society for Palestinian-Iraq Refugee Emergency)
and Herman Wainggai (from West Papuan National Authority)

Contact

Email:

Prue -- secretary

Phone:

03 9890 4203

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