WATERLOO: Winter, it is my habit to huff, is an English season irrelevant to Australia. Yet, as darkness dropped and the brisk breeze brought news of snow on the Blue Mountains to Raglan Street, it seemed the South Sydney Herald had succeeded in raising Winter for its fundraiser on Saturday July 19, and we should hope for as much success raising funds.
With SSH stalwart Ross Smith collecting cash at the door, that task was in good hands. Inside the church, scores clustered happily as volunteers offered platters of vegetarian delicacies. The four heaters high on the walls glowed bravely against the cold as convivial conversations also warmed the gathering.
Tanya Plibersek, Sydney’s federal representative and deputy leader of the ALP, mingled with old mates and met a few new before hurrying to further commitments. Penny Sharpe, who forsakes her state upper house place for the race to be the inaugural member for Newtown, stayed as the Rev. Andrew Collis, our esteemed editor, opened proceedings by lighting a candle and calling a minute’s silence for the victims of the MH17 atrocity before inviting Norma Ingram to give a Welcome to Country.
Norma reminded us we were on the land of the Gadigal people, one of the 29 clan groups of the Eora whose traditional territory is the Sydney basin. “Australian history began with the Dreamtime,” she informed us and spoke movingly of the diversity and depth of Indigenous civilisation before closing with serene strength: “There is tar and cement over this land, but it always is, always was and always will be Aboriginal land.”
Guest speaker Felicity Reynolds, Chief Executive Officer of the Mercy Foundation, started with a tribute to the sweet jazz sounds preceding her – the John Harkins Trio (comprising John on piano, Max Alduca on double bass and Grace Chung’s vocals) – that had quite transported her. But she quickly got on topic – homelessness. Her experience in the field makes her ask, “when groups come together to help homeless people, why do so many service it and not work to solve it?” “
Housing solves homelessness,” she said simply before noting that we are not told that most homelessness is about poverty and unaffordable housing. And, please, do not rob people of their dignity by referring to “the homeless”, a thoughtless stereotype.
A lively question time was sped along by Julie McCrossin darting about with the mic as the evening moved briskly towards devouring what remained of the 27 types of tasty treats lovingly prepared at Tripod Café.
And our desserts awaited us out the back in the church hall, dramatically crossed with red carpet for the evening. A table groaned under cakes and fruit and tea and coffee and a variety of milks. (Did I mention this was a dry fundraiser? “Not in time …” mutters my Lois Lane.)
Then Vanessa Caspersz was welcomed to the temporary stage and introduced ukulele infused beat-boxing to an audience predominantly unaware of this recent musical phenomenon. Her sweetly soaring sounds – accompanied by the odd guttural clicking – provided a delightful highpoint to the evening.
Once the applause for Vanessa’s encore smattered out, Andrew and his editing rock, Lyn Turnbull, bestowed beautifully hand-knitted woollens upon the performers.
Fond farewells filtered into the evening as unstinting volunteers cleaned up after an event we can’t wait to attend again next year.
Although – can we work on the name? This time of year was known for aeons as Tugarah’gunyamarra: a cold and windy season when the gossamer wattle flowers and, traditionally, shelters are built facing the morning sun. Winter is what we wish upon homeless people through our inattention.
