A dazzlingly sunny day greeted volunteers and supporters of the South Sydney Herald (SSH) October 15 as they gathered in Redfern Park to picnic and celebrate the paper’s wonderful family.
“I can see clearly now the rain has gone” was the perfect opener from the Sydney Street Choir to cheer the SSH crowd, which had not gathered in person for a picnic since 2019 (pre-Covid).
Spirited renditions of “Let It Be” (which the choir dedicated to the SSH team) and “Try a Little Kindness” were also audience favourites to which they sang and swayed along.
The trivia quiz, devised by longstanding volunteer distributor Eleanor and assisted by friend of the paper and previous volunteer coordinator Allison, jogged participants’ brain cells.
Questions about what Sydney suburb was named after a famous battle, the age of bones in Lake Mungo (and therefore the minimal length of First Peoples’ habitation in Australia), why Cook’s landing spot was called Botany Bay, the date of the Battle of Hastings and what year the South Sydney Herald began sparked fierce competition for the Rabbitohs jerseys and the book, music and art supply vouchers in the prize pool.
Thanks to local businesses Better Read than Dead, Hum on King and Art on King, Newtown.
Muffins and coffees from the Park Cafe on Chalmers were relished and the new SSH caps with their jaunty red brims worn with pride.
‘It was a great celebration,” said SSH Managing Editor, Marjorie Lewis-Jones, “with the paper’s volunteer working group, writers, editors, proof readers, photographers, distributors and readers enjoying a great day in the sun.
“Our citizen journalism and independence are rare in Australian media,” she said, “and stem from our deep commitment to giving marginalised people a voice and reporting their concerns.
“We’re a diamond in the rough looking for supporters, sponsors and advertisers. If you’d like to help, please get in touch.”
