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Handing over the spirit of Christmas

19 December 2013
Handing over the spirit of Christmas

Margie Abbot serves Christmas lunch at Sydney Streetlevel Mission. (Photo by Shairon Paterson)


 The annual ham handover took place at Sydney Streetlevel Mission this week, with enough pork to feed 1,200 people for the mission’s massive Christmas Day lunch.

Representatives from NSW Farmers and Australian Pork donated more than 250kg of pork at this year’s official handover in a tradition that has been running for almost two decades.

Margie Abbott, wife of Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott, spoke at the handover for the second year in a row, sharing that for her, the one word that best describes Christmas is giving.

“If there is one organisation that I think embodies the true meaning of giving, it’s The Salvation Army. Today is about community giving,” said Mrs Abbott.

Sydney Streetlevel Mission team leader Mitch Evans welcomed everyone ‘home’ to Streetlevel, reminding them they all have a family this Christmas.

“Christmas at Streetlevel is a time to celebrate and a time to be celebrated as well. Everyone in our community is connected to one another,” said Mr Evans.

“Jesus was always about looking after others, and I personally think he’s a pretty good example to follow.”

The ham handover is part of the Sydney Streetlevel Mission Christmas party held in Surry Hills. The party began with a free BBQ breakfast, before the official ham handover, followed by a delicious, free Christmas lunch for the community.

The ham handover, which began back in 1994, aids the Streetlevel team in serving lunch on Christmas Day to over 1,200 people at Australia Technology Park in Sydney. The lunch starts at 11.30am, with free buses running to transport people to and from the venue.

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The Salvation Army acknowledges the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognises their continuing connection to land, waters and community. We pay our respects to them and their cultures; and to elders both past and present.

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