Streetlevel communities in Sydney and Brisbane connects at Christmas
The Brisbane Streetlevel Mission community gathers for the inaugural Christmas Day dinner. (Photos by Matt Seaman, Chaordic Creative Photography)
On Christmas Day the Salvos Streetlevel Mission in Sydney and Brisbane provided a place for the communities most marginalised members to connect and share in Christmas lunch.
Sydney
On Christmas Day The Salvation Army’s Sydney Streetlevel Mission hosted their annual Christmas Day lunch. This event celebrated its 15th year where again over 1200 people from all over Sydney came to connect and spend Christmas with the Salvos.
Sydney Streetlevel Mission Leader, Mitchell Evans said that it was a great day where everyone, from any walk of life could join together, enjoy a hearty Christmas lunch and have a great time.
“Spending Christmas Day together is an opportunity for people in our community to connect with one another to celebrate Christmas but also for them to be celebrated” Mitchell Evans said.
Throughout the day there was non-stop entertainment from the main stage which included The Voice 2013 contestant Mali-Koa Hood and friends singing some Christmas carols, with an impromptu community choir performance. There was even a visit from our very own celebrity Santa, winner of Big Brother 2013 Tim Dormer.
In addition to the main stage, different activity areas were available for all to enjoy within the venue at Australia Technology Park. Individuals and families joined together in playing games, having a photo with Santa or even connecting with a distant loved one during the Christmas season at our free phone and internet points.
Sydney Streetlevel Mission Leader, Robyn Evans said the event would not be possible without the generosity of individuals and businesses in the community.
“Every year we’re humbled by the generosity of the over 150 volunteers who give up part of their Christmas Day to bring joy, hope and happiness to those who would otherwise go without” Robyn Evans said.
Mitch Evans
Team Leader - Sydney Streetlevel Mission
Brisbane
What does Christmas mean to you? For Christians, it means a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. For many, it is a time to connect with family and loved ones, and a time to give and receive presents. Sadly, this is not the story for everyone.
In our local community of Fortitude Valley, and indeed across the world, many people spend Christmas Day without seeing or speaking to another person. At Brisbane Streetlevel Mission, we made it our mission to make sure that people in Fortitude Valley felt loved and valued on Christmas Day by hosting a family Christmas for 370 people.
The day began at 9am with the arrival of a generous family and their trailer literally full of food and supplies. This family not only bought and donated all the food, drink and crockery for the event, but also spent the entire day cooking, preparing and serving the food.
Before dinner was to be served, around seventy volunteers from all walks of life arrived to lend a much-needed hand to make sure that every person felt special on the day. Kitted out in red Salvo aprons, the army of volunteers transformed the Streetlevel car park into Christmas HQ. The tables, kindly lent by Moonyah and Brisbane City Temple, were decorated with Christmas crackers and lights.
Brisbane Streetlevel Mission team leader Major Bryce Davies gave a short briefing, before our hard working volunteers were assigned tables and asked to act as hosts. In doing this, they helped to make sure that every person felt welcomed and a part of our family. One volunteer, Camilla, remarked, “I have never been so amazed by the loving nature of a community, and I was actually sad when it came time to say goodbye. This is definitely the best Christmas I have ever had.”
As the sun set, the Christmas lights provided the perfect atmosphere for fellowship, as we sang Christmas carols together with live music from Colin and Sharon Stoodley. A contemporary nativity play, acted out by the Streetlevel Crew, demonstrated the parallels between the birth of Jesus and the struggles that many of our community face in life every day.
A surprise for the young and ‘young at heart’ came when Santa arrived in a fire truck with lights and sirens to the rapturous applause of everyone in attendance.
After a feast with every trimming you could imagine, the crowd enjoyed the company of a community united in celebration. After exchanging goodbyes and hugs from friends new and old, the team sat back in awe at the amazing experience of togetherness that had just engulfed Brisbane Streetlevel.
Major Bryce said, “We now know for sure that a new tradition has been born in Fortitude Valley and we cannot wait for next year for a bigger and brighter Christmas than ever before”
The Christmas buzz spilled into the following days with around 100 people enjoying a secondary feast on Friday night during our usual fellowship dinner.
Luke Miekus
Activities Coordinator - Brisbane Streetlevel Mission.
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