Seven days of Anti Poverty Week activities in the north west came to an end in Mount Isa on Thursday as Centacare North Queensland hosted an “Eat, Pray, Act” Dinner at their Short St headquarters.
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Centacare NQ Regional Manager Heather Alexander said tThe Eat, Pray, Act’ Dinner was a way to reach the whole community and break down the barriers for anyone experiencing hardship or poverty, and create community ownership.
There was a range of activities such as craft, different presentations from local groups in Mount Isa, great food, and a service bingo.
The service bingo will involve local businesses and organisations that people can access in Mount Isa during times of hardship.
The service bingo will require people to speak with these services, get a stampon the bingo card and enter to win one of seven $50 Kmart vouchers.
Centacare’s Leanne Harris said the service bingo was a great opportunity for those experiencing poverty to understand what services were available in Mount Isa to provide help in times of need.
Father Mick Lowcock spoke about the Catholic year of mercy and how mercy was an important concept.
“Mercy touches the heart of all people,” Father Mick said.
“At Centacare and any of the churches agencies, we should be saying how are the poor are really a gift for us rather than something we’ve got to do something about.”
Centacare North Queensland director Peter Monaghan said the event was the final part of Anti Poverty Week themed activity in Mount Isa, Cloncurry and Normanton.
“We want to highlight the solutions we present to our community about addressing poverty,” Mr Monaghan said.
“Poverty can take many forms and the services here show the community is alive to many types of responses.”
All entries submitted as part of the photography competition were on display, having been judged by Sonja James, Barbara Sams, and the North West Star’s Derek Barry.
The theme of the photography competition was ‘Mercy in Action’, which encouraged students in the community to look at mercy and how that can be integrated positively into everyday life.
To enter, students captured a photo that represented mercy, and told us the meaning behind their photo.
There were four categories, with a brand new bike and helmet up for grabs for a boy and girl in each group.
Winners were (prep) Boy: Tyler Jackson Girl: Avni Singh
(grade 1 & 2) Boy: William Usher, Boy: Joseph Friday.
(grade 3 & 4) Boy: Cooper Jackson, Girl: Gladys Goodman
(grade 5 & 6) Boy: Ernest Neal Girl: Paige Jackson
Derek Barry
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
