Our Group's Activities in 2007.

The past 12 months have seen the group challenged by several interesting speakers, involved in a number of lobbying activities and has raise over $20,000 for the work of Oxfam.  The energy and enthusiasm of the members continues to make it one of the more active Oxfam groups and it has made a real contribution to both the local and the international communities.

Several speakers came from the Oxfam office.  In February, Terry Robb talked with us about issues in Aboriginal health and about the then upcoming "Close the Gap" campaign.  In May, Charlotte Sterrett spoke about the impact of climate change on the communities in southern Africa. She followed a broader presentation on climate change by Euan Nichol, a lecturer from Victoria University.  Richard Simpson from Oxfam's Humanitarian Unit, focused his talk on a new food for work program in Turkana, northern Kenya which was yielding good early results.

There were also a number of outside speakers. In July, Nic Maclellan, a Pacific expert, gave an impressive talk about the issues currently facing the Pacific communities.  At the August meeting, Lee Tan, from the Australian Conservation Foundation, spoke about conservation and resource issues facing PNG.  In February, former AVI volunteers, Damian and Sophie Magner, spoke of their work on an environmental project in southern India.  This talk was supplemented by a report from Ruth and Stephen of a project amongst tribal communities in the same area which they had visited earlier in the year.

Jenny Macklin, our local member and opposition spokesperson on Aboriginal Affairs, came and spoke at the June Meeting.  She outlined the ALP policy and priorities for the Indigenous communities which the group then discussed.  The key points of this discussion was framed in a letter and sent to her.

In April, Ant Clark reminded us of the Make Poverty History campaign and that we were approaching the mid way point in time when the Millenium Development Goals are meant to be achieved.  As a result of this evening, Heather Smith created a "Make Poverty History - the world can't wait" banner which was signed by Eltham residents in the Town Square and was combined with many other banners around the country.

For the financial year ended 30 June 2007, we organised a number of fundraising events:
� The Book Fair in October 2006 raised close to $11,000
� Two Country Dances, one in August 2006 and the second in May 2007, raised a total of almost $7,000.  Thank you to Michael Pender for the music and the calling.
� A film night in July 2006 raised over $300.
� The sale of commodities netted a further $700.

Many people helped to make these fundraising efforts so successful.  A special thanks to Beth Pender for coordinating the Book Fair - an amazing result.  I know she is especially thankful to Jan & Brian Gill and Heather and Ron Lewin for their hard slog, but many others helped both beforehand in the sorting and on the day.  Ruth Seidler and Heather Smith did much of the organising of the Dances.  Beth organised the film night and Val Byers coordinated the sale of the tea and coffee.  All these people require a special thank you but have been supported in many ways by other members.

Group members participated in other Oxfam fundraising events, Trailwalker and the sale of Christmas Trees. Some members supported the locally organised Eastern Suburbs Walk Against Want.

The group has associated itself through various events with other local groups including the Catholic Church's social justice group, the Nillumbik Reconciliation Group and the Amnesty International group.  It has also supported the initiatives of the Eltham Bookshop in several book events and the "World Matters" weekend.

Many group members have made varied and important contributions to the life of the group over the past 12 months.  On behalf of the group I want to thank a number of them: Carole, John, Marguerite and Joan for planning and arranging the monthly meetings, John for producing the newsletters and being the publicity contact/webmaster, Alistair for being Treasurer and Elizabeth for compiling the minutes.

The Diamond Valley group is an important part of our local community providing a broader Australian and international perspective which we hope is found to be both stimulating and challenging.  I look forward to it continuing with even greater vigour in the coming year.