Newcomers Network will be hosting its 10th annual free bring your own Christmas Day Picnic Lunch in Melbourne, its 6th lunches in Sydney and Perth, 5th in Brisbane and 3rd in Adelaide, Australia on Friday 25 December 2015 Between 12pm and 3pm Book to attend at http://www.newcomersnetwork.eventbrite.com.au Melbourne – since 2006 Queen Victoria Gardens, opposite National Gallery of Victoria, St Kilda Road, Melbourne, Victoria http://christmasdaybyopicniclunchinmelbourne.eventbrite.com.au Sydney – since 2010 Botanical Gardens, near the Opera House, go through the Queen Elizabeth II Gate, head towards the Rockery, Sydney, New South Wales http://christmasdaybyopicniclunchinsydney.eventbrite.com.au Perth – since 2010 Kings Park, next to the War Memorial, Lot 47 Mounts Bay Road, Kings Park, Perth, Western Australia http://christmasdaybyopicniclunchinperth.eventbrite.com.au Brisbane – since 2011 Botanical Gardens, near the corner of Albert Street and Alice Street, Brisbane, Queensland http://christmasdaybyopicniclunchinbrisbane.eventbrite.com.au Adelaide – since 2013 Next to the Elder Park Rotunda, North Terrace, between the Festival Theatre and the Torrens River, Adelaide, South Australia http://christmasdaybyopicniclunchinadelaide.eventbrite.com.au These events are open to everyone, but are specifically designed for people who have moved to the city, international students, tourists and anyone who is a Christmas Orphan and is away from their family or friends on Christmas Day. In the past, we have also welcomed local people including single parents and their children, older singles, young singles, couples looking for something different to do, carers of people with a disability, people with dogs on a lead, people whose parents have passed away, homeless people who do not want to be at a charity venue and people who have not received an invitation to join a celebration with anyone they know. We have also welcomed people who do not celebrate Christmas as a religious occasion (Muslim, Hindus, Buddhists etc) but would like to do something different in their local city. All Newcomers Network events are free to attend and anyone who would like to join us is welcome. For this event, people need to bring their own refreshments (food and drink) that they can either have themselves or share with other guests and wear their own name tag (any type will do – even just paper and a pin). Guests are also encouraged to be sun smart (hat, sunscreen) and bring a football, frisbee, cricket bat and ball or any other outdoor activities as well. Everyone mixes and mingles and in 2009, two single people met, in 2010 they spent Christmas together holidaying in the Grampians, in 2012 they announced their engagement and they were married in 2014 and are now expecting a baby. In Melbourne, there is a small group of regulars who now come every year. Guests are encouraged to register online to see the map details – even if it rains, the event will still be on (just bring an umbrella or a raincoat!). Newcomers Network is a socially responsible business funded by consulting services provided by Sue Ellson in Melbourne with volunteer representatives in Sydney, Perth, Brisbane and Adelaide, Australia providing information, events and advocacy for newcomers to Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, Brisbane and Adelaide since 2001. In 2016 we will continue to host free Living, Working and Networking events on the second Wednesday of every month from 6pm in Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth. More background information for journalists What sorts of people do not have something to do on Christmas Day? …many Australians kindly donate their time before Christmas and on the day to people who are homeless but surprisingly, there are many other people who need companionship on Christmas Day. So we have found all sorts of people who join us at these events including migrants without local families, expatriates, international students, singles, single parents who have been ostracised by friends and family, people with disabilities, people with dogs, local people and families who have family interstate or overseas. Anyone who attends a free event is generally motivated to have a great time and is willing to chat. Sue Ellson BBus AIMM MAHRI Founder and Director Newcomers Network mobile/cell +61 402 243 271 landline +61 3 9888 6480 (prior to 11am Christmas Day) started 1999 established 2001