End of Year Celebration

On Friday, 13 December 2024, TMSG - CAMS hosted its annual End of Year Celebration at Saint Matthew's Anglican Church Hall. Proudly supported by Townsville City Council’s Christmas Together in the Community 2024 initiative, the event brough together people from different cultural backgrounds, different generations, and different religions to celebrate Christmas and the end of the year.

The celebration featured inspiring speeches, cultural performances, and handicraft activities, alongside music by the Townsville Multicultural Strum and Giggle Group, who delighted attendees with Christmas songs in multiple languages. The attendees were invited to join the singing performance and playing Angklung (Indonesian traditional music instruments) together.

More than 80 people attended and enjoyed heartful reflections from new arrivals on the meaning of Christmas and their gratitude to TMSG. Attendees also enjoyed a diverse array of food mainly prepared by CALD small business owners who participated in the Dept of Trade, Employment and Training’s Growing Migrant and Refugee Food Business program. In this event, TMSG – CAMS had the opportunity to express our gratitude and high appreciation to volunteers (including JCU students who completed their student placement at TMSG) and key partners who provided untiring and ongoing support to TMSG clients, especially the new arrivals.

Big thanks and high appreciation to the Townsville City Council for providing financial support to the event and to the Multicultural Affairs QLD, Dept of Women, Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander Partnerships and Multiculturalism for their continued support to CAMS Program. Thank you to all TMSG staff for your support both during the preparation and on the day of the event. Without your support, the event would not be such a success.