Walking in the footsteps of those less fortunate
Fitzroy's Brunswick Street hasn't always been a hipster haunt. In 1933 it was one of Melbourne's worst slums and it was here Father Gerard Tucker chose to help its poorest residents, founding the organisation the Brotherhood of St Laurence in Victoria.
To acknowledge this year's Anti-Poverty Week 12-18 October - and as a major national sponsor - the Brotherhood is holding a week of activities, which will include a walk around Brunswick Street that focuses on its social justice past.
Led by Dr Brian Stagoll from the Fitzroy History Society and joined along the way by various speakers from the Brotherhood, the 90-minute walk will guide participants through some of the historical sites of the organisation's first efforts in social justice and equity.
The free walk starts at 10am on Friday 17 October outside the Brotherhood's Coolibah Seniors' Centre at 67 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy, and all are welcome to attend.
Following the walk, the Brotherhood is opening its doors at 67 Brunswick Street to offer lunchtime market stalls selling crafts and food from our refugee and migrant graduates of our Stepping Stones program.
On Friday, there will also be a Research and Policy Centre lunchtime seminar exploring the issues surrounding poverty. The Brotherhood's Dr Dina Bowman and Dr Francisco Azpitarte will discuss 'Social Exclusion Over the Life-Cycle: An Exploratory Analysis from a Gender Perspective' from 12pm-1pm in Father Tucker's Hall.
An earlier lunchtime seminar this Tuesday 14 October (3pm-4pm) will feature Professor Peter Whiteford from ANU's Crawford School of Public Policy on the topic of whether the budget can repaired fairly.
Please join us as we campaign to work towards an Australia free of poverty.