Finding our Common Strength — March Armidale Community Rally

Everyone in the region is invited to bring the family and join the community rally in Central Park at 2pm this Saturday 25 March.

March Armidale is hosting this event as part of peaceful actions across the country calling for “decency, accountability and integrity” in policies, politicians and government. 

Speakers include Paul Barrett on war and peace and the connection with refugees, Jan Hall on education, Bruce Stevenson from Friends of the ABC, Phil Donnan on refugees and the situation on Manus Island, Tom Briggs on juvenile justice, Pip Ryan on the Australian Unemployed Workers Union and Vanessa Peterson mining and  climate change.

Founded in 2014, March Armidale is a group of local people working together for an Australia where social support, healthcare and education are accessible to all, where our shared natural environment is protected and conserved for the future, and where social justice and human rights are respected. 

March in March rally in Armidale, March 2014

Some may remember two successful rallies in Armidale and “Politics in the Pub” that year, when over 100,000 people marched in national events.

From the start March Armidale has been concerned about the erosion of rights, the attacks on public infrastructure and services as well as on members of society who deserve and need our support while corporate welfare is increasing, and the destruction of the natural environment which is the basis of our existence. 

“The situation was bad then and is now even worse with the gap between the haves and the have-nots ever widening and our political leaders refusing to address our genuine fears or to guarantee our basic rights,” said Elizabeth O’Hara, one of the organisers. 

“We see this in the callous treatment of those deserving welfare, in the provision of healthcare and attacks on educational opportunities at all levels.” 

Pip Ryan, another organiser of this Saturday’s event, said “I have many concerns, including the current centrelink debt debacle which is the product of a broken system.” 

“Participating in organising the rallies in 2014 made me conscious of the strength of the community rallying around concerns they feel deeply about.” 

For Pip this Saturday’s event is “an opportunity for the people in Armidale and surrounding regions to unite and find our common strength”. 

March Armidale invites people from the region and community groups attend this Saturday to raise your concerns, promote local community groups and rally for solutions. 

Events are taking place in locations and online around Australia. Bring the family and come down to Central Park at 2pm this Saturday 25th March. 

There will be music, speakers and street theatre. Local community groups are encouraged to participate by having stalls on the day. 

For further information or to register stalls, please call {landline prefix oh for}08670684.