Hello Members,
What can I do ??? How may I help ????
Our community makes a difference.
Our community continues to be so very very supportive and generous.
A young local couple, having donated a very good Mazda 3 car to the SJA, can now feel very very proud that a young woman will receive it soon .
Below is a brief story and it’s important the fact that this young lady was a tenant in an SJA Bega crisis transitional unit.
THANK YOU TO ALL WHO DONATE and share with our community.
The impact is huge especially on lives that are being developed through some difficulties.
Thank you
It’s Up To Us
Good afternoon Mick and SJA super crew,
I would like to nominate T for the car donation. T is a dedicated and resilient young person who has worked hard to overcome significant challenges while pursuing her education and future career goals.
T is currently completing Year 12 and has officially graduated, with only her final exams left to complete. She is determined to pursue an apprenticeship in either boiler making or mechanical trades. Having reliable transport would greatly improve her chances of securing employment in these fields, particularly given the regional demands and travel requirements associated with apprenticeships.
At present, T is living in transitional housing after completing six months in the Bega SJA units. Her progress demonstrates her commitment to building stability and independence. Access to a vehicle would provide her with the practical support she needs to continue this momentum, enabling her to attend work, training, and community commitments with reliability.
I strongly believe that granting this donation to T would not only support her immediate needs but also invest in her long-term independence, employability, and contribution to the community.
Thank you for considering her nomination.
Regards,
Alex Douglas
He/Him
Youth Homelessness Case Worker
SEWACS Budjangal – communities, connection, belonging.
M: 0407897163 P: 6492 2223 W: sewacs.org.au
Monday to Thursday 9am – 5pm
I acknowledge and pay my respects to the people of the Yuin Nation who are the traditional custodians of the land on which I live and work. To the Elders past and present, and to the children and young people of today, who will be the elders of tomorrow.
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COMING AGAIN THIS YEAR !!!
Samaritan op shop V2.0
Masonic Hall Pambula (opposite the old courthouse)
December 17 to 23 and Jan 5 – 23
Open approx 9 to 4 .
All volunteers most welcome to help on a morning or afternoon shift basis .
***. Contact Gail Jacobs to be on the roster —gayrenejacobs@7mail.com
Volunteers to help welcome people, serve people, keep the shop tidy and presentable.
Helpers also to move goods to the shop for sale from our storage sheds.
This is an SJA community event which also raises funds to help all our various activities.
We need:
A person licensed to tag the electrical goods
AND
A person willing and able to list and coordinate goods onto our own marketplace ONLINE.
If you or anyone you know can fill these positions
Reply here! secretary@sjasc.org.au
What can I do ? How may I help ?
Cheers
Mb
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All are welcome to the free screening of the Rising Tide documentary, Turning the Ship about the 2024 People’s Blockade of the world’s largest coal port.
The screening will be held at Pambula CWA Hall 1/24 Toallo St, Pambula from 5pm on Sunday 12th October.
Rising Tide is a fast growing, grassroots climate justice movement. Turning the Ship tells our story and ambitious plans as we build the next stage of our collective power 
A Q@ A session will occur after the screening.
All are welcome, bring a friend or two?
A small contingent of SJA members and youth are attending the Rising Tide Newcastle Protestival event again this November 2025. Come along and learn more.
Climate Action is needed NOW more than ever.
Cheers
Wendy Wait
SJA Environment Convenor
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UPDATE
HOST FAMILIES ARE FULLY ALLOCATED AT THIS STAGE – WAITING LIST IS NOW OPEN.
MARSS (Migrant and Refugee Settlement Services) https://marss.org.au/
Visit to the Sapphire Coast Nov 2025
Date
Thursday Nov 6th 2.00pm Depart Civic Sq, London Circuit, Canberra
Arrive Bega and then Pambula approx 6.00pm -7.00pm
Travel home with Host Family and stay the night
Friday Nov 7th 10.00am School Visit – Wolumla PS or Lumen Christi
12.30pm Lunch at Central location say Ford Oval Merimbula
1.30pm Educational Session
3.00pmonwards free afternoon evening with Hosts
Saturday Nov 8th 10.00am Arrive at Pambula Surf Life Saving Club
10.30am Educational Session
11.30am Free time at the beach
12.30pm BBQ Lunch and games at Pambula Beach
3.00pm onwards free afternoon evening with Hosts
Sunday Nov 9th Morning with Hosts
2.00pm Depart Pambula Coach Stop, Pambula
Notes
Approx 55-60 guests subject to Coach capacity – approx 13 to 14 families
Maximum 5 family members – any age or nationality welcome
Host families to provide free accomm – Beds and Linen
Host families to provide the food subject to discussions with guests. We have found in the past the guest families will like to showcase their cooking
Guests to bring swimming gear, hats and sunscreen
All food supplied by the Social Justice Advocates will be Halal
Vegetarian and Gluten Free catered
An online Cultural Awareness course to be undertaken by the host families
Public Liability Insurance will cover the event
Host families to be encouraged to have a Working With Children check – but we
rely on children being supervised at all times.
Entry fees to local attractions to be discussed by Guests and Host Families
Contact Gavin Bell gajbell@yahoo.com.au 0411 564 120
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Many thanks to the volunteers at Wanderer Festival on the October 4/5 long weekend: many interesting conversations were had, more host families for the MARRS visit ( see above) came forward, the Youth Initiatives group were very busy, we brought the weather! and the music.
Major fundraising event 2025:
Tickets:
https://www.stickytickets.com.au/enews/daniel_champagne.aspx
THE 2025 SOCIAL JUSTICE ADVOCATES OF THE SAPPHIRE COAST ( SJASC ) FUND RAISING CONCERT
FOR THE HOMELESS PEOPLE OF THE BEGA VALLEY
MEDIA RELEASE
“IT’S STILL UP TO US”
Everybody in the Bega Valley is aware that the Valley remains in the midst of a major housing crisis.
The crisis continues to worsen. More and more people, mostly women and children, many of them
victims of domestic violence, approach the Social Justice Advocates seeking emergency shelter.
You can help! The most enjoyable way to assist the homeless people of the Bega Valley is to come
along to the SJASC’s annual fund raising concert.
Our 2025 concert will be presented on November 9, at Club Sapphire Merimbula. It will run from
3.30 until 8 pm.
In line with the Advocates ‘For the Bega Valley, By the Bega Valley’ mantra, the 2025 concert will
again feature an all local line-up featuring some of the very best Bega Valley musicians.
The talent line-up for 2025 includes headliner Daniel Champagne, and The Figmentz who will
perform the best of their Talking Heads tribute show. Featured acts include top local acts Geese Fly
South and Goldie.
Daniel Champagne was born and raised in the Bega Valley. A founding member of the brilliant local
guitar combo ‘Guitarama’ Daniel is now playing to sell out concerts world wide. Recently described
by the Canadian Calgary Herald as 'the finest guitar player of this generation' Daniel spent his late
teens and early twenties touring the world with the likes of Ani DiFranco, John Butler, INXS, Lucinda
Williams & Rodrigo y Gabriela! PRESS QUOTES from the Calgary Herald of Canada : “Today I saw
the future of Folk – Festival goers flocking in their thousands towards the main stage to witness a
young musical phenomenon from Australia dish out an absolute show-stopper. The word Prodigy
seems to entirely fall short of this soft-spoken young man’s skills. He coaxes sounds and melodies
out of his instrument that literally drop jaws.”
And of course we all know about, and have enjoyed dancing to the pumping beats of the mighty
Figmentz, a band that features the best of local musicians.
The SJA’s generous sponsors have already covered the concert expenses, so ALL ticket proceeds go
directly to housing the homeless in the Bega Valley.
So don’t miss out. Tickets are available NOW from the Sticky Tickets website. Google ‘Sticky
Tickets’ and search for Daniel Champagne. Get your friends together, create your own party and get
in early while the best tables are still available.
Tonight, and every night, sixty people in the Bega Valley enjoy shelter and comfort in caravans or
crisis transitional units provided by the Social Justice Advocates of the Sapphire Coast. Nobody
disputes the fact that the Advocates do more for the homeless in the Bega Valley than the three
tiers of government combined. The SJA has helped over 400 homeless people and provided over
6000 ‘bed nights’ for people in crisis.
If you can’t make it to the concert, remember that tickets make great gifts. Or you can make a tax
deductible donation via the SJA website.
NOBODY DOES MORE TO SUPPORT THE HOMELESS IN THE BEGA VALLEY THAN THE SOCIAL JUSTICE
ADVOCATES…………ALL MADE POSSIBLE BY YOUR GENEROSITY.
https://www.stickytickets.com.au/enews/daniel_champagne.aspx
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"African Children's Choir – UBUNTU Africa
In May this year, a few of the Social Justice Advocates were involved in hosting an overnight camp at the Pambula Beach Surf Life Saving Club for the African Children's Choir.
Caroline and Colin who helped in the evening, and the following morning, have now been able to visit the orphanage and a school in the Kampala, Uganda, area and spend some time working, and playing.
In Colin's words: "We stayed overnight. Our welcome was quite overwhelming."
From little things, big things grow!
What can I do? How can I help?"
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NEXT GENERAL MEETING
THURSDAY NOVEMBER 20 @ 5.30 PM
CWA ROOMS 1/24 TOALLA ST PAMBULA
ALL WELCOME!
GUEST SPEAKER The Hon Kristy McBain MP (TBC)
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POSTPONED : Youth concert at Covingtons Saturday October 11.
Regards,
Russell Jennings
Email: secretary@sjasc.org.au
Postal: PO Box 352 Pambula NSW 2549
https://www.facebook.com/sapphirecoastsja
https://www.instagram.com/socialjusticeadvocates/
The Social Justice Advocates of the Sapphire Coast acknowledge the Yuin People as the Traditional Owners of the land on which we live and work. We pay our respects to their Elders, past, present and emerging.
ABN 19 708 992 414