Families Day - overseas events
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It is the ones that are missing from family photos that make our family appreciate each other even more when we meet up. Our family is the pivotal point of our lives – each member is unique and treasured for the talents and personality that they bring to our family mix. On Family Day this year we plan to share a meal with those here in Wellington and talk to those living overseas by phone so that they can also share the day with us.
Pat Waite, District Governor, New Zealand Rotary |
Australia
Australia has been actively celebrating Families Day for five years. Last year more than 1,000 events took place including:
- morning teas
- barbeques
- sausage sizzles
- playgroup visits
- family picnics
- artwork displays
- family information days
- drawing competitions
- dances
- art displays
- photo competitions
- seminars and workshops
- breakfast gatherings
- storytelling events
- services displays
- movie nights.
A number of organisations also participated in Families Day. A selection of some of the organisational events that were held are:
- Department of Main Roads Cloncurry took their families to work for the day
- Defence Community organisation had lunch, with entertainment, for defence personnel and families
- Communities @ Work held a celebration walk
- Witonga Crescent Child Care Centre had a Grandparents Day
- ABC Hanwood had a week-long display, and discussion on family wellbeing
- Hornsby-Waitara Community Hub had a family walkabout, a workshop, forum and a supported playgroup
- Holroyd City Council had guest speakers at morning teas
- The Deaf Society of NSW held a Deafinitely Family Fun Day
- NT Legal Aid Commission hosted a Families and Law Workshop
- Katherine Early Years Centre had a family picnic in the park
- Bundaberg Child & Family Centre put up a community display
- Bayside Family Day Care held a national photo competition
- Youth Space held a youth forum in Proserpine
- Centacare Catholic Family Services Whyalla held the FITT Families Fair
- Anglicare Tasmania held the Communities for Children Conference
- YMCA Ashburton hosted a Healthy Family Brunch and Demo Family Class
- Australian Greek Welfare Society in Brunswick conducted a course on Difficult Family Relationships
- YMCA Kilsyth held activities for its young parents group
- ABC Merriwa West had an information night for parents.
United Nations
Some additional suggestions from the UN for observing Families Day:
- Family and community forums and workshops, to explore issues and offer options for strengthening families. Forums can also provide information on family support services, such as counselling, financial assistance, advisory and information services.
- Special events in educational settings such as parent/teacher gatherings or student activities to highlight relevant issues and questions related to families.
- Special family fares or free family tickets on public transportation, free entrance for families to museums, exhibitions, concerts and other cultural attractions, and other incentives to give additional emphasis to the day and to facilitate the involvement of families.
- Official proclamations of the day by mayors and other local authorities.
- Proclamations of "Family Week".
- Production of documentary films or promotional vignettes on families to be shown on national and local television stations.
- Arrange special exhibitions of publications, photographs, children's drawings, posters and other materials on families.
- Organise essay competitions on the family.
- Launch family-related publications.
- Arrange coverage of the day's events by the news media, including television, radio and newspapers. The latter could also carry feature articles and special supplements on the day, as well as a series on family issues.
- Press conferences by research institutions and others concerned with family issues can raise public awareness of priority concerns.