Media Release

australian community idol finalists in great organisations chairities communities in control conference NEW AUSTRALIAN IDOL TO BE CROWNED
Three Community Idol Finalists Named

 
The three finalists who will battle it out for the title of inaugural Australian Community Idol 2005 were announced today.

The three diverse groups were selected from nominations from around Australia and were judged to have stood out from the rest in terms of innovation, inclusion and board management.

"It was a difficult job to select three finalists from so many groups, all of whom demonstrated true community spirit," explained Lindsay Gaze, the legendary sports administrator, former Australian basketball coach and Chair of the Community Idol judging panel.

"They all demonstrate innovation, strong community support and an extremely strong connection to the communities they serve. There were so many great nominations that the panel also decided to award a number of commendations and I congratulate all the successful groups for their efforts."

The three finalists will now have the opportunity to make their case to a community audience at the Communities in Control Conference to be held at Moonee Valley on June 6-7. The winner will be decided by a vote from the audience.

The three finalists selected by the judging panel are:

  • Horn of Africa Communities Network Inc. (HACN) based in Footscray, Victoria offer a range of programs and services in employment, housing and education to ensure a better quality of life for Horn of Africa humanitarian and refugee settlers. The organisation is committed to equality for Horn of Africa minorities and promoting the development of an African-Australian identity for new arrivals.
  •  Sisters Inside Inc. from Brisbane, Queensland is an independent community organisation advocating for the human rights of women in the criminal justice system in Queensland. The organisation works alongside women in prison in the Southeast of the state to fill the gaps in services that are available to them.
  •  CERES (the Centre for Education and Research in Environmental Strategies) from Brunswick, Victoria. CERES is a community environment project which aims to encourage community participation in environmental sustainability and social equity in urban areas.
"It is inspiring what Australia's community groups will do to create positive change," said Dr Rhonda Galbally, the Chief Executive of Our Community,    co-convenor of the Communities in Control conference.

"We were staggered by the quality and number of organisations that work hard with little recognition for their commitment to a better community."

True to the Idol format, the finalists will have to strut their stuff in front of a live audience - in this case the attendees of the Communities in Control Conference (June 6-7) through a Q&A session. Each group will have to convince the audience that it is the most innovative and effective in the country. The audience will vote and the winner will be announced at the close of the conference.

In addition to the title of Australian Community Idol, the winner receives $3000 prize money and subscriptions to all Our Community newsletters and publications on fundraising, grants and board building.

Commendations were awarded to the following:
  • Helping Hands Volunteer Program, NSW;
  • Milang Progress Association, SA;
  • Mt Beauty Neighbourhood Centre, VIC;
  • Golden Mile Community House Inc., WA;
  • Park for Play, VIC;
  • Derwent Valley Economic Renewal Group Inc., TAS;
  • Melbourne Rainbow Band, VIC;
  • Riverwood Community Centre, NSW;
  • Bairnsdale/Amaroo Branch of the Country Women's Association of Victoria, VIC;
  • Northern Migrant Resource Centre, VIC.
The finalists and Dr Rhonda Galbally are available for interview.

 For more information on the conference visit

http://www.ourcommunity.com.au/files/communitiesincontrol2005.pdf

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