The Chronicle

PEACE associatio­n lives up to name

-

TOOWOOMBA’S PEACE group certainly lived up to its name when it came time for the annual Christmas party.

PEACE stands for Positive Empathy and Community Engagement, and director Genevieve Allpass said the Christmas party showcased everything the group stood for.

The event was held at Laurel Bank Park and she was initially worried not many people would turn up because it had to be postponed a week because of weather concerns.

In the end her fears were unfounded and a heap of families came to enjoy a celebratio­n of Christmas and a successful year.

She said the invite went out to the community at large and local businesses donated small gifts for children at the party.

Each one went home with their own little present after a visit from Santa Claus.

Mrs Allpass said PEACE was a not-for-profit organisati­on aimed at bringing the community together, welcoming new arrivals and refugees and offering skills and connection­s to those that needed it.

“We run multicultu­ral cooking classes and feed the homeless, run Woolly Warriors where we knit and crochet things for premmie babies and cancer patients, we donate things to the hospitals like knee rugs, visit old people’s homes and we run a social group for isolated women who have come from the land and moved to Toowoomba or who have escaped domestic violence,” she said.

“We’re really all the same, regardless of how we dress.”

She said people could find out more about the group and its activities by searching for it on Facebook.

 ?? PHOTO: BEV LACEY ?? CHRISTMAS TIME: Sisters (from left) Madelaine, Savanna and Lillian Geddes at the PEACE Christmas party in Laurel Bank Park.
PHOTO: BEV LACEY CHRISTMAS TIME: Sisters (from left) Madelaine, Savanna and Lillian Geddes at the PEACE Christmas party in Laurel Bank Park.
 ??  ?? Saba and Inti Alam with Angus Lucas (right) enjoy the festivitie­s.
Saba and Inti Alam with Angus Lucas (right) enjoy the festivitie­s.
 ??  ?? Maryam Younasi cuddles up with Teddy from Blackbird and Finch.
Maryam Younasi cuddles up with Teddy from Blackbird and Finch.
 ??  ?? Lillian Geddes meets Santa at the party.
Lillian Geddes meets Santa at the party.
 ??  ?? Siva Krishnadas and his daughter Lavani Siva take part in the fun.
Siva Krishnadas and his daughter Lavani Siva take part in the fun.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Australia