When you go to the effort of catering Christmas day lunch for 1,200 people, lining up Santa to visit and organising 320 volunteers, you’d usually hope that the guests turn up.
But that’s not necessarily the case for celebration in Perth. “We actually hope that one day no one will come to our Christmas party,” says event manager, Georgina Westgarth, “because that will mean we would have solved homelessness in Perth.”
Although the charitable organisation is looking forward to hosting its upcoming Christmas party in Wellington Square on 25 December, the event serves as an important reminder: this Christmas not everyone will have food to eat, a table to eat at or a family to eat with.
We often have new Australians and people without family come to the lunch because they have nowhere else to go. No one should be alone on Christmas Day.
“Our event welcomes Perth’s most vulnerable people and those experiencing homelessness,” Westgarth tells SBS. “This includes families and individuals who are going through tough times. If guests didn’t attend CLIP, they would otherwise be alone and hungry on Christmas Day, as many of the food services available in the metro area would be closed.”
CLIP is Australia’s longest-running and largest community-funded Christmas event that exists purely to provide for society’s most marginalised and disadvantaged people. 2022 marks CLIP’s 47th birthday when someone will be served the 70,000th meal.
At this year’s event, every attendee will have the chance to feast on a special cold lunch featuring roast chicken and Christmas ham, a selection of summery salads with cranberries and fruit, chocolate pudding and ice cream.
We all come together to feel what Christmas should really be about: community and connection.
There’ll be entertainment and kids will be given presents. A wellness zone will be set up on the day, where attendees can have a shower, receive clothes, or access support services if needed. Each guest will also receive a special care pack, including non-perishable food and personal care items to help them cope in the days after Christmas when many services are unavailable.
Overall, the event will aim to ensure that no one is forgotten or goes hungry over the festive season.
The Christmas event will go some way towards breaking down cultural barriers, using the universal languages of food and celebration to create connections. Source: Mission Australia
'Bigger than ever' is not always a good thing
Westgarth says it is expected that 2022 will see more attendees at the party than ever before.
“More people are doing it tough,” she adds. “We are seeing a whole new generation of people experiencing homelessness and this means many people reach out to us for help on Christmas day.”
Last year, more than 15 per cent of guests were from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, while 36 per cent were Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander.
“We often have new Australians and people without family come to the lunch because they have nowhere else to go. No one should be alone on Christmas Day.”
The lunch also presents vulnerable members of our community with an opportunity to get away from the difficulties they might be experiencing in their life...
Program manager at in Maddington, Bev Wotzko, explains that cultural issues can sometimes exacerbate social disadvantage, and lead to increased vulnerability or homelessness.
“For many people, English is their second language or it’s almost non-existent,” Wotzko says. “If you can’t communicate easily, this can create a real sense of isolation that can prevent you from accessing support.”
The Christmas event will go some way towards breaking down cultural barriers, using the universal languages of food and celebration to create connections.
“The lunch also presents vulnerable members of our community with an opportunity to get away from the difficulties they might be experiencing in their life, so they can share a nice afternoon with other people.”
2022 marks Christmas Lunch In the Park’s 47th birthday where someone will be served the 70,000th meal. Source: Mission Australia
Conversation and contact
To coordinate the day in a way that actually works for the clientele, Mission Australia had to face the realities of social disadvantage.
“Many people arrive at CLIP alone and are not used to being around others,” Westgarth says. “Some find arriving at the event to be confronting, anxiety-inducing and out of their comfort zone.”
To better support guests to do well in a social atmosphere, volunteers have been organised to greet attendees at the door and guide them to their table or picnic area. Table hosts then help guests to meet and talk to each other.
Table host and volunteer, Julie Katsimbardis, will spend her ninth year volunteering at CLIP this month, enabling guests to feel the warmth of human contact.
Table host, Julie Katsimbardis, with guests at last year's Christmas In the Park event. Source: Mission Australia
“Sometimes people find it very hard to open up and talk, as they spend a lot of time on their own during the year,” says Katsimbardis. “The main thing is that they feel comfortable and welcome when they are here.”
Katsimbardis recalls how she’s seen guests light up through the lunch, as they embrace a sense of community, generosity and hope.
“Many of these attendees don’t have anywhere else to go on Christmas day. A lot of them also don’t have anything to eat. But at this event, they get a good meal, company and entertainment.
“We all come together to feel what Christmas should really be about: community and connection.”
