00:00 Well the plans are on in earnest now.
00:04 From 5am we've had teams and volunteers all over and up and down the street getting ready
00:09 for our famous Wayside Chapel Street Christmas Party.
00:13 So we're going to kick off at 9 o'clock with some breakfast and then lead into a street
00:17 chapel service with the Sydney Street Choir and if we're doing everything right after
00:21 lunch by about 1.30 you'll be in Sydney's biggest street conga line as the DJ gets us
00:27 pumping for the afternoon.
00:29 That's quite a long conga line.
00:30 What's on the menu?
00:33 Well this morning we're going to just start off with some fruit salad and some cereal
00:37 but then we're going to move into a full Christmas dinner made with love and all the trimming.
00:41 So we're going to have, we've had over 500 kilos of ham cooked up, cut up and then we've
00:48 also had 125 kilos of prawns so if you're not drowning in Thousand Island dressing we
00:55 must have done something wrong and then leading into a beautiful baked lunch.
01:00 John you've seen the forecast for today and you saw the weather yesterday, are you worried
01:03 the weather might put a dampener on proceedings?
01:07 Nothing could dampen our enthusiasm and spirits, though we might get a bit of rain just to
01:11 wash us out periodically.
01:13 We have some undercover areas here that people can huddle in but you know many of our community
01:17 are all too familiar with sleeping out rough so we'll be joining them today regardless
01:22 of the weather conditions to celebrate what we want to make a really special and precious
01:28 day for everyone.
01:30 One of the big issues this year has of course been the cost of living crisis and I wonder
01:35 John if you've seen an increase in people that are coming forward needing support from
01:40 groups like yourself this year and particularly for this Christmas?
01:45 Look our numbers say that over this last calendar year we've doubled the number of people who
01:49 are coming to seek us out for support and that's really been alarming over the last
01:53 12 months and you know I've had, you know, we've all, the whole charity sector and who
01:58 were celebrated in both those messages from our leaders last night deserve a real big
02:04 pat on the back because of the increased pressures that they've faced to be able to cope with,
02:10 to be able to care for everyone who has come through the doors which is, you know, we've
02:14 seen more people who are from blue collar working class backgrounds where rent rises
02:19 and interest rate rises and have just tipped them over the edge so it's been a really tough
02:25 year for many people and we often see that first start to reveal itself on the front
02:30 lines here at charities like Wayside.
02:33 Yeah I was going to ask are you, like other charities, also seeing an increase in employed
02:37 people, people who maybe even have, you know, homes and mortgages but they're just struggling
02:42 to put food on the table?
02:45 Often the poorest people are the ones who are just keeping their heads above water or
02:49 barely to be able to put food on the table and pay their rent and bills and so they're
02:55 often the ones who this year have had to make the choices between heating or eating, between
03:00 presents or food for the family on a day like Christmas as well.
03:04 And I guess a lot of people will be celebrating, you know, perhaps a big lunch with their families
03:09 but loneliness can also be a big issue this time of year and that's one of the things
03:13 you're trying to tackle with your event.
03:17 Yeah look I think the growing sense of isolation and loneliness is something that has really
03:23 taken over many of our hearts, particularly over the last three years with lockdown it's
03:27 really kind of brought that into sharp focus.
03:29 Our street Christmas party, whilst we cater for people who are sleeping rough, it's open
03:34 to everyone so we often have people who are first year out of a divorce so this is the
03:40 first year they're not going to have access to their children.
03:43 Others who are grandparents who are on the off year, you know, we have people from all
03:47 walks of life come and celebrate because our mission is about creating community with no
03:51 us and them and I really believe if we come together in that spirit of love and non-judgement
03:56 that we'll see amazing and surprising things, particularly often these things like joy,
04:01 peace and love are found in the most unexpected of places so what better place to do that
04:05 than in the gutter.
04:06 And just finally John, what's your Christmas message for the community this year?
04:13 Let's carry on, let's hold on together.
04:15 It's been a really tough couple of years and I see all of you who are struggling, everyone
04:20 who's been out there working in the charity sector who's been going above and beyond but
04:24 also to all of you who have struggled to just keep a roof over your families heads.
04:31 This year just always remember that it's not what's under the tree that's most important
04:36 but who's around it.
04:37 We'll get through these tough times, hope is always born in the darkest of places and
04:42 find somewhere where you are known and loved and celebrate with joy.
04:47 Very well said Pastor Reverend John Owen, you have a fabulous event and a very Merry
04:51 Christmas and spread the love today.
04:55 Merry Christmas to you and to everyone out there Casey.
04:57 [BLANK_AUDIO]
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