ABOUT THE BRIDGE OF LOVE PROJECT
WHY THERE STILL NEEDS TO BE A bRIDGE OF lOVE pROJECT - FOUNDER'S MESSAGE
"In 1994 and 1995 I fielded more than one hundred interviews to promote the 'Bridge of Love' CD, explaining why country music artists had been chosen to record the song as Australia's official anthem for the International Year of the Family. The project itself brought some tough issues into the public spotlight, like how come there were 20,000 children just in NSW alone who were effectively homeless and without family support in the International Year of the Family, as in any other year. Radio interviewers, even those known for being switched-on to the social pulse, were a bit taken aback by these statistics at first, but the figures were genuine, the situation was real, and government resources weren't coping. What Australian country music artists managed to do in 1994 and 1995 was to bring great attention to the work of organisations like Barnardos Australia, at the frontline of caring for children in crisis each and every year - not just when the spotlight is on. Everyone agreed the mission was well done. Everyone who supported the effort deserved to feel proud of the contribution they'd made."
"Yet here we are in 2014, purportedly celebrating the 20th anniversary of country music's contribution to the International Year of the Family for Australia. First we must accept and face up to the fact that the situation has worsened. Just talking about NSW for example, last year more than 50,000 children reported at significant risk were never seen by a child protection case worker. It takes tragic headlines about preventable deaths of children for people to realise that government resources remain grossly insufficient."
"More and more, government is relying on non-government organisations like Barnardos Australia to fill the gap between the needs of the most vulnerable children in our local communities, and the government's ability to protect and care for them. As a community, we don't want more tragic news stories about children who were notified as being at-risk but couldn't be helped in time. And we don't want to see any more 'stolen generations', where children are displaced and robbed of identity and family connections. The modern approach to foster care is keeping the fabric of a child's identity and kinship intact, within a strong circle of supportive protection."
"As a society and as individuals, we have high expectations as to how children should be respected and cared for. Yet, if government is unable to provide care and protection for the majority of children who are known to be at significant risk, we all need to step-up and help fill the gap by supporting organisations like Barnardos Australia. Their funding has to come from somewhere, quite obviously."
"It's not top-of-mind for most people to sponsor a child in a lucky country like Australia, but for some kids this would make all the difference between hopelessness and optimism; between feeling worthless, distrustful and forgotten, and having their lives sheltered and nurtured by people who care. It costs so little to sponsor, yet it's a huge investment in a child's future and ultimately our future as a nation. Becoming a virtual foster parent is a rewarding commitment for individuals, businesses, even sporting groups and schools."
"For these reasons, I could only ask Australian country music to bring it again in an effort to help raise awareness about the tens of thousands of children and teenagers across Australia each year who desperately need care and support from non-government agencies like Barnardos Australia. The 20th anniversary of the International Year of the Family provides reason and opportunity."
"With excellence in music production once again by Garth Porter, and film-making again by Warren Lynch, we are ready to produce something inspiring to help everyone focus on the need to support the care of our most vulnerable children and young people. Strong families, strong communities. That's the message from the United Nations this year, and we're here to carry this message forward."
- Melanie Williamson, founder, Bridge of Love Project 1994-2014 for the International Year of the Family and Barnardos Australia.
"Yet here we are in 2014, purportedly celebrating the 20th anniversary of country music's contribution to the International Year of the Family for Australia. First we must accept and face up to the fact that the situation has worsened. Just talking about NSW for example, last year more than 50,000 children reported at significant risk were never seen by a child protection case worker. It takes tragic headlines about preventable deaths of children for people to realise that government resources remain grossly insufficient."
"More and more, government is relying on non-government organisations like Barnardos Australia to fill the gap between the needs of the most vulnerable children in our local communities, and the government's ability to protect and care for them. As a community, we don't want more tragic news stories about children who were notified as being at-risk but couldn't be helped in time. And we don't want to see any more 'stolen generations', where children are displaced and robbed of identity and family connections. The modern approach to foster care is keeping the fabric of a child's identity and kinship intact, within a strong circle of supportive protection."
"As a society and as individuals, we have high expectations as to how children should be respected and cared for. Yet, if government is unable to provide care and protection for the majority of children who are known to be at significant risk, we all need to step-up and help fill the gap by supporting organisations like Barnardos Australia. Their funding has to come from somewhere, quite obviously."
"It's not top-of-mind for most people to sponsor a child in a lucky country like Australia, but for some kids this would make all the difference between hopelessness and optimism; between feeling worthless, distrustful and forgotten, and having their lives sheltered and nurtured by people who care. It costs so little to sponsor, yet it's a huge investment in a child's future and ultimately our future as a nation. Becoming a virtual foster parent is a rewarding commitment for individuals, businesses, even sporting groups and schools."
"For these reasons, I could only ask Australian country music to bring it again in an effort to help raise awareness about the tens of thousands of children and teenagers across Australia each year who desperately need care and support from non-government agencies like Barnardos Australia. The 20th anniversary of the International Year of the Family provides reason and opportunity."
"With excellence in music production once again by Garth Porter, and film-making again by Warren Lynch, we are ready to produce something inspiring to help everyone focus on the need to support the care of our most vulnerable children and young people. Strong families, strong communities. That's the message from the United Nations this year, and we're here to carry this message forward."
- Melanie Williamson, founder, Bridge of Love Project 1994-2014 for the International Year of the Family and Barnardos Australia.
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