The sun was shining and positive energy abounded as Federation Square became a sea of red at the Every Australian Counts - Make it Real Rally last Monday.
The annecto stand, positioned at the St Kilda Road entrance to Federation Square, saw many passerby’s stop to ask the question, “What is this all about and where do I sign up?”
The 4,000 strong rally gathered to raise awareness of the rights of people with disability and the unfairness of a system that discriminates against assisting those people who did not acquire their disability from transport accidents or while at work.
annecto staff were kept busy at the annecto display stand during the rally, with over 12 messages recorded to be uploaded to the Every Australian Counts website. Over ten annecto and DCV tweets appeared on the super-sized screen over the stage during the speeches.
Federal Shadow Minister for Disabilities, Carers and the Voluntary Sector Senator Mitch Fifield, Attorney General Nicola Roxon, Victorian Community Services Minister Mary Wooldridge and Federal Disability Discrimination Commissioner Graeme Innes joined the speaker's list for the Melbourne rally. The event was MC’d by comedian, writer, editor of the ABC’s Ramp Up website and disability activist Stella Young.
The media picked up all the rally demonstrations at each capital city and the event was discussed on major radio stations.
annecto David House in Yarraville has been awarded $10,000 as part of the Westpac Community Grant program. A gathering at annecto David House in Yarraville took place to celebrate and launch the new community project and accept the donation.
