Ararat to sign the Welcome Scroll next week

Ararat Rural City Council will sign the Welcome Scroll next Wednesday, affirming its commitment to upholding human rights, demonstrating compassion and enhancing cultural and religious diversity in the community.

The Welcome Scroll is a seven-metre-long document currently travelling around Australia that has already been signed by 128 councils.

The Scroll is a joint initiative of the Refugee Council of Australia, Rural Australians for Refugees and Refugee Welcome Zone Councils, and is an opportunity for municipalities to acknowledge the rewards that come from welcoming new people, new customs, and new ideas.

Council CEO Dr Tim Harrison said the Mayor Cr Jo Armstrong will sign the scroll next Wednesday, February 12, at the Ararat Town Hall.

“The Scroll is a unique document of local governments’ commitment to upholding human rights, demonstrating compassion, and enhancing cultural and religious diversity in the community,” Dr Harrison said.

Over the past two years the Scroll has visited every mainland state of Australia, been exhibited at the Melbourne Immigration Museum and has been displayed at numerous national conferences. In March, it will take its message of welcome, first to the Welcoming Cities Symposium in Canberra, and then, later in the year, it will tour Tasmania.

The Welcome Scroll will be greeted by Cr Armstrong, Dr Harrison and members of the community at the Ararat Town Hall at 5pm on Wednesday 12 February 2020.

For more information visit https://welcomescroll.wordpress.com/