15 March 2020
Dear Sisters in Christ,
RE: UW2020 CANCELLATION DUE TO CORONA VIRUS COVID-19
Lenten Greetings to you all in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Together with the Northern Synod Leadership, it is with heavy hearts that we write to inform you of our decision to cancel Uniting Women 2020 in Darwin this coming July. We have not taken this decision lightly and we are saddened that circumstances have compelled us to make it. No doubt many of you have been watching and listening to the news and media reports on the spreading of the COVID-19 the novel coronavirus.
We must prioritise safety and security for all of us, and especially for our Aboriginal communities in the remote areas of the NT. We believe that we all appreciate the need to be vigilant in making sure that they are protected as much as humanly possible for to do otherwise could be catastrophic for Aboriginal populations in the NT (and nationwide). Our remote communities are vulnerable in ways many of us cannot even imagine – from low immunity, to existing ill-health, to lack of resources and adequate local medical services – to name just a few. This is a global pandemic and while in Australia different states are still working out how to deal with the problem contextually, in the NT there are all kinds of challenges, not the least in the health services, which require all of us to do our part to help protect the territory as a whole but most importantly our remote communities. Measures have been taken within the NT and nationwide to prevent all travels to remote communities for which we are thankful. We are not convinced, however, that the pandemic will be declared to be over by July. Global health authorities are agreed that any injection will not be available until next year, if that, so the threat to all our safety and most critically for our remote communities will continue to be an issue until a treatment is found.
We recognise the inconvenience this may cause to some, particularly those who have already registered and booked flights. Please accept our apologies and be assured that we will fully reimburse all registrations. Those who have booked flights we hope your tickets are refundable. Some of you may still prefer to use that time to come to the NT for a break and holiday. Subject to any restrictions due to the virus, we want you to know you are most welcome. If you wish to keep your accommodation booking at Club Tropical in Darwin, we can certainly help with that so let us know asap if this is the case.
We wish to thank all the women within and outside the NT who have faithfully given their time and energy to the planning and organising of UW2020. We thank especially our working groups and NS/PPNA staff for your tireless efforts. Please be assured of our gratitude and prayers.
We thank you all in advance for your understanding and we ask that you join us in prayer for those in our country and the world who are currently suffering from the virus, for those who are mourning the loss of loved ones, and for the medical professionals seeking a treatment. We pray particularly for the most vulnerable, that they may be safe until a treatment is found.
Yours sincerely
UW2020 Leadership Team
(Ms Jemma Whittaker, Rev Michelle Cook, Rev Dr Katalina Tahaafe-Williams)
15 March 2020
Dear Sisters in Christ,
RE: UW2020 CANCELLATION DUE TO CORONA VIRUS COVID-19
Lenten Greetings to you all in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Together with the Northern Synod Leadership, it is with heavy hearts that we write to inform you of our decision to cancel Uniting Women 2020 in Darwin this coming July. We have not taken this decision lightly and we are saddened that circumstances have compelled us to make it. No doubt many of you have been watching and listening to the news and media reports on the spreading of the COVID-19 the novel coronavirus.
We must prioritise safety and security for all of us, and especially for our Aboriginal communities in the remote areas of the NT. We believe that we all appreciate the need to be vigilant in making sure that they are protected as much as humanly possible for to do otherwise could be catastrophic for Aboriginal populations in the NT (and nationwide). Our remote communities are vulnerable in ways many of us cannot even imagine – from low immunity, to existing ill-health, to lack of resources and adequate local medical services – to name just a few. This is a global pandemic and while in Australia different states are still working out how to deal with the problem contextually, in the NT there are all kinds of challenges, not the least in the health services, which require all of us to do our part to help protect the territory as a whole but most importantly our remote communities. Measures have been taken within the NT and nationwide to prevent all travels to remote communities for which we are thankful. We are not convinced, however, that the pandemic will be declared to be over by July. Global health authorities are agreed that any injection will not be available until next year, if that, so the threat to all our safety and most critically for our remote communities will continue to be an issue until a treatment is found.
We recognise the inconvenience this may cause to some, particularly those who have already registered and booked flights. Please accept our apologies and be assured that we will fully reimburse all registrations. Those who have booked flights we hope your tickets are refundable. Some of you may still prefer to use that time to come to the NT for a break and holiday. Subject to any restrictions due to the virus, we want you to know you are most welcome. If you wish to keep your accommodation booking at Club Tropical in Darwin, we can certainly help with that so let us know asap if this is the case.
We wish to thank all the women within and outside the NT who have faithfully given their time and energy to the planning and organising of UW2020. We thank especially our working groups and NS/PPNA staff for your tireless efforts. Please be assured of our gratitude and prayers.
We thank you all in advance for your understanding and we ask that you join us in prayer for those in our country and the world who are currently suffering from the virus, for those who are mourning the loss of loved ones, and for the medical professionals seeking a treatment. We pray particularly for the most vulnerable, that they may be safe until a treatment is found.
Yours sincerely
UW2020 Leadership Team
(Ms Jemma Whittaker, Rev Michelle Cook, Rev Dr Katalina Tahaafe-Williams)