Minister presents Multicultural Marketing prize to Salvation Army

The Minister for Citizenship, The Hon. Virginia Judge, has presented a Qantas Air ticket for travel to Hong Kong to the Salvation Army in Sydney, as a prize from the 2008 National Multicultural marketing Awards.

(left to right) Major Philip Maxwell Communications and Public Relations Secretary at the Salvation Army (Australian Eastern Territory), The Hon. Virginia Judge, Minister for Citizenship, Peter Sinn, Manager Asia Routes, QANTAS and Stepan Kerkyasharian, CRC Chair

Qantas, as a major sponsor of the National Multicultural Marketing Awards which have been conducted by the Community Relations Commission over the past 19 years, donates an air ticket to be awarded to one of the entrants.

On the occasion of the presentation, the Chair of the Commission, Stepan Kerkyasharian, said: "In 2008 the Salvation Army was an entrant in the awards for their effective targeting of the Chinese community in the Doorknock campaign of the annual Red Shield Day appeal.

"The Salvation Army's doorknock appeal undertook a more intensive and targeted campaign towards the Chinese community in Australia to drive donations up and to build on its profile with one of Australia's fastest growing ethnic communities. Salvation Army officers of Chinese background were used in advertising material and also for editorial support. This marketing plan was a very good model for other charitable organisations seeking to more-effectively raise funds amongst ethnic communities," he said.

Also at the presentation, Mr Peter Sinn, Manager Asia Routes, QANTAS, said, "Qantas, as Australia's world airline, is very proud to be a sponsor of the National Multicultural Marketing Awards because they seek out and promote marketing projects that make Australia a better and more successful society.

"We hope our ticket prize encourages everyone with a successful story of multicultural marketing to put forward a nomination for these prestigious awards.

Accepting the ticket on behalf of the organisation, Major Philip Maxwell Communications and Public Relations Secretary at the Salvation Army (Australian Eastern Territory) said: "The Salvation Army is very grateful to Qantas for this wonderful prize which will be enjoyed by one of our hard working and dedicated members.

"We thank the Community Relations Commission for the opportunity to nominate our successful Red Shield appeal targetting the Chinese community and we take heart from our selection as a finalist in the Community Category of the 2008 Awards.

"The Salvation Army appreciates greatly the interest and enthusiasm which the Minister, Virginia Judge, has shown for our welfare work in coming to visit our Sydney headquarters to present this prize," Major Maxwell said.