In March 1995 ATCV had circulated a proposal for an ‘Australia Corps’. The proposal emerged over time from ATCV board and staff through debate and experience. ATCV Board member Alan Wright had written earlier: “There is in our society a terrible vacuum for adolescents to give expression to their independence and idealism in a constructive way, a chance to try themselves out independent of their parents/teachers in adult roles.” ATCV’s Brisbane office manager Phil Harrison had first been involved with ATCV as a volunteer from UK, drew together ideas about an ‘Australia Corps’, that had been discussed with Alan Wright, John Fenton and others at the ATCV staff/board planning workshop at Sorrento in December 1993 and “…based upon our experience and participation in the LEAP program and observations of Conservation Corps around the world”. The concept of a six-month program for young people with a training wage and accredited training which encouraged both competencies and personal development emerged, with a standard format of ten participants working fopr six months under the direction of a supervisor. The ‘Australia Corps’ proposal was widely distributed to Federal, State and Territory parliamentarians and received positive feedback. The Liberal Party, then in Opposition, included the idea of a “Green Army” in their environmental policy, placing more emphasis on environmental outcomes and less on job creation than the Keating ALP Government had. A young and up-and-coming parliamentarian, Tony Abbott MP, was enthusiastic and was to visit several ATCV projects (both before and after Green Corps started) to learn about their workings direct from volunteers and CVA staff. Several times he visited projects with Ian Smith project and Ian recalls being impressed by the efforts he made to talk at length with all participants. Tony Abbott took a personal interest in the progress of Green Corps. Colin Jackson and Phil Harrison were guests of Abbott in Parliament House, Canberra, on the evening of 20 August 1996. The Federal Treasurer, Peter Costello, announced in his first Budget Speech that: - “the Government will provide $42 million over the next 3 years to establish the Green Corps. The Green Corps will be open to young Australians aged 17 to 20 to demonstrate their commitment to the environment by working on projects to preserve and restore Australia's natural environment and cultural heritage. The projects will also contribute to their career and employment prospects through training, skills development, work experience and personal development.” ATCV’s chief executive officer Colin Jackson worked with senior staff Madeline Townsend, Garry Snowden, Phil Harrison, and John Fenton to fine-tune the ATCV proposal. On the strength of unique national coverage and credible record ATCV went on to win the tender to administer and manage the day-to-day operations of the Green Corps program for five years (1997-2002). Winning a $36 million contract was a big breakthrough for ATCV. Fourteen years before, a small non-profit group had started in Ballarat in country Australia with a vision – but little else. Its key people had shaped opinion and won political support for a concept. There was about to be transformation from hand-to-mouth existence into a nation-wide business with resources to build for the long term. This documents records many positive comments about Green Corps and ATCV's implementation of it.24pp illustrated booklet printed in green and some gold.atcv green corps australia-corps tony abbott mp phil-harrison

Colin Jackson, Phil Harrison and Garry Snowden were in Parliament House, Canberra, on the evening of 20 August 1996, to hear the Budget Speech by the new Federal Treasurer, Peter Costello MP, who announced: “…the Government will provide $42 million over the next three years to establish the Green Corps. The Green Corps will be open to young Australians aged 17 to 20 to demonstrate their commitment to the environment by working on projects to preserve and restore Australia's natural environment and cultural heritage. The projects will also contribute to their career and employment prospects through training, skills development, work experience and personal development.” Soon after, the Commonwealth advertised a tender for a manger for the new program. Phil Harrison orchestrated a flurry of faxes between Brisbane and Ballarat, as Colin Jackson, Madeline Townsend, Garry Snowden and John Fenton fine-tuned the document. National reach and credible record won ATCV the job to administer and manage Green Corps for the whole of Australia for five years (1997-2002) was won in November and the contract was signed on the eve of Christmas, 1996. At the national launch of Green Corps – Youth for the Environment held in sweltering Adelaide on 12 January 1997, Colin Jackson assure the responsible Minister, Senator Amanda Vanstone, that thirty six projects were already in place and that recruiting was going well. Those who were there recall with awe the remarkable celebration that was the National Green Corps Conference on 21-24 February 1998 in Canberra. One hundred and one participants representing 71 past and current teams from around Australia, Treasurer Peter Costello, three other Commonwealth Ministers, and several “captains of industry” were on hand. Board member Sue Campbell remembers feeling “deeply moved” when Travis Schicchitano explained to the audience how much joining Green Corps had meant to him. Travis said: “Green Corps was an amazing hands-on practical experience, which has enabled me to learn and to fulfil my passion, the Australian environment.” Black and white group portrait photograph.“It’s not every day that you get the Prime Minister walking in off the street, and one of my favourite moments was in 1997 when the Hon. John Howard made his visit to Head Office in Ballarat” – Colin Jackson atcv cva green corps young australians for the environment commonwealth government prime minister john howard tony abbott mp michael ronaldson mhr senator amanda vanstone

On 6 December 2018, a recurring event was organised at the Mission. From the Multicultural website: "Meeting at the Seafarer’s bridge on the Yarra, you will be welcomed into a little-known site nearby, a sanctuary for seafarers for the last 100 years and a symbol of old-world generosity amidst the rapidly shifting landscape of the Docklands. A journey through the quirky spaces at Mission to Seafarer’s site through a compelling contemporary ritual performance. The Echoes Projects artists evoke fragments of stories embedded in this site through mesmerising live soundscapes, movement and imagery. Ria Soemardjo, Janette Hoe and Pongjit (Jon) Saphakhun collaborate to create an ongoing exploration of contemporary rituals in response to urban sites in Australia. Based in Melbourne, their contemporary performance work draws deeply from their personal connections to Thai, Chinese and Indonesian ceremonial traditions. Featuring Intricate rhythmic compositions inspired by the rich heritage of Indonesian and Middle Eastern musical traditions, performed by Ron Reeves and Matt Stonehouse – two of Australia’s foremost world music percussionists. Note: 7 PM and 8 PM sessions include delicious vegetarian Indonesian food. 9 PM session includes Indonesian and Thai cakes and sweets. You are invited to stay and eat after the performance, drinks available for purchase at the venue. Performers: Janette Hoe – dance artist Pongjit (Jon) Sekhukhune – actor Ria Soemardjo – musician Ron Reeves – musician Matt Stonehouse – musician /instrument maker Supported by the City of Melbourne Arts Grants Program Details: 6 Dec 2018 (Thursday) Sessions: 7 PM, 8 PM & 9 PM The Mission to Seafarers Audience Meeting point – next to the entrance of the Seafarer’s Bridge, Siddeley St, Docklands. Wheelchair accessible venue. Bookings essential. Tickets: $10 – $15 via Eventbrite. Ticket price is purely to pay for the food element. Companion Card ticketing available. Please contact Multicultural Arts Victoria for ticketing options. Companion ticket will allow admission only. The Seafarers Welcome is presented as part of Mapping Melbourne 2018."The Mission has always welcomed artistic events Colour programme of events with illustrationstop right corner: Multicultural Arts Victoria lower left corner: MAPPING MELBOURNE/1-15 DECEMBER 2018arts, events, multicultural arts victoria, the seafarer welcome, echoes project, 2018, cultural events, community

In 2009 the MtSV was encouraged to ‘open’ the building for public access and in 2010 the building was a feature in the highly successful Open House Melbourne event attracting over 2000 visits. This event began a succession of public programming activities expanding the MtSV’s scope of works.The Mission is one of the sites open every year during Open House except 2023.Pink colour bookopen house melbourne, cultural events, 2018