Lismore woman has GetUp! and go

PEOPLE POWER: GetUp! human and political rights campaigner Deborah Ray.

Jacklyn Wagner

LISMORE business woman Deborah Ray has the evening free this coming Thursday, and she hopes to fill her diary with an event to help change the face of Australian society.

Ms Ray is looking for support to organise a get-together at the Mecca Cafe in Lismore to coincide with a national event being run by GetUp!, an organisation which describes itself as an independent political movement working to build a progressive Australia.

GetUp! is promoting its June 11 get-togethers as a chance for people to discuss issues that could be advanced though an Australian bill of human rights.

Ms Ray said she believed strongly in the power of the people to influence governments and society.

“You get outraged in your own living room, but what do you do with the anger?” she said.

Ms Ray, who owns Music Bizarre in Magellan Street, said she could not take on the job of organising a Lismore event without the support of others.

Local members of GetUp! are holding events at Mullumbimby, Blue Knob and Ballina, but Ms Ray said Lismore was full of people with a social conscience who might be keen to get behind the initiative.

“The idea is to send a message to the Government that citizens are not just apathetic, that they are concerned and they want their voices to be heard,” she said.

Anyone interested in helping to organise a GetUp! gathering in Lismore can contact Ms Ray on 6622 3262.