Conference 2014 - Getting it Together held at the Chifley Hotel , Wollongong on Saturday 25 October 2014
Conference 2014 - Getting it Together held at the Chifley Hotel , Wollongong on Saturday 25 October 2014
Firstly and most importantly I want to thank the ladies on the conference committee , Marg Patterson , Lyn Hazell , Robyn Foster , Trish Copeland and Alison Smith for their willingness to do whatever it took to make the program workable and enjoyable . ‘ Enjoyable ’ was the name of the game whenever we met to progress to the next point in the lead up to Saturday , 25th October 2014 at the lovely Chifley Hotel , Wollongong !
We all had fun in “ Getting it Together ”
Sessions 1 and 2
I was thrilled with the way the conference fell together so beautifully . It was always my hope that the guest speakers would give us plenty of food for thought and our previous meetings with them had qualified that they would . What is happening all around us is often missed if it ’ s not a part of our personal lives or right under our noses . It ’ s not that we don ’ t care it ’ s just that we mostly aren ’ t aware of those who are struggling for many reasons , in our communities and there ’ s lots of it unfortunately . I know I will be more observant and more ready to donate or give some time , attend an event , if there ’ s an opportunity I know about . There were many comments to me from the ladies at the conference of how the speakers “ got to them ” and some were quite unaware of the organisations represented by the guest speakers and the amount of work that goes into building the many tiers of support given by charities and how unselfishly and tirelessly the volunteers and organisers give their time strictly for the wellbeing of others . The stories we heard of the kids on the streets , the young ones fighting for their lives and the children who lose the battle , living on one last dream , couldn ’ t help but open our eyes and make us thankful for the good things in our lives .
Thanks to Margaret and Lauren Purcell from the Denny Foundation .
Thanks to Helen Merrick , Camp Quality ( Illawarra )
Thanks to Pam Rimmer , Make-A-Wish Wollongong
The AGM moved reasonably smoothly , thanks to the National Committee members who agreed to stand for another year and the one and only nomination for National Secretary , namely Bev Shaw , to replace Trish Crimean . Many thanks and much appreciation goes to Trish who hasn ’ t missed a beat whilst filling the roll of NS . I sincerely hope I can keep the ball rolling in the same informative manner . The history of NWR Australia is now at my home for safe keeping . I ’ ve added another room !
Newsletter 2014 – A great read ! Thanks so much to Alison Smith for taking on that job ! Good articles , great pictures to prompt our memories and thanks to your printer lady for a lovely booklet .
Programs : While we are thanking printers , thanks to my daughter and Snap Wollongong for printing our Conference 2014 programs and posters to take us through the day and give us a keepsake .
Session 3
What fun we had giving our creative flair a run on the bags . Many thanks go to Carolin Chapman from the Mangerton Tin Shed Artists ( and Illawarra Day group ) for providing us all with everything needed to paint away to our hearts content . The artwork from other artists was much appreciated and showed what can be done , if we try , when unaware of hidden talent . Thanks also to Anne Innes of the Illawarra Evening group for organising the purchase of the calico and the sewing of the bags , a fundamental of the whole process ! And … didn ’ t the painted bags look a picture of colour , hanging over the backs of the chairs to dry ? Enjoy your bags , ladies . While we painted we also thought about the things we like to do to keep us on the positive side of wellbeing . What do you do to stay sane ?
There were many suggestions flowing around the 6 tables of what helps keep the ladies out of the harmful clutches of stress when times get tough . Certainly gave me something to work with ! Here ’ s just one table ’ s ideas :
Walking and meeting up with friends ; Playing golf and doing gardening – even aggressively with a pick to get rid of pesky ferns ; Listen to talking books whilst doing housework ; Love the beach – sitting or walking – to blow away the cobwebs ! Watching Upper Middle Bogan !! Patchwork and quilting ; Bushwalking , art , tennis – mostly the active stuff ; Writing about experiences – good and bad ; Mosaics – drawing design , cutting tiles and putting it together ; Of course … NWR
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