Soroptimist (best sister) International was started in 1921 in
California, USA. It has now increased to 3,000 clubs in 136
countries. The clubs consist of professional members who
contribute to fundraising and actively work for causes in their
local area, as well as throughout Australia and across the
world.
The Soroptimist International
clubs work under the
guidance of awareness,
advocacy and action. They
cover issues to do with
education, health, gender
equality, violence against
women and sustainability.
They work together with
other non-government
associations which pass
information back to the
United Nations.
SI Tropical Tablelands Projects include supporting annual
Community Service Awards for High Schoolers, Aged Care
packages, Carinya Home, Hamlin Fistula Hospital (Ethiopia),
and the Joyful Foundation working together with the
Masonic Association distributing stationery and other
resources to local disadvantaged students. Recently the
club coordinated a Pearls and Pyjamas Morning Tea to help
raise funds for “This Strong Mum”, a cancer support group. A
cuddle cot for the Maternity Ward at Atherton Hospital has
been ordered and will be in place soon. A sewing day was
organised for the “Days for Girls” support packages. Dr. Digby
and Ann Hoyal’s Nepali Family
Inc. initiative results in support
for a skills training centre, a
children’s home, a small crops
agricultural site, emergency
assistance, a pastoral care
course, as well as education
and training to acquire
marketable skills in a country
that has no benefits system for
abandoned wives and children
in Nepal.
The SI Tropical Tablelands members meet on the second
Tuesday of the month at 5.30pm for a business meeting
at the Atherton Hotel. This is followed by a dinner with a
speaker at 7pm.
For more information contact Hillary on 4095 5514.
If you can't already tell from the name, here at the Art Garage
we are all about art, in all it's forms. We meet people of all
ages, from all over the world and the first thing so many of
them say upon walking into our studio is "I'm not an artist,
unless stick figures count...". Well guess what? They do count!
Art is so much more than paintings hung in a gallery. It's
doing crayon leaf rubbings with your grandkids, or picking
up a colouring book after a long day at work. It's being bored
at the waiting room and doing a quick pen sketch of the pile
of magazine on the table instead of reading them...
The dictionary defines art as: The expression or application
of human creative skill and imagination, typically in visual
form. How freeing is that?! Art is allowed to be imperfect and
impulsive because people are. So pick up a pencil this week
and do a little imagining, it'll be great. Honest.
August 2019 What’s On & Where To Go 7