Newsletter November 2014

Sunnyfield News
New England
NOVEMBER 2014
REGIONAL MANAGER’S REPORT
Hello to everyone and wishing you a wonderful spring
and last quarter of the year. The sun is shining, the
sky is blue and the flowers are blooming – as long as
we get some lovely rain it is a perfect time of the year
in New England.
This year has passed by at an incredibly fast rate. We
are already planning our Christmas events as well as
the International Day for People with Disabilities. The
team across New England has also been involved in
expos in Tamworth, Armidale and Glen Innes along
with training opportunities and attendance and participation in various meetings and forums.
I am pleased to announce that we have recruited a
new Service Coordinator for our Gunnedah Day Program and he will commence on Monday, 17 November. The successful applicant is Scott Mason, who has
been with Sunnyfield for over five years as a Community Support Worker in our independent living programs. Scott has a Certificate 1V and a Diploma in Disability along with experience in nursing, and being a
team leader and coordinator in previous positions. I
would also like to particularly thank Tammy White and
Patricia Miller for keeping the Gunnedah program running so smoothly during this time of limited support.
We are holding another Family Forum with our Chief
Executive Officer, Caroline Cuddihy and Executive
General Manager, Supported Living, Dr Mark Clayton.
Following feedback from families, we are holding
two sessions this time. One will be in Gunnedah in
the evening from 5.30pm-7pm on Thursday, 6 November and one will be held in the afternoon in
Tamworth between 2pm and 3.30pm on Friday, 7
November. You can find a copy of the official invitation on page 17 of this newsletter. I am hoping
to see many interested people at these information
sessions.
This edition of Sunnyfield News New England provides you with a snapshot of activities, programs
and events our clients have participated in over the
past three months as well as provides information
about upcoming events in our region. I would also
particularly like to thank The Peel Masonic Lodge
No. 209 who recently presented Sunnyfield with a
cheque for $5,450 as a result of fundraising activities. Further details of the cheque handover can be
found on page 7.
I hope you enjoy our latest newsletter.
Lorraine Baskett, Regional Manager
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Tamworth Boccia Broncos
Compete in Hunter Cup
The Tamworth Boccia Broncos were invited to the Hunter Boccia Club to participate in the Hunter Cup in Newcastle on 4 July 2014. Four players from Sunnyfield New England: Donald Riley, Kelly Usher, Garry Sipple and
Carolyn Anderson competed.
At 6am on the morning of the event, the four players and coach Jeff Essex (Sunnyfield, Service Manager) were
up and ready to go, highly anticipating a victory. The team were met in Newcastle by Lucy Bates, who is the
acting President of Boccia NSW. She made everyone feel very welcome and provided some valuable tips on the
rules of the game.
Our team may have been of the mindset that they were going to have an easy day, but the truth was not quite
the same. There were five other teams competing, three from the Hunter region, one from the ACT and one
from the Northern Beaches of Sydney. The quality of competition was exceptionally good with some of the other players having competed at the Special Olympics in this event. It was this level of experience that meant that
our team was defeated quite convincingly 5 to 0. However, we did win three of the twenty ends and played
with passion and a great attitude. The other competitors thanked us for attending and provided some positive
feedback to our players including that we had played some great shots!
After the day was over we visited the Newcastle waterfront for a coffee and to reflect on the day’s events. Each
player felt that they had learned a lot about the game, especially the rules and strategies. They all requested to
return and try again next year.
Jeff has now started to coach the players according to the way
the game was played in Newcastle. There is more focus on
strategy and the competition rules. This has created a more
enthusiastic approach with the players as they now have to
think a lot more about how they play the game. Jeff is currently in discussions with the Hunter Boccia Club to organise a
meeting in Scone (midway for Newcastle and Tamworth players) to compete about every three months. This is a very exciting proposition for the Tamworth Boccia Broncos and will
lead to greater opportunities, friendships and collaborations.
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Boccia
Update
Boccia NSW president Lucy Bates and her husband Phil travelled from Newcastle to Tamworth on 16 August to
visit the Tamworth Boccia Club.
They volunteered their time to provide assistance to players, referees and coaches. We had a great roll up of
16 players who thoroughly enjoyed having Phil, an experienced competitor, join in with games providing tips
and encouragement to our players. Lucy is an experienced referee and provided clear guidelines to the rules of
the game.
Lucy and Phil were very impressed with the skills displayed and are looking forward to our Tamworth team
competing against their Newcastle team in the near future. This has been discussed and we are seeking to find
a suitable venue in the Scone area where we could meet and play.
Anyone interested in playing or volunteering their time please contact Jeff Essex on 0439 442 770.
(Members of the Tamworth Boccia Club)
(Lucy Bates is pictured 2nd from right in back row and Phil Bates is pictured on far right, front row)
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Volunteering at
Nazareth House—aged care facility in Tamworth
John Venn volunteers at Nazareth House helping
in the garden. The vegetables grown are used in
the kitchen.
John is hoping to plant more flowers, as the residents have been asking for more flowers.
If you have any plants or cuttings that John can
have, please let Leonie know at Sunnyfield on
Ph: 6760 1621.
John is trying to make the garden more colourful,
as it has not been for many years, because of the
drought and has had no one to look after it.
He is also looking for pots (not the ones that the
plants come in, as he has lots of these).
Recently, four dead trees have been removed and
John has replaced them with daisies.
L-R: Donald Riley, Deb Ryan, John Venn
Deb and Donald also volunteer at Nazareth House.
They participate in the gentle exercise programs, play
ball games with balloons and spend one on one time talking with the residents .
Deb will be supporting KasCare’s Knitting for Charity Project. This project supports AIDS orphans and abandoned
children in Africa. Residents and Deb will be knitting 8x8
inch squares to send to Africa.
PPaaggee 5
Active August 2014
During the month of August, Sunnyfield clients and staff were very busy being active in many ways!
We participated in warm ups, did gentle stretching, played bowls, daily walks, attended the Rural Fit Gym,
blew bubbles, participated in the Interagency Cricket Day and hosted the 2nd Sunnyfield Sports Day at the
Tamworth Sports Dome on 27 August.
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Newcastle Football game
Knights v Roosters
Donald Riley and Rodney Butler recently
spent a weekend away in Newcastle. On
Friday, 25 July the boys attended their
first live football game at Hunter Stadium. Donald and Rodney loved the atmosphere of the crowd cheering the
Knights on. It was a close game with the
Knights winning in the last minute of the
game 16-12.
Rodney enjoyed the physical encounters
of the game, leaping to his feet and
shouting in excitement with the crowd
whenever a big hit was
observed!
Donald and Rodney
On Saturday, Rodney, Donald and Community Support Worker, Colin decided to
walk to the beach. After an hour of
walking they realised they were lost!
Colin rang his son who lives in Newcastle. He picked them all up and took
them sightseeing including going to the
beach.
Charles’ Holiday to Nundle
Community Support Worker, Scott and I enjoyed my recent holiday in Nundle on 19 and 20 August. I stayed
in a cabin which was good, at the Nundle Caravan Park. We went to Armidale and had lunch and walked
around. Nundle was “a bit deadly quiet” and there wasn’t much public transport. I enjoyed looking at the
ducks in the river, and talking to people at the local pub while having dinner.
I am now planning my next holiday with my Sunnyfield team for 2015.
Charles Mooy
Page 7
Cheque Presentation to Sunnyfield
On 1 August 2014, Derek Brown, Master, The Peel Masonic Lodge No. 209 presented Sunnyfield with a
cheque for $5,450 as a result of fundraising activities such as organising two Bunnings BBQs and hosting a
Trivia Night, together with a 1:1 Grant from Masonicare.
After the cheque presentation, members of the Peel Masonic Lodge were shown around the Day Program
facility at 28 Anne Street, Tamworth and joined staff and clients for morning tea, enjoying some delicious
scones with jam and cream, tea and coffee.
Sunnyfield is very grateful for the generous donation which will be put towards the purchase of two outdoor tables and chairs and sunshade sails.
Page 8
Fishing News
On 1 August the fishing group headed to the Peel River
to try their luck!
Dave chose Murray worms and Crawbobs for the bait –
but unfortunately we did not catch anything.
We had great fun on the river with a new member to
our group – Myles Hill and we had two additional support workers with us, Hayley and Abbie. We couldn’t
take the smile of Myles’ face and we look forward to our
next fishing day with him.
Deb Ryan has been practising the art of casting her own
rod and on 1 August she did it!! Congratulations Deb.
Now it’s time for Deb to learn how to bait her own rod.
We’ll keep you posted.
The fishing group has purchased a rod for new members
to use. We are always looking for new members.
News from the President
Dave informs us that Cod Season is now closed.
Big News
David Artis, Kelly Usher, Garry Sipple and Support
Worker, Alison, are off to Coffs Harbour in mid October
on a deep sea fishing charter (which is a goal of Dave’s)
for three days. See our next newsletter for photos and
fishy stories!
Page 9
Capital Theatre Visit
Sounds of the piano and orchestra could be heard loudly on Tuesday, 9 September when the self-managed art
group attended the critically acclaimed theatre show “Still Awake Still!” at the Capitol Theatre, Tamworth.
The show was based on songs from a popular book by Elizabeth Honey and Sue Johnston and was amazingly creative and original, with a hint of ridiculously funny. Mayhem was present throughout the show so much, you
could be forgiven for thinking you were watching a Marx Brothers movie!
Four Self Managed clients and two Sunnyfield Community Support Workers (CSW) attended the performance
with all proclaiming it to be a wonderful experience and laughter could be heard from all. The experience was
an extension of the art group, experiencing the artistic world of live theatre and music.
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Amy said it was “good and funny”, “the lady played the piano”
Emma said “the show was great, the balls were popping out of the piano and I laughed lots”.
Myles was all smiles and he enjoyed the show and being out with the girls!
Another show attendance is being prepared for November with the art group to attend the musical “Pete the
Sheep”. This quirky musical is based on an Australian book by Jackie French and Bruce Whatley and explores the
challenges and rewards of being an individual.
After our recent theatre experience we can’t wait for this next artistic venture!
L-R: Janine (CSW), Myles Hill, Emma Plowman, Amy Wheelhouse
Ashleigh Collins
Page 10
Quality Business Awards
Sunnyfield New England were excited to be nominated for a 2014 Tamworth Business Chamber, Quality
Business Award in the category of ‘Health and Wellbeing’.
Penny Plowman and Karen Stanton, Service Managers, attended the black tie gala night held on Friday, 22
August at the Tamworth Regional Entertainment and Conference Centre and enjoyed a night of food, entertainment and of course Awards!
Although we didn’t win an award, it was a great night for networking on our table and others on the
night.
(Karen Stanton and Penny Plowman)
Happy 21st Birthday CJ
CJ Pallier recently celebrated turning 21 with friends and support staff from Sunnyfield and Southern Cross at The
Hogs Breath Café in Tamworth.
CJ was pleasantly surprised, as he knew we going out for lunch but he did not know where or who was coming.
A great meal and many laughs were shared, as well as a birthday cake, expertly cooked and decorated by Allan
and Nicole from Southern Cross.
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Sunnyfield Sports Day
Tamworth Sports Dome
The 2nd Sunnyfield Sports Day, held on 27 August 2014, was another huge success with
an increase in competitors from seventy three last year to one hundred and nine this
year. With illness hitting people hard at the last minute, we had a final turn up of
eighty six. We were thrilled to have included this year, a team of twenty competitors
from Connections in Inverell who left at 7am and drove 3 hours to participate. The
trip was well worth it, with many medals won by a number of their group over many
events.
Local resident, Simon Hood was our wonderful guest speaker for the day. Simon welcomed everyone to the Sports Dome and gave an interesting talk about his background and current interests, as well as choosing the ‘Best and Fairest’ competitor.
This year we included an extra event to help with the growing number of competitors.
The day ran with a rotation of five events, which included Javelin, Shot Put, Target
Shooting, Goal Kicking and the new event, Hole in One. Every participant had a
chance to experience each event, build on their own individual score and be a part of
the excitement.
Medals and trophies were given to the highest point scorers and participant ribbons
were handed to all who had a go, so no one left the day empty handed.
About twenty volunteers from Peel High School took on the role of “buddies” and
helped encourage the competitors, retrieve balls, hand out T shirts, score results and
help pack up at the end of the day. This day wouldn’t be possible without them.
Sunnyfield is very grateful for their time and effort and we hope to see them again
next year.
If you are interested in getting involved in our 3rd Sunnyfield Sports Day or would like
further information please contact: Jeff Essex, Service Manager, Sunnyfield on 6760
1624 or 0439 442 770.
Please enjoy the following pages with snapshots of the day and a sea of happy faces!!
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Pag
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INTERAGENCY SPORTS DAYS
Tamworth Day Programs host a sports day at the Tamworth Sports Dome each month for all disability agencies.
This fun day runs from 10am until 12 noon on the third Tuesday of every month.
The next dates are:
Tuesday, 18 November
Tuesday, 16 December
The day attracts around 25 people with disabilities plus their support staff.
We play cricket, soccer, basketball, wheel chair soccer, boccia and many other fun sports for fitness
as requested.
The most pleasurable activity is the mingling and socialisation for everyone involved.
So come along for a hit and giggle session at your choice of sport.
There is no cost to participants, just wear comfortable clothing and a willingness to have some fun.
Contact:
Anthony Straw
Service Co-ordinator: Tamworth Day Programs/Armidale Day Programs
Ph: 6760 1620 or 0488 116 272
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Fishing Group Dates
14 November, 5 December
For further details call Penny Plowman, Service Manager, Sunnyfield
on 6760 1602 or 0427 495 613