1 Toowoomba Depression Support Network Inc 9B Bell Street, Toowoomba (Opposite Centrelink).

1
Toowoomba Depression Support Network Inc
9B Bell Street, Toowoomba (Opposite Centrelink).
Ph: 4659 9021 www.dsn.org.au
Office is open by appointment
Weds 10:30am until 2:30pm
Fridays 11am-2pm
Newsletter No 9 – May 2014
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Many Australians celebrate Mother’s Day by
showing
their
appreciation
for
the
achievements and efforts of mothers and
mother figures. It is annually observed in
Australia on the second Sunday of May.

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Organized walks or runs to raise money
for causes such as breast cancer
research.
Visits to the zoo, movies, or botanical
gardens, or other places of interest.
Breakfasts, brunches, lunches, afternoon
teas or dinners at restaurants, cafes, or
at home.
Handmade gifts or cards being presented
to mothers or mother figures.
Flowers, chocolates,
clothing,
gift
vouchers and other gifts that are given to
mothers or mother figures.
Mother’s Day poems being printed,
broadcast, or presented to mothers and
mother figures.
Mother’s Day stories being publicized in
magazines, newspapers, radio, television
or the internet.
BACKGROUND
WHAT DO PEOPLE DO?
Many people appreciate their mothers or
mother figures, which include stepmothers,
relatives, guardians (eg. foster mothers),
and close family friends. Some organizations
have Mother’s Day patrons who work
together with the media and general
community to raise awareness on Mother’s
Day events that aim to raise funds for
charitable or non-profit causes.
Mother’s Day events and activities may
include:
Many Australians follow the Mother’s Day
traditions that stem from observances in
countries such as the United States and the
United Kingdom. It is an Australian who is
credited with having started the tradition of
giving gifts on Mother's Day: Janet Heyden,
a resident of Leichhardt Sydney, started a
campaign in 1924 to collect gifts for lonely
aged mothers.
SYMBOLS
People
in
Australia
have family
reunions
to
honour their
mums
and
celebrate
motherhood. Gift giving has become part of
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the Mother's Day celebrations. A truly
Australian Mother's Day gift is the
Chrysanthemum. This flower is naturally in
season in the month May and its name ends
in "mum" which makes it the perfect gift.
Men also use Chrysanthemums as
"boutonnière", a decorative flower in the
lapels of a jacket or coat. Wearing the
Chrysanthemum on Mother's Day is another
way for men to show respect and
appreciation for mothers.
Warning: Be sensitive as you approach this
subject. Not everyone’s experience of
‘Mum’ may be positive.
This can be a difficult time for children
without a mother living at home.
PRESIDENT’S THOUGHTS
RECOGNITION AND THANKS TO
SUNCORP AND HERITAGE
We have had a positive response from the
business community in the shape of grants
from:
Suncorp Community Grant for Volunteer
Training courses, Support Group Resources,
Social
Group
Activities
and
sports
equipment. A grant from the Heritage
Charity Golf Day Community Support
Fund has assisted us to buy a data projector
for training and social events as well as a
marquee to use for fundraising and
community days. We would like to thank
Meg Feste at Suncorp's Clifford Garden’s
branch and also Jan Johnson at Heritage
Bank for their assistance in securing this
valuable support for DSN.
VOLUNTEERS
Our volunteer numbers are steadily growing
with another group of people ready to go
through the process of signing on with us.
We are really pleased to meet and get to
know people with such a broad range of
skills, experience and a passion for helping
others through the difficulties depression,
anxiety and other mental health challenges
bring.
When people come to DSN, it is not the
centre they come into - it is the relationships
and friendships that we form as a group of
workers that we are able to invite them to be
part of. As peers, we often say what a
RELIEF it is to talk to other people who
understand what we have been through
without us having to explain in great detail.
TRAINING
Our MI WELLWAYS RECOVERY COURSE
will be starting on 13 May here at DSN and
are looking forward to finding out what the
participants will get out of it. It is held for a
few hours each week over a ten week
period. The course will be held here again
in the future so if you would like to join in,
please let us know.
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RAFFLE
The Toowoomba Trident Wood Turners
have donated two beautifully handcrafted
children’s toys that we are raffling at present.
"If you pay tax, we have "Deductible Gift
Recipient" status - your help towards
improving people’s lives is a tax deduction
for you and supports DSN. Could you help
in this way please?"
The Management Team monthly meeting
will meet on the Saturday 10 May at 11:00
am at the DSN Office.
Could those who have changed their details
please let Sandra know or if you know
someone who has left the area, let the office
know how to contact them to see if they
would like to remain a member.
2nd
1st prize: Wooden rocking horse
prize - Table and chairs with blackboard
on top
rd
3 prize - Big Teddy Bear
Please support us as we raise funds for
ongoing costs. Sandra has booklets of
tickets in the office that can be taken to sell
to others.
Alley and Leah
FUNDING AND INNOVATION NEWS
Tickets are $2 each or 3 for $5.
ADMIN CORNER
A reminder to everybody that Membership
Fees are overdue.
At the AGM a review was made of
membership fees. They will now be as
follows:
$10.00 – Full Membership
$5. 00 – Concessional Membership
$25.00 – Corporate Membership
As we are halfway through the financial
year, membership fees will be halved!!!
The funding an Innovation subcommittee
was started in March 2014, and is led by
Amanda Robinson – Recreation Officer at
Qld Health and former staff member at both
Toowoomba Clubhouse and RFQ. With her
experience in Mental Health NGOs and
current study of a Master’s degree in Mental
Health Practice, Amanda is also the
chairperson at Toowoomba’s first innovative
and entrepreneurial organisation whose
members
have
strong
interests
in
technology, 3D printing, robotics, graphic art
and gaming, and come from a diverse
backgrounds.
So far, the subcommittee has started the
rebranding process for DSN- changing its
logo and name to align with the growing
needs of the community. We realise the
importance of ‘filling the gap’ that currently
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exists in the region for people that
experience mental health challenges, and
are looking to fill that gap through our vision
and strategy for 2014/2015.
The committee will continue to work to
achieve the following outcomes:

Increase our membership through
community promotion

Re-brand DSN
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Sharing the space with other
organisations
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Update the website, provide a monthly
e-newsletter

Acquire additional resources for the
resource centre.

Create crowd funding projects

Provide full time opening hours as well
as after-hours recreation and leisure
activities to support recovery and
connect with people in the community.

Expand services to regional QLD- e.g.,
Oakey, Milmerran, Kingaroy, Nanango.

Facilitate training for staff, and acquire
greater training resources

Invite recovery focused peer leaders to
join/provide training and visit the
centre
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Be able to fund a larger space to
accommodate community groups

Create and support up to 20 groups in
the community for both consumers and
their carers/families

Reduce suicide/hospitalizations- in
both extended and acute Mental
Health for our members

Increase
the
well-being/health
(physical and mental)

Provide greater insight/understanding
of MI from the perspective and
experience of peers.

Increase resilience and recovery from
MI
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Provide on-line and external resources
to connect with peers in the region.
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Enrich the lives of others through one’s
own experiences and friendship.

Provide after-hours support/outreach
in the community
The only organisation in Toowoomba that is
solely supported and managed by people
with a lived experience of mental ill-health,
DSN is already steps ahead in Australia.
DSN’s strong vision to provide people with
the hope that recovery is possible and
achievable was what appealed to Amanda.
Unlike organisations in the past, DSN
focuses on using people’s lived experience
and strengths to support others and it
follows evidence-based strategies that are
lacking in the region, and in Australia.
‘It’s good to keep the business and the support
separate to some degree. Whilst the membership
are aware that the organisation needs to keep
paying bills to keep it running, that responsibility
should go to the management committee, and
now a subcommittee. I feel it gives the members
the best possible use of the staff’s and each
other’s time and energy for their recovery.’
We are always looking for like-minded
people in the community who are willing to
offer friendship to others who are excluded
and are attempting to find their place in this
world. If you would like to join DSN, the
committee, or to find out more, please
contact
the
team
at
[email protected].
We
look
forward to connecting with you.
Amanda Robinson
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Get Moving
You may think you’re just too shattered to
exercise, but if you want to regain that extra
edge on life, then daily exercise if the way to
go. The more physically fit and active you
are, the more energy you can store and
produce at short notice. The key to success
is not how hard you exercise, but how often.
If you can’t manage the gym or classes, then
get a home fitness video. Alternatively, take
two 15 minute walks every day. Exercise
not only gets you fit, it releases natural
endorphins into your system which will get
you feeling happier.
Your mum
had
the
best idea
YOU!
Whole-Wheat Blueberry Pancakes
Your mom will love this sweet, yet healthy
breakfast treat on Mother’s Day.
The pancakes are loaded with antioxidantrich blueberries and provide 13% of your
daily
recommended
intake
of
protein. Calories: 146
Ingredients:
3/4 cup multigrain pancake mix (such as
Arrowhead Mills)
1 tablespoon canola oil
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons soy milk
1/2 cup fresh blueberries
Maple syrup
Powdered sugar (optional)
Preparation:
1. Combine first 4 ingredients (through
blueberries).
2. Pour about 1/4 cup batter (or use a 2ounce ice-cream scoop) per pancake
onto a hot nonstick griddle or skillet.
Cook over medium heat for about 2–3
minutes or until tops are covered with
bubbles and edges look cooked. Flip
pancakes over, and cook an additional
2–3 minutes or until bottoms are golden
brown. Pile on a plate in 1 stack. Cover
with a hand towel to keep warm.
3. Place 2 pancakes on each of 3 plates.
Drizzle with the maple syrup, and dust
with some powdered sugar, if desired.
EXERCISES FOR YOUR BRAIN
Harriet Vines, Ph.D., an experienced author
and retired college professor, gives us a few
fun brain exercises to train our attention and
working memory (the ability to keep information current for a short period while using
this information). Given them a try! They are
not as easy as they may sound…
1. Say the days of the week backwards,
then in alphabetical order.
2. Say the months of the year in alphabetical order. Easy? well, why don’t
you try doing so backwards, in
reverse alphabetical order.
3. Find the sum of your date of birth,
mm/dd/yyyy. Want more exercise? Do
the same with friends’ and relatives’
date of birth.
4. Name two objects for every letter in
your complete name. Work up to five
objects, trying to use different items
each time.
5. Wherever you are, look around and
within two minutes, try to find 5 red
things that will fit in your pocket, and
5 blue objects that are too big to fit.
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HORSING AROUND….
Cartoon by Sophia Chandler ©2014
Donations? Yes, Please!
DSN is a registered charity, so all donations over $2.00 are tax deductible.
We now have a link on our website and a brand new PayPal account for donations!
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