NEWSLETTER

March 2016

Hello everyone. I hope that you are going great as we move along in 2016! The Life Choices - Support Services Team are all doing a wonderful job and continuing to bring you the wonderful support that you have come to expect from our team. As always everyone is very busy but please feel free to drop in and speak to our Administration staff, pay your account using EFTPOS at Life Choices – Support Services or by cash or cheque. Please make sure that any cheques are made out to Glen Innes Severn Council as Council is the body who holds the ABN. If you have any feedback, we always welcome your input whether it is positive or negative, as this assists us to maintain our high standard of service delivery. There is a feedback form at the end of the newsletter. Please share your comments with us if you would like to do so. I’ll keep my item brief this month as I know other people have really interesting things to share with you. Kind regards Janine Johnson Manager of Community Services

The Administration team would like to welcome Christina Casey to our team.

Christina is the Customer Service Officer and is always happy to take your calls and answer your questions.

Ellen is the Financial Officer and works very hard to make sure the money adds up!

Candy is the Administration and Quality Officer and has her hands in many pies.

Please feel free to give us a call and have a chat. We love to hear from everyone.

If anyone is having trouble submitting a My Aged Care referral please call and we are more than happy to help you submit your application.

Best wishes

The Administration Team

Hi to everyone from the Direct Support Team. February is gone and we certainly have had some warmer, dryer weather which has made for some hot working conditions particularly in the western areas.

During the period 1 November 2015 to 31 January 2016 there were 4814 hours of Direct Support Work delivered from our team at an average of 370.33 hours each week. There was also 292.75 hours of maintenance type work delivered during this period with December and January being a wonderful time for lawns to grow. These figures reflect a significant effort from the team when you consider there was a higher than usual staff absence due to recreational leave and also the lower workload during the Council Christmas closure period. I offer my congratulations and thanks to all of the staff who worked towards achieving the above goals.

Long time member of our team Colin Jackson resigned during the past few weeks and we have welcomed a new male member to the team based at Warialda, Kevin Rose. Laurie Gover will commence working from the Glen Innes office very soon. We hope to recruit for some addition permanent part time staff next month with a focus on employing new staff members in the Inverell and Tenterfield areas.

This week I was fortunate enough to put some faces to the names of consumers in the Tenterfield area and really enjoyed meeting you all. During the coming weeks I am hopeful of some more field trips and meeting more of the consumers in our area.

As mentioned prior to Christmas we are very fortunate to have Kelly Foran working in our team as the Acting Direct Support Services Facilitator. Kelly has been nominated for NSW Woman of The Year. There are four categories for the Woman of the Year and four finalists within each category. It is a wonderful achievement and a real credit to Kelly that she has made the finals. We wish Kelly all the best when the winners are announced on 9 March at NSW Parliament House in Sydney.

Easter arrives early this year with Good Friday being the 25 March. We wish everyone a happy and healthy Easter break and hope the Easter Bunny finds you.

Regards Anthony Williams Direct Support Services Supervisor

Maaate, don’t

tell Janelle,

it’s twins

again!

Hello everyone.

This month we have said a sad farewell to Ron Webel after 10 years of service within Glen Innes Severn Council’s community services sector. We wish Ron all the best with his future adventures. We are currently recruiting new staff that we will be meeting soon. We are also working on person centred review across all programs and we look forward meeting with you to complete your plan for 2016. Fiona is working hard to visit each and every client in the Tenterfield area to ensure that all services are up to consumer expectations.

Charmaine has been very busy catching up with consumers in the Gwydir area for their 2016 person centred reviews, and when she is not doing that she is at Yetman day centre organising some amazing outings. You can read more about these outings in Charmaine’s report from Yetman.

Until next time.

Teresa Chard

Lifestyle Support Supervisor

Ahhh newsletter time again – already we are looking at Autumn as the trees start to turn!

The Yetman Hall is having another facelift thanks to Inverell Shire Council. The old ceiling has been taken out this week (asbestos) and a new one is going in. Thank heavens we have so many group outings planned for the next couple of weeks.

Aqua aerobics are going well at the Texas pool on Tuesdays– consumers are really enjoying the water. More people are needed to attend. Dr Abbas is on the exercise boat, so be prepared people! If you want to join us, talk to Charmaine.

A fun weekend of patch working and landscaping was held in the Coolatai Hall a couple of weeks ago. There were great tutors, friendships, food, and fabric of course. Our thanks go to Kerry Simpson for the catering!

On the same weekend, Charmaine, Mary, Lorna and Janine (MCS) had a cultural experience and went to Cats – the Musical in Brisbane. Delta Goodrem is an amazing actress and singer. They too had a great time and experienced good food, nurseries – plants of course - and a quick visit to Sutton’s apple orchard where you can experience the humble apple like nowhere else. This is a great trip for a group outing, meals made fresh on site - all dietary needs catered for- the “best apple pie in Australia and at this time of the year you can have “an apple experience” with a farm tour and pick your own apples. Sutton’s also make their own apple cider as well as jams, chutneys, and sauces.

This is a small project (above) that I found in my ramblings and is really easy to make. Yes, crafty ladies, it’s on our list as well as another dyeing day!

Yetman group will also be visiting Glen Innes during senior’s week. More information will be provided later.

Gwen has returned from the Land of the Long White Cloud, visiting with her family– with more fabrics of course.

Welcome to our first Newsletter for 2016. Already this year is moving way too fast, and we have had, and are planning on, some great activities for this year. I would like to introduce you to our fabulous team: We have Lindy Lute, Katrina Johansen and Kathryn Carpenter. These ladies are wonderful and you will see them supporting our consumers who have a disability and consumers who are older. You will also see them attending to Meals on Wheels. They are a very energetic and caring group who are here to support you in the community. On Tuesdays, our craft group has been busy making vases and candle holders from spoons. It is amazing the projects that can be done with spoons. This group also finished some lovely pieces in needlework and crocheting which they put in the Glen Innes Show. The group came away with first, second and highly commended prizes in all sections entered.

The Day Options Group have been busy with craft items such as woodwork, paper mache, and they also have been participating in a swim program each week at the Town Pool which is very popular. The Day Options and Community Home Support Program participants recently attended the Lamb and Potato Festival in Guyra. Shake Rattle N Bowl and lunch outings are also very popular each month. This month we also had a group go on a Mystery Tour. Everyone enjoyed the outing which had them going to Boundary Creek Falls, Heffernans lookout, Jackadgery for a lunch stop then on the trip back a stop at Raspberry Lookout.

Calendars for March will see groups doing cooking, music mornings, trips to an Armidale winery and Jackadgery as well as attending International Women’s Day. We are currently asking for expressions of interest in an overnight trip which consumers have put on their to-do list at the beginning of this year. Staff are very busy at this time of the year attending training. Kathy attended training on Autism and will be attending Shark Cage which provides skills to support those that have experienced trauma in their lives. Katrina will be attending Behavioural Management Skills in March. Lindy and Kim will be attending Drumbeat Training. All staff will be completing a Food Handling course in March also. Please feel free to call us if you would like to attend any of our outings or if you would just like to have a chat. Kim Newberry Activity Support Supervisor

Monday 9.00 Venue - Yarraford Hall

Programme Men Tuffen Up session

1400 Venue - Healthy Life Style building

Programme Gentle exercises session

Tuesday 8.30 Venue - Community Centre Hall

Programme Tuesday Tai Chi Qi Gong session (waiting list)

Wednesday 8.30 Venue - Healthy Life Style building

Programme Advanced Tai Chi Qi Gong session

1400 Venue - Scouts Hall

Programme Re Entry level Tai Chi Qi Gong session

Thursday 1400 Venue - Healthy Life Style building

Programme Re Entry level Tai Chi Qi Gong session

Friday 9.00 Venue - Glencoe Community Hall

Programme Tai Chi Qigong session

Recipe of the Month –Submitted by Brian Harris

CREAM CHEESE BANANA NUT BREAD

Group 1

3 cups flour

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp baking soda

Stir together and set aside. (Do not sift)

Group 2

3/4 cup softened butter

1 8oz softened cream cheese

2 cups sugar

2 large eggs

Group 3

1 1/2 cups bananas (4 small or 3 large) mashed

1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

1/2 tsp vanilla

Using mixer, beat butter and cream cheese til creamy. Gradually add sugar till light and fluffy. Add eggs 1 at a time.

Gradually add group 1 to group 2 just until blended. Stir in the vanilla, nuts & bananas. Make sure to clean the bottom of your mixing bowl to mix well.

Spoon into 2 greased loaf pans. Bake in preheated oven at 350º for 1 hour. (Check with tooth pick.)

You can use bundt pan or anglefood ring pan.

This is a very moist cake/bread and I dare you to eat just 1 slice. HAHA!

ENJOY......

Quotes of the Month

Story

My name is Kelly Foran. I'm a local Narrabri, Boggabri, Maules Creek Girl who is now working with the Team at Life Choices Support Services. I have been nominated for NSW Woman of the Year two times now.

My story starts: Seven years ago while pregnant I experienced terrible headaches, nosebleeds and hearing congestion. I was assured it was all just pregnancy related. So I tried to ignore all my ailments and get fit and strong to welcome our first baby into the world and become a yummy mummy. On Boxing Day 2002 I became a little sicker with excessive headaches and vomiting and I was taken to Dubbo Hospital. Three days later after a scan diagnosed a massive brain tumour, I was sent to Royal Prince Alfred hospital in Sydney with an hour’s notice - to have an emergency caesarean and then the tumour removed. Upon arrival I was advised that I would have to undergo steroid treatment to shrink the tumour before I could have the tumour removed. Two weeks later I had a caesarean and gave birth to a 12.5 pound baby boy who was 36 weeks gestation. (Imagine if he was 40 weeks - he would have been a professional bull rider.) Jake was born with a hole in the lung, Hyper insulin anaemia, jaundice and could not drink or suck unaided. He was the only baby in Australia to be born with hyper insulin anaemia and had to have medication flown from the United States to treat the condition. After three weeks in high dependency ICU we were finally allowed to take our son home.

I was given massive doses of steroids to shrink the tumour. The tumour didn't shrink and neither did I. I went from weighing 67kg after Jakes birth to 89kg in 2 weeks (I am the queen of stretch marks mine are like motor racing tracks). Two months later we returned for my surgery and upon arrival I underwent a pre op clinic. There I was advised my blood sugar levels were at critically high levels and my surgery could not go ahead until they were under control. So off we went to the Diabetes centre to be taught how to give myself 4 injections a day. I was a little stressed at this time the operation. I could handle but needles I was truly scared of them. The next morning I did not think of the impending surgery just the fact I had to give myself yet another needle. At 6.00am that morning my sugar levels were back to normal. I underwent 16 hours of surgery.

I awoke from the surgery with a slight stroke on my right hand side and unimaginable pain not from my head but my breast as I was still trying to breast feed Jake. I was being looked after by a female nurse who felt assisting me with a breast pump was not her position and referred to me as a cow ready to be hooked up to a milking machine in a dairy. I can laugh about it now. Three weeks in intensive care and a week in the neurology ward and I finally went home.

I was an insulin diabetic had a stroke and struggled to talk walk eat or do anything unaided. I think Dave was relieved that I struggled to talk. A week later after reducing the levels of steroids I was taking as advised I was again flown to Royal Prince Alfred with meningitis on the brain. Three weeks later after another 6 hour operation and even less hair, I came home. This trip Dave could not handle Jake our 3 month old so he was left at home. This I found very hard. I now had muscular dystrophy and struggled with pain in every joint. I had to learn how to walk again but with such pain it was very hard and exhausting Jake was now

4 months old and I could not do anything with him. After 12 months we were just getting on top of life. When I noticed Jakes eye was different. I called a local optometrist and drove to town. At the consultation I was told it was a tumour and an appointment in Brisbane was booked in for 2 days time. At the appointment we were advised the tumour was cancer and it needed to be removed now, before it travelled to the other eye and Jake’s brain. Two days later Jake had his right eye removed. The tumour was contained in the right eye. We now had to look forward to 3 month hospital visits and day surgeries as well as the challenge of what if it’s back. We also had to deal mentally with our beautiful baby having only one eye and our guilt for allowing this to happen.

We progressed through 3 months, 6 months and now we attend 12 month visits. The journey is tough enough but the underlying stresses of finances, jobs you have to leave for periods of time. Four weeks later we returned home. David was starting to struggle with depression. On the trip home I mentioned to David I was not feeling the best. He suggested it may be because I had not been taking my insulin.

After visiting my Doctor she asked if I may be pregnant. I said no way as the steroid treatment had left me sterile. BINGO Miracles happen! “Our lives are not determined by what happens to us but by how we react to what happens, not by what life brings to us, but by the attitude we bring to life.”

Because of my experiences and my family and friends, I have developed this website called Friendly Faces Helping Hands. The site links rural and remote people and communities and provides a central portal for accessing information on accommodation, parking, cheap eats, supermarkets and even hairdressers that are located around each metropolitan hospital Links are also available for support networks, social workers and counsellors.

This site has been designed from the heart. My husband Dave went for a haircut on our first trip to Royal Prince Alfred hospital. He walked down to Newtown in his Wrangler jeans, boots and big hat. He walked into a hairdresser - not a flash one, that’s not Dave’s style - and asked for a cut. He has very short hair. He got a quick cut - 5 minutes worth - and stood to pay. The hairdresser advised him that would be $75 dollars. Dave only had $50 upon his exasperated comments a rather large sumo looking gent arrived from out the back to ask if there was a problem. Luckily my older sister Kim was walking past and Dave quickly got extra money from Kim and left. Many occasions we struggled to get food, supermarket goods, nappies, milk and parking. We had been going to Brisbane for 2 years and paying $17 a day for parking when we found a cheaper parking spot around the corner for $4.

This website will help to minimize the overwhelming feelings of isolation and give people the power of information in these difficult times.

The Friendly Faces Helping Hands website can be found at the link www.friendlyfaces.info.

In closing, I would like to share my FFHH quote:

“Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass. It’s about learning how to dance in the rain.”

MEMBER for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall has today congratulated Glen Innes resident

Kelly Foran on being named as one of four finalists for the REX Airlines Regional Woman of the

Year Award.

Mr Marshall said the 2016 NSW Women of the Year Awards were a chance for the NSW

Government and the community to officially recognise the outstanding contribution of exceptional

women in NSW. “Kelly was chosen from a field of close to 250 nominees across all categories due

to the significant contribution she has made in assisting country families access health services

through the creation of the charity Friendly Faces, Helping Hands,” Mr Marshall said.

“Kelly created the charity following the diagnosis of her own brain tumour and a relapse of her son’s

cancer and despite this adversity; she has used her experiences to empower not only herself but her

local community.

“She embodies the essence of community spirit and kindness and is truly an inspiration and a role

model for us all.

“Kelly has positively impacted on the lives of thousands of people right across country NSW, not

just in the Northern Tablelands.”

Mr Marshall said too often successful women didn’t get the recognition they deserved, particularly

for those in the field of volunteering.

“These awards are our chance to honour some of the many women, like Kelly, who have

contributed so much to this state and to their local community,” Mr Marshall said.

“Now I urge everyone in the community to get behind Kelly and cast a vote for her online to help

ensure she wins this prestigious award”.

Online voting is now open and ends Sunday, 28 February 2016. The winners will be announced at

a ceremony in NSW Parliament House on 9 March.

To support Kelly and cast your vote for her in the NSW Regional Woman of the Year, visit

http://www.women.nsw.gov.au/women_of_the_year_awards/2016-rex-airlines-regional-woman-of-

the-year

Jokes of the Month

TODAY IS THE OLDEST YOU'VE EVER BEEN, YET THE YOUNGEST YOU'LL EVER BE,

SO ENJOY THIS DAY WHILE IT LASTS.

~Your Kids are becoming you......but your grandchildren are Perfect! ~

Going Out is good.. Coming Home is better! ~You forget names.... But it's OK because other people forgot they even knew you!!! ~

You realize you're never going to be really good at anything. ~The things you used to care to do, you no longer care to do, but you really do care that you don't care to do them anymore. ~

You sleep better on a lounge chair with the TV blaring than in bed. It's called "pre-sleep". ~

You miss the days when everything worked with just an "ON" and "OFF" Switch.. ~

You tend to use more 4 letter words ... "what?"..."when?"... ??? ~Now that you can afford expensive jewelry, it's not safe to wear it anywhere. ~

You notice everything they sell in stores is "sleeveless"?!!! ~What used to be freckles are now liver spots. ~Everybody whispers. ~You have 3 sizes of clothes in your closet.... 2 of which you will never wear. ~~

~But Old is good in some things: Old songs, Old movies, and best of all, OLD FRIENDS!! Stay well, "OLD" FRIEND!

Send this on to other "Old" Friends and let them laugh in AGREEMENT!!!

It's not what you gather, but what you scatter that tells what kind of life you have lived.

Suggestions and Feedback

Life Choices – Support Services values your feedback on what we do well and what we can do better. If you feel that we have failed to abide by the agreement between you and Life Choices – Support Services in any way, or that we have done something particularly well, please contact us.

It is important to us that you are aware that by exercising your right to give negative feedback about our service, your right to current or future services will not be affected.

This form can be completed and delivered to Life Choices – Support Services or posted to PO Box 95, Glen Innes, 2370, NSW. We appreciate the opportunity to improve our service delivery to clients and thank you for your input.

Your Name:

Your Address:

Your Phone Number:

Date Submitted:

Your suggestion or feedback:

What you would like to happen about this:

Thank you for taking the time to fill out this form. Please expect a written response within ten (10) days of lodging this letter. If you do not receive a response, please contact the Team Leader, Life Choices - Support Services on 02 6730 2500.

Office Use Only

Date received: Other Information:

Date reply sent:

Date added to CIR:

Filed by:

Please remember that we welcome and encourage feedback on our services. As with our other services, this newsletter is a partnership between consumers and staff, and we encourage you to contribute. If you require assistance to contribute, please contact us on 02 6730 2500.

How to contact us

Manager of Community Services – Janine Johnson Phone: 02 6730 2306 Email: jjohnson@gisc.nsw.gov.au Director of Corporate and Community Services – Anna Watt Phone: 02 6730 2317 Email: awatt@gisc.nsw.gov.au

Staff: Life Choices - Support Services

Noel Schmidt, Tony Williams, Kelly Foran, Lindy Lute, Teresa Chard, Charmaine Potter, Katrina Johansen, Stephen Mather, Kim Newberry, Lisa Weiss, Kathy Carpenter, Denise Davis, Kathleen Douglas, Sarah Handebo, Emily Johnson, Julie Matheson, Estelle Ridgeway, Barbara Newsome, Crystal Patterson, Soraya Raper, Leanne Ryan, Dianne Campbell, Naomi Levy, Tania Martin, Melanie Edwards, Fiona Richards, Tori Parkins, Suzanne Frankcom, Kristine Williamson, Kevin Rose, Elizabeth Reid, Ellen Mackenzie, Candy Lockwood, Christina Casey.