Bush Telegraph
Toowoomba Defence Families Support Association Bush Telegraph Issue 2— Autumn 2015 A Newsletter for Toowoomba and surrounds families with information about upcoming events and general goings on around Toowoomba as well as helpful tips on coping with defence life, plus fun stuff, recipes and much more…. Do you know someone who is new to the area and they would like to receive the Bush Telegraph simply get them to register their email address with DCO –DCO.darlingdowns@defence.gov.au If you would like more information about the Bush Telegraph, or would like to submit an article or advertisement in future editions, please contact the Bush Telegraph Coordinator at toowoombabushtelegraph@yahoo.com.au . Bush Telegraph | Contents Support For Your Family 3 Spouse Business Register 15 Promoting Helpful Ways of Thinking — article provided by DCO 4 Kid Zone—Find the Words 16 Kid Zone—Connect the Dots 17 DCO Community Welcome Expo 6 Kids Recipe Corner 17 News from the TDFSA 7 Colouring in Competition 18 TDFSA Activities 8 Community Connections 19 Local School Holiday Activities 9 Coffee Club Venues List 10 TDFSA Upcoming Events 11 TDFSA Membership 12 Defence Family Helpline 13 Local Markets 14 2 Support For Your Family Defence Family Helpline Defence families seeking advice, support or connection with their local community can call 1800 624 608. The Defence Family Helpline operates 24 –7 and is staffed by qualified human service professionals including social workers and psychologists. All calls will receive assessment and support from a human service professional. Families can also email the Defence Family Helpline at DefenceFamilyHelpline@defence.gov.au & you will receive a response within 24 hours. DCO Support During Deployment DCO recognises that a deployment can be a stressful time for families. To assist you during these times, DCO can provide you with a range of services and support including information, brief counselling, referral to specialist community services, regular telephone contact and various support activities. If you would like to receive regular phone contact, deployment information, newsletters and updates regarding DCO services and group programs while your defence member is absent, then it is essential that you contact DCO to register your contact details and the level of assistance you require. Email DefenceFamilyHelpline@defence.gov.au or Tel: 1800 624 608. Defence Special Needs Support Group The Defence Special Needs Support Group Inc is a non-profit benevolent volunteer organisation established to assist Navy, Army and Air Force families with a family member with special needs. The Defence Special Needs Support Group has support groups in each State and Territory which are able to assist with information and support and assistance at a local level. Visit their website: http://dsnsg.org.au/ or Ph: 1800 037 674 Toowoomba Defence Families Support Association TDFSA is a Community House and Playgroup providing a range of services and activities for all Defence families and civilian families. The Centre is friendly, welcoming, airconditioned/heated, child friendly, and always open to new ideas and suggestions. We provide support, fun and friendship for all ages. The Centre has a toy room, fully equipped kitchen, baby changing facilities and a lounge area. Outdoor facilities include a sandpit, swings, slide, climbing gym and plenty of outside equipment and toys for the kids. Where: Corner O’Quinn and Anzac Ave, Toowoomba Co-Ordinator: June Evans Email: tdfsa_co-ordinator@hotmail.com Facebook: Toowoomba Defence Families Community House and Playgroups 3 PROMOTING HELPFUL WAYS OF THINKING In the last DCO article, we shared some ideas about supporting your child in starting school for the first time, beginning a new school or going into secondary school. Following on from this theme, we would like to share further ideas about teaching children coping skills and promoting helpful ways of thinking. As they grow older and develop, all children encounter situations where they feel worried, nervous and sometimes even scared. Helping your child to learn coping skills will allow them to develop and practice strategies that will enable them to cope with future challenges and changes. Coping skills are what we think and what we do to help us get through difficult situations. Children will begin to learn coping skills from the time they are born. However, you can build on the skills they are already using as well as assist them to learn new ones. The following are ways you can help your child to cope during worrying or challenging situations: Listen and talk – help children identify their concerns and acknowledge how they are feeling. Comfort – there may be times when you child needs comfort before having the opportunity to talk. Reassurance – it is important to acknowledge and support your child with reassurance when they are feeling worried. Demonstrate and model – for example you could say, “I am going to take five deep breaths to help myself relax”. Prepare – talk positively with your child about upcoming changes or challenges. Encourage help-seeking – encourage your child that it is ok to ask for help at different times and discuss who they could ask, for example, their teacher. Another way to support your child to cope is by helping them understand that how we think affects the way we feel and how we behave. This therefore means that how we think also affects how we cope with a challenging situation. These are called helpful thoughts and unhelpful thoughts. An easy way for children to understand this is by using the language of “dolphin and shark thinking”. While dolphins like to swim, dive and jump out of the water and generally have fun, sharks like to swim deep down, eat lots of things and swim in circles so they are dangerous, unfriendly and scary. Therefore if you have dolphin thinking, it helps you get by, keeps you on top and pulls you along when things are challenging. While shark thinking tends to drag you down and eat you up. An example of dolphin thinking: this might be hard but I can try to do this, I do not like this but how can I make it a bit better, I did not win but I tried my best. An example of shark thinking: this is so unfair, it will always be like this, no point trying, I am never any good at things, I always lose. Overall, it is dolphin thinking that makes you feel better and can take you forward while shark thinking 4 drags you down, keeps you stuck and going around in circles. It is important that children understand it is not wrong to have unhelpful thoughts or shark thinking. It is important however, that children can learn to recognise when they are thinking like a shark and to find ways to think more like a dolphin. This is a better way to manage their feelings. Young children need adult support to find more helpful ways to think, but as they get older they can slowly start to learn to do more for themselves. The following are strategies you can use to support your child with dolphin thinking: Acknowledge and validate how they are feeling. Help your child to look at the situation from a more positive and helpful perspective. Remind your child of a time they coped with something similar in the past. Model helpful thinking by thinking out loud to teach your child how to come up with helpful thoughts. Helpful thinking is about promoting positive coping skills and encouraging children to feel good about themselves. This will help your child to feel more confident in new situations. KidSMART is a program offered by DCO to children who have a parent within the ADF. The program aims to enhance resilience and to assist them to develop a tool kit of skills, such as those listed above. These skills are designed to support them in managing their life within a Defence family and to encourage the ability to thrive in this changing environment. If any parent is interested in their child being a part of this program please make contact with DCO Amberley and Darling Downs through the Defence Family Helpline on Tel: 1800 624 608 to express your interest. For further information on coping skills and helpful ways of thinking please go to www.kidsmatter.edu.au. From all at DCO Amberley and Darling Downs - happy dolphin thinking! Image courtesy of www.kidsmatter.edu.au 5 6 News from the Toowoomba Defence Families Support Association Hello! As the new co-ordinator of the Community House I would like to thank everyone for being so supportive, welcoming and understanding of this position. It has been wonderful to meet so many new people and have an ongoing association. Coffee mornings and playgroups are well underway with the proposal to have “bring your own” craft mornings on Mondays. Although coffee mornings were planned to be in one place for a month feedback has shown a preference for rotating venues so this will begin again in March. Watch the TDFSA Facebook group to stay in touch. If you are not currently a member please join us, this is our main source of communication. Please promote it with your friends. If you have other suggestions of activities that we can run beyond our usual events please let us know. We are here to provide a network of support and meet needs but this can only happen with good communication. To those who came to our “Meet and Greet” in Queen’s Park – “Thank-you”, we had a great turn out and it was lovely to meet so many new people. Our February Ladies Dinner Date was at the Parkhouse Café on the 27th. A big thank you must go to husbands and partners for taking care of the children to make this possible, I know the ladies who came along really appreciated it. Planning is well underway for the Easter Party to be held on 28th March – 2-4pm. Don’t forget to RSVP by 26th so we have some idea of the numbers we are catering for. We encourage you to make the most of the afternoon and connect with each other while the children are well entertained for a fun afternoon. We will be putting on a sausage sizzle as well as Face painting, an Easter egg hunt and balloon creations are on the agenda so if this presents difficulties in any way please let me know so some alternative pre-planning can happen e.g. allergies, dairy intolerance. And don’t forget about our colouring in competition, the form is included at the back of the Bush Telegraph and also on the Facebook Group. We have some great prizes for the different age groups. Looking forward to seeing everyone at future events. June Evans. 7 Toowoomba Defence Families Support Association Cnr Anzac Ave & O’Quinn Street Weekly Events Coffee Club Tuesday mornings at 9:30am. We go to various locations throughout Toowoomba & Highfields. Come and meet some new people over coffee & cake. Children are welcome. Playgroups Please bring along a hat and some morning tea for you and your little one. Tea and coffee provided. Cost is $3 per family. Dinomites Playgroup Wednesday 9:30—11:30am at the Community House Come join us for lots of fun with heaps of space for kids to rule!! All you need is their energy and some morning tea. Each week there is a different activity for the children to participate in. Kiddies Troupe Playgroup Thursday 9:30—11:30am at the Community House A great reason to get the young ones out of the house for some play with others. All ages are welcome, from pregnancy through to school age. Please don’t feel shy about coming along without kids; we would love to meet you. We have plenty of indoor and outdoor equipment and toys to keep the littlies busy, as well as craft activities. Drop In The Community House is open from 9:30am—2:00pm Wednesdays & Thursdays we have a coffee pod machine so please call in, have a chat and a cuppa, flick through our magazines or borrow a book from our library. Come and view the Centre’s services and facilities first hand. Additional Activities We also have ladies dinner dates, family dinner nights plus our Easter Party and other events throughout the year. Keep an eye on the Facebook Group for other events that we may put on. For more information about any of our activities please do not hesitate to contact our coordinator June by email at tdfsa_co-ordinator@hotmail.com. Plus don’t forget to like the Facebook page for updates on all events and if anything new gets organised. 8 School Holiday Activities Cobb & Co Museum Science Magic Holiday Program—7 April—17 April 10am—3pm Explosive fun for the whole family at Cobb+Co Museum! Our popular Science Magic holiday program returns in 2015 with the theme 'Don't Do This At Home'. Discover how fireworks are made, get blown away by our giant air cannon, help create a giant erupting volcano, see a snap frozen flower smashed into bits, watch CO2 gas extinguish candles, and more! Blacksmithing Teen Workshop— Thursday 16 April 9am—12pm Banish the holiday blues and send your teenager on a creative experience they’ll never forget We want young people to experience the absolute thrill of creating something beautiful from raw materials with their own hands. That's why we designed three hour workshops especially for 13-17 year olds. While learning from our expert tutors, each participant will also make something to take home with them. Jewellery Making Teen Workshop— Friday 17 April 9am—12pm Banish the holiday blues and send your teenager on a creative experience they’ll never forget We want young people to experience the absolute thrill of creating something beautiful from raw materials with their own hands. That's why we designed three hour workshops especially for 13-17 year olds. While learning from our expert tutors, each participant will also make something to take home with them. For more information visit: http://www.cobbandco.qm.qld.gov.au/ Toowoomba Regional Libraries Toowoomba Regional Libraries have quality literature for young children. The libraries offer many activities during the year and support to help find the right book. Story time is available at many of our libraries in the Toowoomba Region. Story time incorporates storytelling, music and craft activities. Sessions are usually 45 minutes long and bookings are not necessary. It is a wonderful way for your child to socialise and be introduced to literacy and the joy of reading. Rhyme Time is held at both the Oakey and Toowoomba Libraries. For more information visit: Toowoomba Regional Council Libraries TRC Youth Photography Competition 2015 TRC Library members, in grades 7-12, have the chance to win great prizes in 2015 with their original photographs, thanks to the Toowoomba Friends of the City Library and Owens Camera House. The competition runs from March 2 to April 24, with the winners announced on May 16. Prizes There are three prize packs to give away. Each pack includes a Nikon Coolpix AW120, camera case, mini gorilla tripod, 2 GB SD card and a Nikon lanyard. Every entrant will receive one free 8"x10" photograph enlargement from Owen's Camera House. Participants can enter their original photographic work into one of three categories - edited, unedited or black and white. There is a limit of one entry per person. For more information visit: TRC Youth Photography Competition 9 Toowoomba Defence Families Support Association COFFEE CLUB Venues—9:30am Tuesdays Enjoy a coffee and meet new people Term 2 2015 DATE VENUE PLAY AREA Tuesday April 21st 2015 Campfire Café, Shop 5 Abbie Lane, 10522 New England Hwy, Highfields Yes Tuesday April 28th 2015 Café Inferno, The Southern Hotel – 839 Ruthven St, Toowoomba Yes Monday 4th May 2015 The Chocolate Cottage, 10475 New England Hwy, Highfields Yes Tuesday 12th May 2015 Ground Up Espresso Bar, 501 Ruthven St, Toowoomba No Tuesday 19th May 2015 Kingfisher Café, The Springs Centre, 333 Spring St, Kearneys Spring Yes Tuesday 26th May 2015 Danish Flower Art, 10347 New England Highway, Highfields Yes Tuesday 2nd June 2015 Parkhouse Café, 92 Margaret St, Toowoomba No Tuesday 9th June 2015 Café Inferno, The Southern Hotel – 839 Ruthven St, Toowoomba Yes Tuesday 16th June 2015 Campfire Café, Shop 5 Abbie Lane, 10522 New England Hwy, Highfields Yes Tuesday 23rd June Engine Room Café, 1 Railway St, Toowoomba 2015 Yes If you would like more information please contact June: Email: tdfsa_co-ordinator@hotmail.com Phone: 0456 670 007 Or Check out our Facebook page – Toowoomba Defence Families Community House and Playgroups 10 What’s On In The Coming Months Easter Party Toowoomba Defence Families Support Association Inc Date: Saturday 28th March 2015—2pm—4pm RSVP by Thursday 26th March 2015 We will be having an Easter Egg hunt , sausage sizzle, colouring competition winners will be announced & more. Come along and meet some other families and have some fun. There will be snack food available (savoury to counteract all the chocolate ) Cost $5 for Community House Member Families, or $10 for Non-Community House Member Families To RSVP or for more information please contact the TDFSA Coordinator June on 0456 367 007 or by email at: tdfsa_co-ordinator@hotmail.com or visit the Facebook page: Toowoomba Defence Families Community House & Playgroups Don’t Forget to enter the colouring competition, the form is at the back of the Bush Telegraph 11 Produce & Wine Tour of Stanthorpe Toowoomba Defence Families Support Association Inc Full day tour —Date & Price: TBA We are currently seeking expressions of interest for our next produce and wine tour of Stanthorpe. Please email tdfsa_co-ordinator@hotmail.com and we will add you to the list. Once we have finalised details you will receive an email with all the information and a registration form. 50% deposit will be payable upon booking with the balance payable 2 weeks before the tour date. All participants must be 18 years and over. TDFSA encourages responsible drinking. TDFSA is not responsible for any damage or loss of personal items. TDFSA is not responsible for any personal injury or illness Suggested Inclusions Return bus transport from Toowoomba to Stanthorpe Wine tasting at a minimum of 2 wineries Gourmet Lunch (at own cost) Specialty Desserts (at own cost) Produce picking and tasting (subject to season) TDFSA Stanthorpe Survival Kit TDFSA Membership Membership to the Toowoomba Defence Families Support Association has many benefits including discounted entry into TDFSA events like the Easter Party and the Christmas Party. Plus receive discounted entry into iPlay Toowoomba and discounted membership to Fernwood Fitness Toowoomba. By becoming a paying member of the TDFSA you will also help to keep the community house open for everyone to enjoy. Cost is $10 per year for Defence Families and $15 for Non-Defence Families For more information about the Toowoomba Defence Families Support Association visit our Facebook page. Or email our coordinator June at tdfsa_co-ordinator@hotmail.com. 12 13 Monthly Markets Around Toowoomba 1st Saturday of Month 2nd Sunday of Month Toowoomba Handmade St Luke’s Church Hall, Cnr Herries & Ruthven Streets, Toowoomba 8am – 2pm Ph.: 0413 354 635 Web: toowoombahandmade.weebly.com Black Forest Hill Markets Cuckoo Clock Shop Centre, Cabarlah, 9.30am – 2.30pm Ph.: 07 4696 6006 Web: www.black-forest-hill.com.au Nobby Country Markets Nobby Hall, Sister Kenny Street, Nobby, 7am – 12noon Ph.: 07 4696 3207 (Nicole) Web: www.nobbycountrymarkets.com 3rd Sunday of Month Queen’s Park Craft Markets (in support of St Vincent's Hospital) Queen’s Park, Lindsay St, Toowoomba 8am - 1pm Ph.: 07 4690 4186 Last Saturday of Month Pittsworth Country Markets (Wildlife Care & Rescue Fundraiser) Pittsworth Showgrounds Sports Pavilion, Pittsworth 8am – 2pm Ph.: 07 4693 5165 or 0438 641 088 (Karryn) Web: pittsworthcountrymarkets.webs.com Last Sunday of Month Cabarlah Markets (Except December – 2nd Sunday for pre Christmas shopping) New England Highway, Cabarlah, 8am – 12.30pm Ph.: 07 4696 8152 Web: www.cabarlah-markets.org.au Every Sunday Quarterly PCYC Markets 219a James Street, Toowoomba, 7am – 12.30pm Ph.: 07 4632 8316 Web: toowoombapcyc.com.au Oakey Lions Markets Oakey Railway Station, Oakey 8am—2pm Ph: 0400 673 008 Check out the Facebook Page for dates 1st Sunday of Month Crows Nest Lions Village Markets Centenary Park, Crows Nest, 7am – 12 noon Ph.: 0429 678 120 Web: www.crowsnestvillagemarkets.com 14 Spouse Business Register Rachel Norris 07 4687 6306 or 0415 108 662 www.rachaelnorris.norwexbiz.com.au June Evans 0409 271 867 jevan181@gmail.com http://junevans.myneways.com.au/TrueTouch/Home.aspx Ania Freeman 0403 279 516 facebook.com/toowoombapolefitness Kathy Beamer 0409 812 242 qjam.entertainment@gmail.com https://www.facebook.com/qjam.entertainment Do you have a home business or a party plan business that you would like added to our product register? Simply send an email to toowoombabushtelegraph@yahoo.com.au with all the details and we will add it in. 15 Kid Zone 16 Connect the Dots Kids Recipe Corner Easter Egg Bikkies Ingredients 200g white chocolate melts 25 milk arrowroot biscuits Coloured sprinkles, to decorate Method Place the chocolate in a heatproof bowl over a saucepan half-filled with simmering water (make sure the bowl doesn't touch the water). Use a metal spoon to stir for 5 minutes or until the chocolate melts and is smooth. Use a small palette knife or butter knife to spread chocolate over 1 biscuit. Transfer to a wire rack. Carefully sprinkle 1 colour of sprinkles across the centre of the biscuit to form a wide stripe. Carefully sprinkle 2 other colours over either end of the biscuit to form 2 more stripes. Repeat with the remaining chocolate, biscuits and coloured sprinkles (if the remaining chocolate starts to set, repeat step 1). Set aside for 20 minutes or until the chocolate is completely set. Recipe sourced from taste.com.au 17 Colouring in Competition Age: Colouring competition will be drawn at the TDFSA Easter Party Saturday 28th March 2015. Winners must be present to receive prizes. Age ranges for draw will be 0-2 years, 3-5 years, 6+ years. Entries can be handed in to the TDFSA Community House (Cnr Anzac Ave & O’Quinn St, Toowoomba) or posted to PO Box 295, Toowoomba QLD 4350 18 Community Connections Toowoomba Defence Families Support Association Cnr Anzac Ave & O’Quinn St, Toowoomba Email: tdfsa_co-ordinator@hotmail.com Facebook: Toowoomba Defence Families Community House & Playgroups Milne Bay Depot, O’Quinn St, Toowoomba Ph: (07) 4631 4470 Email: DCO.darlingdowns@defence.gov.au Web: www.defence.gov.au/dco Defence Families Australia Southern Queensland Delegate Brisbane, Gold Coast, Hinterland, Ipswich, Toowoomba, Darling Downs Contact: Caetlin Watch Email: sth.qld@dfa.org.au Phone: 1800 100 509 Defence Special Needs Support Group Website: http://dsnsg.org.au/ Ph: 1800 037 674 Defence Housing Australia Ph: 139 342 Website: www.dha.gov.au 138 Margaret St, Toowoomba Toll Transitions Ph: 1800 819 167 Website: www.tolltransitions.com.au/defence 462 Ruthven St, Toowoomba Toowoomba Regional Council Ph: 131 872 Website: www.toowoombarc.qld.gov.au Email: info@toowoombaRC.qld.gov.au 19
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