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Below you will find a copy of the main stories that
appeared in the December/January 2003/2004 edition of the QWHN News.
WOMEN AT CHRISTMAS
Two
Christmases in one year! That’s what I feel I’ve had! At the end of
October, I attended a conference in India which just happened to coincide
with the festival of Dewali. Dewali is a Hindu festival held over two
weeks in India with an emphasis on celebrating relationships, buying gifts
for family members, decorating homes and streets, singing, dancing,
drumming, fireworks and, generally, an air of generosity and expectation.
Not unlike Christmas/New Year celebrations in Australia.
While the
people I saw celebrating in the streets of India were mostly men, I had no
doubt that women were toiling away somewhere in the background - cooking,
cleaning, making preparations, choosing gifts, making sure everything was
done to ensure a happy and meaningful Dewali for everyone.
I couldn’t
help thinking that that’s what Christmas/New Year celebrations are like
for many Australian women.
The lead-up?
Hard work. Lots of stress. Shopping. Worrying about which gift to buy
for whom. Cooking. Cleaning. Making preparations to ensure a happy and
meaningful Christmas for everyone.
During the celebrations?
Work.
Serving meals. Cleaning up afterwards. Trying not to show how annoyed
you are that everyone else expects to be waited on (by you). Keeping your
eye on the amount of alcohol consumed by others and hoping no one drinks
to excess. Putting on your mediator or peacemaker hat when family
conflicts arise.
And afterwards?
Exhaustion!
Christmas,
as we all know, is actually a Christian festival - the celebration of the
birth of Christ and all that that is said to stand for. Over and over
again, at this time of the year, we hear the words: ‘peace and goodwill’,
‘love for one another’, ‘joy to the world’. And it gives us a feeling of
contentment.
I
sometimes wonder what Christmas would be like if these wonderful messages
of Christmas were taken seriously by everyone. What if an attitude of
“love, joy and peace” actually went out from us and our governments to
people all around the world? What if so-called Christian nations like
Australia refused to go to war with other nations? What if we preferred
to set an example of love, joy and peace?
And what
if, in our families this Christmas, “goodwill to all” actually included
goodwill to women (to wives and mothers)? Imagine if men and children
actually acknowledged all the work, all the loving, all the care women put
in to making Christmas special for them - and reciprocated!
My hope is
that there will be a more genuine focus by everyone this year on the
central themes of Christmas because if that were to occur, I have no doubt
that the world would be a healthier place and individual women and men
would be much happier and healthier, too.
A happy
Christmas/New Year season to all.
Betty McLellan, Chairperson QWHN
THE PRESSURES OF
CHRISTMAS
Lifeline says…..
Christmas for many of us
is associated with family, fun and festivity. However, many people call
the Lifeline crisis-counselling service with difficulties associated with
Christmas. All the shops are encouraging us to buy up big for the special
people in our lives and the bigger we buy the more we care! We all succumb
but unfortunately there are many people who suffer huge financial
difficulties as a result of over-spending especially on credit cards or
hire purchase agreements. This financial pressure particularly impacts on
personal relationships and self-esteem. Often it is not until the first or
second week in January that people ring the crisis line desperate and in
need of assistance. Loneliness is also an issue that we find is fairly
prevalent over the Christmas period as is family violence. Often this
violence is exacerbated by excessive drug and alcohol use. So lets all
try to avoid the traps of Christmas and if it is a time of the year for
you that is difficult or lonely, know that there is always someone who
will listen and who cares at Lifeline. To contact them phone 131114.
DROUGHT RELIEF
COUNSELLING
An
important word from Relationships Australia, Rockhampton Branch…..
Rural and regional people
are used to facing challenges in their lives. However, for many the
drought has had a severe impact on their lives, not only in economic
terms, but also emotionally. Loss of income and financial concerns have
placed enormous strain on both the wellbeing of individuals and on
relationships. Couples may have become withdrawn from each other and had
trouble communicating or dealing with conflict.
Where counselling has
been provided during previous droughts to those adversely impacted upon,
86% of those clients reported an improvement in their relationship, and
over 90% of those seeking a resolution of personal issues reported
improvement.
Currently, personal and
relationship counselling is available
free
of charge to those
being adversely affected by the drought. Relationships Australia is one of
the services that has received funding from the Commonwealth Department of
Family and Community Service to provide this counselling.
Individuals, couples or
families can access Drought Relief Counselling by phoning 1300 364 277 to
contact their nearest Relationships Australia Branch. No issue is too
large or too small to bring to counselling, and sometimes just talking to
someone can help.
Relationships Australia
also provides a range of other services including relationship counselling,
family mediation, gambling help and financial counselling.
SISTERS FAR AWAY
As
we stand united to face the task ahead,
We
women of this country don’t have to live in dread.
Unlike our many sisters in lands so far away,
Famine, fighting and the fear that never goes away.
As
we sit at meetings and have a cup of tea,
They
hide in fear and bombs drop near and pray the day to see.
When
life is back to normal and the children are well fed,
A
chair to sit - a table too, a blanket for the bed.
Oh
to see the joy again of children as they play,
Without the bombs and terror that is a normal day.
Will
the peace so longed for ever come to stay,
For
those many sisters in lands so far away.
Will
they ever get to sit and have a cup of tea,
With
a well-fed baby sitting on their knee.
Next
time at a meeting, pause for just awhile,
Send
them love, send them hope and pray they will survive.
By Shirley Ann Malsey
MT ISA AND
DOOMADGEE REGIONAL WOMEN'S HEALTH FORUMS
On 3rd October, 2003,
Betty McLellan, Pauline Woodbridge , (Women’s Services Network (WESNET)
Queensland Representative), and myself made the seven hour drive to
Doomadgee from Mount Isa. At Doomadgee, Aboriginal Community Health
hosted the Regional Women’s Health Forum on their premises. Many women
discussed the issues that were facing them as indigenous women living in a
rural and remote community. The Forum was well attended by women and
children and women discussed the need to form a Women’s group for
Doomadgee. The group agreed that Doomadgee Aboriginal Community Health
and the Women’s Shelter would work together to have the women meet
regularly. A video presentation “Who’s the Loser” and domestic and family
violence resources and information including Queensland Women’s Health
Network Newsletters were presented to the women. It was a wonderful
women’s gathering and we thoroughly enjoyed the hospitality of the women
at Doomadgee and appreciated them sharing their personal experiences and
concerns with us. The workshop concluded with Pauline cooking a delicious
sausage sizzle, which was enjoyed by all. The women commented that they
would like to see more forums being held in Doomadgee.
Queensland Women’s Health
Network in conjunction with WESNET (Women’s Services Network) “Australia’s
peak women’s organisation working to eliminate domestic and family
violence”, held a combined Forum in Mount Isa on 6th October 2003. The
Forum was well represented with 30 people in attendance. WESNET’s
consultation was “Examining Progress in Accommodation & Support for Women
experiencing Domestic Violence”. Julie Oberin (WESNET Research Team),
Wendy Weeks (WESNET Research Team), Pauline Woodbridge (WESNET Qld Rep),
Betty McLellan (QWHN Chairperson) and myself (WESNET Indigenous Rep) were
in attendance at the Mount Isa Forum, which was held at the Terrace
Gardens Function Room. There were numerous speakers from the different
agencies in Mount Isa who presented on the day.
The research team
consulted with services to identify:
-Service models for
accommodation, outreach and support
- Preferred models (and
why)
- Principles and/or
features of effective and/ or innovative models
- Risks and costs (for
women service users and for service providers)
- Options for women who
choose not to access crisis accommodation
- Major problems or
difficulties faced by women
- Major challenges and
issues faced by services
- Recommendations for the
future.
All agreed it was an
informative and stimulating forum and a great opportunity for networking.
Shirley Slann, Western Qld Regional Rep
CHRISTMAS IN THE
BUSH
A young Mother searches
the horizon for a sign of dust from the mail man's vehicle as she waits in
anticipation for him to arrive, hopefully with the mail order of Christmas
gifts for her children. The heat waves shimmer over the parched ground
creating illusions of a vast inland sea. "If only it was" were her
thoughts. As she waits she ponders what it would be like to have close
neighbours with whom they could share Christmas and New Year. A sudden
gust of wind disturbs her thoughts as she looks up and notices dust rising
in the distance. Her eyes light up as she hurries to the gate. Yes it is
the mail man. Hopefully he will have time for a cuppa enabling her to
have some company, even for a short time and to hear what has been
happening in the district. Her smile widens as he pulls up, "G'Day
Missus" he yells "I've got your parcel, I hope you have the billy on as I
have half an hour to spare".
These days the Outback has progressed with modern technology, but the
isolation from human company is something we have to accept and live with.
As we are all aware, the Outback is a man's world where women are there
to be the wife, mother, cook, rouse about, bookkeeper and jack of all
trades. They really are pioneers in their own right, and are the backbone
of the land, but life is very lonely and isolated for them from other
female company. As we all know, to be able to share your thoughts and
concerns with another person is so important to one’s wellbeing.
Most of my working career
has been spent in the outback, and I am very much aware of how lonely it
gets, especially on important days, like Christmas, New Year and
Birthdays. Many a day my thoughts turn to what it would be like to be
able to go around the corner for a cup of coffee with a girlfriend,
sharing laughter and special times together. No amount of technology can
replace the gentle touch of a friend's hand on your arm, or a hug, saying
hello, or everything is going to be alright.
This Christmas I am back
in the bush and will miss my family and friends very much. To be able to
be with my grandchildren on Christmas morning to see them open their gifts
will be a beautiful memory I will call upon to see me through this festive
season. Isolation and loneliness are not only experienced in the outback,
but also in the towns and cities. It is a part of life and something we
must accept, but if we can make someone's life special by a hello over the
back fence, a telephone call, an email or a snail mail this Christmas, it
would make life more pleasant for all involved.
Sandy Kelly, QWHN Member, Coen
NEBO HEALTH EXPO
Shanelle Dumma, Nebo
Coordinator of the Hinterland Home and Community extended an invitation to
Lifeline Central Queensland to attend and run an awareness session at the
Nebo Health Expo held on Saturday 13th September at the Nebo Shire Hall
from 10.00am to 2.00pm. The awareness session focused on the work of
Lifeline CQ, Elder Abuse Prevention, Safe and Confident Living, and Adult
Guardian. 157 people attended. Verna Halsey was the solo speaker for the
event and her input was much appreciated by all.
There were static
displays and a forum aimed at enabling people to gain greater knowledge of
the services available to them in their community and nearby communities.
The organisations
displaying at the Expo were Breast Screening Queensland; Safe and
Confident Living Program; Elder Abuse Prevention Unit; Seniors Inquiry
Line; Lifeline Central Queensland; Rural Health Line; Mobile Allied Health
Team; Macrossa and Amiet Solicitors; Stein’s and Wehaber Crafts; Country
Women’s Association; Queensland Country Health; Health Screening; Day and
Night Pharmacy, Mackay; Fall Prevention; Nebo State School; House of eLidi
(home made skin care); Marshall’s Therapeutic Massage and Bowen Technique
Massage. Several of the stalls provided massages and health checkups and
people visiting the Expo took advantage of the hands-on services offered
by some of the stalls.
The event was an
outstanding success for this tiny community of 200 people. All services
that participated in the Expo were relevant to the wellbeing of the people
in the Nebo community.
In conclusion, the event
provided information to older persons on ways they can minimise social
isolation and elder abuse.
QWHN News - April/May 2003
QWHN News - September/October 2003
QWHN News - March 2004
QWHN News -
August 2004
QWHN News - February 2005
* NEW *
QWHN News - June 2005
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