support links newsletter-sept 2010

Printed with compliments of Cr Charlie Pisasale‟s Electorate Office

Agenda, Feature Story, Free ESL Lessons, Contributions & Enq.

September 2010 -

Edition 7

For Enquiries contact:

Co-ordinator: Stella Gibbs

Ph: (07) 3281 6852

Mobile: 0408 816 856

Contribution to Newsletter:

If you would like to advertise a

function, festival, workshop, Art

Exhibition, CD, book or you

would like to share some

interesting anecdotes, stories,

poems, jokes and news items,

please contact:

Editor: Astrid Tholens

Ph: (07) 3202 2291

Email: [email protected]

For archived Newsletters visit:

www.issuu.com/astrand

Support Links Multicultural Group

Monday‟s 12pm till 2pm

Leichhardt Community Centre (Youth Centre)

Cnr Old Toowoomba Rd & Denman St

Leichhardt

Support Links Multicultural Group - NEWSLETTER

Support Links AGENDA

Monday‟s 12pm - 2pm

6 Sept: Guest speaker on

Bowel Cancer

13 Sept: Yoga & Relaxation

20 Sept: Social get-together

(School Holidays)

27 Sept: Social get-together

(School Holidays)

4 Oct: Head & Foot

Massage / Planning for

Support Links Party

The Dome by Astrid Tholens (1985)

Once I had a dream that dreamt of building stone by stone

a dome upon a hill nearby a creek with a garden by and by

A window sill and flowers and fruits, as I watched a goanna

walk by with the grace of the ease of the wind

as though it knew its home.

But us, we knew it not, that they belonged to the earth

and the dust, ‟cause for us it was cold and dark

and we needed a home, a dome.

I built the dome in clay with a friend

who longed for the same and gathered around us

friends of more similar gusto; it was a pretending game.

„Yes, let‟s head for the hills: yes, let‟s break all our fences

and open the meadows

to fly to the sun, to sing to the trees

and birth a new world‟

Leichhardt

One Mile

Community

Centre

ABN 76432600317

You see things and you say „Why‟? But I dream things that never were,

and I say „Why not?‟

George Bernard Shaw

The Serpent, in „Back to Methuselah‟

Ginger Grove

by Sarah Fielke

Faces of Support Links

2

Printed with compliments of Cr Charlie Pisasale‟s Electorate Office 2

Festivals & Concerts, Music, Song & Dance

October 17, Sunday - ALL DAY

Queensland Multicultural Festival, Roma St

Parkland, Brisbane. Expression of interest are now being accepted by

performers, artists and stallholders.

Ph Tegan Lucas (07) 3224 4368

[email protected]

www.multicultural.qld.gov.au

October, 23 - 31

Children‟s Week - A Caring World Shares in the international Year of Biodiversity,

Rapprochement of Cultures, Communications,

National Year of Girl Guide.

Friday 22 Oct: Official Launch of National

Children‟s week and opening of the new Australian-

Zoo Education Centre, at 10:30am

Tuesday 26 Oct: Official launch of children‟s week in

the Queens Street Mall, Brisbane at 10am.

www.childrensweek.com.au/program

October 24, Sunday 9.30 - 3.00pm

Rockton Artist Bazaar, at Rockton heritage residence, 2 Rockton St, East Ipswich (Presented by the Ipswich Arts Council) If you would like to help on the day or are interested

in having a market stall, please contact:

Sue Lewis (07) 3281 4001.

Calendar of Concerts & Festivals

September 2010

Sept 19, Sunday: ALL DAY

Gold Coast Multicultural Festival, Evandale

Parklands, Bundall. Featuring a wide display of music, dance, food, arts &

crafts and cultural information displays; four large

„cultural precincts‟; a number of international and

local films.

Administration Office: Ph (07) 5510 3340

www.goldcoastmulticulturalfestival.org

Sept 25, Saturday: 10am - 3pm

IMP‟s 4th Aladdin‟s Bazaar, St Paul‟s Hall Cnr Limestone & Ellenborough Sts, Ipswich

Experience the Magic of a Middle Eastern Flea

Market full of exotic sights, sounds and colours.

Enjoy drummers, Dancers, Jugglers, Fortune Tellers,

Good food.

Entry $2 coin for Adults, 50c for children under 10.

All entry money goes to assist people with

Huntington‟s Disease.

Enq: 0414 703 842

Friday 20 & Saturday 21 August The Sherr Forum Theatre

Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, USA

For the first time ever, John Adorney and Daya will be performing a selection of their most popular songs together, along with a live ensemble of world-class musicians. This highly anticipated concert is a benchmark and a joyful celebration of two extraordinary careers, with worldwide CD sales of over 200,000.

The concert will be filmed and recorded for later broadcast around the world.

Stay in touch with John Adorney

about the concert, artists and musicians.

www.johnadorney.com

www.eversound.com

ETHNO YOUTH PROJECT

The Ethno youth project was launched on the evening

of 12 August at the Goodna Neighbourhood House.

The project is run by

the Goodna Youth

Services, Goodna

Neighbourhood House

and Harmony

Support Links Inc.

The project aims to

bring together youth

from different cultural

groups to share the experience of playing music

together, either their own cultural music or more

modern music that they can compose themselves.

Skilled tutors will be available to help.

Honoured guests were Jo Ann Miller, Paul Tully, MS

Maxine Norsgaard from Bernie Ripoll Office and

Professor Singh.

For further enquiries, contact:

Roy Taylor 0439 767 150

LIVE in Concert

John Adorney & Daya

3


Education, Bush Tucker, Refugee Support, Poetry

Free English Lessons

Free English Lessons are available for all migrants and refugees as well as for visiting students or workers who need extra help. Monday’s 10 till 11.30am: Ipswich Library, South St, Ipswich

Tuesday’s 10 till 11.30am: Ips-

wich Library, South St, Ipswich

Thursday 10 till 11.30am: Ipswich

Library, South St, Ipswich

Thursday’s 9 till 11am: Goodna Neighbourhood House, 33 Queen

St, Goodna

All lessons will be cancelled on Public

Holidays.

Australia - My Mother I have no words To express the gratitude I owe you For your kindness For your munificence For your compassionate heart For showering me with your love For taking me in your protective wings Without which I would have been wandering With wounded soul With battered sentiment Having been exploited dehumanized Even preyed upon by ruthless thugs Thanks to your Self-emptying love and Self-abnegating care Now, I can take a sigh of relief I can hope again I can dream again I can live again I can feel again Tear gushes down I can cry again I can try again Now, I have a sense of blessedness Recharged and revitalized Imbued with love and pride I serve you the rest of my life To make your face always bright By Sam (Asylum Seeker) Email: [email protected]

Refugee Claimants Support Service

Refugee Claimants (also known as „asylum seekers‟) are men, women and children who, fearing persecution in their country of origin have escaped into a safe country. They come seeking asylum and protection from conflict, oppressive regimes and

personal persecution.

Many of them long to return to their own country to be reunited with their friends and family, their own culture, their own

language– a multitude of reasons to return and only one to remain here - their lives.

How can we help?

Purchase or view the Music CD‟s, short films,

fact sheets, stories, photo gallery, news

stories, power-point presentations and

Newsletters at: www/refugees.org.au

Lyrics of the Songs

Hometown

We belong

never lonely

We belong

safe and warm

This is our hometown

we belong.....

Stand with us

Like the morning sun

which brings warmth

into the chill of dawn

There are those

who believe in us

who support us

and stand with us.

Resilience

We are the heart

still beating

We are the seed

in bloom

We are the light

in shadow

The lonely sailor‟s

moon

http://brisbane-stories.powerup.com.au

Presented by

Dreamtime Kullilla Art

with Dale Chapman,

Dilly Bag Bush Tucker Chef

&

Graeme & Veronica from

Witjuti Grub Bushfood

Nursery in Kenilworth.

FREE workshops

throughout the day.

Phone: 07 3880 1320

www.dreamtime.auz.net

Saturday 4 September: 10am - 4pm

Web Hall, Redcliffe Showgrounds,

Scarborough, Redcliffe

mailto:[email protected]

4


Art Workshops, Artworks, Artist Bazaar, Poetry

Finding the Inner Artist - by Lyne Marshall 11 & 12 September 2010

Day One: Finding your inner voice through the creative process Day Two: Tapping your inner story through personal style and direction

Join Lyne Marshall, author of „Gleaner or Gladiator‟ and „Invisible Realities‟, for a two day workshop in

her studio gallery at Tallegalla, one hour West of

Brisbane in Queensland.(177 Mountain Scrub Rd, Tal-

legalla,Qld,4340)

This two day workshop moves through a process of

personal awareness. It is not about completing

finished artworks but rather gathering resources to

work through in your own studio time. It is for all

who want to look deeper into understanding their

creative destiny.

NOTE-this workshop is now filled, however, the next

workshop is available 27 & 28 November, at Sculptors

Qld room, situation in the old museum grounds, Bowen

Bridge Rd, Brisbane

Phone 07 5426 8428 Mobile: 0418 876 230

www.artclique.com.au Email: [email protected]

Lyne Marshall is a

painter of buoyant and

semi abstract images that

are both lyrical and

moodily seductive. Her

works exploits the fluid

properties of acrylic

paint, manipulated wet-

in-wet to yield fresh atmospheric effects and over

painted to create intricate details. (Michael Beckman, Director Ipswich City Art Gallery)

Below the surface of all things lie numerous dimensions.

Landscapes encompass many aspects and confirm the imprint of humanity.

Feelings, emerging and floating in the atmosphere, are more than skin deep. They anchor themselves,

from a bird’s eye view, into organic shapes

or fall away poetically into infinity. (by Lyne Marshall)

The One for Whom You Create by Mitch Ditkoff (www.ideachampions.com)

Poets, lose your pens Painters, toss your brushes in the sea Musicians, give your instruments away, then go for a long walk. When you’re done keep walking, notice the beauty all around you. Don’t try to remember a single thing, breathe. This holy moment is your poetry, your art, your song. Do not concern yourself with giving it form The One for whom you create deeply loves what you just didn’t do.

ROCKTON ARTIST BAZAAR Sunday 24 October

9.30am - 3pm

‘Rockton’ heritage residence, 2 Rockton St,

East Ipswich. Rockton Artist Bazaar is organised annually by the

Ipswich Arts Council to highlight the fine work of local

visual and performing artists.

There will be an all day program of free entertainment

for everyone, including dancing, music, song, painting,

workshops, demonstrations, and a variety of activities

for children to enjoy, including the presence of

alpacas. You can browse the stalls, chat to artists and

purchase their work directly. Refreshments will be

served at our Bazaar Cafe from 10 o‟clock.

If you are interested in having a market stall, would

like to perform on the day or would like to help in any

way, please contact Sue Lewis, Phone (07) 3281 4001.

5


THE LEUKOTHIA - One

Excerpt from „The Running Man‟

by Gregory Silverman

It is Spring

And all heaven breaks loose.

Look around at the reversed season.

Looking at Spring in September.

I can not shrug this calendar aside, even those imported trees

Dither between steeping light and their inheritance.

The mulberry pollinated, it seems, by diesel fumes alone

Obeys Autumn in the bones.

To fruit in memory of its half forgotten home.

Cats.

I can hear them driven wild with the endocrine

Scream in confrontation in drought fed gardens

Of an English theme.

Which leaves me

Which nails me tripped season to season. Half and half

All the way back when as an infant I sat in play with flowers.

And she bent over to take my flower.

Frowning, saying, “The blossom picked means the apple lost.”

Did she know in that Spring of long ago

That the connection between the blossom and the apple

Would soon mean every thing?

Poetry, Stories, Photoa, Humanitarian Crisis

Pakistan Floods...how can we help?

www.avaaz.org

A humanitarian catastrophe of terrifying

proportions is unfolding in Pakistan, with a

fifth of the country under water, and millions

of people homeless and desperately needing

assistance.

Relief workers warn that without an

immediate increase in aid the death toll could

sky-rocket. We can help by sending funds

directly to the most reliable aid organizations,

and by pressing our governments to step up

their efforts.

After visiting the flood stricken areas, a visibly

upset UN General Security, Ban Ki Moon,

said: “This has been a heart-wrenching day for me. In the past, I have visited many natural disasters, but I have never seen anything like this.” Thousands of towns and villages have been

washed away - roads, buildings, bridges, crops.

Now people are stranded on tiny islands

surrounded by flood waters. With no clean

water to drink, cholera, diarrhea and other

sickness are on the rise, threatening the

millions of people who have lost their homes

and livelihoods.

The international response so far has not

matched that of previous large scale disasters.

Organisations like UNICEF and WHO have

said they lack the funds to provide adequate

assistance. The Governments of the world

need to do more, and we can lead by

example. Let‟s stand with Pakistan at this time

of crisis, and ask important donor

governments to do the same.

List of Relief Organizations

AVAAZ: www.avaaz.org

Caritas: www.caritas.org.au

Oxfam: www.osfam.org

Red Cross: www.icrc.org

The Prem Rawat Foundation: www.tprf.org

UNICEF: www.unicef.com.au

World Health Organization: www.who.int

or phone 1300 486 427 (Australia) to donate

6


WORDS of PEACE for EUROPE

European Parliament - Brussels 29 June 2010

International Conference organized by the 1st Vice-President, Gianni Pittella

http://tprf.org (The Prem Rawat Foundation)

The event topic was the role that peace can have in individual and social life as a fundamental value. It

was an occasion to introduce to the European Parliament a prominent advocate of peace, Mr Prem

Rawat. Mr Pavel Borodin, State Secretary of Russia and Belarus, was also invited to speak at the event.

The conference was joined by Members of the European Parliament, political authorities and

representatives of humanitarian organizations.

Hon. Pitella welcomed the guests and then introduced the conference:

“For me and my fellow members of the European parliament it is a great honour to host

Mr Rawat and Mr Borodin in this Parliament House, the largest multinational institution in the world,

which includes the representatives of five hundred million citizens in 27 European countries, where 23

languages are spoken.”

Gianni Pitella 1st Vice-President

European Parliament

“Do you remember the Universal

Declaration of Human Rights? All

individuals have in themselves a value

and a dignity. They are members of

the human family and they have

inalienable rights.

The right to life, to freedom, to

personal security and to all the other

rights mentioned there. These rights

are now connected to the Lisbon

Treaty and they acquired strength of

law.

But this set of rights is often seen as

quite uncomfortable by many

governments. We need to create new

ways of peace walking new roads, this

is a duty of intelligence.”

Prem Rawat International Ambassador of Peace

and keynote speaker

“I am a person who believes that

it‟s good to talk about peace; it‟s

better to feel it. It‟s good to talk

about human progress; it‟s better to

actually have it.

A long time ago, human beings

showed a particular trait. And this

trait was to better themselves. And

in this spirit of bettering ourselves,

not only externally, there is a

fundamental need to better our-

selves from within. From our heart.

Not only from our mind, but from

our heart.

Not only in ideas, but in reality.

The ideal should be to have peace

on this earth, where people feel

and celebrate having peace.

Prosperity without peace is chaos.”

Pavel Borodin State Secretary

Union of Russia and Belarus

“It is a great honour to be able to

address you on the fundamental

subject of peace and humanitarianism.

This is a subject dear to my heart.

To me humanitarianism is an essential

element of peace, bringing dignity and

hope to those in need. Over the years,

with the help of businesses, private

donors and social organisations, I

help with the financing and

maintenance of five orphanages in

Yakutia. In addition to Yakutia, I

help ten other orphanages.

I am very proud of the achievements

of the orphanages, and humbled to

have played a small part in giving these

children a real chance in life.”

Words of Peace, Universal Rights, Humanitarianism

7


Poetry, Creative Writing, Artworks

Discovering Art again through sadness and transforming to Joy by Emmie Sloof (www.ubernatural.com/galleries/emmiesloof ) A sudden stroke of fate delivered a blow which killed my partner, Ziggy, and changed me. I was at a loss and in pain. Being an artist all my life, I knew painting would be part of my healing. I needed direction. Slowly I started painting. I felt alone even though I had wonderful friends and family. I was calling out for friendships on another level. Three friends and I came up with an idea. We lived far apart so we made it a two day gathering which became

monthly. The subject we wanted to explore was: „how to best accommodate grief?‟ We decided to experience the possibilities of discovering grief. Soaking into the feelings and utilizing endless creative

avenues. I loved having all that support and nurturing. That is how my book came about. We had spas, massages and swam naked in a stream. There was always a lot of laughter over the silliest things. We also found that this close proximity of women, with direct „in your face‟ ideas, set some emotions on fire and challenged my boundaries. I chose to keep an open mind and be free. To purchase a copy of the book @ $29 + postage, send a message to: [email protected]

Growing Through Grief

One Woman‟s Journey

Novel by Emmie Sloof

ARTWORK

presented

in Emmie‟s

Novel:

Growing Through

Grief

The fisherman who gave its title to the poem is unaware of the beauty that’s his own. Yet beauty too would like to be known so as to reveal itself on the surface of the sea So that the soul may bear the body And the body the soul.

The Fisherman by Mehmet Yashin, translated by Linda Stark

www.mehmetyashin.com

The spongelike rock ...which rolled down from the mountain must be nice and soft, imagines the fish Hollowed shells that have washed ashore; heedless of their petrifaction, the child lets them off into the waves as if what’s been killed by this life, could live anew. The salt imbibed on the rib of the boat the purple smell of thyme on the bosom of the marine rocks... And amidst all this beauty only in the loved one does Beauty become incarnate, transforming into a legend quite suitable for the art of poetry.

Brisbane Writers Festival 2010 will continue to

reach beyond the „traditional‟ genres incorporating

the broader arts; food writing, music and lyric

composition, art analysis and other non-fiction

studies, making for a truly accessible program. Join

us for discussion, eating, drinking and relaxing as

you soak up the Festival ambience!

The Breezeway (grass area between)

State Library of Qld & Gallery of Modern Art

1 - 5 September, 2010

Enq: Brisbane Writers Festival www.bwf.org.au

8


Songs, Stories, artwork, Photo Gallery

Just Remember by Desree-Ilona Crawford & Angela Deguara

Just remember, when you think you’re going to fall Just remember, there’s my picture hanging on your wall Just remember, that you’re never there alone For I will always be there, I’ll never let you go And just remember, when you think your heart is breaking Just remember, if your weary soul is aching Just remember, that you’re never there alone For I will always be there, I’ll never let you go No I won’t let you fall, my spirit by your side You’re gonna get through life, you’re gonna be alright Just remember, when your walls come tumbling down Just remember, if you’re sad and no-one is around Just remember, that you’re never there alone For I will always be there, I’ll never let you go No I won’t let you fall, my spirit by your side You’re gonna get through life, you’re gonna be alright Just remember, when you think you’re gonna fall Just remember, that my spirit will always hear your call And just remember, that you’re never there alone For I will always be there, I’ll never let you go

Story by Somthorn Burr (Member of Support Group) Last year I went to Perth to visit my daughter and grandchildren in December so I could spend Christmas with them. It was the Australian culture that I enjoyed. Christmas is not so important in Thailand where I come from. I think the best part of my trip was seeing how much my grandchild Sienna, who is four years old, loved Christmas and how much she had grown since I last saw her! It was wonderful to see her eyes light up when she saw Santa Claus in the department stores when we went shopping. There were many things that stood out on my trip, but mostly I loved visiting Kings Park. It was the most beautiful park I have ever seen. It is situated high above the city and you can see a wonderful view of the city and Swan River. When you look out over the park it takes your breath away!

PERTH .......THE SOUL CITY

Kings Park and Botanic Gardens overlooks the Swan River and Darling Range

and showcase an outstanding collection of Western Australian flora. It is a

popular place for picnics, pleasant walks, cultural and ceremonial events.

Nearly two thirds of the Park is natural bushland containing 319 species

of native plants and around 80 bird species. The balance of the Park is made

up of superbly cultivated gardens and open recreational areas.

www.bgpa.wa.gov.au/kings-park

Mandala

of Memories

by

Astrid

Tholens

Desree-Ilona Crawford is a co-writer who writes

with numerous songwriters. Her niece Angela

originally came up with a poem which Desree set

to music producing the song "Just Remember"

Originally released by Tamworth Golden Guitar

Winner Evelyn Bury, this song has gathered

momentum & popular Canadian singer Michael T

Wall "Mr Newfy" is recording this.

The words are simple, the melody is haunting, and

everyone will recognize the common theme of

being comforted by one's inner spirit.

Come and listen to Desree‟s performance:

Rockton Artist Bazaar 2 Rockton St, Ipswich

Sunday 24 October, at 10am

CD‟s available for sale.

9


Songs, Stories, Artwork, Photo Gallery

Story by Roy Taylor (Member of Support Links)

As anybody who knows me well will tell you, I always get on well with Dogs and Kids. I particularly like the honesty of children when they make comments. I was at Woolworths shopping centre one fairly cold winter‟s evening last year doing my weekly shopping. I was still wearing shorts, as I do all year, because I find the winters out here mild compared to England, when this little girl of about six years old comes up to me, looks at me and says: “Aren‟t your knees cold?” I answered: “No, aren‟t yours cold?” “No I „ve got a nice, warm, long pink dress on.” she explained. Not being into things like cross-dressing, I said: “Well, I would look funny in a long pink dress, wouldn‟t I?” She stopped for a minute to think about this and slowly a cheeky grin appeared on her face and she giggled as she conjured up a picture of me in a long pink dress. Her well-dressed and well-spoken mother came up and apologized for her. She told me that she is very precocious. I saw the little girl some time later standing with her mother. They both said hello as I was about to go past. The little girl was holding two helium filled balloons. “They are two nice balloons,” I pointed out. She explained that one of the balloons was for her little brother. “If you had another ten balloons you would go floating up into the sky.” She gave me a big smile and laughed at the idea. “That would be fun, but how would you get down again? “ She gave me a worried look and said: “I guess I could pop one or two till I could float down.” Her mother confided that when her daughter had seen me walking their way she had commented: “Look Mum, there is that man with the cold knees.” Another time I saw her at Woolworths in front of the Deli where the floor is paved with black and white square tiles. She was jumping over the black ones so that she only landed on the white tiles. She said hello as I came past. “You must have magic shoes,” I prompted. She stopped to give me a funny look. “If you aren't wearing magic shoes and if you jump on one of the black tiles, you‟ll disappear into a puff of smoke! She looked to where I was standing - on a black tile - and cried: “You haven‟t disappeared! And I replied: “But I‟m wearing magic shoes....!!!” She gave me a cheeky daring look with her tongue in the corner of her mouth and jumped to a black tile. “I told you you were wearing magic shoes!” I exclaimed. The mother had a big grin on her face.

Tweedledum and Tweedldee

Nursery rhyme from

„Through the Looking Glass‟

Tweedledum and Tweedledee

Agreed to have a battle;

For Tweedledum said Tweedledee

Had spoiled his nice new rattle.

Just then flew down a monstrous crow,

As black as a tar-barrel;

Which frightened both the heroes so,

They quite forgot their quarrel.

http://en.wikipedia.org

Rondon a Circle by Astrid Tholens

A circle, a round circle, Rondon...... Rolling around the web of life, up and down

A hum of a wheel, with spokes in the centre, and flowers all around Rondon....hum, hum, hub, hub; centre of a circle

Weaving, rolling, sliding on the rim Rondon......rolling around the web of life, up and down

Artwork at www.google.com.au

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland

by Lewis Carroll

support links newsletter-sept 2010

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