Heights Happenings

Chaplain's Chat

Hello! I’m glad it’s raining today after the last couple of warm days. Some Grade 5 students helped me plant 40+ seedlings plants out the front of our school, beside the carpark. They were a donation from Hon. Heidi Victoria, our local Member of Parliament. We had fun learning how to plant seedlings, with the help of a local school gardener, as well as being taught how to continue to look after them so that they grow big and strong!  The next step will be doing some weeding and mulching. Today’s rain means we won’t need to water for this week!

Christmas is 4 weeks away. Not that I’m counting – there’s a fair bit of water to go under the bridge between now and then! But I have been thinking about gift-giving – who do I give gifts to, and what exactly do I give?! This came up in discussion with my extended family over the past week. We’re spending Christmas Eve together. Someone suggested we do Kris Kringle. Another family member didn’t want to, as they are expecting their first child and have enough to think about, let alone a Kris Kringle gift! Someone else said, ‘don’t we have enough stuff already?’ This left me wondering. Do I need more things? Do I have enough? Or do I need to buy as many gifts as I do? Would less actually be more? A friend came up with an interesting suggestion – a bowl could be placed in the centre of the Christmas table, and everyone puts some money in it. People give as they are able. The funds collected could then go towards a charity or organisation, jointly chosen by the family? I floated this idea with my family – and they agreed! We’re thinking of supporting TEAR, but there are so many other charities well worth considering – World Vision, Canteen, Children’s Cancer, Breast Cancer Institute, Red Cross, Vision Australia, the Salvos... Christmas is a time of giving – but maybe we can give a little (or a lot!) beyond ourselves?

This week I’d like to draw your attention to an initiative of the Maroondah, Manningham and Yarra Ranges Councils, but that is open to all. The Pathway for Carers project offers carers of people with a disability or a mental health issue, an opportunity to share walks in Maroondah, Yarra Ranges and now Manningham with other carers and to learn more about news, services, supports available to carers. Each walk includes a guest walker who provides the carers an insight to resources and information available.  There are 4 walks available:

  • Maroondah Walk (Tuesday)
  • Start location: Meet at Torrente Cafe, 389 Maroondah Hwy Ringwood
  • When: Every second Tuesday of the month commencing 9.30am
  • Maroondah Walk (Saturday)
  • Start location: Meet at Torrente Cafe, 389 Maroondah Hwy Ringwood
  • When: Every third Saturday of the month commencing 1.00pm
  • Yarra Ranges Walk
  • Start location: Meet at Mount Evelyn Community House, 50 Wray Cres, Mount Evelyn
  • When: Every first Thursday of the month commencing 9.30am
  • Manningham Walk
  • Start location: Melissa Cakes Cafe, 65 Parker Street, Templestowe Lower 
  • When: Every third Thursday of the month commencing 10am

 

You can keep up to date with the latest and connect with other carers on the Pathways for Carers Facebook page.

 

For more information, look take a look at :

 

http://www.lifeassist.org.au/pathways-for-carers

and a video clip https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_khCBepUts0

 

I’ll also post the information up on the noticeboard outside my office.

 

Have a great week!

 

Sarah McIntosh

School Chaplain (Tuesdays & Thursdays)

mcintosh.sarah.a@edumail.vic.gov.au