NAC News July 2015

NAC NewsletterNundah Activity Centre15 Jenner Street, Nundah, QLD, 4012Tel. 3266 4500 Fax 3266 1271 Email [email protected] www.nac.org.au

Community Visitors Scheme goes DigitalSocially isolated older Australians can make new friends with the help of the new Digital Community Visitors Scheme (DCVS) provided by NAC Web. The service being launched Australia wide provides clients with an android tablet, data allowance and a simple to use application (DCVS Connect) that facilitates easy access to video calling, internet, email, and games. The application even links to Radio NAC, a 24/7 radio broadcast for easy listening music.

There are clients already connected in Brisbane North, Caboolture, Western Australia, Tasmania, North West New South Wales, Queensland (West Moreton, Mackay, and Northern Queensland) and Northern Territory. Initial rollout of 200 devices is to be finished by the end of July 2015.

The DCVS is NAC Web’s extension of the traditional Community Visitors Scheme (CVS) which sees volunteers visit the residences of aged care clients on home care packages to help relieve loneliness and isolation. The CVS has proven to have positive impacts on the health and happiness of those participating in the scheme. With the help of volunteers, this project aims to extend the positive effects of this service to seniors living independently who have been identified by their aged care service provider as experiencing social isolation.

NAC Manager Don Rudd reports “There are several really exciting things about this project. It will make a real difference to people who need help, who demand little but deserve much. For many of them this is a wondrous revelation of the brave new world that tech-savvy people take for granted. It augments (rather than replaces) personal communication - by breaking down the barriers of distance, time and cost that limit face to face contact. There are the opportunities to enrich communication by sharing virtual experiences – in many ways that are currently available and in exciting new and ever more powerful ways that are constantly being developed.”

To volunteer or find out more contact NAC at [email protected] or 3266 4500

July 2015

2 NAC News July 2015

BOARD Terry Hayes (President) Samantha Cowley (Secretary) Janetta Mcdiarmid (Treasurer) Mark Gilbert Maryclare Harris Chris Thorburn

General Management Don Rudd

Client & Member Services Karen Alexander Pam Dalrymple Steven Turrell

Meals On Wheels Margaret Carl

Community Visitors Scheme Gwen Thiesfield

Digital Projects Manager Sarah Xu

Finance & Administration Emerlina Lagman Natasha Fertjowski

Support Services Ian Gordon (Technical) John Berry (Maintenance) Ray Carl (Transport/General)

NAC News Editor Ying Lun

Send stories to Email [email protected]

Printed with the compliments of Hon. Wayne Swan MP Federal Member for Lilley

Our Vision Inspiring people to enhance their lives.

Our Mission To empower the community through the provision of supportive and recreational opportunities.

Our Values Belonging – we value each other Friendship – we are not alone Commitment – we continue to do the best we possibly can Excellence – we strive to constantly improve

For the Active Walking, Dancing (including ballroom, line and ballet), Snooker, Yoga, Table Tennis, Darts and exercise classes for various levels, Men’s Shed.

For the Thinker Computer classes and IT club, cards games (including Euchre, American Canasta), NAC News Club, Mah Jong, craft, patchwork, literacy classes (literacy for everyday, English as second language and Braille).

For Everyone Hearing tests, movies, social functions, volunteering and bus tours.

Volunteers We have members as volunteers who help their community, but did you know we provide work experience for those who are studying, for those who have just come to Australia and those who are not yet members but who want to help the community. Currently we have 150 regular volunteers and have had 50 students in various roles just this year. More are always needed. Ask us how you can help.

We have Meals on Wheels, in centre meals and activities, health providers’ visits and support (podiatry, dietitian, occupational therapy), Community Visitors Scheme (face to face and digital DCVS), transport for HACC clients, domestic assistance.

All participants in members’ activities need to be financial $5.50 annually. Membership is open to all ages and abilities.

There is a great Hall and other facilities available for hire for community groups. Bookings essential contact [email protected]. Catering available.

About Us

‘Like’ us on FacebookClick ‘like’ on Nundah Activity Centre page to receive our Facebook updates and keep in touch with what is going on at the centre.

NAC News July 2015 3

Meals on Wheels is a community based service for those of you who are frail aged or younger and disabled, and your carers.

Our meal service enables you to continue to live comfortably in your own home and enjoy a variety of wholesome meals.

Meals on Wheels is seeking more clients and more volunteers to deliver meals.

Volunteer time commitment can be as little as two hours one day a week. But it will make such a difference to those who receive the service.

The joy of helping was recently experienced by the student teachers from Australian Catholic University (ACU) as part of their community service.

They have delivered meals, talked to clients and enjoyed their time.

Want to volunteer Monday to Friday 10.30am to 12.30pm. Call 3266 4500 or email to [email protected]. Own car needed. Costs subsidised.

If you, or somebody you know, is in need of this type of service then give us a try!

You can order meals for as many days of the week as you wish. Payments for all meals are made weekly in advance and collected each Monday.

For all enquiries contact:

Margaret Carl Coordinator

Call 3266 4500 or email to [email protected]

Office hours are 8am to 2pm

Monday to Friday

Volunteer Client

• In hygienic disposable containers • Delivered each day to your home by our volunteers (except weekend and public holiday) • Extra frozen meals can be ordered to provide for these days • Prepared and delivered under strict food handling guidelines

• Cold soup ready to heat up • Hot main course • Dessert • Juice

Special dietary requirements are catered for on request

Our Meals Meals include

Don’t eat meat? Are you on a gluten free diet? Are you lactose intolerant? No need to worry, just let our friendly people at Meals on Wheels know and we will be more than happy to supply the meals you need!


Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

Walking Club7 am - 8 am

Toombul Shopping Centre Patchwork

9 am - 11 am

$3.00


Toombul Shopping Centre

Podiatry(By appointment only)

8 am - 11 amHACC Clients $8.00

Private $30.00


Toombul Shopping Centre

Gentle Exercise8 am - 9 am

$5.50($50 Ten Weeks)

Men’s Shed8.30 am - 12 noon

$2.00

Snooker8.30 am - 11 am

$3.00

Snooker8.30 am - 11 am

$3.00

Wheels to Meals9 am - 1 pm

HACC Clients $12.00

Private $15.00

Table Tennis9.30 am - 12 noon

$3.00

Men’s Shed8.30 am - 12 noon

$2.00Yoga

9.30 am - 11amOthers on request

Contact Lyn3882 2485

0422 526 560Recreational Buses Trip

8.30 am - 2.30 pmHACC Clients

Only $4.00Booking Essential

Steve Turrell3266 4500

NACTIVITIES8 am - 11 am

HACC Clients $8.00Private $12.00

Euchre10 am - 12 noon

Functions and OutingsHACC Clients

$12.00Private $15.00

Craft9.30am - 12 noon

No ChargeFundraising

Activity

Line Dancing9 am - 1.30 pm

Phone Brett Jenkins0402 623 787

American Canasta12.30 pm - 4 pm

$3.00Literacy for

Everyday10.30 am - 12.30 pm

1 pm -3 pmMah Jong

9.30 am - 11.30 am$3.00 Hearing Tests

Booking Required2 pm - 4 pm

Free

Braille Readers9.30 am - Noon

Euchre10 am - 12 noon

$3.00

Justice of the Peace

9.15 am - 10.30 am

NAC News Club1 pm - 3 pm

Afternoon Dance12.45 pm - 3.15 pm

$5.00Beginners Welcome

Ian or Val 3863 0193

Not Public Holidays

IT CLUB1 pm - 3 pm

$3.00

English as a second language

10.30 am - 11.30 am

Members’ bus trips (monthly)

*Red spots are new activities


What else are on?

Functions and Outings

New! Check the red spots for the new activities !Walk Group : Monday, Wednesday and Friday each week at Toombul shopping centre 7 am for one hour. Free.

Hearing Tests: Available at NAC, Wednesday 2 pm– 4 pm. Free.

IT Club: Learn more about how to use the equipment and explore the world’s wonders. Cost $3.

NAC News Club: Let’s create our newsletter together.

NACtivites This is a Commonwealth funded HACC program (refer page 10). Two or three days a month spent in the centre doing activities throughout the day, with lunch, morning and afternoon tea provided. During this time the clients get time to socialise. Meanwhile carers are able to mix with others. On the third Thursday of the month we have a themed concert with live entertainment, morning tea and lunch. The fourth Thursday of the month is an outing to a park for a picnic or to a local event or destination. Trained staff and accredited bus driver will pick up clients from their homes return them home the end of the day.

Movie days at Toombul Shopping Centre is under negotiation. Watch this space. Look out on noticeboard for details.

July 16 Geordi & His Magic Squeezebox Celebrate Winter

August 20 Jazz Kon-X-ion Ekka Time

September 17 Geoverdi Musica Spring is in the Air

October 15 John Cornelius Oktoberfest

October 22 Semaya Fashions Fashion Parade

November 3 (Tues) Terry & Roz Duo Melbourne Cup

December 10 Boom Baby Christmas Party

15-23 August Seniors week

26 August National Meals on Wheels Day

13 September Nundah Festival

13-19 September Disability Week


NMS Nundah Men’s Shed

NMS meets at 8.30am to noon on Wednesday and Thursday each week

30 April 2015 NMS & B4L (Bikes for Life)The build up of bikes in the NAC courtyard was addressed on the last day of April with a concerted effort by all people involved to restore and pack the bikes into appropriate containers. The NMS and B4L teams (thanks to Milos) worked at the MDA (Multicultural Development Association) forecourt across the road from NAC to professionally stack about 200 completed bikes into the container. These bikes are bound for an aboriginal community in Cape York.

The MDA provides opportunities for asylum seekers, from places such as Christmas Island Detention Centre, to raise their hopes for job placement. Their involvement in the B4L bike servicing assists with their English and improves their prospects to work in Australia. NAC is proud to help a great cause by readying discarded bikes to go to disadvantaged people. Don welcomed Ebony Butler (owner and founder of B4L) to the initiative on 30 April. Ebony flew up from Melbourne with her experienced bike stackers. The essence of this event was captured by a great SBS News coverage and can be viewed by accessing http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2015/05/17/asylum-seekers-job-hopes-ride-two-wheels

4 June Graeme Curnow at NMSGraeme Curnow, President of the QMSA (Queensland Men’s Shed Association) and also on the national executive of the AMSA (Australian Men’s Shed Association), visited the NMS on Thursday 4 June. Graeme (pictured at right) was pleased to meet with NMS members, and was enthusiastic to exchange ideas about the future of the Brisbane North Region of the QMSA.

The meeting was informative about what’s happening in the men’s shed movement across Australia as well as locally.

What’s been happening in the Nundah Men’s Shed (NMS)?


20 Aug BOGI (Brisbane Organic Gardeners Inc) is Queensland’s largest gardening association and will hold their annual large gardening fair on Sunday 20 August at 102 McDonald Road, Windsor.

NAC welcomes members to join NMS. If you are not a member you can join for only $5.50 per annum.

Our NMS members pay $2 per visit to cover the cost of tea and coffee and incidentals.

The Management Committee is Jeff Lawrence (Chair), Col Schulte (Shed captain & Projects Officer) Keith Clauscen (Safety Officer), Doug Moffitt, Richard Bennett (Grants and Publicity), Paul Wildman (Secretary).

The NMS Management Committee meets at 9am on third Thursday of the month, then the full Shed Meetings follow at 10:30am.

WeeklyNMS now hosts an initiative each Wednesday from 9.30am to noon fixing bikes. NMS (on behalf of NAC and B4L and MDA) welcomes Brisbane based refugees and volunteers to service bikes for themselves to get around using a low cost alternative to public transport. This work also assists indigenous communities and refugee communities across the world. Everyone is most welcome to attend these workshops and work shoulder to shoulder with volunteers fixing bikes.

What’s on next

17-20 Oct AMSA Conference in Newcastle. Phil Vardy will present two papers at the Conference including a paper on Biochar Retort. Biochar is charcoal used for agricultural and ecological purposes. Every year, millions of tons of waste wood and other biological material are burnt or buried, producing CO2 as it decomposes. Biochar degrades more slowly and improves soil by trapping nutrients that would otherwise be leached away. Thousands of LPG containers are recycled as scrap or buried in land-fill. Men’s Shed Labrador has developed a retort made from used LPG containers and scrap steel. Performance varies, but the

retort is capable of producing 1kg of biochar from 2kg of dry wood. NMS is exploring ways to send retorts to developing nations where they will improve the productivity of native gardens, reduce deforestation, and diminish the need for women and children to carry wood for long distances. It reduce burn injuries as retorts are safer than open fires. The concept is recommended to other sheds, showing how we can think globally and act locally.


Support for Nepal

Being a new Community Projects Officer for NAC has brought many new experiences to my doorstep, one such example I would like to share with you involves a volunteer recovering from the recent events that impacted her immediate family when the Nepal earthquake struck over the weekend.

I met this young person with a worried and unsettled look on her face, white from shock, absorbing the huge loss that her family, friends and relations had suffered during the sudden impact of Nepal’s major earthquake.

There is great emotional pain and anxiety caused by the inability of knowing if those loved ones are safe and unhurt. Every day they have to contend with an infrastructure in tatters, lack of housing, electricity, clothing, water, food and telecommunications.

As she sat in a crowded, small room with a garbage bag, she explained in it were items that she wanted to donate to those in desperate need.

I asked her if she had heard any news of her family. She shook her head and explained she had no way of knowing the magnitude of trauma these beautiful, gentle people have had to face.

A phone call to a dynamic organizer from the Nepalese Community Gold Coast and supported by the local ABC national radio station, provided news of aid and relief being underway to rebuild so many lives in Kathmandu this comprised of generous donations of clothing, blankets and tinned food to initiate relief for those needing to re-establish their lives and community.

In support, NAC provided its base as the drop off point for anyone in the community wishing to donate clean clothing and blankets, all items to be forwarded to Nepalese Community Gold Coast for delivery directly to Nepal’s residents through their Distribution Centre.

Within minutes of the radio interview being aired, a local member of the Nundah community delivered the first seven bags of clothing and many others followed over the next two days. NAC is proud to support of the devastated Nepal community.

Joanna Barnes Community Projects Officer


Hello Joanna

For most people their thoughts and assumptions about living are like inextricable knots.

Fred Gomes is an Indian educated man that I have had the honour to befriend him in NAC. This story introduces you to his strong personality and his special story in multicultural community in Australia. I hope you enjoy and are inspired by it.

If you see him up close you would never believe he is 72 years old because he seems a young man, so strong and lively. You will find him on the dance floor at NAC on a Monday afternoon.

As a teacher, Fred has worked in India, New Zealand and Australia. He currently teaches art performance and special Indian dance in Nundah area.

At NAC he takes classes in English as a second language. He is also our resident Justice of the Peace. Both on a Thursday morning.

Fred is inspired by his audience. He is a great conversationalist and someone who preaches the benefits of a healthy lifestyle and community engagement as a fine guide for living.

-- Javad Behzadinia

Joanna has joined us to organise volunteers to visit groups of residents in nursing home. People living in residential aged care facilities often become isolated and lonely because of limited family and social contacts.

The Community Visitors Scheme is a Commonwealth government funded program that enables service agencies like Nundah Activity Centre to provide companionship to lonely people residing in aged care facilities by organising regular friendly visiting from volunteers. A Group Community Visitors Scheme (GCVS) volunteer generally visits a couple of people once a fortnight for social contact. These visits can involve having a cuppa and chat, going for long walks or taking a resident for an outing.

This is an extension of the current Community Visitors Scheme (CVS) at Nundah Activity Centre. For further information on volunteering or if you know of someone who would like to be visited, please see reception, call 3266 4500 or email to [email protected].

A window on the world


NAC recently held the Volunteer Week Lunch at its premises in Jenner Street, Nundah.

The centre thrives because of the wonderful work that volunteers undertake to help those in the local area as well as nationally with the Digital Community Visitors scheme.

Our volunteer vacancies

Local state member Leanne Linard help NAC Volunteers Fred Gomes and Denise Cannon.

• Meals on Wheels drivers/ deliverers (Urgently needed)

• Meals on Wheels kitchen hands

• Activities co-ordinator

• Respite volunteer

• Group Community Visitors Scheme

• IT assistant

• Digital marketing assistant

• Website and newsletter contributors

If you want to be involved, email [email protected] or ask reception.

• Public relations volunteer with experience

• Digital community visitors

• Community visitors scheme

• Craft group

• Social support workers

• Gift wrapping workers

• Activity convenor

• Social function workers

• Internet radio volunteer

Volunteer Week


Supporting your lifestyle and independenceAt Nundah Activity Centre (NAC) we believe good health and well being are vital to living well. Home and Community Care (HACC) support services are tailored to provide you the opportunity to be as self-sufficient as possible. We are committed to ensuring you remain in your own home enjoying your life for as long as possible.

Home and Community Care(HACC) SERVICES • Meal on wheels • Day respite (Tuesday and Thursday) • Day respite (variable) concerts and outings • Transport/ Taxi reimbursement• Centre Based Day Respite Transport• Domestic Assistance • Social support • Assisted shopping up to two hours• Physiotherapy• Occupational therapy • Podiatry• Nutritional advice

To access HACC support services, you need to be someone who has difficulty with some daily activities:• You could be an older person who no longer manages as well on their own or • You could be a younger person living with a disability.If you have any questions about your eligibility, talk to us about your circumstances.If you’re not eligible, talk to us about purchasing support with your own finances.Book your free assessment now! Call 3266 4500 or email to [email protected]

Nundah Activity Centre

We want Radio VolunteersVolunteers with an interest in broadcasting are being sought for NAC’s new internet radio service.NAC is now continually playing “Easy Listening and Great Music Memories” for its nationwide audience at www.nac.org.au/radio. NAC’s Nationwide Audio Connection is planned to reach people in areas across Australia via the internet. If you have knowledge and skills in announcing, audio production, copy-writing, and news preparation and presentation, or if you want to learn and become proficient at professional broadcasting skills in any of these areas, we want to hear from you.All volunteers will be offered free broadcast training by industry professionals experienced in broadcast skills and will have the opportunity to put those skills to work serving listeners across Australia.Call 3266 4500 or email to [email protected]


Our NAC

“Thank you to Amanda Stein at Panda Pearls in Nundah for her donation for lucky door prizes for the recent Volunteers Week event at NAC”

Documents

NAC News July 2015