Phone: 4236 1217, 1300 559 557, Email: jill@illawarraforum.org.au

Housing NSW Tenant Meeting and Information Session

A lot is happening in HNSW properties in the Shellharbour Area. Many people want to know more about relocation offers, and the maintenance and building programs in their neighbourhoods. So we have organised this meeting to give you an opportunity to find out more. Lunch is provided, RSVP by 4^th May essential. Phone Jill on 4236 1217

When?    Thursday 6^th May

12 midday to 2.30pm

Where?   Albion Park Rail Neighbourhood Centre

Ash Rd

Who’s invited? All HNSW tenants

Phone 4256 4404

Email trnai@southernphone.com.au

Community mural on Albion Park Rail Neighborhood Center's wall

This workshop was for any worker or committee member/community member from the consortium member groups. If you missed out and wish to participate in the next workshop, Please get in touch with Jill.

jill @ illawarraforum.org.au

A small number attended, and were shown how to edit and update the Community Centre’s websites.

The show is an opportunity to take your products directly to a regional market and reach shoppers that don’t always travel to attend big craft shows in Capital Cities. The show also works cooperatively with a variety of local craft guilds giving traders an opportunity to reach their membership base. The Show is an opportunity to sell directly to the public and promote your Web Based or Mail Order business. Last year event was featured in Australian Patchwork and Quilting Vol16 No9. The Event this year will be promoted through all forms of local media including Newpapers, TV, Radio and Craft Magazines.

click here

Exhibitors Comments:

• Its an incentive to make and finish Quilts and Wallhanging etc
• I enjoy showing people what I’ve made
• I am always interested in participating to keep craft alive and to see the lovely work of others who do the same craft as me
• To encourage others to participate
• Its always a happy enjoyable day very informative
• Its good to share your work with others
• A very inspiring experience enjoyed every minute
• Nice to hear positive comments about my work it gave me a confidence boost
• Large craft items would look better in main hall
• I love going to the centre and all the things tutor teaches me
• I love the company and ideas of the other ladies in our group and Tutor has given me confidence to try new things
• The social aspect is excellent
• There were a lot of people in attendance I felt a great sense of community it was lovely to speak to a large number of people who were interested in my craft
• I have got to know people from all walks of life
• The people participating in any group are always friendly and willing to help you
• I like to see what other classes are doing its good to get new ideas and speak to other exhibitors about their work
• It was nice to hear positive comments about the show
• It’s a shame it closed so early after such a big effort was made by all involved
• Patchwork with ICSInc has changed my life
• I live alone and Patchwork helps me meet other people with same interests

]]> http://ircdc.org.au/2009/04/01/illawarra-craft-spectacular/feed/ 0 Jill http://ircdc.org.au/2009/03/06/community-gardens-a-place-to-sit/ http://ircdc.org.au/2009/03/06/community-gardens-a-place-to-sit/#comments Fri, 06 Mar 2009 06:07:31 +0000 Jill http://illawarrancc.wordpress.com/2009/03/06/community-gardens-a-place-to-sit/ ]]>

a place to sit

a place to care for

a place to work together

a place to grow some vegies for the family

The Seniors Expo was a Special Event organised by the Warilla Neighbourhood Centre and the South East Regional Tenants Resource Service. Over 100 Seniors from Wollongong and Shellharbour participated in the expo, where more than 20 services exhibited.

A neighbourhood centre is a friendly and safe place to drop in and talk to someone.

You can get support in times of difficulty.

You can get helpful information.

You can find out about other services to help you.

You can connect with people by joining a group at the centre and learn new skills.

You can connect with people by getting involved in activities to get things done locally.

You can connect with people to work to improve the lives of people in your community.

You can volunteer in programs to connect with people and give back to the community.

You can be involved in the neighbourhood centre by becoming a member and voting for the management committe at the Annual General Meeting. You can learn leadership skills by having a position on the management committee.

A neighbourhood centre is small independent centre. Although the centre may get some funding from a government department, it is independent of government policy. The Centre has a constitution with rules about how it is managed. Each year it has an annual general meeting to elect the management committee made up of people from the local community.

The neighbourhood centre can support you to get things happening in your neighbourhood.

Groups
You might want to start a group that meets at the centre. This might be, for example, a support group or a chess club or a craft class. The neighbourhood centre can help you with advertising the group and with meeting space.

Activities
You might want to start an activity at the centre – for example, a youth program or a mother’s group or a men’s shed project. The centre can help you with advertising, with meeting space and perhaps with resources such as materials or use of a computer. The centre may be able to put you in touch with someone with expertise or other services who could help.

Community action
You might want to start some community action to solve local problems, for example, a new, safe street crossing, or a protest against proposed development, or a campaign for more local jobs. The centre can help you with meeting space, use of a computer, or help you contact your local Members of Parliament or the media.

You can use the neighbourhood centre as a way to connect with people in your community. Because the centre is trusted by the community, people are more likely to be interested in what you are doing.

The centre is a good meeting place to prepare and plan activities.

You may be able to talk to groups of people already meeting at the centre.

The centre may have noticeboards or a newsletter to publicise events.

You may be able to use the telephone or email at the centre to communicate with people.

The neighbourhood centre will be able to connect with local networks such as women’s services or services for disabled people, Indigenous groups, groups from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, artists and performers, and other community organisations,

The neighbourhood centre is a good place to meet with workers from government departments or politicians.

The neighbourhood centre is a good place to find support and resources to help you run community activities.

The centre can provide a meeting space and publicity.

Workers at the neighbourhood centre may be able to put you in touch with like-minded people.

The centre may be able to find someone to support you such as a “buddy” or mentor.

Organising a community activity involves these stages:

• Being clear about the purpose of the activity
• Planning the activity so you can achieve it realistically
• Finding resources such as meeting places, transport, childcare, support and funding
• Getting people involved
• Getting over setbacks and disappointments
• Keeping people involved
• Winding down the activity
• Evaluating its success
• Going on to something else

The centre may be able to tell you about helpful contacts such as community organisations, or networks who are interested in what you are doing. These may include people with similar interests in other localities

The centre may be able to put you in touch with some training. Some examples might be: communication skills; computer skills; media skills; or advocacy and lobbying.