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Champions of the Cairns Clubhouse Recruited A cross section of Cairns community leaders met for breakfast in August to learn about the Clubhouse concept and to be invited to support the development of a Clubhouse in Cairns. Along with bi-partisan political support there was commitment from business leaders, James Cook University representatives and senior Queensland Health clinicians at the breakfast hosted by Mental Illness Fellowship - North Queensland.
Queensland Health Psychiatrist Dr Alison Overland, on the far left, Justice Jim Henry, the Honourable Warren Entsch MP, Mr Bob Norman Chair of the Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health District and Ms Gail Seymour President of Cairns Rotary enjoying the Cairns Clubhouse Champions breakfast.
To give people a better understanding of the Clubhouse model, Mr Leif Oldert, the Director of the Stepping Stone Clubhouse in Brisbane and a Stepping Stone Member presented to the group and answered queries. Both the Honourable Warren Entsch and Mr Curtis Pitt spoke very favourably of the Clubhouse concept through personal exposure to the issues facing people with a mental illness and Mr Entsch committed to seeking federal funding to establish the Cairns Clubhouse. The recently established Steering Group formed by MIFNQ to guide the development of the Cairns Clubhouse were also introduced and the groups Chair, Supreme Court Judge Justice Jim Henry, outlined progress and invited attendees to become “Champions” of the Cairns Clubhouse. The aim of the Champions is to have a group of key stakeholders from the community who will contribute ideas, advice and assistance to the development of a Clubhouse in Cairns. This group operates as supporters of the activities of the Cairns Clubhouse Steering Group and now includes;
The Council & International Men’s Day Glenda Blackwell/28 Nov 13
A great day was had with Helen West (volunteer) and Glenda Blackwell manning a stall for MIFNQ at an expo for Council staff for International Men’s Day. HandUp were also there.
Men and women came through during the day, many interesting conversations and much information about our service given out. The theme of the day appeared to be health and fitness – physical and mental. People could have their blood pressure and sugar readings done, get information on healthy eating, find out their metabolic age, and talk to us at MIFNQ about maintaining mental health. The Council hope to offer this expo as a public event next year and we’ll be there.
Mr Curtis Pitt MLA Mr Gavin King MLA Mr Michael Trout MLA Mr David Kempton MLA The Honourable Warren Entsch MP Cairns Hospital & Health District Chair Mr Bob Norman Cairns Chamber of Commerce President Mr Ron Tong Cairns Rotary Club President Ms Gail Seymour QLD Health Psychiatrists Dr Alison Overland & Dr Vega Frittelli JCU Professor Paul Gadek & Board Member Mr Ian Jessop
Adrianne Hicks (far right) Cairns Support Hub Manager, alongside fellow attendees at the Clinical Collaborative Forum in Brisbane this past month.