TCFV Magazine Winter Edition

Compassionate Connections THE COMPASSIONATE FRIENDS VICTORIA MAGAZINE Edition No. 276

Kevin Purvis – Volunteer Award Winner Nature Based Activities Survey Results

Supporting Parents, Siblings and Grandparents after a Child Dies 24 HOUR Grief Support Phone (03) 9888 4944 National Number 1300 064 068 www.tcfv.org.au

COVER PHOTO COMPETITION WINNER Hope Sneddon, bereaved sister of Keith “This is one of my favourite cities.”

Hope says, the picture was taken on the 31st of December on Marktgasse in Interlaken, Switzerland. The face overlooks the River Aare. Wood carvings, in particular faces and wooden masks, are part of a long, rich tradition in the region.

Photos from Our Runners Up

Hurstbridge Forest Scene

by Steven Katsineris

Sunset

by Joanna Durst

Tree Branch at Springvale Cemetery 2

by Kate Wilmott 2 TCFV Winter 2025

Sunset

by Steven Katsineris

Winter Trees

by Hope Sneddon

INDEX 1

Cover Image - Winter Face by Hope Sneddon

17

3

Index & Editors Letter CEO Report

20 Mailout day, Sibblings, Booroondara Volunteer Exp & Office Makeover Photos

Centre News

22

Boroondara Council Volunteer Awards 2025

24-25

Life After Life

Sibling Story

28-30

Survey Results

Obon Festival

32-33

Grief in the Workplace & Guest Speaker Program

35

2

Competition winner and Runners Up

4-5 5

6-7 8-9 10 11 12

13

14 14 15

18-19

Bereaved Mother’s Day Supper Photos W2R Photos

New Staff Bio

21

The Quiet Comfort

23 Ten nature-based activities to help the grieving process

Cyprus Sprites Poem

26-27

Winter Babies

31 Staff / Board & Online Support Group Flyer

2025 Run Melbourne

34

Community Noticeboard Advertising

36

Thank You Supporters

16 Events

Jared Dunscombe Foundation Time Out retreat

Memorial Ideas #2

TCFV Support Groups & Social Support Groups

Community Noticeboard

COMPETITION

Create the next Compassionate Connections front cover!

Draw, paint take a photo of something for upcoming magazines along the theme of Winter, Spring, Summer & Autumn.

Deadline for the SPRING magazine is Friday 1 August.

EDITORS LETTER Dear friends Welcome to the Winter edition of Compassionate Connections.

Long-time readers may remember that July is a particularly difficult month for my family and I, Joseph’s 27th birthday falls on Sunday 6 July, and on 30 July, is his anniversary when we will unfortunately mark nine years since his death.

On his birthday, we invite some of Joseph’s high school friends over. We share pizzas and donuts — two of his favourite foods — and spend time together remembering him. On the anniversary of his passing, my husband, our two other children and I usually escape to the city, somewhere we are anonymous.

We go to a movie, have a meal out, and take quiet moments to reflect and think about our beautiful son and brother.

Recently, on a grief support call, a newly bereaved mother asked me what my grief is like nine years on.

It’s such a hard question to answer — but I’m glad she asked. It made me pause and reflect. My very

imperfect answer was something like this: the loss never goes away, but very very slowly you just start to get used to it, although this can take years. The better days come more often, the harder days less so — though they still appear, and the waves of grief can still hit without warning, but you know that a better day is hopefully not far away. Of course, we all grieve differently and what is true for me may not be true for others.

I remember my counsellor telling me, in those early years, not to write off a whole month like July. She encouraged me to book in small, enjoyable things — to have something to look forward to, even during the hardest times, something I now try and do.

I hope you too can find moments of warmth and enjoyment to help you through the cold and dreary days of winter.

Sending you all peace and love.Until next time, take care.

Jane Moschetti, Bereaved Mother of Joseph

Cover Image - Winter Face by Hope Sneddon

TCFV Winter 2025 3

CEO REPORT From the CEO – Autumn 2025 Alexandra Hamilton, Chief Executive Officer, The Compassionate Friends Victoria

As we head into Winter, it feels like the right time to reflect on what’s been a busy and important few months at The Compassionate Friends Victoria. For many in our community, this time of year can bring a certain heaviness; cooler days, shorter light, and reminders of the seasons we move through in our grief. But it also brings a sense of steadiness.

A moment to acknowledge the work, the progress, and the people who help us keep showing up.

We’ve started 2025 with real momentum. Our enquiries and referrals have increased significantly, which tells us that more families are reaching out for support after the death of a child, sibling, or grandchild. We’re hearing from people who are newly bereaved, and from others who experienced their loss many years ago and are only now finding the space to connect. It reminds us that grief doesn’t follow a timeline and that our work remains vital, whether someone is just beginning their journey or has been walking this path for a long time.

We’ve also made some strong additions to the team this year. One of the most important steps has been the introduction of our Sibling Support Coordinator, Jude, thanks to funding from the Jared Dunscombe Foundation.

Sibling grief is often overlooked, especially for young adults who are just starting to find their way in the world, and it’s been powerful to see this role already making a difference. It’s helping us create more targeted support for people who often carry their grief quietly.

Behind the scenes, we’ve welcomed Hope into an operational role focused on streamlining our systems. As anyone who’s worked in a small organisation knows, good systems are the backbone of doing good work. Hope’s calm, organised approach has already taken pressure off other staff, giving us more space to focus on families and volunteers. She’s brought real capability and stability to an area that often goes unnoticed but affects everything we do.

Speaking of volunteers, there’s no way to properly sum up their impact. Our 130+ volunteers are the heart of this organisation. Every group facilitated, every call answered, every task handled with care, none of it goes unnoticed. A special thank you goes to Nat, our Volunteer Coordinator, who is doing a fantastic job building stronger pathways for new volunteers while supporting and appreciating the many who have been walking beside us for years. Her approach is thoughtful, responsive, and focussed on sustainability.

As always, one of our biggest events of the year is just around the corner: Illuminate 47. This is more than just a gathering. It’s a moment of shared meaning, a chance to honour our children, siblings and grandchildren who are no longer with us, and to stand beside others who understand, whether that be in the support space or other bereaved families. This year, we’ll take to the water and gather in reflection, remembrance, and community. We hope to see many of you there on 13 June, honouring 47 years of TCFV.

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I also want to acknowledge an important farewell. After years of incredible service, Robyn Reeve is stepping down from both the Board and her role as Regional Coordinator. Robyn has been a tireless advocate for families in regional Victoria, and her ability to connect, support and encourage others has had a ripple effect that we’ll feel for years to come. Robyn, thank you. Your impact runs deep, and we’re grateful for all you’ve brought to TCFV. As always, thank you for being here. Whether you’re reading this as a bereaved parent, sibling, grandparent, volunteer, supporter or friend, you are part of this community. We know the road through grief can be long and uncertain, but you don’t have to walk it alone.

Warm regards,Alex

Introducing new staff member Nicole Mercandel – Events Assistant

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CENTRE NEWS EVENTS DATE

EVENT

VENUE

13 June – Friday

Illuminate 47

Boat Cruise, Docklands

13 July - Sunday

Run Melbourne

Melbourne Park

26 July – Saturday

Grief Retreat Day

SMCT – Springvale

28 November – Friday

Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos) TCFV Centre

13 December – Sunday

Candle Lighting Service

TBA

For these and other upcoming events please see www.tcfv.org.au/events

Create TCFV’s Next Anniversary Card Design Do you love painting, drawing, photography, or creating digital art? Then we need your help!

We are looking to create our next anniversary card design and would love to use the designs and artworks of our members. This is an open competition for any members of TCFV who would like to submit an image for consideration.

Things to Note: • Please only submit original art and photography that you have permission to use.

• Please only submit high resolution images.

•P lease submit images that apply to broad themes of grief, love, and support. Your design can include words and images. (See our previous designs below for some inspiration).

•P lease DO NOT use generative AI to create images.

We want to celebrate our community’s creativity and talent.

•W hen you submit an image, you consent to TCFV using this for the anniversary card design, and possibly for other documents (like the magazine covers).

•Y our name will be featured with your artwork/design unless you wish to remain anonymous.

•u pload one at a time.

•W e will contact successful designers via email. https://www.compassionatefriendsvictoria.org.au/ next-anniversary-card-cover/

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Every 10-cent donation helps The Compassionate Friends Victoria is a registered donation partner with Victoria’s Container Deposit Scheme (CDS). This means that, if you’re in a position to do so, you can direct your funds to us. We are signed up with all three zones across the state, so whether you’re in Swan Hill, Sale or St Kilda, your eligible containers can make a difference to the services and resources that we offer to bereaved people. Containers that have a 10c mark on them (usually near the barcode) can be returned to one of the many CDS refund points and the money applied to our account. We thank you!

Friendship Circle Members – Organisational Thank you to the following …

Wooling Hill Memorial Estate Chapter House Funerals

Thank You Kerry King for her generous donation in memory of her son Lee. Steven Katsineris for his generous donation in memory of his daughter Chione.

Jenni Shand in Tasmania for her generous donation in memory of her daughter Alison.

Elaine Hoskins thank you for the postage stamps to go towards sending out anniversary cards in memory of Cameron and Hadyn.

Inna Vainer for her generous donation in memory of her son Ashley.

Keren Marsh for sending us some lovely TCF pens from Aotearoa, New Zealand, in memory of her son Simon.

As always, a thank you to all the TCFV volunteers, phone support people, group leaders, centre volunteers, anniversary card writers, magazine mail-out team and all those who came into the Centre on Tuesday 6 May to help move the furniture and make the office a warmer and more welcoming space. See page 20 for photos of the new office layout.

TCFV Winter 2025 7

The Quiet Comfort: How Pets Can Help During Loss and Grief

Grief after the loss of a child is a journey no one ever expects to walk. It is raw, personal, and often isolating. During these moments of sorrow, many find comfort in unexpected places—including in the quiet companionship of a pet.

Whether you share your home with a dog, cat, bird, or another beloved animal, these companions have an incredible way of simply being there. Their presence alone can offer a unique and soothing form of support.

🕊 Unconditional Presence Animals don’t ask questions or offer advice. They sit with us, often sensing our sadness without needing to understand it. A pet’s presence can be grounding, a gentle reminder that you’re not entirely alone, even in your deepest grief.

🕊️Gentle Routine Grieving can make it difficult to find purpose in the everyday. Pets, by their very nature, bring a soft structure to life.

Feeding them, walking them, caring for them—these small acts of love can help you move through each day, one moment at a time.

🌧 Comfort Without Words Petting a dog or cat, listening to the soft chirps of a bird, or watching fish glide through water can bring a surprising sense of calm. Research shows that interacting with animals reduces stress and promotes emotional healing, often without a single word spoken.

🌧️A Safe Space for Grief You can cry in front of a pet. You can talk or stay silent. There’s no pressure to be “okay.” Pets accept you just as you are, and their constant, nonjudgmental presence creates a safe space to feel all that you need to feel.

🌸 Honouring Your Child’s Memory For some families, a new pet becomes part of their healing journey, a tribute to the child they lost. Others find comfort in caring for the pet their child once loved, keeping a piece of their memory alive in the everyday moments.

These relationships don’t replace what has been lost, but they can become a gentle thread of connection, something meaningful, soft, and healing.

If you already have a pet, you may know firsthand the comfort they bring. If not, consider spending time with animals through volunteering or pet therapy programs. Even brief moments with a gentle companion can bring warmth in the coldest seasons of grief.

In your journey, know this: you are not alone. And sometimes, the smallest companions can walk with us in the biggest ways.

Words by: Alice Needham, Director

8 TCFV Winter 2025

At The Compassionate Friends Victoria, we are always looking for gentle ways to support our community while honouring the memory of our loved ones. We’re pleased to share a special partnership with Standout Pets, a retailer of wholesome, natural dog treats.

For every purchase you make at Standout Pets, 10% of the total value will be donated to The Compassionate Friends to help us continue supporting bereaved parents, siblings, and grandparents across the country.

Simply shop at www.standoutpets.com.au and use the code TCFGIFT at checkout and your purchase will automatically support The Compassionate Friends.

Our furry friends give us unconditional love and support in our difficult times. This is a lovely opportunity to treat your companion while contributing to a cause that helps so many through their grief journeys.

Thank you for being part of this compassionate community.

TCFV Winter 2025 9

Boroondara Council Volunteer Awards 2025 Acceptance Speech – Kevin Purvis

It is a very humbling and unexpected experience to be nominated for and to receive this Volunteer of the Year Award in Boroondara. My apologies for not being present in person tonight. Another of my life’s passions, that being Lawn Bowls, has me playing in a tournament this week in Barham, on the Murray River in Northern Victoria.

I imagine that, like many nominees and recipients of this award, our activity in various forms of community volunteering has nothing to do with receiving awards.

Volunteering is much more about making a contribution, leaving the world a better place, offering assistance where it is needed and receiving the intrinsically therapeutic reward of helping, often in the way we ourselves have been helped.

The organisation I volunteer with is The Compassionate Friends Victoria, which has its head office in Canterbury Rd, Canterbury, just near the railway station. We are a bereavement support organisation which offers support to individuals and families who have sadly experienced the death of a child, a grandchild or a sibling. Begun in the UK some 70 years ago, we have been operating in Victoria for 47 years this year. There are also state groups in most other states and territories.

The Compassionate Friends is a lived experience, peer to peer support organisation, based on the efforts of a large number of volunteers, each of whom has their own lived experience of a bereavement. Modest funding from the Victorian Government Health Department enables us to maintain our office and drop-in centre in Canterbury Road and to employ a small staff of co-ordinators who manage the programs delivered by our 130+ or so volunteers. Each of our employees also have their own lived experience of a bereavement, as do the members of our Board of Directors.

My personal experience with The Compassionate Friends began in 2001, some 24 years ago, when my 15 year old son, Stephen, died by suicide. My wife Jenny and I had four children, Steve being the 3rd child, with 3 sisters. I worked back then as a Minister in Baptist Churches and Jenny worked as a Kindergarten Teacher. As you can imagine, this devastating loss turned our worlds upside down.

We received much care from many places, one of which was The Compassionate Friends Victoria. We attended a “Bereaved by suicide” support group, conducted back then by two of our very special volunteers, Jon and Sue Stebbins.

Eventually out of the traumatic grief and darkness of that time, life somehow seemed to continue on.

After some years, Jenny did group leadership training and has now been facilitating the “Bereaved by suicide” support group for some ten years. When I retired in 2019, I was elected to the Board of Directors and have been 10 TCFV Winter 2025

President of the Board for most of the time since then. I also volunteer on our 24/7 Helpline phone service, being available to answer calls from grieving people on a weekly basis.

Volunteering as a Board member and serving as President has been a highly rewarding experience and a highly challenging experience. Internally we have been involved in staffing changes and restructuring, in working to keep the organisation financially viable and in strategically exploring the ways in which we deliver our services to often traumatised bereaved people.

Somehow, like many not-for-profit and community service-based groups, we survived the stressful Covid lockdown years.

We discovered the truth in the old saying that necessity is the mother of invention. Many of our processes for caring were modified to online services and we managed to keep delivering our support in those tough days and in fact we continue with many of those developments today.

We are an active group, running 34 support groups around the state, with a range of other activities to support grieving people, including the drop-in centre, the phone help line, therapeutic groups like art therapy, and one-on-one support conversations. There is also a range of commemorative activities where we gather together to remember and honour our departed loved ones.

All these activities are conducted with our team of volunteers and so in accepting this award, I do so in recognition that my volunteering is part of a much larger volunteer effort. We are the kind of group who tend to have a lower profile in the wider community – people only find out about us when they need our services.

For me, accepting this award is another opportunity for the name of The Compassionate Friends to become a bit more widely known. All of us in life, in our own families, workplaces, neighbourhoods, social groups, sporting clubs, service groups…. all of us will be in contact eventually with someone who has a tragic loss. The right words can be very helpful in that time, as can an introduction to this organisation you’ve now heard about.

For those of you at the presentation ceremony tonight, there are fridge magnets on the tables, and we encourage you to take some home. When the time comes, they may be a useful thing to pass onto someone in need.

I thank the City of Boroondara for this award and for the work that is done in encouraging volunteer work in our area – volunteers make the world go round that bit more smoothly!

Thank you.

Cyprus Sprites On this island history is everywhere, Remarkable remnants weathered by time, Where past civilizations have long gone, Yet glorious temples, mosaics and statues remain.

We wander through the crumbling ruins, Where the tetrapylon still stands tall, Its columns reaching for the bluest sky, And a myriad of ancient debris litters the ground, Broken artifacts and bits and pieces strewn all around.

Amongst this ancient splendour, Where once echoed festivals and dramas, New voices and sounds reverberate, Throughout these old columns of marble and sandstone.

And two beautiful girl sprites dance, sing and play, Bursting with euphoric exhilaration and exuberance, Wild ways evoked in this divine place, Such elation that would surely delight,

*This poem is about one of the many treasured memories

The Goddess Aphrodite.

that I have of our family’s travels in Cyprus, and about the

Here the past is very much alive,

our daughters (aged 3 and 1.5 years old). I began writing this

It’s intertwined with the living and the rhythm of daily life, The mythical and classical legends that meld with the present,

wonderful day we spent at The Sanctuary of Aphrodite with poem in January 2013 but only finished it in August 2016.

Poem notes: Cyprus is a Mediterranean island and country. A Sprite or Fairy is a supernatural creature. The word “sprite” is

Its essence endures in the people, customs, traditions and

derived from the Latin “spiritus” (spirit). Also meaning variations

In plants, soil, rocks, water and other natural elements.

village, near Paphos. The Tetrapylon was the monumental

are “spirited” or “lively”. The Temple of Aphrodite is at Kouklia

Its spirit lives too in these joyous children that frolic free,

gateway which greeted pilgrims when they approached the

Laughing, running, skipping and jumping wildly about,

of four columns (tetra = four and pylon = gateway in Greek). It

On this sacred sun-drenched earth,

Temple of Aphrodite. The Tetrapylon consisted of four rows connects the major street to the sacred way heading toward the Sanctuary of Aphrodite. Aphrodite is the Greek Goddess

Spellbound in an enchanted realm. *

of love, beauty, pleasure and procreation. Though there are

Steven Katsineris, August 2016

but rather in the form of conical stone.

statues and murals of her, she was not worshipped as a statue,

TCFV Winter 2025 11

Sibling Story

By Jude Chrisan ~ Bereaved Brother of Joel We tell kids to colour in-between the lines. We ask them to gather all their creativity, imagination, and unadulterated wonder.

“Put your little hands to work,” we say, or something along those lines.

If I had a tiny dot for every time I saw a child being told to keep their boundless creativity within thin black strokes, I’d have enough to shade a whole picture.

To be clear, I don’t have any problem with colouring inside the shapes. Personally, I’m a fan of the process. A 2006 study conducted by landscape architects compared fenced-in play spaces with open ones, suggesting that boundaries actually make children more likely to explore in their play. The study found that in playgrounds without fences, children tended to congregate around their teacher, whereas in fenced playgrounds, they spread out far more. Boundaries, it turns out, are our friends.

So, colouring within defined spaces isn’t bad. In fact, knowing which boundaries to cross and which ones not to can be an incubator for expression.

Until it isn’t.

Until the colours become so bright and so bold that even if we stay within the parameters, the pigment seeps through the paper, staining the pages behind it and the pages behind those — until our colours become undeniably multidimensional.

It might seem a bit wild that we tell children to stay within the lines, as if that could ever contain a human.

To reiterate, some colours fit perfectly well within the confines of colouring books, within the boundaries of friendships and relationships. Some shades of green can be easily described as “the kind you see on oak leaves in summer,” while others can’t be explained in words that capture their essence.

I find myself feeling that certain shades of green can only be described as the colour of my late brother’s hoodie.

But that’s not only the colour green, or even a shade of green. It’s the way the material felt, the way it fit him, and the way it fit me after he stopped wearing it.

You can’t find that shade of green in a box of crayons from Officeworks, and there aren’t any boundaries on which I could write the words to express how it makes me feel.

We tell kids to colour within the lines and ask adults to explain how it feels to lose someone they love. But the truth is, grief doesn’t stay within the lines, and it certainly isn’t always linear.

Sometimes, life makes a brushstroke right through whatever you’re colouring in.

12 TCFV Winter 2025

Winter Babies

By Hope Sneddon The first memory of my brother and me is not really mine. Like many collective family memories, it is one that was given to me. At first, Keith was not thrilled to have a little sister. He was six years old when I was born and thoroughly uninterested in girls. He loved He-Man and GI Joes, and wearing red. One of the only family videos I have of Keith as a child is him in a bright red jumper, running around our backyard, weaving in and out of the adults holding plates of food at a backyard barbeque.

When my brother eventually, and rather reluctantly might I add, met me in the hospital after I was born, his feelings quickly changed. Much to my parent’s annoyance, my brother would sneak out of his bed and climb into my cot every night. He could not be dissuaded from doing it – no number of threats of bribes would work.

He needed to make sure I was not lonely. I have a photo of my brother and me squished together in my cot as proof of his rebellion. I am beaming at the camera with him by my side. And although I don’t really have any true recollection of these nights we slept together as small kids, I have held onto this memory through many sleepless nights after Keith died.

When I have tried to explain the significance of my brother’s life and legacy, I think back to my brother’s nightly vigils next to me in the cot. He was ever present, my whole life. Even when I lived overseas for years, chasing my own big dreams, we talked and messaged each other daily.

His absence is felt in every facet of my day and has changed the configuration of my family and my life forever. He is in the mundane moments when I make cups of tea in the afternoon, or when I see grey butcher birds perched on low branches as I go for a walk. He is with me whenever I see a movie or read a book and want to recommend it to him. I think of him when I cook and flip through family recipes. I find myself wanting to reach out to him – a muscle memory I cannot seem to break even as years fall on each other like fallen leaves.

My brother and I are both winter babies, born in June and August. I think of our birthdays rugged up in handmade jumpers cursing our school friends who got to have pool parties in the summer. Yet now, I would wish nothing more than to have another cold grey birthday with Keith again.

TCFV Winter 2025 13

Obon festival:

an ancient Japanese celebration for the dead, usually held in August.

Obon or just Bon is a Japanese Buddhist custom to honour the spirits of one’s ancestors. This Buddhist-Confucian custom has evolved into a family reunion holiday during which people return to ancestral family places and visit and clean their ancestors’ graves, and when the spirits of ancestors are supposed to revisit the household altars. It has been celebrated in Japan for more than 500 years and traditionally includes a dance, known as Bon-Odori. https://traditionalkyoto.com/culture/obon-festival/

14 TCFV Winter 2025

Image: Daniel Beauchamp via Unsplash

TCFV Winter 2025 15

Events

Blokes Psychology: Exploring Grief and Men’s Mental Health (Monday 31 March 2025)

Our recent event with Blokes Psychology was a powerful and engaging session that brought together 26 attendees, including guest speakers Kane and Joe, who generously shared their time and expertise.

The evening provided a meaningful opportunity to explore grief and male mental health in a safe and supportive environment. Audience participation was high, and feedback suggested the session was informative, helpful, and thought-provoking.

Joe and Kane were not only insightful but also warm and gracious in their praise of The Compassionate Friends Victoria. It was heartening to witness such open, respectful dialogue around topics that are often difficult to talk about—especially for men.

Everyone enjoyed the presentation, the time for questions and answers, as well as a relaxed pizza supper afterwards, which offered further space for connection and conversation.

We’re grateful to everyone who attended and helped create a space for learning, connection, and reflection.

Annual Walk to Remember (Sunday 6 April 2025)

Our Annual Walk to Remember at Princes Park, Carlton, was one of our most well-attended, with approximately 160 people joining us on a beautiful, sunny Sunday in Melbourne.

The walk created a moving sight—families and friends walking in quiet remembrance, many carrying flowers in honour of their loved ones. A reflective pause by the lakeside included heartfelt speeches, along with the reading of the Parents and Siblings Credo.

After returning to the meeting point, everyone shared a relaxed picnic lunch, surrounded by connection and support. A flower memorial was left behind as a gentle tribute, adding a moment of beauty to the park.

It was a day filled with love, remembrance, and togetherness—one that truly honoured the memories of those we walk for.

Bereaved Mother’s Day Supper (Thursday 1 May 2025)

A beautiful evening was shared at the Centre on Thursday 1 May in honour of Bereaved Mother’s Day. Over 20 bereaved mothers joined us for a heartfelt gathering, beginning with a delicious supper and time to connect.

Each guest had the opportunity to introduce themselves and speak a few words about their beloved child. There were tears and laughter, heartfelt stories, and plenty of time for conversation and friendship.

The evening was thoughtfully hosted by staff member Jane, with á lot of support from Hope, who lovingly prepared a beautiful posy for each mother to take home.

Warm thanks also go to our dedicated volunteer Catrina for all her help in the kitchen—events like this wouldn’t be possible without the generosity and support of our wonderful volunteers.

See photos of these and other events on the following pages …

16 TCFV Winter 2025

Bereaved Mother’s Day Supper

TCFV Winter 2025 17

W2R

18 TCFV Winter 2025

W2R

TCFV Winter 2025 19

Mailout Day

Bereaved Siblings, Jude, Jesse, Hope and Andrew

Office Makeover

20 TCFV Winter 2025

Booroondara Volunteer Expo

At the Jared Dunscombe Foundation (JDF), our mission is to honour Jared’s life by supporting initiatives that empower young people and create lasting, meaningful change. Jared tragically passed away in 2013 while participating in a fundraising bike ride, an event that embodied his commitment to community, kindness, and making a positive difference. In his memory, we focus on projects that promote wellbeing and connection for young people.

JDF strives to create lasting impact across a variety of areas, including medical support, education, leadership development, and mental health services. Our goal is to uplift young people during their most challenging times.

This is why we are proud to partner with The Compassionate Friends Victoria (TCFV) to provide dedicated support through the Sibling Support Coordinator role.

Losing a sibling is a complex and heartbreaking experience, yet it often goes unrecognised, especially among young people. When we learned of TCFV’s commitment to supporting bereaved siblings over the age of 18, we felt an immediate connection. This initiative not only addresses a critical gap in grief support services but also resonates deeply with our own story – several members of our JDF community understand firsthand the pain of sibling loss. It’s a unique grief that deserves space, understanding, and care.

Through this partnership, we aim to ensure that young adults navigating sibling loss don’t have to face it alone. We are particularly drawn to TCFV’s peer-led approach, grounded in lived experience, which reflects our belief in the power of community and connection. For JDF, this is more than just funding a service; it’s a heartfelt commitment to creating a supportive environment for those whose grief is often invisible. We are honoured to assist TCFV in their essential work, and we believe Jared would be proud to see his legacy carried forward through such a compassionate cause.

By Jonelle Colabufalo

For further information on the Jared Dunscombe Foundation please visit www.jdf.org.au

TCFV Winter 2025 21

A Stay at Magpie Cottage I absolutely loved my stay at Magpie Cottage - it was exactly what I needed, peace and quiet and being in nature. It really helped me get through the weekend. Sunday was Aden’s 3-year anniversary. It’s a beautiful place.

Maureen Minogue For more information on Time Out Cottages, please visit: www.tcfv.org.au/time-out

22 TCFV Winter 2025

TEN NATURE-BASED ACTIVITIES TO HELP THE GRIEVING PROCESS 1.

Nature Walks Taking leisurely strolls in natural settings such as parks, forests, or along the beach can provide a soothing environment for reflection and mindfulness. The rhythmic movement of walking combined with the beauty of nature can help people to process their emotions and find moments of peace amidst their grief.

2.

Nature-Based Mindfulness Exercises Practicing mindfulness in outdoor environments can deepen your connection with nature and enhance the healing process. Activities such as mindful walking, where you focus on the sensations of each step and their surroundings, or mindful breathing exercises practiced outdoors, can help you to ground yourself in the present moment, cultivate awareness, and find refuge from the turmoil of grief.

3.

Forest Bathing Practicing Shinrin-yoku, or ‘Forest Bathing’, involves immersing yourself in the atmosphere of the forest and engaging with the natural environment through all your senses. Forest Bathing has been shown to reduce stress, lower blood pressure, and improve mood, making it an effective nature-based therapy for coping with grief and promoting overall wellbeing.

4.

Nature Journalling Keeping a journal to record your thoughts, feelings, and observations while in nature can be a therapeutic outlet for emotional expression and reflection. Writing about your experiences amidst the beauty of the outdoors can provide clarity, insight, and a sense of catharsis during the grieving process.

5.

Gardening Engaging in gardening activities, whether planting flowers, tending to a vegetable patch, or caring for indoor plants, can offer a sense of purpose, nurturing, and growth. The act of nurturing living things and witnessing the cycle of life can provide comfort and hope amidst loss.

6.

Art in Nature Creating art inspired by nature, such as sketching landscapes, painting botanicals, or crafting with natural materials, allows people to channel their emotions into creative expression. Artistic endeavours can serve as a means of processing grief, finding beauty in sorrow, and fostering self-expression and healing.

7.

Sunrise or Sunset Contemplation Witnessing the sunrise or sunset in a natural setting can be a profoundly moving experience. Watching the changing colours of the sky, feeling the warmth of the sun’s rays, and hearing the sounds of nature awakening or settling can evoke feelings of peace, renewal, and connection.

Taking time to reflect on the beauty and symbolism of these natural transitions can offer comfort and perspective during times of grief.

8.

Nature-Based Celebrations Holding a celebration in a natural setting remember loved ones can provide comfort and closure during the grieving process. Whether holding a memorial service in a favourite woodland, scattering ashes in a meaningful natural location, or planting a commemorative tree, nature-based celebrations can facilitate healing and remembrance.

9.

Rock Balancing Engaging in the art of rock balancing involves stacking rocks in intricate formations, often in peaceful outdoor settings such as riverbanks or beaches. This meditative activity requires focus, patience, and balance, providing a calming and centring experience for people navigating grief. Creating temporary sculptures with rocks symbolises the impermanence of life and the importance of finding balance amidst change and loss.

10. Nature Retreats Participating in nature retreats or wilderness expeditions specifically designed for people who are coping with grief can provide a supportive and healing environment. These retreats often incorporate activities such as guided walks, group therapy sessions, mindfulness practices, and reflective exercises, offering participants opportunities for connection, growth, and healing amidst nature’s embrace.

Taken From: https://silvotherapy.co.uk/articles/coping-with-grief-through-nature-connection

TCFV Winter 2025 23

Life After Life – My Daughter Is Still Alive (continued from the AUTUMN edition of Compassionate Connections) “What we have once enjoyed we can never lose. All that we love deeply becomes a part of us.” Helen Keller.

While walking home from school Chione had walked ahead of the others and then stopped at the side of the road to wait for them to catch up. As she stood there a car came off the road and hit her and then pulled back onto the road just before it reached Laurie and the other children. The accident happened on the stretch of road that had distressed me so much. Chione was standing off the road and definitely not on the road, as Laurie and the children had unfortunately witnessed the accident.

The next morning, on 14th October Laurie and the children joined me in the hospital. Chione was only a small child, and her little body had suffered severe damage. The doctors told us she was only being kept alive with the aid of life support and if she went home, she would be confined to bed and need the life support machines to keep her breathing for the rest of her life. We agonized over this and finally made the heartbreaking decision to turn off the life support.

As Chione lay on my lap, dying in my arms, I told her a story. She loved to have stories read to her but especially cherished the stories I’d make up to tell her. It was a story about a little girl who goes out for a walk in the bush and gets lost in a dark cave. Her father comes to look for her and eventually finds her. After the story I told her no matter where she goes, I will always look for her and in time I will find her. And we would be together again someday.

We struggled to try to understand what had happened and cope with this profound loss. I wouldn’t have carried on without the love and support of Laurie, the remaining children and a couple of very special friends. When such terrible tragedies happen in life it is vital to focus on things that will maintain your sanity and caring for the rest of the family is something that certainly helps to keep you going. We had wonderful support and assistance given to us by several family and friends, the Hurstbridge Primary School community, The Compassionate Friends group and The SUDS (Sudden Unexpected Deaths) section of SIDS. After Chione’s death, like all of us Andreas was of course 24 TCFV Winter 2025

in great distress and often deeply upset. He was also just too young to express his acute pain and anger in words. He wasn’t sleeping well and often woke crying.

Sometimes I’d sit with him until he fell asleep again or get in bed with him to comfort him. Sometimes he would come in our bed with us. One night, I was up wandering around downstairs quietly crying, thinking about my own death and trying to hold on. Eventually, I came upstairs to try to get to sleep, when I heard Andreas talking in his sleep, so I went to his room. I heard him saying, “Don’t die, don’t die.” I stayed with him for a short while and then I went back to my bed. I lay there trying to sleep but still couldn’t. After a few minutes Andreas woke up and came into our bedroom, so I put him in bed between us. Laurie was still asleep, and Andreas soon fell asleep too. I lay there unable to sleep and thought to myself I can’t survive this. I began to think of ways to kill myself.

As I lay there on my back, Andreas’ arm landed on me, with his hand on my chest (above my heart) and he said in his sleep, “If you go, I’ll come too.” I lay there for a while thinking about this moment and asking myself, “Did that really happen?”, before falling asleep.

Throughout my life I had often wondered about the issues of existence and the universe such as, is there life after death, are events in life random chance or predetermined? Even as a young man in my early teens I pondered these important life questions and reflected on various spiritual and ethical questions. As I grew older, I became more aware of the inequality, injustice, racism, war and poverty around me. The obvious practical problems humanity faced in the real world weighed heavily on my mind. In time, I guess I decided that despite my wanting answers to these vital questions of life, these would remain elusive, unanswerable and unknown to me. It seemed clear to me then that there were things I could focus on where I could make a real difference and have a positive impact, to try to make the world a better place. So over time I became more and more actively involved in social, political and environmental issues going on around me.

But after my daughter’s death it now became imperative, essential to me to try to understand these questions.

I needed to know if my daughter was still alive

somewhere else and if I would see and be with Chione again, if indeed there was a life after this life. It was no longer an academic or philosophical question to think about, but something I really needed to know if I was to survive this loss and go on. I had no real idea how to go about finding this out, but knew I had to do something.

Despite the assistance we received from many good people, I needed more. For me dealing with grief wasn’t enough to endure this terrible heartbreak, I wanted to know where my beloved daughter was now.

I began to read, not just books on coping with grief, but also books about life and death and the afterlife.

And I started to read books on bereaved people who were contacted by their deceased loved ones. I was of course particularly interested in cases where departed children had contacted their parents or close relatives.

I especially found these books on children who had passed over to the other side and later contacted their relations or friends of greatest comfort and encouragement. I suppose I was waiting for a sign or other indication, looking out for some sort of contact, without knowing what to look for or really what to expect. And I don’t really know what I anticipated would occur. I hoped it might be the catalyst that opened a doorway so Chione could get in touch with me.

In this life Chione and I had an incredibly strong connection, so I guess I thought that if she were still alive in another place, she would manage to bridge the gap between these worlds and contact me. If other children had been able to do this, then Chione, with her strong willpower and spirit I believed would be capable of contacting me. How, I didn’t know, but I went on a search, talking to those I thought might understand. I

spent time thinking, sitting or lying quietly somewhere hoping for a sign. I went to see hypnotherapists and a woman who I had been told could contact the dead.

Nothing came of these efforts. After some weeks of searching, I began to despair. I was confused, angry, lost and wanted to end my life. But my wife and especially the other children needed me. I struggled with this dilemma. I thought, how could I possibly go on like this, yet how could I leave my family alone with even more sorrow to bear.

One day unusual things began to happen. Beginning with vivid, strange dreams, then things happening around the house and yard, like clocks stopping, constantly finding lights and the fan above the oven on that had been turned off, things being moved about, especially on or around significant dates, birthdays and anniversaries. I know people say that when someone close to us dies and we have dreams or things happen, it’s just coincidences or our minds being over-active. But over time these things became more tangible and could not be explained away as mere imaginings of the mind.

By Steven Katsineris – Bereaved Father of Chione (6) To be continued in the SPRING edition of Compassionate Connections.

TCFV Winter 2025 25

Memorial Ideas #2 Continuing our series of Memorial Ideas, taken from the Workshop run at “The Gathering” in 2022…

Writing For some people, writing down their emotional storms, their sweet memories, their furious thoughts, is a way to communicate or to disperse what’s going on inside. It might be a story, it could be a poem, maybe diary entries or occasional ramblings. Taking those internal upheavals and recording them in words “out there” can be a joyous expression or a much-needed release. We invite you to submit your writing to us for possible publication in the magazine, too.

From “Why you should write your grief” by Jessica Fein (link below):

Writing our grief takes us out of the passenger seat When our world is torn apart by grief, it can feel like we’re audience to our agony. We watch the life we once knew disappear and experience intense powerlessness to stop it from happening. Writing lets us regain some control, not of the ultimate outcome, but of the tsunami of emotions coming our way. With pen in hand, so to speak, we own our narrative. It’s not the story we’d choose to write, but we do get to decide how to express it.

Writing our grief helps us figure out how we’re feeling about it Trying to make sense of the jumble of thoughts that keeps us up at night can feel like an exercise in futility.

But when we write those same thoughts down without self-judgment or a need for perfect word choice and punctuation, we can begin to see patterns and themes emerge. Putting aside our ego and simply writing whatever comes up for us can offer surprising insights. I learned just how depleted I was when I saw how many synonyms for exhaustion popped up in my writing. (Eight, in case you’re wondering how many I found.)

Writing our grief allows us to share with others in a more vulnerable way than we may be comfortable doing in person I’m a fan of a good heart-to-heart, but conversation comes with inherent downsides. We might have limited time or parse our words or try to gauge what the other person is thinking based on their facial expressions. Writing removes all those things from the equation.

We also express things differently, often more truthfully, in writing. I probably wouldn’t tell someone, “I bargained with a god I wasn’t sure I believed in. I promised to be a better parent, a better person, a better human being.

I didn’t know what any of that meant, but I promised to figure it out.” But that’s what I wrote in the face of my daughter’s illness, and those words say more than I ever would have been able to verbalize.

26 TCFV Winter 2025

Writing our grief helps us confront and welcome it into our lives We know that the goal isn’t to “move on from” or “get over” our grief, but rather to begin to move forward with it.

But integrating feelings that are stuck in our emotional avoidance file is tricky. Writing is a way to organize the chaos while gaining clarity and perspective.

Writing our grief becomes a record of our experience that can remind us of how we’re evolving alongside it Grief has no prescribed stages or road map to show us the way. So how do we know where we’ve been and where we might be headed? When we engage in a regular writing practice, we can begin to recognize patterns or shifts in our experience. It’s a tool for our own introspection, and should you choose to share it, it might also be a valuable resource for family or friends.

So how do you start writing your grief?

• Identify a set time of day to write and put it in your calendar as you would any other appointment.

• Get a beautiful journal if you write with pen and paper. Make some tea, light a candle, snuggle under a cozy blanket…whatever you need to create an inviting space.

• Don’t be judgy. Write what you feel. Remember that nobody else will see what you write unless you want them to.

• Enlist a writing buddy. If going solo doesn’t work for you, invite a friend and hold each other accountable.

• End each writing session with a question you’re going to respond to on the next go-round. That way you’re never faced with a blank page. https://www.psychologytoday.com/au/blog/grace-in-grief/202406/why-you-should-write-your-grief If you’d like to use some prompts for your writing, there are some wonderful ones here: https://aboutsandcastles. org/journaling-about-grief-prompts-to-get-you-started/ See also the poem by Steven Katsineris elsewhere in this edition – Add Page Number once known Further resources: “Emergence” SBS anthology of stories in our library, which includes a story by our own Hope Sneddon. - “Grieve: stories and poems about grief and loss” Hunter Writer’s Centre in our library.- ABC Conversations podcast episode “My brother’s death: writing the story of a family’s grief and loss”.

Article By: Joanna Durst, remembering Zoe

TCFV Winter 2025 27

TCFV MEMBER SURVEY 2025 SUMMARY REPORT

By Hope Sneddon We, at TCFV, are extremely grateful for everyone who took the time to fill out our member survey for 2025. Surveys are a vital part of understanding our community and it gives us insights about how we can best provide support.

Your previous feedback has helped shape our events, refine our support groups, inspire new offerings, and review how we communicate and connect throughout the year. One example of this is the introduction of the Gentle Connections social night – developed with feedback from members seeking less formal, peer-based opportunities to connect in the early stages of grief.

This year, we have had over 130 people respond and it has given us lots of valuable ideas and so much to reflect on. We cannot wait to share how we will be implementing these going forward.

We are extremely proud of all our volunteers and staff, and this has also been reflected in the survey with many members expressing the importance of our support services: •C lose to 70% of survey responders highlighted the importance of support groups •C lose to 40% of survey responders highlighted the importance of anniversary cards •C lose to 30% of survey responders expressed the importance of our 24/7 support lines •A nd close to 30% of survey responders had highlighted the importance of volunteering and having grief specific events, respectively.

We know that these services are a vital part of what TCFV does, and how invaluable they are for people.

28 TCFV Winter 2025

It is so important to connect with people who have had similar experiences, and this has also been reflected in the survey results with many responders outlining the invaluable help of specific services like Men’s grief spaces, suicide bereavement supports, and sibling groups. We also know that there are so many additional possibilities for more support services and events, and we are looking into how we can facilitate some of these in the future, based off the results in the survey. Some suggestions from the survey include implementing: •q ueer support groups, • s pecialised groups for different bereavements, •a short story and poetry publication written by members, •o utdoor activities, • panels,

education events and workshops on grief, •g roup-based timeout retreats, •a nd more regional support groups and events.

We are extremely thankful to everyone who has expressed interest in becoming a volunteer and to our continuing volunteers who help support the organisation. Any extra volunteers mean we are able to organise more events, expand our support services, and reach more people who are in need.

TCFV Winter 2025 29

Please know that you can offer to volunteer at TCFV at any time for any length of time, however, we do strongly suggest that it is best to wait until you are at least two years bereaved, or until you feel ready.

Thanks again to all our TCFV Members and Staff. None of this would be possible without your support. Here are some of the wonderful events and moments of connection that we have already been able to foster since our last survey. We hope to have many more wonderful moments and connections in the future.

30 TCFV Winter 2025

The Compassionate Friends Victoria is part of a worldwide organisation, which was founded in England in 1969 and established in Victoria in 1978. It is a mutual assistance, self-help organisation offering friendship and understanding to families following the death of a child, sibling, or grandchild of any age and from any cause.

The primary purpose is to assist them in the rebuilding of their lives after the death of their child, sibling, or grandchild and to support their efforts to achieve emotional and mental health.

TCFV Staff CEO: Alex Hamilton Operations Manager: Andrew McNess Community Education & Communications Coordinator: Jane Moschetti Services and Operations Support Coordinator: Hope Sneddon Volunteer Support and Engagement Coordinator: Natasha (Nat) Ballingall Sibling Coordinator: Jude Chrisan Events Assistant: Nicole Mercandel IT: Jesse Bendel

Board President: Kevin Purvis Vice President: Amanda Bond Secretary: Claire Kuhnell Treasurer: Gary Neugebauer Board Member: Bruce Houghton Board Member: Sonia Aberl Board Member: Ann Smith Regional Member: Robyn Reeve The Compassionate Friends Victoria Patron: Rhonda Galbally AC

24-hour grief support – available on 03 9888 4944 / 1300 064 068 Bereaved drop-in Centre, Hours 9.30am – 4.30pm Monday to Friday Disclaimer: Unless expressly stated, the views expressed in articles, poetry etc. in this magazine are not necessarily the views of TCFV Board, Staff or the editorial team. The editor reserves the right to edit any contribution. Permission is given to Editors & Chapter Leaders of The Compassionate Friends to reprint material from the magazine. We request that credit be given to the author & their TCF Chapter.

TCFV Winter 2025 31

TCFV SUPPORT GROUPS & SOCIAL SUPPORT GROUPS Note 1: Unless stated otherwise all groups are open to bereaved parents, siblings and grandparents – 18 years and above – who are bereaved through any means.

Note 2: Sometimes, group meeting details need to be updated between when the magazine goes to print and when it is delivered to your letterbox or Inbox. For the most up-to-date listing of meetings, please visit: www.tcfv.org.au Support Group Meetings provide bereaved parents, siblings and grandparents (18+ years) the opportunity to meet in a safe environment with others who have “been there”, who understand and care. Group attendees report that meetings are an essential part of their “learning to live again” journey.

Social Support Group Meetings are similarly led by group leaders. They are a lovely social opportunity for bereaved people, often held at a cafe. Discussion is more general, although can sometimes centre on grief-related issues. If you are needing more substantial time to explore your grief-related issues (and this can particularly be the case when you’re newer in your grief), we recommend a formal support group.

A minority of groups require registration to attend.

Please notify our telephone support-line of your intention to attend the next meeting of one of the following groups: Hawthorn East Social Group / Box Hill Social Group / Canterbury Evening Support Group Please register to attend an upcoming session of one of these groups: Culture Club / Express Yourself Through Art at TCFV CENTRE / Online Express Yourself Through Art.

I’m new to meetings. Should I speak with the leader/s first before attending a meeting?

We highly recommend you speak with the group leader prior to your first meeting at any TCFV group. Call TCFV on 9888 4944 (Melbourne)/1300 064 068 (regional) and we can help arrange a chat. Speaking with the leader is a valuable introduction to the group and what it can offer you in your grief journey.

I have baby-sitting problems. Would it be alright to bring my child with me?

While we understand the difficulties of finding childcare, we must ask that out of respect for the needs of others, you do not bring children (under 18 years of age) to meetings.

Someone in my household has a respiratory illness but I don’t. Can I still attend a meeting? Meetings, by design, have people sitting in close proximity to one another. If someone in your household is sick, we would prefer that you not attend a face-to-face meeting in that month. Please be aware that, in its place, you could have a one-on-one peer support session (see: www.tcfv.org.au/one-on-one) and/or attend an online support group (for upcoming sessions visit www.tcfv.org.au/events).

Bereavement support for under-18s.

While TCFV’s services are for individuals 18 years and above, there are a number of other organisations that provide under-18 services, such as Grief Australia, Headspace and Jesuit Social Services. A listing of these services can be found at: www.tcfv.org.au/under-18s

REGIONAL CONTACTS We have TCFV volunteers in the townships / regional cities listed below who have some availability for a peer support phone chat or coffee catch-up: Bairnsdale – Elvie

Ballarat – Robyn

Horsham – Ronda

Camperdown – Judi Melton – Deb

Wodonga – Lynne

Please enquire on 1300 064 068

32 TCFV Winter 2025

Castlemaine – Matthew

SUPPORT GROUP

Which day in the month is the meeting held?

Where is meeting held?

Bayside

4 Wednesday 7pm-9pm (Jan-Nov)

Highett Neighbourhood Community House, 2 Livingston St, Highett

Bendigo

4 Tuesday 1:30pm (Jan-Nov)

Long Gully Community Centre, 23-29 Havilah Rd, Long Gully

Canterbury Daytime

4 Wednesday 11am (3 Wed in Dec)

TCFV Centre, 229 Canterbury Rd, Canterbury

Canterbury Wings – Loss of a Young Child under 5 years

2 Tuesday 7:30pm (Feb-Dec) Registration required: call 03 9888 4944

TCFV Centre, 229 Canterbury Rd, Canterbury

Canterbury Siblings-specific meeting

3 Tuesday 7.45pm

TCFV Centre, 229 Canterbury Rd, Canterbury

Canterbury Suicide-bereaved

4 Monday 7:30pm (Jan-Nov)

TCFV Centre, 229 Canterbury Rd, Canterbury

Eltham

1 Thursday 11am (Feb-Dec)

Eltham Library Community Room, Panther Place, Eltham

Geelong

Last Tuesday 7:30pm (Jan-Nov)

Anam Cara House, Zone/4 Nicol Drive South, Waurn Ponds

Menspace

3 Wednesday 7pm-9pm (Feb-Dec)

TCFV Centre, 229 Canterbury Rd, Canterbury

Mildura

2 Saturday 11am (Feb-Dec)

MADEC Community College, 133-137 Madden Ave, Mildura

Portland

3 Tuesday 7pm (Feb-Dec)

Please contact 1300 064 068 for venue details

Rowville

1 Friday 1pm (Feb-Dec)

Bridgewater Centre, cnr Fulham Rd & Bridgewater Rd, Rowville

Somerville Bereaved Parents Group

*Run by ProjexJ (projexj.org), with support from TCFV 4 Thursday 10am-1pm.

(Jan-Nov)

Somerville Community House, 2/21Worwong Avenue, Somerville

Sunshine

3 Tuesday 7pm (Feb-Dec)

Salvation Army Drop-In Centre, 42 Devonshire Rd, Sunshine

Sunshine Bereaved Through Suicide

1 Tuesday 7pm (Feb-Dec)

Salvation Army Drop-In Centre, 42 Devonshire Rd, Sunshine

Warrnambool

1 Wednesday 7:15pm (Feb-Dec)

Archie Graham Community Centre, 108 Davis Street, Warrnambool

ONLINE SUPPORT GROUP

Which day in the month is the meeting held?

Where is meeting held?

Suicide-bereaved

3 Thursday bimonthly 7pm (Feb, Apr, Jun, Aug, Oct, Dec)

Held via Zoom. To register to receive the Zoom link prior to each meeting, please visit: www.tcfv.org.au/online

Bereaved through any means

1 Tuesday monthly 7:30pm (Feb-Dec)

Held via Zoom. To register to receive the Zoom link prior to each meeting, please visit: www.tcfv.org.au/online

SOCIAL GROUP

Which day in the month is the meeting held?

Where is meeting held?

Box Hill

2 Thursday 7pm (Jan-Nov) Bookings are essential.

Please call 03 9888 4944.

Box Hill RSL, 26-28 Nelson Rd, Box Hill

Geelong

2 Tuesday 10am (Feb- Dec)

Brioche Café, 175 West Fyans St, Newtown

Hawthorn East

4 Tuesday 7pm (Feb-Nov) Bookings are essential.

Please call 03 9888 4944.

Café Paradiso, 213-215 Camberwell Rd, Hawthorn East

Southern Peninsula

1 Tuesday 12 noon (Feb-Dec)

Please contact 1300 064 068 for venue details

ART THERAPY GROUP

Which day in the month is the meeting held?

Where is meeting held?

Express Yourself Through Art at TCFV Centre

3 Monday of the month 7:30pm (Feb-Dec) Registration required: www.tcfv.org.au/events

TCFV Centre, 229 Canterbury Rd, Canterbury

Online Express Yourself Through Art

1 Thursday of the month at 1.30pm (Feb-Nov) To register, please visit: www.tcfv.org.au/events

Held via Zoom.

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Please note: Bereavement Peer Support in Hobart

Bereaved parents, siblings and grandparents in Hobart meet informally at a café setting on a regular basis (often a weekend afternoon). For more information on this non-TCFV support network, including dates and times, please contact our telephone support line on 1300-064-068.

TCFV Winter 2025 33

34 TCFV Winter 2025

100

COMMUNITY NOTICE BOARD Honour the life of a loved one with a lasting legacy of generosity.

Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation, Australia’s largest community foundation can help you ensure that they are remembered through a permanent legacy of giving to others.

A named Memorial Charitable Fund will create lasting change for generations to come without any administrative burden.

To begin a discusson on we may assist contact the philanthropy team on 03 9633 0033 philanthropy@lmcf.org.au

lmcf.org.au

Your Funeral. Your Way. No one knows you like you. So when it comes to your funeral, it makes sense to pre-plan so you can get every detail just the way you want it.

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Call Bronwyn, your local Guardian Plan consultant on 0407 460 526 or visit guardianplan.com.au to download your free funeral planner.

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Guardian Plan is a funeral bond issued by the Over Fifty Guardian Friendly Society Limited (the Society) ABN 81 087 649 063 AFSL 524353. *Custom preplanned funerals can be paid in interest-free instalments or upfront. A deposit of 30% is required and balance can be paid by monthly payments over a period up to 3 years. Monthly payment instalments are not available for packages. Therefore, full payment is required at the time of arrangement.

guardianplan.com.au

TCFV Winter 2025 35

Thank you Supporters Agnes Tan

Kidsafe Victoria

Avery Poole

Le Pine Funerals

Bendigo Community Bank – Inner East (Ashburton, Balwyn, Canterbury, Surrey Hills)

Life Time Trophies

Bradley Family

Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation Louisa Ong

Bryn Humphreys

Marken Hosting

Bunnings Box Hill

Michael & Maureen Cawley

Bendel Family

Mindfull Aus

Brunswick United Masonic Lodge

Nunan Family

Charles Tegner

Pam & Max Williams

Cheryl Lardner

PivotLife

City of Boroondara

Robyn Arya

Coates Family

Ruth Robinson

Country Women’s Association of Victoria

Shelia Schutz

Dorothy Ford

Sim Family

Eastern Press Emily’s Wish Foundation Geelong Cemeteries Trust

SM Creative State Government of Victoria Strickland Family

Guardian Plan

Sue Binzer

Harmer Family

The Pethard Tarax Charitable Trust

Ian Zadow

Tobin Brothers

Jared Dunscombe Foundation

Trembath Family

Jennifer O’Reilly John Brown

Tripleconnect

Judith Theobald

Yarra Ranges Council

Justice Connect

Yvonne Sharpe

Karen Philippzig

Wall, Theresa, Shane & Family

TCF AUSTRALIA

National Number 1300 064 068 ACT & Queanbeyan New South Wales Queensland South Australia TCF Mandurah

0494 149 866 02 9290 2355 07 3540 9949 0456 820 133 08 9535 7761

Suite 602, 109 Pitt Street, Sydney, NSW 2000 505 Bowen Terrace, New Farm 4005 Mandurah Lottery House - 7 Anzac Place, Mandurah 6210

TCF on the internet - United Kingdom www.tcf.org.uk – New Zealand (email) tcf.otago@xtra.co.nz USA www.compassionatefriends.org – SA www.compassionatefriends.co.za – Canada www.tcfcanada.net/

The Compassionate Friends Victoria

229 Canterbury Road, Canterbury VIC 3126 PO Box 171 Canterbury, Vic. 3126 Support Phone: (03) 9888 4944 Administration Phone: (03) 9888 4034 Email: support@tcfv.org.au Web: www.tcfv.org.au