10 minute read
FACT Inc Board news
Many thanks to FACT Vice Chair Dale Lynch for this great report on our Board training.
On 16 May 2019 a group of four people from Tuart Place attended On Board: Introduction to Governance, a full-day training course on good governance.
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Three members of the Forgotten Australians Coming Together (FACT Inc) Board attended - Cevrina Reed (Chairperson) Lyn McLaughlin (General Member) and me (Vice Chair) - along with Philippa White (Director of Tuart Place).
The training day was facilitated by Rachel Pemberton, who is also a Fremantle City Councillor, and familiar with the work of Tuart Place.
Rachel presented the course in an easy to understand manner and was extremely knowledgeable about governance. The course was interesting and informative, and outlined the seriousness of our roles and responsibilities as Board members.
FACT Chairperson Cevrina Reed We covered all the important elements of good governance and practice, which confirmed that FACT Inc has all the necessary measures in place, and that the Board is doing an awesome job.
Areas in which we excel include risk management; strategic planning; board diversity; financial management; compliance with legal and statutory requirements; and excellent separation of operational and governance roles.
It was a great day in a pleasant learning environment, and we all increased our understanding of Board members’ roles and obligations.
Meet a Board member : Dr Katrina Stratton
Dr Katrina Stratton joined the FACT Board in early 2016, bringing with her a wealth of experience and expertise. Katrina received a warm welcome when she joined us for lunch on 15 July, as part of our 2019 ‘Meet a Board Member’ series.
I came to Tuart Place as a Board member for a lot of reasons. I knew of the great work done by Tuart Place, especially its participant leadership on the Board, and in creating the activities that take place here.
I was excited to learn from Tuart Place’s model of co-design and what it might look like in the places I work. I work at Wanslea, where we are a past and current provider of out of home care (when we began in the 1940s through the Cottesloe home, then through cottages, and in the 1980s a final shift to providing foster care in the homes of carers).
So I had much to learn too - as a social worker - about what it means to people to have been in care, and how we could learn from the past to ensure we provide the children we care for with what they need.
My other reasons were personal. My husband Steve spent a number of years in Fairbridge in the 1970s from the age of five. His mum was a single parent and they came from the UK on a government scheme for single parents, the idea being their children would be looked after while the parent established a home in a new country.
I lived with Steve’s care experience in lots of big and small ways. Small things, like him never being able to eat pumpkin because it was served up undercooked EVERY night at Fairbridge; to the big things I don’t need to tell you
16 At Tuart Place, 15 July 2019 (L-R) Tony Page, Katrina Stratton & Kelly Scott
about, especially forming relationships and healing with his family. Steve died in 2012 in a motorbike accident.
My Grandpa spent much of his later childhood at the New Norcia Mission; he was lucky enough to have carers with whom he spent every school holidays, and that consistency of love and care was a great protector for him (we know from research and life, the difference one secure adult in a child’s life can make).
Grandpa considered himself lucky because of that, and he and my Grandma had a loving 60-year marriage and four children.
It is my privilege to serve on the Board of Tuart Place, to honour the experience of those two wonderful men in my life, and to work with you all to contribute in some way to our goal of ‘Growing Strong Together’.
The Hands for Children initiative collects plastic bottle caps and turns them into prosthetic hands and arms for children in need. Using 3-D printer technology, donated bottle caps are recycled into the material used to build custom-made artificial limbs.
Sue Paton, wife of Tuart Place psychotherapist Gordon, alerted us to this inspirational project. Sue coordinates the collection point for Herald Avenue Senior Citizens Club, where she is a Committee Member, and has collected 10kg so far!
Tuart Place volunteers David L and David M are coordinating our collection point, which is a white tub with a Hands for Children poster, located in the common room area.
Dave and Dave urged everyone to ‘lend a hand’ to this worthy project and bring in their recyclable plastic caps and lids. To find out more about this amazing project, visit https://envision.org.au/envision-hands/ .
VALE Mary (Ellen) Circenis (nee McCloskey)
10-5-35 to 6-3-19
A farewell tribute to our dear Mary. What a gal. Much loved sister of Joan, Debbie and Nora (dec.) A dear and lifelong friend to Sheilagh and the Joey Girls. Our sincere condolences to Sid and family.
Many thanks to Linda Blagg for giving Tuart Place two copies of Burnished: Burnside Life Stories, kindly donated by author Kate Shayler.
The book is a collection of life accounts written by former residents of Burnside Children’s Homes in Sydney. It contains 26 memoirs, which Kate Shayler describes as “success stories that will hopefully result in Forgotten Australians being remembered”.
Linda gave us the books as a possible source of inspiration to Tuart Place participants, who may be inspired to tell their own accounts and possibly put a book together - a history not only of yourself but of others too.
We are most grateful to Linda and Kate for these additions to our lending library.
VALE Mary Mooney (Clarke)
1945 - 2019 Mary, we arrived in Australia in 1953 aboard the same ship, along with Alice McDonald, and were all sent to Nazareth House Geraldton. Having shared part of a Big Journey, the only consolation is that you are now at peace. Yvonne.
VALE Alfred Flanagan
5-7-1930 to 12-4-2019
Tardun Old Boys’ Association (TOBA) extends condolences to the Flanagan family on the passing of Alf. He arrived at CBAS Farm School Tardun WA in 1939 as a child migrant from the UK. He loved the country and devoted his adult life to farming in the district. We are indebted to the family for allowing TOBA free access to the school cemetery located on their property.
Every Monday: Singing group 10.30am-12 noon & the Big Monday Lunch at noon Every Monday: Counselling sessions available with psychotherapist Gordon Paton, by appointment Every Monday: Computers & mobile phone help with Jo’s team 10.30am-1pm Every Wednesday: Susy’s Support Group 10.15am-12 noon Every Wednesday: Computers & mobile phone help with Jo’s team. From 10.30am.
Every Thursday: Computers & mobile phone help with Jo’s team 10.30am - 12 noon
Every second Thursday: ‘Krafty Ladies’ craft session with Vera, from 11am Every Month: Family history and tracing with WA Genealogical Society expert Dr Lesley Silvester. 12.30-4.30pm, by appointment. Every 4 weeks: Free legal advice with lawyer Gary Dean. 1-4pm, by appointment. Every 4 weeks: Free beauty treatments with Natalia 11am - 3.30pm, by appointment.
Hello everyone, my name is Lok Yiu Lee, but you can call me Yoyo.
First of all, I would like to say that I appreciate this opportunity to share a little bit about myself.
Currently I am a graduate social worker from the University of Western Australia (UWA).
I started my volunteer work at Tuart Place in November 2018. I came here because my interest was sparked when some people from Tuart Place gave a talk to my class about their experiences as adults who had been in out-of-home care during childhood.
I have certainly developed greater skills while volunteering at Tuart Place - which will enable me to be a competent social worker to serve all of you!
You will find me in the computer room if you need any kind of mobile phone or internet assistance, or simply just come by just to say hi.
Here I am with Ian Donaldson and one of his custom-made windmills, which he kindly presented as a gift to me. Thank you Ian!
Family tracing with Lesley
Dr Lesley Silvester, our family tracing expert from the WA Genealogical Society (WAGS), visits Tuart Place each month to help people find out more about their family histories.
Lesley and her husband Mike also run ‘Time Trackers’, a busy genealogical firm that conducts family history research and specialises in British and Australian family history.
Contact Vicky at Reception to book a one-hour session with Lesley on a Monday afternoon. This service is free of charge. Next sessions in 2019: • Monday 16 September 12.30–4.30pm • Monday 21 October 12.30–4.30pm • Monday 18 November 12.30–4.30pm
Computers: Get in the know with Jo and her team
Whatever your skill level (even if you’ve never turned on a computer before) you can get individual help.
Use the computer room, or bring in your iPad, mobile phone or digital camera and learn to browse the internet, send emails, scan photos and shop online. Please call in to see one of Jo’s computer volunteers on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10.30am.
Free legal advice at Tuart Place
With lawyer Gary Dean, by appointment. Call Vicky to book a consultation to discuss any general legal concerns or questions. Phone consults also available.
Counselling with Gordon Paton
Gordon Paton is a highly experienced psychotherapist, group facilitator and transactional analysis counsellor, and recently retired from the Harry Hunter Drug & Alcohol Rehabilitation Centre, where he worked for 14 years.
Gordon provides counselling, free of charge, to Tuart Place participants on Mondays.
Contact Vicky for an appointment with Gordon.
Krafty Thursdays Every second Thursday, from 11am
Feeling crafty? Why not come along and join in the every-second-Thursday craft sessions at Tuart Place. Bring your own craft ideas or help out with team projects.
Upcoming events
Further details in the Events Calendar Mon 2 Sept - Meet Board Member Ann McVeigh Thurs 5 Sept - Bus trip to Lake Leschenaultia Mon 9 Sept - Dementia Aust info session Sat 14 Sept - SAG Fundraiser @ Bunnings Mon 16 Sept, 12.45pm - SAG meeting Wed 18 Sept, from 1pm - Podiatry clinic Mon 23 Sept, 1pm - Live Well Longer Mon 14 Oct - Natalie’s photos: The Middle East Mon 21 Oct, 1pm - Bec Moran research update Wed 23 Oct, 12.25pm - Visit to Roundhouse Wed 13 Nov - Have a Go Day outing (see p.15) Sun 17 Nov - End of year picnic at Waterford Mon 2 Dec - Tuart Place Christmas Party
‘High Street Happenings’ is a new participant-produced newsletter that is published every two months. It’s full of interesting articles and photos of things that have happened at 24 High Street. You can pick up a printed version at Tuart Place or contact us with your email address to receive the electronic version.
Natalia Pronina is a qualified beauty therapist who volunteers at Tuart Place providing monthly beauty treatments to participants.
Treatments include: back, neck and shoulder massage, reflexology, foot massage, basic facials, eyebrow wax and tint, pedicures, and lip, chin & face waxing. Please book with Vicky.
Free beauty treatments with Natalia
Next sessions in 2019: • Monday 2 Sept 11am–3.30pm • Monday 7 October 11am–3.30pm • Monday 4 November 11am–3.30pm • Monday 9 December 11am–3.30pm
