RUBY IS SHOOTING GOALS

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Mondays are always an exciting start to our week because Ruby knows she gets to go to Sport for Fun after school.

We first started going as a way for Ruby to be active, have fun and to have a social activity to call her own. The program offered by Interchange Outer East was a wonderful introduction to different sports for Ruby. Each week they focus on a different sport from soccer, basketball to hockey and cricket. Although Ruby struggles through the warm up exercises she gets encouraged to do her best and so she tries. Fiona the coordinator at Sport For Fun makes everyone feel welcome and part of the team. She instructs each person at their skill level in a supportive and encouraging way.

Netball is one sport Ruby really looks forward to. With each session, she gradually gets better at her skills and learning the rules. Sport gets more competitive as kids gets older and this program allows Ruby to master the skills at her own pace.

I was surprised recently to find out that Ruby signed up for the school netball team as part of inter-school sports. She trained alongside her friends every lunchtime and practiced at home. It wasn’t until I went to watch Ruby play, that I realised what the Sport for Fun program had really achieved for Ruby. She stood on that court alongside her classmates wearing the goal shooter bib. They saw her as a valuable team member, capable enough to be in the position. I smiled, laughed, clapped and cheered as the game went on. On the inside I was holding back tears. She wasn’t given a token position because we practice inclusion, Ruby was given that position because she deserved it. Seeing her being apart of the winning team was a proud moment.

Going to Sport for Fun started off as a fitness goal for Ruby but it has meant so much more. It has been a program where Ruby can learn the skills of a sport at her pace and then feel confident enough to play as a valued team member with her peers.

Yvonne C (mother)

DADS GROUP OVERVIEW 2017

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Dads Group has been out and about on a variety of outings and activities during 2017. So far there has been a bit of action, lots of laughs and a whole lot of camaraderie.

Skeet Shooting
This sport really requires skill and focus and certainly brings out the competitive nature and sporting spirit. There was a range of experience from ex-army, hobbyists and arm chair shooters. Technique and top tips were hot topics before the first ‘pull’ call.
This however was the first time I had picked up a gun, let alone fired one. The warm up was brief; a steep learning curve ensued over the hour and I quickly found myself in ‘full competition mode’ with trigger happy competitors to my left and right. Like the war we don’t like to talk about who won.

Go Karting
Insert key elements and components: focus, skill and determination. These aspects quickly materialised, triggered by the whiff of petrol in the air. Thankfully everyone passed the breathalyzer to get on the track.
It was lovely to see a few new dads on the day. They thoroughly enjoyed stepping out of their dad role and taking a glimpse back to their younger carefree days.
It was certainly high octane fun, with the added analytics (whether you liked it or not) around shaving off those precious tenths of a second. It was great to be involved with people who just enjoyed the simplicity of having a good day out with their mates; and good to see such passion and knowledge for go-karting too.

Comics Lounge
It was a night of hilarity and silliness at the one and only Comics Lounge in North Melbourne. It was good to let loose by keeping it simple with some good old belly laughs. We were all very impressed by the banter, quality of the observational comedy and wit flying around. It was also good to see a cameo from Dave Hughes.
The simple nature of laughing is always welcomed…  and what a way to let your hair down!

Wilsons Prom Weekend Away
Only a weekend away can you see the true nature of this dads group. The bonds between them were clear to see and have been long formed. It was refreshing to see the full extent of their friendships.
Highlights were: trips to the brewery, Wilson’s Prom – Squeaky Beach walk, dinner at Fish Creek Pub and fishing in the bay. Not much to bring home; but as they say fishing is not about the fishing.
My first dad’s weekend away left me with the overarching feeling and realisation that this group does mean a lot to these guys. They truly are all there for one another. Sometimes this may only be conveyed by a punch on the arm, a passing of a beer, a knowing look or just listening to one another.

Bowling
One for the dads and their kids. Keeping it local, a casual dinner, few strikes here and there, but who’s counting. Obviously we did our best to put the opposition off when it was their turn.
Sibling rivalries were apparent for all to see. Not sure shoulder barging after each bowl was the best way of expressing sportsmanship!
It was great to bring the whole family together, see them have fun and share an evening in a comfortable local environment. Family is unquestionably everything.

Mark Taylor Dads Group Coordinator

FREEMASONS THEATRE NIGHT SUPPORTS SIBLINGS

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Once again Interchange Outer East has good reason to say a huge ‘thank you’ to Freemasonry.

A recent fundraising night where patrons were treated to a performance of ‘The Housekeeper’ at Clayton’s Encore Theatre, raised $4000 towards Freemasons pledged financial support to IOE’s Sibling Program for the coming year. The evening’s $3000 takings were supplemented by a further $1000 from auction items sold post event.

The evening was organised by Freemason’s Canterbury Lodge, with considerable contribution by their ‘daughter’ lodge SEAVIC, which also contributed hundreds of dollars for raffle and silent auction items which added considerably to the funds raised on the night.

SEAVIC also donated 20 tickets for the show to be used by IOE members. This offer was gratefully accepted and much appreciated by those who attended the performance. So, not only were funds raised for IOE, but some family members had a rare chance to go to the theatre. As one parent reported “With a disadvantaged child we are rarely invited out, or able to go out, so to be invited, and have such a special night was a great experience.” Nice feedback indeed which reinforced to Freemasons the validity of their ongoing support.

Freemasons also enjoyed the opportunity to meet more IOE colleagues and carers and were delighted that people enjoyed the show and contributed, both financially and by their presence, to the success of the night.
On behalf of all the families of IOE, thank-you Freemasons and thank-you to all who worked so hard to organise the event, donated goods or services or helped out on the night.

As Freemason Ross K said “The spirit of Freemasonry is alive and well at Canterbury. Well done!”

Welcome Dennon

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ACHIEVE 2B is an inspiring New Zealand based intercultural exchange program for high school students with disabilities. It is the brainchild of Founder Julia Hartshorne who, as a young student with mild disability, had an exchange experience which confirmed her belief that the experience should be available to all students regardless of their abilities.

In 2015 Interchange Outer East became a proud partner with ACHIEVE 2B and since that time the organisations have worked to bring the first international exchange to fruition.

Finally our first exchange student is here and by all accounts really enjoying his stay! Carly Ellen Lee and husband Rob welcomed Dennon McQueen- Foster (second from right in photo above) into their home in early April. Dennon will be hosted by the Lees for 3 months and is attending Fairhills High in Wantirna during his stay.

When not at school, Dennon has slotted right in as a volunteer with Interchange Outer East and in the 7 weeks he has been here has already volunteered on numerous weekend camps, including the recent Portsea family camp. From all reports, he is well liked by all the volunteers and children and has a positive, go getter and fun attitude to everything. He also volunteers every Wednesday with the Adult Services Enterprises group, bringing a new perspective for the guys. He has even joined IOE’s formidable Tuesday night soccer team – though as CEO Fred says “he does play rugby!”

As Carly says “Dennon has fitted right in with our family – though with his IOE volunteering it seems like he is hardly ever home! We did manage a camping trip together though where Dennon got to see a bit of the countryside. It was a different experience for him which he really enjoyed. He seems to have settled into Fairhills, has made friends there and is looking forward to taking part in their upcoming formal”

Dennon has been sharing his adventure with his friends back home in Whangerei New Zealand via facebook where the word ‘awesome’ makes a regular appearance. Though, he is missing his family as this is the first time he has been away from home for such an extended time.

It is anticipated this will be only the first of an ongoing program of exchanges through Achieve2B between Australia and NZ – future international exchanges are also being planned – giving students with disabilities the opportunity to experience life in a different cultural setting.

BUILDING SKILLS AT MYRTLEFORD

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Building on the success of the Adult Services Farm Intensive, which has been running for over two years at the ‘El Grando’ horse farm in Lurg, IOE Adult Services has introduced a new advanced Rural Intensive based at Myrtleford,  As with the Lurg intensive, the new rural intensive will operate one full week per month from Monday to Friday, with participants taking part in other Adult Services/independent programs for the other three weeks.

A number of former Farm Intensive group members have now moved on to the more advanced Rural Intensive program and are developing new connections in the small rural and primarily agricultural community of Myrtleford. The group members will be working at building on their existing skills learned during their time at Lurg and at developing new skills in other areas of farming.

As well as the actual physical work skills, group members learn many skills for independent living, taking responsibility for shopping, meal planning and preparation, cleaning and household chores, personal care and hygeine. An important part of the program is the continued improvement of the group’s communication skills and the development of social connections with the local community  The idea is for the Myrtleford group members – Adele, Kent, Rob, Lee and Morgan  –  to develop these local community connections, with support from staff member Matt, and also to independently drive the actual program as much as possible.

The group’s first stay was in February (6-10), and began with developing new connections within the town and also working with a local farm to harvest their garlic as well as tend to the farm’s blueberry seedlings.  Unlike the previous intensive, where the group stayed and worked solely at ‘El Grando’, this intensive aims is to find work with as many diverse farms in the area as possible.

Currently the group’s accommodation is a cabin in the local caravan park. However, they would like to establish a more permanent base and would love to hear from anyone who could offer an affordable place with basic facilities, ideally within 30kms of Myrtleford (even as far as Bright or Milawa). Please contact Matt Howard 9753 5369  or email matthew.howard@ioe.org.au if you can assist with this request.

Sandra Leehy