Black Fellows Hands Cave

Heres a Picture of the two beautiful gaurdian spirits of the Black Fellows hands Caves in Lidsdale not far from Portland. My wife Sue took this photo last weekend when we went on a little photographic expedition into the area.

Bathurst Palliative Care Aqwareness table

The Bathurst Palliative Care Service will be represented at Stockland Mall Bathurst 22 nd October between 12.00 pm and 4.00 pm. ( we are given different spots each month) we will be attending a "Palliative Care Awareness table" which will be staffed by a Specialist Palliative Care nurse and a representative of the Bathurst Voluntary Palliative Care group.


We will be there to answer any enquiries about palliative Care and in particular what our service has to offer our local community. We will have many pamphlets to give away on palliative care topics.


We will be attending this "Palliative Care Awareness Table" every 4th Thursday of the month at Stockland Mall (bathurst) from now on. It gives the local community an opportunity to meet the local Palliative Care team in an informal way and discuss issues that are important to them.

Carers Australia

Carers Australia Supporting Family Carers

Carers provide unpaid care and support to family members and friends who have a disability, mental illness, chronic condition, terminal illness or who are frail.

More than one in eight Australians provide care of this kind.

We provide important services like:

• counselling
• advice
• advocacy
• education
• training.

Carers provide unpaid care and support to family members and friends who have a disability, mental illness, chronic condition, terminal illness or who are frail. http://www.carersaustralia.com.au/

What is Palliative Care?

The World Health Organisation defines Palliative Care as :

An approach that improves the quality of life of individuals and their families facing the problems associated with life threatening conditions, through the prevention and the relief of suffering by means of early identification and impeccable assessment and treatment of pain and other problems, physical,psychosocial and spiritual.

• 
  
  provides relief from pain and other distressing symptoms.
• affirms life and regards death as a normal process.
• intends neither to hasten nor postpone death.
• integrates the psychological and spiritual aspects of care;
• offers a support system to help patients live as actively as possible until death.
• offers a support system to help the family cope during the patient's illness and in their own bereavement.
• uses a team approach to address the needs of patients and their families.
• is applicable early in the course of illness, in conjunction with other therapies that are intended to prolong life.

Palliative Care is appropriate to many conditions that have a terminal phase and and are progressive in nature.

Greater Western Area (Southern and Eastern sectors) Specialist Palliative Care team

Referrals to the Specialist Palliative Care Service can be made by any health professional a patient themselves or family and friends.

The Specialist Palliative Care Nurses are located at 4 major centres in the Greater Western Area.

Bathurst: "Daffodil Cottage" (02) 63 305347

Orange: "Anson" Cottage (02) 63 933380

Forbes: Community Health Centre (02) 68 50 2233

Parkes: Community Health Centre (02) 68 62 1866

The Specialist Palliative Care Nurses are available from 8.30 am -5-00pm Monday to Friday. The nurses can visit palliative patients/carer's in their homes in hospital or in a residential care setting.

The Palliative Care Specialist Nurses can offer a range of services to support palliative patients and their carer's (including professional carer's).

This includes:

• Advice on symptom control.
• Helping to cordinate or refer to a range of supportive services.
• Links with Palliative Care doctor's.
• Assessment.
• Loan of special equipment.

If you think you might need the help of the Specialist Palliative Care team contact the nearest centre and ask to speak to a Palliative Care Nurse.

Bereavement Coordinator

A Bereavment Coordinator has been employed by the Greater Western Area Health Service to provide and coordinate bereavment follow up to family members and carers of patients registered with specialist Palliative Care Services.

The Bereavment Coordinator can also provide consultancy and support to clinicians and service providers.

If complex or prolonged gref is identified, referral can be made to local available services to assist the family member/ carer.

There are also some bereavment support groups available in some towns across the Greater Western Area Health Service.

If you would like bereavement support please contact your local Palliative Care Service or the Bereavement Coordinator on 02 63933396 or 02 63933380

Helen

Helen Hodgkins

Bereavement Coordinator (Mon - Wed)
Greater Western Area Health Service
Anson Cottage
302 Anson St
ORANGE 2800
Ph 6393 3380

Community Social Worker (Wed - Fri)
Community Health Centre
129 Sale St
Orange
Ph 6393 3300
(Switch)

Belly Balm

"Belly Balm' is a book of recipes and stories that has been published in the North West region of NSW. The objective of the book is in keeping with the 2009 National Palliative Care Awareness theme "If Only I Knew" and seeks to improve awareness of Palliative Care and the issues that surround it.

Belly balm is a wonderful collection of delicous recipes and personal reflections which have been contributed by Palliative Care carers and patients. These have been interspersed with contributions from a wide range of health care workers. This reflects the diverse group of Health Care workers who provide Palliative Care and how these teams come together to provide different levels of support needed to care for this group of patients and their carer's.

Alison Dawes
Lourdes Hospital
Dubbo

All Day Dreaming

Dear All.
I wrote this poem when my beautiful Granny started to drift away from us, losing her memories and no longer recognising us.

Kind Regards

Lilly D

All Day Dreaming

All Day Dreaming

A Stranger's crying in the kitchen.
I been all day dreaming.
These cups won't stop rattling.
And something's pulling me away.

These old hands got me questioning.
Into my eyes you've been searching.
Is It you I've been seeing.
Between my flickering dreams.

The airs full of whispers floating.
Too soft for me to be hearing.
But I'll be resting on them.
Because I'm tired again today.

I don't recall the growing.
I don't recall the losing.
I just got this feeling.
Something's pulling me away.
I remember the feeling.

You and me been singing.
But I just ain't remembering.
Any words to the song.
And the airs full of whispers floating.
Too soft for me to be hearing.
But I'll be resting on them.
Because I'm tired again today.

Lily D

Congratulations!

Hi James,

I have been meaning to add to this blog for some time – wow what an achievement! You and Christine deserve huge congratulations as this blog is both informative and creative. So often I hear of the isolation felt both by people with chronic illness and their carers or loved ones. I really hope they may find this approach a supportive way to share stories / feelings / thoughts over time.

It would be great if you could add a link to the work underway at the NSW Central West Division of General Practice. They are involved in several programs supporting people with chronic healthcare needs. If any further information regarding this would be helpful, let me know and I can certainly provide this. I’ll have a think about some other potential useful links and send these on.

Congratulations again. I’ll keen watching this site with great interest and support!

Claudia

Orange Prostate Support Group

The Orange Prostate Support Group. Providing a supportive and informative environment for men with prostate cancer and their partners or any person wishing to find out more about prostate cancer.

Meets: Anson Cottage (Orange)

When: 4th Monday of the month 6pm

Who to contact: Barry Spilstead 0427624067
Barry Moore 63926800
OR Cancer Council on 63920800

Thanks

Deb

Debbie Thornberry Office Coordinator
Western Regional Office - Orange
Cancer Council NSW
75 Kite St, Orange NSW 2800
PO Box 1977, Orange NSW 2800

Main Tel: 02 6392 0800 Direct : 02 6392 0802 Internal : 2802
Fax: 02 6361 7425

Email: debbiet@nswcc.org.au

Cancer Council is the leading cancer charity in New South Wales. Our mission is to defeat cancer.
For help and information call the Cancer Helpline on 13 11 20
P Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail

On the way to work!

Hi

I took this photo this morning on the way to work. It was taken on the Sunny Cnr rd near Portland. It just reminds me of what a beautiful place we live in.

Cheers

James

Bathurst Art and Health Program

If you are visiting the Bathurst Health Service a walk around the
corridors will introduce you to some of the art works in the building.
The Quiet Room Level 3, which looks over the foyer is the site of Paddy
Robinson's Glass Work. It's worth a visit. Paddy is from Sofala. Paddy
said 'I aimed to use my glass work to create a space that is relaxing,
calm and encourages quiet contemplation'. The frosted areas in the
work have been sandblasted which helps to create privacy. The design
represents a map of the local area.

Cheers
Christine

Christine McMillan
Art and Health Coordinator
Bathurst Health Service

.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Orange cancer Council

Hi James

What a great site.

Keep up the great work!

Deb

Cancer Council is the leading cancer charity in New South Wales. Our mission is to defeat cancer.
For help and information call the Cancer Helpline on 13 11 20
P Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail

Forbes/Parkes: Breast Cancer Support Group

The Forbes/Parkes: Breast Cancer Support Group has been meeting since 1992 and has approximately 53 members. It provides an informal support network for people with Breast Cancer and their carer's.

Time: 12.00am

When: 1st saturday of the month

Where: Vandenberg Hotel, Forbes.

Contact: Yvonne Shaw 68524267

Companions Thru Cancer

The (Parkes) Companions Thru Cancer is a support/friendship group for people who have had a diagnosis of Cancer or are caring with someone with Cancer. The group meets twice a month and has approximately 30 members. Share a friendly atmosphere with other people who understand what it means to have or had cancer or care for someone with Cancer.

When: 1st Monday of the month and 2nd Wednesday of the month.

Where: Parkes Neighbourhood Centre
Currajong St.

Contact Person: Pam Moule 68623189

Bathurst Prostate Cancer Support Group

The Prostate Cancer Support Group aims to increase the awareness of issues surrounding Prostate cancer, it's treatment and control. The group also provides an opportunity for men to discuss their concerns with other men who understand what it means to have a diagnosis of Prostate Cancer.

The group provides information around issues related to men's health and well being. The group meets every 3rd Tuesday of the month at Daffodil Cottage (cnr of Howick and Commonwealth St's, Bathurst) at 5pm. If your interested in finding out more about what this group has to offer call Arthur Cheers on 63321369.

Bathurst Regional Cancer Support Group

The Bathurst Regional Cancer Support Group aims to provide support for those people with Cancer and those that care for them. The group offers a friendly place to to meet with other like minded people who understand what it means to have or to have been treated for cancer.

Time: 10.00am
When: 2nd Monday of each month
Where: Daffodil Cottage (Cnr Howick and Commonwealth St's, Bathurst
Contact Person: Gen Croaker on 63371109

Orange & District Gynae Cancer Group

The Orange & District Gynae Cancer Group aims to support those women (and their carers) diagnosed with a gyneacological cancer. The group meets every two months 10.30-am to 12.30 am at Anson Cottage Orange. To find out more about this group call Nancy Gordon on 63933381

Bathurst Voluntary Palliative Care Group

The Bathurst Voluntary Palliative Care Group This group's aim is to support those people with a life threatening condition and their carers. The group offers respite in peoples homes and members visit palliative patients in hospital and aged care facilities. The group meets the 2nd Wednesday of each month at 4 pm. At Daffodil Cottage cnr of Howick and Commonwealth Sts, Bathurst.

Members of the group participate in activities which supports the work done at Daffodil Cottage. To find out more about the group give Janine Donnelly a call on 63371634 or Glenda Bosanquet on 63371634