May 2015 Many thanks to WA Roller Derby who held an Open Scrimmage (Ward versus WA) on Sunday, February 1 at 2:00 pm at The Rise in Maylands. It was attended by 113 people, with all profits raised ($336.35) going to the Pat Giles Centre. We were lucky enough this month to receive Easter donations of chocolate from the following: We have experienced a very busy start to this year with many families securing their own home. We have been able to provide four new fridges and four new washing machines to eight PGC families through the generosity of the community. Each of these eight families also received a house full of secondhand furniture and essential household items. In addition we were able to assist a mum and four children referred by the Department of Child Protection and Family Support with furniture and household items. PATRICIA GILES CENTRE WINTER CLOTHES GIVE-AWAY Thirty-two women, two men and fourty-four children attended and went home with new wardrobes Contact details for the Patricia Giles Centre: Tel: 9300 0340 Fax: 9300 2272 Email: [email protected] Internet: patgilescentre.org.au Whitfords Church Mother’s Group. A lady who won an Easter basket and has diabetes kindly donated it to PGC. Linda donated four large boxes of chocolate. Community Vision Joondalup donated two very large hampers of Easter eggs and toys. Many thanks to you all! Spiers centre and Iluka Homeowners’ Association donated a selection of bags of Easter eggs. Author Heather Joy Leane very kindly donated a hundred new children’s books to the Pat Giles Centre. Heather wrote Laugh again, Kinta! which is about a young kookaburra who gets separated from his family, finds himself on a journey and has to remember how to laugh in order to find another kookaburra in a strange, new place. Laugh again, Kinta! is a story of remembering who you are when everything around you changes. It is suitable for children up to the ages of eight or nine. The Polka Dot Market was held at Claremont Showgrounds at the end of April, and Kedy (C.E.O.) and Amber (Refuge Manager) gave up two days of their weekend to raise over $2000 to support women and children. GROUP WORK AT PGC This term three groups will run at the Centre: Circle of Security assists mothers of babies and young children to be the best parents they can be both physically and emotionally. Parenting Over Violence provides women who are experiencing abuse from their adolescent children with support and strategies for dealing with what can be extremely challenging and dangerous behaviours. Breaking Free is a group for women who have experienced domestic violence and offers education, and support from others with similar experiences. Tanya has been volunteering at PGC since January 2015 and has been an invaluable asset in the Women’s Counselling Service. She is currently studying for a BA in Psychology and Counselling at Edith Cowan University, and hopes eventually to specialise in Forensic Psychology which would involve reportwriting and appearing in court as an expert witness. She also hopes to conduct research into aggression and violence. Tanya brings a wealth of diverse experience to PGC—prior to starting her studies she worked on the mines as a Safety Manager, and before that as a Safety Advisor. Both roles were extremely challenging because they involved a great deal of dispute resolution. In addition, Tanya experienced rampant sexism, which did not make her work any easier. Eventually she left the mines to start her own recruiting company, and did this for the next three years. She enjoys martial arts (Hapkido), walking her dog Batman, and leather carving (she is self-taught!) She also has an affinity with crows, and particularly enjoys watching those who frequent the university grounds! We are extremely grateful to Tanya for all her help over the last few months, and hope to have a long relationship with her! CASH DONATIONS to the Patricia Giles Centre are always welcome, and can be targeted to any of the following unfunded services we offer women and children. ASSISTING WITH THE COST OF A TUTOR: To help women learn English OR to assist children who have fallen behind at school. WHITE GOODS: When families move into their own home assisting with either a new fridge or a new washing machine is a wonderful support. SAFE FAMILIES SAFE PETS: assisting in the cost of fostering and caring for a dog so a woman and her children can live safely in a refuge knowing their beloved pet is safe. BARK (Building Animal Relationships with Kids): A therapeutic six-week program for children who have been hurting animals. FAMILY CAMPS: A four-day camp held in the school holidays for children who have been exposed to Domestic Violence, and their siblings and Mum. The camp is a mix of therapeutic, educational and fun activities for the children and parents. SURVIVAL MONEY FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN WHO HAVE NO INCOME: Some of our families have no access to Centrelink payments. Securing full-time work whilst living in a refuge after experiencing trauma and abuse can be overwhelming, particularly when you don’t speak English. Financial assistance to provide food and pay medical bills for these families is vital. Our bank details for direct debits are as follows: Account name: Patricia Giles Centre Bank: Commonwealth Bank of Australia BSB: 06 61 66 Account Number: 10188915
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