Welcome to our final eNewsletter for 2014! We have finished off the year with a BANG - lots of events, record high attendances and lots of fundraising team activity. We have also received the fabulous news that we have been successful in our submission to be selected as a Disability Support Organisation by the NDIA. This will provide us with the ability to continue to run our programs throughout 2015 and 2016, and help us build our programs and supports to be expanded to best suit the needs of families with children with ABI. I am sure you will agree this is wonderful news!!

 As usual I want to thank our great team of passionate and hardworking volunteers in not only ensuring our groups and support programs continue to thrive but also ensuring our plans ahead are also coming to fruition. We took time out to celebrate all our volunteers at our annual event in November and a great day was had by all.

I am excited to be away on a wonderful family trip overseas from early December and am looking forward to a White Christmas with Michael, daughters Sydni and Cassie and my Mum and Dad Barry. However, as you know, while Christmas is a special time of the year for many families, it also can be a challenging one. Sometimes we reflect upon the sad times as well as the festive ones, and the difficulties that arise when living with ABI. So I do wish you all a very peaceful and special time and I look forward to seeing you all in the New Year at our Welcome Back Special Event.

Merry Christmas & Cheers from Jen & the F4F team / xx

NB: Still some November sessions running this week:

• Enfield Group - Wednesday 26 Nov, 10am - 12noon on 'Cyberspace after ABI'.
• Evening Group - Thursday 27 Nov, 5.30-7.30pm on 'Intro to ABI'.
• Carers Dinner Club - Friday 28 Nov, 6-9.00pm @ The Alma Hotel, Willunga.

In April we applied for a Federal Government grant scheme with the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) and we have just found out we were successful! We now have funds to assist us to operate as a Disability Support Organisation until Dec 2016, and we have also increased our Local Support Groups from January 2015 (more info below).

We wish to thank both Julia Farr MS McLeod Benevolent Fund and Flinders University for all of their support during our start up phase. As we have now achieved funding to continue we will be ceasing our Julia Farr grant from 31 December and our ongoing Flinders University ties will be limited to our ongoing research project and the roles played by key guest presenters from the Department of Disability and Community Inclusion including Dr Michelle Bellon, Ruth Crocker and Alinka.

Our first campaign, the 'Dick Smiths Foods' fundraiser, is going great. We are now in 8TH place Nationally - at this rate we would gain $10,000 but if we reach 7TH that would mean $20,000 for Families4Families!! Lets keep the pics coming - please see below or print off here: Dick Smith F4F Flyer
 

Volunteers Update from Jules & Garage Sale Event 

Jules would like to thank all the happy volunteers who assisted her over the past months with garage sales held at her home. Thanks to the outstanding donations supplied by the members we raised $772 + $335 for the Network, whilst enjoying the company of the team and raising ABI awareness as well - great job everyone! The fundraising committee is open to any suggestions and people willing to volunteer some time to help, whilst benefitting from being less socially isolated. We will try to provide transport if required by any member who wants to be involved.

Our first Association AGM was held in October and we now have a FULL membership of our Management Committee. Welcome to our new MC members, we would like to introduce our new members to you: 

• Daniela Stahl
• Ken Sleeman
• Pat Sleeman
• Pam Bennett
• Merryn Hackett
• Mark Williams
• Pamela Arnold
• Lynette Morris
• Maxine Cooper

We look forward to working with the new team throughout the next year (and beyond!). 

New Groups in 2015

Our Management Committee have added several new Local Support Groups to ensure we are giving our members as much chance as possible to attend our information, social, sharing sessions. As such the following Local Support Groups are now running:

• Metro Group: Thursday mornings monthly @ Glandore Community Centre;
• Evening Group: Thursday evenings monthly @ Glandore Community Centre;
• Gawler Group: Tuesday mornings monthly @ Gawler Sports and Community Centre;
• Southern/Fleurieu Group: Tuesday mornings monthly @ Sellicks Community Hall;
• Enfield Group: Wednesdays mornings monthly @ Enfield Community Centre (or GAZA during renovation period Feb-Jun).
• Hills Group: Thursday mornings monthly @ TAFE Library, Mount Barker;
• Social Lunch Club: Wednesday lunches held in North/East Metro area;
• Mount Gambier Group: Friday mornings 6 weekly @ Main Corner Complex;
• Mount Gambier Social Group: Lunch after sessions, usually @ Western Tavern;
• Eyre Group: Friday mornings approximately every 2 months @ Port Lincoln;
• Carers Dinner Club: Friday evenings for Carers in SEMetro Respite zone and the person they support at linked event, monthly @ various SE locations;
• Eyre Brainy Blokes: Friday mornings monthly @ various Port Lincoln Bloke's sheds;
• Brainy Blokes: Tuesday mornings monthly @ various (Southern) Bloke's sheds;
• Youth Dinners: Monthly Friday evening dinners for young people with ABI (18-25);
• Young Carers Group: Monthly Saturday sessions for young people with a close relative (eg Mum/Dad/Sibling) with ABI whom they assist (12-25 age group), held around metro area and with transport from surrounding zones (up to 100kms) available (with notice).
• Young Carers Camp Group: Twice annual camp for young people with a close relative (eg Mum/Dad/Sibling) with ABI whom they assist (12-25 age group). Open to all Young ABI Carers across SA, with transport provided (with appropriate notice).

The Management Committee is so excited that they have been able to expand our offerings in 2015 (thanks to the support of the NDIA). More new groups will be planned for 2016 - so let us know what you would like!!

  

Calendar Delivery: All members will receive their annual 2015 Calendars in the post in the next 2 weeks (it went to the printers on 20/11/14). If you have recently moved or do not receive this by 15 December, please let us know so we can fix this!

We have a great day planned for the Saturday of the Australia Day weekend. Come to Glandore Community Centre with your own picnic lunch and enjoy the casual family day with all our other member families. All details available here: Australia Event Flyer

• DRESS IN AUSSIE GEAR - whether its a flag cape, an Akubra or shorts and thongs, wear your best Aussie gear for some fun on the day!
• BYO PICNIC - keeping it traditional, we are asking all our families to bring along their own hamper of goodies which they will eat at their leisure. Our team will provide tea and coffee, drinks and something cold for dessert!
• BYO FRIENDS/FAMILY - feel free to bring along your extended family and friends to share in the day - the more the merrier!
• LIVE MUSIC - we are thrilled that a local band will come along and play for our families for a segment during the day.

We want to thank once again our main sponsors since our commencement back in 2012 - the Julia Farr MS McLeod Benevolent Fund. We also thank all the organisations who support Families4Families Inc. in various ways including: Flinders University, the Office of Youth (SA Government), Andersons Solicitors, Rosey Batt & Associates, Des's Mini Buses and Kennedy and Co. The help of these organisations enable us to offer more services to our families than our limited budget would allow. We also wish to recognise our selection by the NDIA as a Disability Support Organisation commencing in early 2015: 

Thanks also to all our wonderful VOLUNTEER team for all their amazing work throughout the year. We look forward to seeing you all soon!