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Latest News2010August Sweet Louise launches Sweet Exchange fundraiser at Auckland's Rock Cafe Say hello to Sally our new Auckland Support Coordinator! Introducing Sweet Louise CEO Sue Brewster July Sweet Louise Members enjoy Swan Lake On Ice A Morning Tea Tribute to Jennifer Clark June Jennifer Clark May New Sweet Louise Welcome Pack launches in Auckland January Auckland Service Providers enjoy a 'sweet' social Meet new Support Coordinator Jan Apps 2009 December A Sweet Louise Christmas at Auckland's Highwic House Rosemarie Thomas - setting up Sweet Louise in the South Sweet Louise in Welliington - 33 Members and counting! October Sweet Louise Wellington Members enjoying services September Sweet Louise 'Absolutely Positively' launches in Wellington! August Pink Pilates now available to women with secondary breast cancer July Special Men's Evening: Caring for the Men in Our Lives Feature documentary 'opens the door' on Sweet Louise June Sweet Louise is coming to Wellington The New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation supports Sweet Louise Say hello to Sally, our new Auckland Support Coordinator! August 2010  New Sweet Louise Support Coordinator Sally Collins hails from Taranaki, did her nursing training in Palmerston North, worked in the UK, spent time upskilling in Nelson and ended up in Auckland ... and are we glad! Sweet Louise extends a warm welcome to Sally as she joins the Support Team to look after the growing number of Members in the greater Auckland area. Sally has an extensive background in both acute and rehabilitative psychiatric nursing. In 2000 she felt a change was needed and began working at Auckland's Mercy Hospice. "I'd always wanted to work in palliative care," she said, "because the gentle and holistic approach to caring for people interested me. When people are confronted with a serious illness or condition, it can take some time to come to terms with that, to accept the life changes. They need help learning how to look after themselves and to feel OK about themselves as well." When Sally heard about the position at Sweet Louise, she was keen to apply because she felt it was a good ‘next step'. "I loved the idea of the type of support offered by Sweet Louise." Sally has only been on board for a week or so but has begun tackling the computer systems and meeting the Auckland Members. "I attended the August Member Meeting and it was great to see the women getting so much out of the craft workshop and having such a good, fun time. It's wonderful to see the bonds of support between them all." Sally will cover West and South Auckland working with Support Coordinator Jan Apps and Senior Support Coordinator Sinda Hall. "I'm really looking forward to getting started and meeting the Members in my areas," said Sally, "ensuring they receive all they need and sharing what I can from my own background to support them." Auckland Service Providers enjoy a 'sweet' social January 2010  It may have been a hot mid-summer evening in Auckland but cool refreshments and delicious nibbles were on offer for Sweet Louise Service Providers enjoying a special function on Wednesday 27 January. The Sweet Louise Team invited Auckland Service Providers to enjoy an hour of good conversation, information and discussion at the Parnell Community Centre in appreciation of the integral role they play in the ongoing success of Sweet Louise. Read more ...Meet new Support Coordinator Jan Apps  January 2010 Jan Apps is finding her feet - and the way around Auckland's North Shore! - as she begins her role as the new Auckland Support Coordinator for Sweet Louise. Jan will work with fellow Coordinator Sinda Hall and look after Members in the West and North Shore areas of Auckland City. Jan comes to Sweet Louise from Dove House (at Auckland's Eastern Bays Hospice) where as the Volunteer Services Coordinator she managed the provision of all volunteer services. While working at Dove House, Jan realised the value of a more holistic approach to health care. She saw how alternative therapies offered real benefits to health and wellbeing when provided as a complement to conventional medical treatments. Jan was also impressed by the services Sweet Louise was offering to women living with secondary breast cancer. "I knew about Sweet Louise because Members would come to Dove House," Jan said, "so when I heard about the Support Coordinator position I was keen to apply. My position at Dove House was a management role, coordinating over 100 volunteers and all the services. I was ready for a change of direction that offered more ‘one-to-one' and personal contact with people." Jan sees the career change as a return to her nursing roots, re-discovering her passion and compassion for working within the community to offer support and care on a more individual basis. Born in Invercargill, Jan received her nursing training in Dunedin and moved to Auckland in 1980. She worked as a GP practice nurse and then spent seven years as a nurse consultant on the Southern Cross Health Information line until it closed down in 2007. She enjoyed the personal contact, taking the time to find out a little about those who called for information, offering a more personal approach. The management role at Hospice then introduced her to holistic health care. "It was quite a sea change. I'd worked in the medical arena for a long time and seeing the value of treating the ‘whole' person was a real turning point for me." Jan brings her medical expertise and an extensive knowledge of complementary therapies to Sweet Louise and is looking forward to meeting the Members, hearing their stories and offering them the best support she can. "It's very fulfilling to help someone. Sometimes just the smallest thing makes a huge difference and can often be done over the phone. When someone doesn't know where to turn, offering a little advice can really open a door for them." A Sweet Louise Christmas at Auckland's Highwic House  December 2009On the 6th of December a group of dedicated friends of Sweet Louise, led by Karen Moore and Vicki St John, raised over $50,000 at their Christmas Fair. Based on the famous annual ‘Carols' hosted by Chairman Scott Perkins, Karen and Vicki harnessed the support of an amazing team of volunteers to create something really special at Highwic House. In the late afternoon and early evening invited guests were serenaded by Nairobi Trio as they strolled around Christmas market stalls that were selling our very own Sweet Louise wrapping paper and unique gifts. With activities such as coconut shy and paintball there was plenty to occupy the kids while the adults enjoyed Christmas cheer and catching up with friends. The evening finished with traditional carols, led by Leza Corban and including the Kings College Choir and a beautiful solo by Anabelle Fay. In the words of Kathleen Fogarty, a good friend of the Perkins who volunteered to help with the event, it was: "Stylish, warm, intriguing and filled with atmosphere - very like the woman herself that has inspired Sweet Louise and all it stands for." Rosemarie Thomas - setting up Sweet Louise in the South  December 2009The national delivery of Sweet Louise services reached another milestone in November with the appointment of South Island Services Manager Rosemarie Thomas. Rosemarie has always aligned her passion for health and social services with causes where she feels her influence can have the most positive effect. In her new role as the South Island Support Services Manager for Sweet Louise, Rosemarie will be responsible for establishing and managing direct services for Members, beginning with Christchurch. The new position is a perfect fit for Rosemarie and with a launch date set for March 2010, she is looking forward to the busy and exciting months ahead. Rosemarie brings an extensive background in health social work and non-profit organisation management to Sweet Louise. Born in Invercargill, she trained in social work in Christchurch and knows the South Island situation well. "I lived in Christchurch for twenty years, working in women's health and paediatrics and it was there I had some experience in areas of oncology and patient care. I am particularly passionate about helping patients and their families affected by a cancer diagnosis, because their lives change forever in that one moment and there are so many issues to cope with and work through." She is particularly aware of the issues some South Island women face. "Treatment is not always available in their local area so they must travel and endure periods away from home and family - that can be very hard on everyone." Having followed the progress of Sweet Louise from a fledgling organisation to a national entity, Rosemarie celebrates its accomplishments and looks forward to contributing internally to its future growth. "It's an exciting time to be involved and I look forward to working with the Sweet Louise team to bring these wonderful services to the women of the South Island. It's a real privilege for me." Sweet Louise in Wellington - 33 Members and counting!  December 2009Support Coordinator Elva Phillips (pictured here with Auckland SC Sinda Hall) has barely had time to catch her breath since the official gala launch of Sweet Louise into Wellington on 16 September. The arrival of the organisation into the capital has generated a flurry of enquiries from locals offering services as potential Service Providers and Elva has signed up 33 new Sweet Louise Members. "I'm keeping very busy," said Elva, "working in the Wellington, Kapiti and Wairarapa areas and meeting new Members. We now have 27 Service Providers and hold regular monthly Saturday Members' Meetings." Sweet Louise Members in the greater Wellington area can enjoy Reiki, Green Acres lawn and garden services, Hire a Hubby for household jobs and Yoga - just to name a few! Some Members had participated in the web-based Forums for over a year, sharing experiences with others online and waiting for direct services to be available in Wellington. Being able to access Services and meet other women at the monthly Members' meetings have been wonderful experiences for them. Sweet Louise Wellington Members enjoying services  October 2009 Congratulations and messages of welcome are still rolling in following the launch of Sweet Louise in Wellington on September 16th. The launch event was much enjoyed by all who attended and Sweet Louise Wellington Support Coordinator Elva Phillips (pictured) has received many offers of support for the organisation from the local community. ‘The response has been wonderful,' says Elva. ‘I'm busy sourcing Service providers from a long list! We also have 16 Sweet Louise Members now, already using their vouchers to enjoy our services and I'm accepting more registrations from women each week. We have been made to feel so welcome here. The Members have already had their first meeting and are looking forward to more - we're in the process of finalising schedules and venues now.' October is Sweet Louise's ‘Take A Bite' party month and Wellingtonian Theresa Khatchian will be hosting an event on October 16th at the Kapiti District Council Community Centre. All are welcome to come along, have some fun and make a gold coin donation to Sweet Louise. ‘It's great to see people joining together to support us locally,' said Elva, who will speak at the event. (Please call 0800 11 22 77 for the ‘Take A Bite' party details). For more information about Sweet Louise in the Wellington area, to register as a Member or to find out about the local Members' Meetings, please call the Support Coordinators on 0800 11 22 77. Sweet Louise 'Absolutely, Positively' launches in Wellington!  September 2009Sweet Louise owes much to the efforts of those who volunteer their time and energy to supporting the organisation and no better was this spirit of caring more apparent than in the much anticipated September launch of the organisation's services into the Wellington area on the evening of Wednesday 16 September. Read more ... Pink Pilates now available to women with secondary breast cancer.  August 2009 Supported by the Pink Pilates Trust, the subsidised programme was first available only to women within two years of their initial diagnosis but now the ten session course is being offered at the same low cost to women within two years of a secondary breast cancer diagnosis. Read more ... Special Men's Evening: Caring for the Men in Our Lives July 23rd 2009 A breast cancer diagnosis has a far-reaching impact, affecting lives on many levels - practical, emotional, physical and spiritual. Family and friends offer much-needed support but often it is the husband or partner who must pull all the threads together, care for wife or partner and keep children, family, profession and life all moving forward. Read more ... Feature documentary 'opens the door' on Sweet Louise An inspiring half hour documentary about Sweet Louise aired on TV3 at 11am on Saturday 20 June. As part of the Open Door series, the documentary outlined the work and services of the organisation through the eyes of the Sweet Louise team and featured comments and thoughts from some of the women who have experienced Sweet Louise's services and fellowship. Feedback from those who watched the feature has been excellent. Read more and view the documentary ... (Posted 8 July) Sweet Louise is coming to Wellington It was Northland last year and now Sweet Louise is heading south to Wellington! We are delighted to announce that our services will be available to women in the Wellington area later in the year New Support Coordinator Elva Philips (pictured) is busy organising service providers to ensure Members can access a wide range of services and resources and can also enjoy the fellowship offered by our monthly Members' Meetings. Executive Director Jennifer Clark and Support Coordinator Sinda Hall visited Wellington in May to finalise the appointment of the Wellington Support Coordinator and to meet with clinical staff at Wellington Hospital. ‘We will officially launch services in Wellington in August,' said Jennifer ,' but we are encouraging women there to call our 0800 number now, become members, get to know us and participate in our website-based forums and journal facilities. We are very excited about Wellington.' Elva, a registered nurse, will source and coordinate the service providers and support the Wellington Sweet Louise members. She is thrilled with her new role. ‘What a privilege it is to offer these services, opening the door to things women might otherwise not have access to. Sweet Louise will be a real gift to the women of Wellington.' (Posted 10 June 2009) The New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation (NZBCF) supports Sweet Louise  A funding commitment from the NZBCF over the next three years will help to support the national expansion of the Sweet Louise service programme. NZBCF Executive Trustee Heather Shotter (pictured with Sweet Louise Executive Director Jennifer Clark) isays The Foundation wants to ensure that the services reach as many women as possible. "Regardless of where they live, New Zealand women should be able to access all the support they need to get through this difficult time," said Ms Shotter. "As a long standing national organisation, we are in a position to support smaller organisations in expanding their services. "We all want the same thing - to improve outcomes for New Zealand women with breast cancer. Now, more than ever, we need to be working together to improve results for New Zealand women." Sweet Louise is also sharing office space in the NZBCF's new premises in Parnell, Auckland. "It's wonderful to be working together and making the most of our strengths in different areas," said Jennifer. "The NZBCF funding is enabling us to make a strong start on a goal we both share - to begin a national roll-out and make Sweet Louise's services available to women in other parts of New Zealand." (Posted 10 June 2009) Back to top>>> |
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