
Bushfire Support Initiatives
The 2019/2020 Green Wattle Creek bushfires brought catastrophe to our doorstep.
Our local community was reeling at the start of 2020 and the destruction sustained in the bushfires that surrounded our Wollondilly region, so we knew we had to help as many people as we could to deal with the impact of this situation.
Being leaders in our area for allied/holistic wellbeing we knew the mental health struggles that would eventuate needed to be addressed with loads of support that we specialise in, and we also knew we had the perfect tool to help people find calm and lessen any feelings of overwhelm in their body so we instigated our bushfire initiative of “Pay it Forward”.
Pay it Forward allowed people to purchase a Comfort Buddy Weighted Blanket to be donated to someone in need due to the Green Wattle Creek bushfires.
Our handmade weighted blankets are proven to support our sensory system to minimise stress on our nervous system and use deep pressure touch to release our feel good hormones to increase feelings of calm and safety.
So far WHS has been able to donate 15 blankets to those in need to support their wellbeing. We are aware that the impact on mental health in our region will be felt for years to come so we are proud to be continuously offering this initiative to provide assistance where needed in our community.
If you would like to contribute please purchase the blanket of your choice and advise at checkout that it is to support our Pay it Forward campaign.
Pay It Forward Initiative
The Youth Voices Project
The Youth Voices project was designed to give children and young people affected by the Green Wattle Creek bushfire event of 2019/2020 the opportunity to have fun, meet new people and share their stories and experiences. It was funded by Rotary Club of Wollondilly North Inc and organised by Wollondilly Shire Council.
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Our Co-founder and Child Psychologist, Alexandra, was involved in this powerful project through helping the young people involved share their stories.
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We are honoured to have meet and supported the young people, families and organisers of this project and invite you all to gain a deeper understand of the impact of this event on our communities young people and witness the courage and strength of the local children and adolescents in our community by watching the completed production below.
Stories To Heal Us
“Stories to Heal Us” is an intentionally designed therapeutic art workshop created in response to the needs of the people within the Wingecarribee LGA in the wake of the devastating Green Wattle Creek and Morton Bushfires, followed shortly by the whirlwind of COVID-19 restrictions.
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As a collaborative partnership between Psychologist & Art Therapist, Alexandra from Wildflower Holistic Services, Psychologist, Vanessa from The Well Lived Life Co, Wingecarribee Shire Council, and Community Links, we recognise that prior to this point we have been unable to bring people together in a safe and non-judgemental environment to tell their stories.
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It is after all our stories that define us, shape us, control us and make us, and as a collective, we acknowledge that we make sense of our life experiences through the stories we learn or tell ourselves. It is for this reason that we wish to provide members of the community with the space to share and process their unique stories and come together to support one another as we heal.
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Within this 3 hr therapeutic art workshop, you will be guided to explore your story through mapping a timeline of events that allows you to reconnect with yourself and those around you. Whether you choose to share your story through written word, art or spoken word, each individual will be able to identify their points of strength, courage, and triumph, as well as struggle, overwhelm and anxiety.
Sometimes it is not until we step back and provide space for ourselves, that we recognise how far it is we have come. It is within that space whereby the healing occurs.
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All materials will be provided, along with refreshments to nourish us! No prior experience is needed to participate in the workshops and we welcome all community members, as well as families to come together, as we know there is a story in all of you worth sharing.
Workshop Dates Include
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March 15, 2021 | 10:30 to 1:30 PM
Wingello Mechanics Institute
65 Railway Parade, Wingello
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March 25, 2021 | 5:30 to 8:30 PM
Country Women's Association
43 Railway Avenue Bundanoon
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March 28, 2012 | 9:30 to 12:30 PM
Wingello Mechanics Institute
65 Railway Parade, Wingello
For further enquiries and to book your place please contact Wildflower Holistic Services on 02 4684 1080 / info@wildflowerholisticservices.com