News
2019 NAIDOC Week Family Day
Coast Community Connections' recent National NAIDOC Week event was attended by over 200 people, including 80 preschoolers. Lots of fun was had and knowledge shared!
The event kicked off with a heartfelt Welcome to Country delivered by Aunty Colleen Starkey from Mingaletta, followed by a smoking ceremony. The Dungala dancers – Yorta Yorta Mob performed, and invited children to join in.
Ettalong Public School Indigenous dance students also performed with their Indigenous educator Rheese speaking in his native tongue when introducing each dance before translating the stories behind the dance.
Children then spent hours on Indigenous-inspired art and craft activities while adults read the Australian Aboriginal History Timeline, viewed Indigenous artworks by local artist Kylie Cassidy and shared some bush tea, tucker and a yarn.
Thanks to everyone who joined us and those who worked so hard to make the event such a success. A special thank you to Mingaletta Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Corporation, especially the Aunties whose knowledge and support is invaluable. It was also great to have educators and children from Booker Bay Preschool and Woy Woy Peninsula Community Childcare join us.
Australia's Biggest Morning Tea 2019
Coast Community Connections recently hosted an Australia's Biggest Morning Tea fundraising event at the Peninsula Community Centre. Coast Community Connections has supported the fundraising event for the past six years and is pleased to report the 2019 morning tea raised over $7,500 for the Cancer Council. 7News anchor Mark Ferguson and 7News sports anchor Mel McLaughlin were special guests at the event who spoke to attendees and presented raffle prizes on the day.
The much-anticipated Sandra's Cupcake challenge was also held on the day. Inspired by Sandra’s passion for baking, the annual challenge is held in honour of much-loved volunteer Sandra McArtney, who lost her battle with cancer in October 2014. Everyone, from novice to experienced bakers was invited to put on their aprons, get in the kitchen and have a little fun making either packet-made or hand-made cupcakes. Congratulations to the well-deserving winners:
Donna Stratford - winner of the Adult Homemade Cupcake category and People's Choice category
Kimberley Dunshea - winner of the Adult Packet Mix category
Coast Community Connections Chief Executive Officer Bruce Davis said Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea and Sandra’s Cupcake Challenge have become much-anticipated traditions amongst locals with this years’ challenge made even more exciting with the addition of two famous faces from 7News presenting the prizes to the winners.
“Sandra’s cupcake challenge is a fun way of recognising and assisting the many people who are diagnosed with cancer each day and we’re thrilled that Mark and Mel could join us to present the prizes this year,” said Mr Davis.
“Coast Community Connections has supported Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea for six years now and each year we are ever-more delighted with the support we receive from the local community and this year was no different.
“We would like to recognise the enormous support we have received every year from local members of the community and especially local small businesses who help to ensure the success of our event," he added.
Equipping parents with emotional intelligent parenting approach
Coast Community Connections will be hosting a five-session parenting program called Tuning in to Teens. Presented by Uniting’s Reconnecting Parents and Adolescent Team (RAPT) this program is designed for parents of adolescents aged between 10 and 18 years with sessions to be held every Tuesday from 28 May to 25 June 2019 at the Peninsula Community Centre.
The Tuning in to Teens program aims to equip parents with the skills to take a more emotionally intelligent approach to parenting, as well as giving parents the knowledge to help their teens develop emotional intelligence for themselves.
The sessions will teach parents valuable emotional coaching skills allowing them to develop a better understanding of their teen as well as help their teen learn to effectively manage their emotions and deal with conflict.
Masterfoods Berkeley Vale visit Peninsula Occasional Care
On Friday 2 August staff members from the Mars food Australia- Masterfoods Factory at Berkeley Vale visited Peninsula Occasional Care.
Each year the factory closes for a day and employees visit and volunteer in the community.
Our group of volunteers created planter boxes and a new veggie garden. They also helped the children make fruity pancakes for morning tea and chicken and salad wraps for lunch. It was such an amazing, fun-filled day, we are very grateful for the contribution of this team to our service. The children made a lovely thank you card to present to the team at the end of the activities.