ROOBY'S STORY TIME WERRINGTON

This month at Rooby’s Story Time Werrington, we had the pleasure of being joined by a local gentleman resident who took a Koori book to the local park to read. Before we knew it, back they came to our story time tree where Maureen shared the Aboriginal “Emu Egg Cake” story. Everyone loved hearing the story and seeing the REAL emu egg! Rooby's Story Time will be back again in term 1 next year for more Storytime fun!

CARER'S PAMPER DAY

Carer's in our community were treated to a few hours of pampering during Carers Week.  In partnership with Carers NSW and Ability Links, Community Junction held a “Carers Day Off”  during  October.

Our all important carer's were treated to a facial, manicure and pedicure, enjoyed and learnt how to relax with yoga lessons, where treated to loads of yummy food and received a gift bag, which meant they could take a little pampering home with them.

Most importantly they were able to meet and share a cuppa and GREAT conversation with other carer's.

Gift bag goodies were donated by local business, Mooney Real Estate Penrith, Pizza Hut Cambridge Gardens, Kath from Younique Independent makeup, Katrina and Sara from Jamberry Nails, Donna from Senegence and Renee at Candles and Scents.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

The staff and children from our Children's Centre got into the spirit of Halloween, by dressing up in scary costumes, as superheros,  princesses and fairies.  They enjoyed craft activities, pretend play and face painting.  

KIDS BOOTCAMP

A 6 week Kids Boot Camp workshop at Erskine Park was held during Term 3. 

Children aged 8 - 12 years were able to keep active during the winter cold, whilst  challenging themselves in different circuits and activities.

Each week they pushed through their limits to  improve their fitness. We look forward to providing more active programs for kids in the oncoming terms.     

LIVING WELL GROUP COLYTON

The Living Well group had a friendly visit from Cook Parade Children’s Centre in St Clair on Thursday 14^th September at Colyton Neighbourhood Centre.

Our seniors had a good chat to the children over morning tea, had plenty of laughs over some board games of snakes and ladders, snap and guess who. The children concluded the morning by singing to our seniors some of their favourite songs and bid farewell till next time. If you would be interested in  attending The Living Well group on Thursday 10am-12pm at Colyton Neighbourhood Centre please contact TeRina on 9188 9065 or via email terina@communityjunction.org.au

FIRST AID AT COLYTON

Twelve community members attended our FREE First Aid course every Wednesday at Colyton Neighbourhood Centre during September. Students learnt how to bandage, facilitate CPR, bites, burns to name a few. The group have now successfully completed their qualification and now have the basic necessary skills to assist In a emergency situation if required. If you are interested in

completing a TAFE Outreach course please contact Community Junction Inc. or TAFE Outreach at Mt Druitt College to express your interest.

KIDS CLUB WERRINGTON

Kids Club is a fun social group for primary school children where kids can play games, chill out and do some pretty cool craft activities and science experiments – check out our walk on water / quicksand experiment!

Group runs from 3.30 – 5.30pm every Monday at Namatjira Neighbourhood Centre,during the school term and all craft materials and a light afternoon tea is provided.

ABORIGINAL LEADERSHIP PROGRAM

The Links to Learning ‘Aboriginal Leadership Program’ has had a successful term with year 7 girls from Chifley College Dunheved Campus. We focused on building their capacity to lead and

mentor within their school and community while learning about Aboriginal culture.

On the 31^St August they had the opportunity to develop skills and learn about their Aboriginal culture by having an outing to Muru Mittigar Aboriginal Cultural Centre. They spent the day learning how to throw a boomerang and exploring the garden learning about different remedies and food that each plant provides. The group also had a culture talk discussing the customs of their Aboriginal culture. They girls enjoyed the day with one saying that ‘they had a really good day’ and another saying ‘they

enjoyed the plant session and learning more about their culture’.

MENS SOCIAL GROUP

This term we have had a great bunch of men coming regularly to our Men’s Social Group. The group meet Wednesdays fortnightly at Autumnleaf Neighbourhood  Centre from 12-2pm and enjoy being able to talk to other men in the local community over lunch. 

This term we had a guest speaker come out from Australian Hearing and each man received a screening check. They received information of what services Australian Hearing can provide their clients which the men found interesting. We welcome men living locally to come along for lunch and  discussions around men’s issues. Term 4 group commences Wednesday 18^th October

TERM 4 NEWSLETTER

Term 4 is here, and so is our newsletter, packed with some great new programs and highlights from Term 3.

You can request a copy of the newsletter which will be sent straight to your inbox.

           http://www.communityjunction.org.au/files/cj%20news%20t4%202017%201.pdf

CHILDREN’S SERVICES AN EXCURSION TO THE MUSEUM

Term 3 has welcomed some BIG milestones for North St Marys Children’s Centre! Our Preschool service travelled by coach to visit the Dinosaur exhibition at the Australian Museum for our first ever excursion!

We visited the museum as an educationalextension of children interests of the Dinosaur project that has been taking place throughout the year, as we explored 10 complete dinosaur skeletons, eight-life-sized models, and interactive displays of 65 million years ago!

Preschool and OOSH took part in the celebration of ‘Book Week’ by dressing up as their favourite book character to promote literacy awareness and engagement within our service and community, and for the first time our Preschool held our very own Book Parade event! We had an absolutely amazing turn out and were inundated with family support and amazing costumes worn by the children and staff!  For more information on our services please call 9623 0331

OUT OF SCHOOL HOUR SERVICE (OOSH)

“Want to know where your school aged child can engage in opportunities to maximise their potential? Look no further! North St Marys Children’s Centre is the home of an Out Of School Hours

(OOSH) service, where child-led interest based planning, engaging extensions of learning, exciting physical activities and inclusive practices and experiences take place.  

Our OOSH service consists of Before and After School Care, to families who attend St Marys North Public School, and Vacation Care, open to all families. Our service has recently engaged in some very exciting incursions, such as teamwork based Billy Cart building and Racing, a digital scavenger hunt throughout the school grounds, a Hip Hop workshop, and an interactive Reptile show where we were able to hold a variety of snakes, turtles, lizards and even a baby crocodile!  

Please call Mel on 9623 0331 for quality care and amazing experiences  or email mel@communityjunction.org.au for more information or to book a place. 

Childcare rebates may be applicable.

ROOBY ROO’S BIRTHDAY

Rooby Roo celebrated her birthday at North St Marys Neighbourhood  Centre surrounded by local residents who enjoyed many free activities that were on offer throughout the morning. 

Smiling faces clapped and jumped to the sound of music played by Vintage FM.  We sung Happy Birthday to Rooby Roo and enjoyed eating her birthday cake, which was kindly donated by Caths Cakes St Marys.

CELEBRATING NAIDOC

NAIDOC was celebrated at North St Marys Neighbourhood  Centre, were there were activities for all

ages to enjoy.  These included painting, badge making, bracelet making and traditional games. Izaac come along on the day,  demonstrated and displayed how the Yidaki (didgeridoo) is played. He  explained some of the traditions of the Yidaki and gave a lesson to some willing young people.

LINKS TO LEARNING BOYS SHED

The Links To Learning ‘Boys Shed program’ is made up of young men in grades 7-10 along with 2 youth workers who work on a meaningful project throughout the term, while at the same time discovering different aspects of what it means to be a man.

The grade 10 St Clair Boys Shed group  decided it would be great to learn how to cook while learning how to help people for their meaningful project.  On Tuesday 15 August the Boys Shed groups hosted a community lunch for the ‘Cecil’s Place Men’s social group’ that runs every

Wednesday fortnightly at the Autumnleaf Neighbourhood Centre. 

The boys organised a popup  burger café, with for the day nicknaming themselves ‘the burger boys’ where they served food and had great conversation. It was a great day where the boys hosted both Community Junction staff and the Men’s group. One of the men mentioned it was “great food” and another said “great interaction- very polite, respectful and we want them back every fortnight.

NORTH ST MARYS CHILDREN’S CENTRE

Last term at North St Marys Children’s Centre we had some exciting additions to our environment! We have increased creativity in our art area with a new wooden easel, promoted our literacy development with a new  paper mache tree, promoted positive meal times in our eating area with our new natural furniture layout and new nutrition policy, and added a computer to our technology station for children to promote inquiry, fine motor development and problem solving skills! 

Our newest staff members Kate and Jayden are settling in with great relationships with children and families and implementing exciting new experiences and practices within our centre!  

We celebrated ‘Reconciliation Week’ through Maureen’s telling of the Emu Egg story and the Rainbow Serpent, painting with branches, a Tiddalick the Frog puppet story, mapping our addresses on a directory, clay representations, bark painting and using children’s handprints to create their own Aboriginal Flag. 

During experiences across the week, Educators  discussed the meaning of reconciliation and how we should treat everyone with kindness and respect. What an exciting, educational and motivational term!      

                 

For more information on our services please call the Children’s Services Team on 9623 0331

A Koori Vest for Rooby

Rooby got the biggest surprise at the launch of her new Koori Vest last term when she thought that she was going along to North St Marys Neighbourhood Centre to  visit and read with a few of her friends, when in actual fact Rooby was given a Koori Vest that was especially designed by Aboriginal students from St Marys North Public School.

Over two days the students created 48 designs, and 20 of those designs were chosen by Elders of the area to be put on the vest. Students and teachers from St Marys North Public School and their families, Elders and supporters of the project all came along to the launch to celebrate the great collaborative efforts of our community. 

Community Junction Inc. would like to thank Penrith City Council’s Community Assistance Program (CAP) for funding received for this project, Mission Australia and Paint the Town REaD for supporting the launch, Sean Mitchell Agencies for donating the students  'thank you' gifts and all of the students who were involved in creating the designs.

The Village Cafe to engage older generations in North St Marys

The Village Cafe was recently launched at Park Lawn Place North St Marys to engage older residents. 

http://www.stmarysstar.com.au/story/4716938/engaging-an-ageing-suburb/#slide=1

Youth Team thanks St Marys Rotary Club

Community Junction’s Youth Team had the privilege of attending the Rotary Club of St Marys in term 2 to accept a $500 donation towards our annual Youth Camp. We appreciate the continuous support and generosity of the Rotary Club members who tirelessly fundraise throughout the year, then distribute their fundraising to meaning causes in our local community.

This year our Youth Team will take 20 young people from our St Clair, Erskine Park, Colyton, Werrington and North St Mary’s Youth Space programs on a Leadership Camp to Collaroy Beach in October. To find out more about our Youth activities please like our Facebook page ‘Community Junction Youth Spaces’

FIRST AID COURSE AT WERRINGTON

Community Junction Werrington held their first TAFE outreach First Aid Certificate course last term.  The group had lots of fun while they learnt some vital skills that will help in the home and future employment. 

Participants enjoyed the experience so much they have expressed interest in future courses and have organised a reunion lunch amongst themselves.

CHALLENGE ACCEPTED

‘Challenge Accepted’ term 1 at St Clair Youth Space has been a full 6 weeks of funny, memorable and disgusting challenges that have really tested everyone involved and made us laugh! Eating  challenges, smoothie challenges and battles of endurance with the stack up, stack down cup     challenge. There was something for everyone.

Coming in term 2 is our newest program for St Clair Youth Space called ‘Wednesday Wonderland’ where young people will enjoy imaginative activities, a movie night and more laughter. Contact our Youth Worker Monique for more information on 9834 2708 or email monique@communityjunction.org.au

MAGNETIC PLACES – BERANGA (we belong – Darug Language)

Beranga, set in North St Marys, involved 13 young people getting together to create works of art which included visual and digital media. 

Community Junction Inc. partnering with Daisy and Thomas from Curiousworks (a media company) have focused on young people getting to know each other while learning various other aspects of digital media. 

One week involved learning and experimenting how a camera works by creating mock interviews and filming themselves. They also learnt film terms for different types of photography and filming shots. The final weeks of the project saw young people inspired by Uncle Wes a local Indigenous Elder storyteller passing down stories about events in his life and encouraging young people to do the same with their lives and culture whilst celebrating the history and culture of their community.

CHILDREN’S SERVICES

North St Marys Children’s Centre had a positive spring into the year with a variety of child initiated, celebratory, and community experiences!

OOSH and Preschool services joined together to celebrate awareness and raise funds for Harmony Day and Go Blue for Autism. These were widely celebrated events where children engaged in a broad range of inclusive experiences that addressed our celebration of all children and families within our service. 

In early April the Children’s Centre was lucky enough to have United Way volunteers and North St Marys community members provide a ‘Makeover Event’ where our service was granted a new mud kitchen, mulch garden, self-watering and composting vegetable garden, painted tyres and chalk boards, timber decking around our centre, a yard pole and some indoor painting! We are overwhelmed with excitement for the positive and sustainable experiences that this makeover will provide for the children within our service and community. 

What a great term for relationships, professional and team building with the Children’s Centre!

PAINT PENRITH REaD BLACK AND YELLOW

Together with Paint Penrith REaD, Rooby Roo is about to Paint Penrith REaD Black and Yellow.

Rooby is getting a new vest made to be seen out in our Koori community. Maryanne Wallace the Aboriginal Educational Officer at St Marys North Public School and her Aboriginal students have been hard at work creating many different designs that will be put onto Rooby’s new Koori vest. 

Students ranged in age from Year 1 right through to Year 6. Maureen Silleri, Community Junction’s      Indigenous Community Connections Worker said “It was an interesting project to be a part of and the kids have been super great.”

Community Junction Inc. would like to thank Penrith City Council’s 2016 Community Assistance Program (CAP) for funding received for this project.

NATIONAL SENIORS WEEK

Community Junction Inc. celebrated the launch of Seniors Week at the Mondo on Friday 3^rd March in partnership with Penrith City Council. We held an interactive game of Connect 4.         

We also held our annual event at Erskine Park Community Hall with services such as Leep, Nepean Food Services and Ken Stretton taking part in our Speed Info Sharing segment.  Erskine Park Children Centre and Erskine Park High School did a great job with entertainment and catering. We would like to thank NSW Seniors grant for supporting our event.

'OUR SPACE’ ART PROGRAM

‘Our Space’ Art Program was designed to create a space of  belonging, creating the feeling of being part of the community and a way to express who young people are by painting something that represents themselves.

It was interesting watching young people get involved in various stages of the program such as sketching, canvas painting and painting on records. The program surprisingly meant so much more to some, using art as a way of coping while others simply enjoyed creating art in a supportive         environment. One highlight was using spray cans to create art on records.

The young people had an awesome time during their celebration day where they celebrated and shared their achievements with each other.

CLEAN UP AUSTRALIA DAY

After putting the call out on Facebook, Werrington residents chose Werrington Lakes to receive this year’s clean up for our ‘Clean Up Australia Day’ event.

Cambridge Park High School students and Richardson & Wrench Real Estate Werrington County and

Jordan Springs answered our call for help immediately and were a major contributor to the success of the event. In total we collected 5 full bags of general waste and 4 bags of recyclable material that would have ended up on the lake instead of in the bin which was great to see!

ZEST AWARDS

Team Colyton is a group of like-minded residents, organisations, schools, businesses and Penrith City Council working together to create change and make Colyton a better place. Team Colyton have been busy over the past year since the team was established and were happily surprised to have been nominated for the “Out of the Box” category for The Zest Awards 2017. 

Team Colyton attended the Zest Awards 2017 on February 22^nd at ANZ Stadium which was a great night filled with inspiring people from Western Sydney sharing their stories. Team Colyton walked away with the Highly Commended award for “Out of the Box” category – a proud moment for the Colyton community!

If you would like to know more about the work Team Colyton do or be a part of it, please contact TeRina on 9188 9065 or check out YourSayPenrith.com.au/Colyton