Monthly Archive for September, 2007

Art Market A Record Success

Published
by
karuna
on September 24, 2007
in Community
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Saturday 15 September saw our 4th Annual Pre Loved Art and Jewellery Market open to the community at 8am in bright sunshine. Donations of high quality art and jewellery from our Karuna community flooded in and bargains for all were eagerly snapped up. Our treasure at the Silent Auction stand this year was a Pro Hart original!

Cappuccino and cake kept shopping energy high and our tireless volunteers ensured customers were happily supplied with plently of art and jewellery to carry home.

Sincere thanks to 6RAR Enoggera, Stafford and Windsor Rotary clubs along with our Art and Jewellery committees and all our Karuna staff and volunteers for our best market so far.

Art Market 2007

Director’s Message on the 2007 Visit

Published
by
karuna
on September 19, 2007
in Updates
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With so much going on at Karuna over the past twelve months, it has been one of the most memorable years in Karuna’s history.

One of the most significant developments has been the implementation of a new management framework designed to support the expansion of our existing services and the enhancement of our counselling and spiritual care services to benefit more people in the community. A major focus will also be on developing our marketing and fundraising plan to strengthen the development and expansion of our services.

These initiatives are the result of a recent strategic review which highlighted the opportunity to provide our services to the broader community in response to the growing community need for specialized palliative care programs, including grief and loss counselling and spiritual care.

We are all very excited about the changes that are taking place and we are confident they will improve our ability to continue to provide support for people in the community for many years to come.

Of course we wouldn’t be able to continue our work without the wonderful support from our donors and volunteers. Thank you to everyone who contributed to our June appeal; you have helped us raise in excess of $100,000. We are so grateful for your support and appreciate the kindness you continue to show Karuna.

I am happy to report on another significant highlight for Karuna this year, which was the much anticipated visit from His Holiness the Dalai Lama. During his visit, His Holiness graciously accepted our request to become Karuna’s Spiritual Patron. His Holiness’ patronage will strengthen our spiritual foundation and continue to provide inspiration in our work.

On a final note, I would like to thank Karuna’s co-founder Hilary Clarke for her dedication in helping to build Karuna and in particular the Karuna Community over the past 15 years. We all look forward to her continued support as a valued Karuna volunteer.

Yeshe Khadro

Embracing Kindness

Published
by
karuna
on September 19, 2007
in Community
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Kindness was the theme for His Holiness’ visit and Karuna created Kindness Week to give as many people as possible throughout Queensland an opportunity to participate in the visit.

Over 10,000 students from 13 schools participated in Kindness Week. 500 students from these schools attended the public talk at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre and 50 student representatives were given the opportunity to meet His Holiness prior to the talk.

Another major activity during Kindness Week was the sale of Prayer Flags through all Loot Homewares stores throughout Australia. This campaign raised in excess of $10,000 for Karuna Hospice Services and we are very grateful to Loot Homewares for this wonderful support.

We would like to extend our most sincere thanks to everyone who was involved in Kindness Week and everyone who helped us host His Holiness while he was in Brisbane.

Dalai Lama's Helicopter Through Prayer Flags

Front Yard Music: The Karuna Concert

Published
by
karuna
on September 5, 2007
in Events
. 2 Comments

Download the Karuna Concert pdf flyer

Free Event

QPAC springs out of doors with its first Front Yard Music Concert. From September to November, Brisbane audiences are invited to free outdoor music on QPAC’s Melbourne Street Grass Plaza. Relax in a laid back environment where food, drink and amenities are within easy reach. Bring a blanket, bring the kids and experience aural bliss in Brisbane’s renowned spring weather.

The Goodbye Notes specialise in acoustic pop and ballads, sung by the amazing Barbara Fordham. They perform a collection of stories told through well-crafted pop tunes with a gentle edge.

Yani is a veteran of the local music scene and one of the original Women in Voice artists. Her repertoire includes jazz, blues, pop, funk and world music styles.

Linda Neil strums the violin like a guitar and sings her own heartfelt and sometime whimsical compositions. This rare Brisbane appearance is supported by versatile West End keyboard and cabaret anchor man Gary Nunn.

Bloke’Apella are a men’s a cappella quartet, whose style draws on pop, gospel, Anglo-Celtic tradition and some foreigh language songs. Perhaps their most distinctive feature is comic pieces, with the emphasis on parody.

karuna-concert.jpg

The Jade Buddha to be Completed by Early 2008

Published
by
karuna
on September 5, 2007
in Spiritual
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Download the Jade Buddha pdf flyer

The Jade Buddha Project is one of the largest and most magnificent Buddhas ever carved from gemstone-quality true jade. The Buddha, including lotus and alabaster throne will be nearly 3.5 metres (11.4 feet) tall. The Jade Buddha will be carved from the great boulder known as “Polar Pride.” It will be a wonder of the world. It will be carved by January 2008.

The Jade Buddha will be toured to major cities in Asia and Australia before being set up in The Great Stupa of Universal Compassion in Bendigo, Australia.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche said “It will illuminate the world and bring inconceivable peace and happiness and help prevent the destruction that is happening so much in the world, including war.”

Achievements to date:

  • Paid US$300,000 deposit on Polar Pride.
  • Shipped Polar Pride from Vancouver to Northern Thailand.
  • Completed photo study of Buddha in Mahabodhi Stupa, India.
  • Prepare 3 prototypes for review by Lama Zopa Rinpoche.
  • Raised US$50,000 towards payment of year one instalment to miners (total instalment US$100,000
  • Raised over US$35,000 towards carving of Jade Buddha (total cost US$108,000).

Become a Jade Buddha Carving Benefactor

This is a unique once-in-a-life time opportunity to be part of a massive holy object for the world. We are seeking 108 Carving Benefactors to each contribute AUD$1080 (SIN$1335). Each will have their name carved into the throne of the Jade Buddha (and probably gold-leafed). These names will be part of the statue for as long as it exists.

We already have over half the Carving Benefactors. The Buddha will be carved by early 2008, so names must be finalised by December this year. We allow up to 22 characters (including spaces) for the names.

Carving Benefactors can securely donate online. Also magnificent jada mala gifts can be obtained by donors.

See details at: www.jadebuddha.org.au

Farewell from Hilary

Published
by
karuna
on September 3, 2007
in Updates
. 0 Comments

‘Our new logo shows ripples quietly flowing outwards within circles of water, emanating from the word Karuna.’

Since 1991, I have had the privilege of working within the team at Karuna, firstly under the Directorship of Ven. Pende Hawter, and since 1996, with Ven. Yeshe Khadro. Both of these inspirational figures have led the growth of Karuna from a small, unfunded and largely volunteer service, into a well-known, highly professional world’s best-practice hospice-at-home service.

Along the way, staff, volunteers, the Board, and our financial supporters have ensured that we have always sought to benefit more families, to extend our model and our range of services, and to positively influence the way our society views and faces loss.

During my time at Karuna I have been fortunate to encounter an amazing array of people, particularly our clients and their families. Over the years, I have taken on a range of roles within the organisation and as a result I have experienced life and death in ways which would just not otherwise have been possible and it has been priceless learning.

As I prepare to take up a position in a new organisation in early September, it is wonderful to see that the Karuna “ripples” continue to flow out into our community, comforting and assisting all those who need reassurance and care.

I would like to thank our past and current Director, Board Members and staff, plus our amazing clients, donors and volunteers, for all you have been to me in my time at Karuna.

Thank you for your ongoing support of Karuna’s work. I wish you all the very best for the future.

–Hilary Clarke