Archive for the 'Community' Category

We Wish You A Merry Christmas

Published
by
karuna
on December 14, 2007
in Community
. 1 Comment

The Mandala room looked beautiful with table centrepieces, wreaths and mantelpiece swags and exquisite hand made decorations adorning the tree and clustered in baskets waiting to be bought.

Once again Karuna Christmas market proved to be a very successful event for Karuna, and the visitors and volunteers enjoyed the opportunity to spend time in the gracious building and grounds and shop for wonderful hand made Christmas crafts and delicious festive foods.

On Friday shoppers enjoyed Christmas cake and wine under the Jacaranda tree and on Saturday visitors met up with friends as they ate delicious Devonshire teas at tables on the lawn in delightfully cool Brisbane weather.

Our heartfelt thanks to all the volunteers who helped but particularly to the Christmas craft ladies without whom none of this would happen…

May everyone and their loved ones have a joyful Christmas and many blessings for the New Year.

Karuna Xmas Markets at Dusk
The Karuna Christmas Market at dusk

A Christmas Appeal from Deborah Jones

Published
by
karuna
on December 13, 2007
in Community
. 2 Comments

Download the Karuna Xmas Appeal pdf

Tony and I met when we were both very young. We were childhood sweethearts and had known each other a long time before building a life together with our three children. But sadly we lost Tony two years ago, after a short battle with cancer.

When he was diagnosed, the doctors gave Tony only a year to live, but we were blessed with more than 18 months together. During all the treatments and surgeries, he came out of it so positively and was always so strong. I have heard similar stories from friends I have made through Karuna. They all say how strong their partner or husband or wife was and how they carried everyone else through the illness with their positive attitude.

But about 17 months down the track, we decided not to continue treatment. The doctors had told us that they needed to control the growth of the tumor. This meant having surgery every four months. We knew this would be more than Tony could cope with. This was an agonizing decision for us because we knew that he would not survive without further surgery. It was at this point that we agreed to sell our business. That was another hard decision because once Tony let go of the business, he knew he would have to let go of us and that would be it.

Tony always said he didn’t fear death, but he felt very concerned about how I would cope and how that would affect the children. So I knew it was my turn to be strong. When he was discharged from the hospital we were told we would need more support and that is when our relationship with Karuna began.

Continue reading ‘A Christmas Appeal from Deborah Jones’

Cocktails a Huge Hit for Karuna

Published
by
karuna
on December 10, 2007
in Community
. 0 Comments

The view from the pool was our very own Manhattan!! Even the weather was perfect after looking like rain all afternoon, and even sprinkling prior to the 6.30 commencement.

“Cocktails at Gumerache” has been our most successful cocktail party so far.

Our heartfelt thanks go to Susan Davies and Christine Dittmer who have organised all the Karuna cocktail parties in the outdoor areas of beautiful Brisbane homes. Sadly, Susan and Christine are making this their last cocktail party and taking a well earned rest.

We most gratefully acknowledge the generous support of the following:

  • Tricia and Darrell Butcher - venue
  • Pane e Vino (D’Arienzo family) - food catering and wait staff
  • Castlemaine Perkins - beverages
  • Marie-Louise Theile - compere for the evening
  • de pasquale - design
  • Platypus Graphics - printing
  • First response - security

Donors of the experiential auction prizes:

  • High-flying wine experience - a private helicopter flight to Maleny for a VIP wine experience at Maleny Manor incl. wine tasting, lunch and fine wines from Settlers Rise Winery
  • Four days in Paradise - a four-day luxury stay on Moreton Island in a private Cowan beach house with transfers by barge or ferry and a Black Pearl Epicure hamper for a gourmet beach picnic
  • “Luxury in the Rainforest” experience at Bloomfield Lodge for three nights for (2) incl air transfers from Cairns.
  • Gold Coast hinterland weekend of spa, health, gourmet food and wellbeing at Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat. With stunning ocean and valley views for (2) people
  • Celebrity Golf with a Pirelli “retyrement” experience. Golf game for (2) joining Pat Rafter and Alfie Langer at Indooroopilly Golf Club, followed by lunch and return of your newly-shod vehicle (with calendar) courtesy of Bob Jane T-Mart, Enoggera.

Raffle prize donors: Gambaro’s Seafood Restaurant, River Canteen restaurant, Darryl & Lewis hairdressing, Cosi Dolci, Baguette Restaurant.

cocktails.jpg

The Karuna Christmas Raffle

Published
by
karuna
on November 29, 2007
in Community
. 0 Comments

The raffle has been drawn. Thank you to everyone for your support

This year Karuna is raising money by holding a special Christmas Raffle to be drawn on the 8th of December, 3pm at Karuna’s Christmas Market and all proceeds will go towards supporting Karuna’s important work in the community.

Tickets are $2 each or three for $5 and are available from Karuna House or call 07 3632 8300 and request a book of tickets to sell.

1st Prize - Mountain Bike
This great 20 inch, 18 speed ‘Cheetah’ Mountain Bike should make someone very happy on Christmas morning!

2nd Prize - Huge Christmas Hamper
Containing a full array of delectable treats to fill your table for Christmas day (including 3 bottles of wine).

3rd Prize - Medium Christmas Hamper
With lots of lovely goodies to make for a very yummy Christmas!

4th Prize - Christmas Tree Skirt
This exquisitely handmade tree skirt will liven the base of any Christmas tree.

5th Prize - Christmas Hamper
What would Christmas be without a great big cuddly teddy bear?

raffle.jpg

Art Market A Record Success

Published
by
karuna
on September 24, 2007
in Community
. 1 Comment

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

Embracing Kindness

Published
by
karuna
on September 19, 2007
in Community
. 0 Comments

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

Thank you for Supporting Karuna’s Winter Appeal

Published
by
karuna
on August 27, 2007
in Community
. 0 Comments

When Karuna approached me and asked if I would mind sharing our story as part of the June fund raiser I did so with no hesitation. Anything I could do that might help Karuna help other families was absolutely something I was pleased and honoured to do.

Writing ‘What If We Came Home’ was both difficult and easy for me. Difficult because it touched a place in my heart that still grieves intensely but easy because it meant that I could, in some small way acknowledge the amazing gift that Karuna had given us.

Your response and generosity to this story has been overwhelming and together we have provided resources and funds that will help to support Karuna’s work into the future.

For all your kindness and donations I wish to thank you all. Knowing that together we have provided caring and assistance for people during their darkest and most difficult hours keeps that light shinning in my heart.

Since I last wrote to you, I have become involved in organizing another fundraising event to support Karuna and I would like to invite you all to be a part of it. On September 22nd my friends and I have organised an afternoon of music and entertainment at Southbank.

Admission is free, so do look out for the flyer that will be coming your way soon. Everyone who attends will be given the opportunity to make a donation if they wish. Every cent raised as part of this concert will go to Karuna.

So please try to make time to join us and relax, enjoy wonderful music and share in a special celebration of caring and support.

Please mark 22nd September in your diary (from 1pm to 5pm at QPAC Southbank). I look forward to seeing you there, and once again, thank you for opening your hearts and responding so wonderfully to the June appeal.

Joan Wilson-Jones
What If Farm

Photos From His Holiness The Dalai Lama’s Karuna Visit

Published
by
karuna
on August 9, 2007
in Community
. 1 Comment

We have uploaded a number of photos from His Holiness The Dalai Lama’s visit to Karuna in June, taken by Michelle Bowden. You can view them all on Karuna’s Photo Albums. More to come.


Photos © Michelle Bowden 2007

More Thankyou’s From Karuna Volunteers

Published
by
karuna
on July 11, 2007
in Community
. 0 Comments

During the visit of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Karuna we were fortunate to have the assistance of two ‘volunteers come temps’ in the Karuna office. They assisted with a multitude of tasks and did so efficiently and happily. Our gratitude goes to Judy and Kate. Their farewell notes are below.

To all the fantastic people at Karuna. Thank you for making me so welcome and for allowing me to play a small part in the visit of His Holiness to Karuna. It has been wonderful to make new friends and to get to know some of you a little better. I will continue to be a volunteer and bring you more of my home baking from time to time! You all do such an awesome job. Keep up the wonderful team work. Love from Judy.

Thank you to everyone who made me a feel part of the team, and what a great team you all are. It has been a joy working with such great people, Wednesday 13th June was certainly a special day and to share it with you all was very memorable. Best wishes Kate xx

Community Thanks to Karuna for The Dalai Lama’s Visit

Published
by
karuna
on July 2, 2007
in Community
. 0 Comments

The following are just a selection of the wonderful thankyou messages that we have received since His Holiness The Dalai Lama’s visit to Karuna on the 13th June 2007. If you have your own messages of thanks that you would like to add, please leave a comment on this post.

Karuna would also like to take this opportunity to express a warm thanks to everyone who helped out on the day. We couldn’t have done it without you.

My warmest congratulations to you and all the wonderful Karuna staff and volunteers for what I know has been an incredible investment of effort and skill to make this ‘once in a lifetime event’ come to life. It was a humbling experience to share the loving and kind energy of the event and to reflect on how Karuna has grown as an organisation while retaining its essence. I’m certain it is only the beginning of greater things to come. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to be part of yesterday’s proceedings, it was truly moving and enlightening. –U.H.

Thanks so much to each and every person at Karuna for the fantastic job you all did in bringing his Holiness to the centre. It was a truly great day in every way. Thanks also for your wonderful kindness in allowing us the opportunity to help with the Stupa and especially for looking after all of our needs. It was a pleasure to work with such a harmonious, helpful and appreciative group of people. What you are all doing is so beneficial. –Garrey

Continue reading ‘Community Thanks to Karuna for The Dalai Lama’s Visit’