Did you know:

• Australians spend $14 billion every year on Christmas food, Christmas drink, and Christmas presents;
• Three-quarters of Australians (73%) have said they would be happy if somebody made a donation to a charity on their behalf rather than giving them a present for Christmas?

December is a great month for giving, but it can also be a great month for helping your community.

Australian Giving Week, December 1- 7 is an initiative of ourcommunity.com.au and its aim is to illustrate the many ways YOU can make a difference to the community in the lead-up to Christmas.

You can help support your own community by supporting Karuna as part of Australian Giving Week by donating here https://www.ourcommunity.com.au/secure/giving/donate.form?appealId&5 as a Christmas present for someone else.

If you are a dab hand at writing, support Karuna and Australian Giving Week at the same time and write to your local newspaper about your contribution and let the community know that people are supporting us.  

For more information about Australian Giving Week go to www.givingweek.com.au and remember, no gift is too small.

Despite three violent storms earlier in the week and worrying weather forecasts, Karuna’s annual Christmas market sailed ahead with fine weather on Friday and Saturday.

On Friday afternoon, Karuna staff, volunteers and friends gathered in the gardens with a glass of sparkling to listen to the sweet sound of Hillbrook Anglican choir singing carols while shopping for Christmas decorations, presents, food and other goodies was begun in earnest.

Many also spent a quiet moment at the Kindness Tree leaving messages for loved ones, for world peace and for a quiet, restful festive season.

Saturday shoppers browsed to the delicious smell of sausages and onions emanating from the Stafford Rotary BBQ, and the idyllic sounds of acoustic guitar player Jonathan Carr and his friend Tim.

We raised a fantastic $16,000 thanks to the tireless efforts of the Karuna Craft Group throughout the year and our eager band of event volunteers who helped everything go so smoothly over the weekend.

Well done all and thank you to everyone who came along to make it a fabulous weekend!

By supporting Karuna’s 5th Annual Christmas Market on November 21 and 22, you too can join the ranks of the truly organised and have your Christmas tree up, decorated and presents underneath before December arrives!

Our display rooms will include: decorated front door wreaths, swags,  table centre pieces with candles,  Christmas cards and gift tags, all sorts of handmade Xmas decorations, jams, pickles, biscuits and Christmas cakes, Karuna’s famous cranberry sauce, handmade toys, coat hangers, aprons, fun shower caps, tea towels,  cupcakes, Christmas trees, Christmas puddings, hand towels, beautiful handbags, purses and jewellery bags to name a few. There will also be a bumper Christmas raffle with prizes including a unique handcrafted dollhouse and adorable porcelain doll.

Safe in the knowledge that you can stock up on gifts and lovingly handmade decorations, why not reward yourself?  On Friday evening you can immerse yourself in the sounds of the Hillbrook Anglican School choir while you enjoy some scrumptious Christmas cake and a glass of chilled sparkling wine. On Saturday you can enjoy some equally delectable cake and cool fruit juice in the sunshine.

There will also be a kindness tree where you can leave messages in memory of a loved one, or messages for world peace and goodwill.

All proceeds from the Christmas market will go towards Karuna’s free home hospice service and various community programs.

Karuna’s 5^th Annual Christmas Market

WHERE?

27 Cartwright Street, Windsor

WHEN?
Friday 21^st November from 3pm-7pm

Saturday 22^nd November from  9am-3pm

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Jennifer Bligh

07 3632 8300

Last weekend, we received a good smattering of gorgeously rejuvenating and atmospheric rain. So this weekend, the lush garden at Jan and Stuart Gregory’s Open Garden at 10 Bearsden Avenue, Newmarket is in its prime for viewing and is awaiting your visit!

As you amble through the tranquil green beauty of the gardens, stop and browse through a succulent collection of jams, cards, garden aprons and gloves, placemats and plants on offer.

Light refreshments, including chicken rolls, cupcakes, soft drinks, tea and coffee will be on sale. You can even get in early for your Karuna Xmas raffle tickets! All proceeds from the sales on the day will go to Karuna.

OPEN GARDEN WITH KARUNA

WHEN?

Saturday & Sunday 10am-4.30pm

WHERE?

10 Bearsden Avenue, Newmarket QLD 4030

CONTACT
Jennifer Bligh

(07) 3632 8300

In 2006, high profile figures Bono and Sir Elton John marked the event by expressing their support for hospice care, and in 2007 Dame Judi Dench added her voice to the campaign.

This World Hospice and Palliative Care day coming up on October 11, let’s adjust the light and shade surrounding the issues of death and dying, and consider palliative care as an inspiring, special and precious time for all concerned.

A wise man from our Palliative Care Information Services (PCIS) team here at Karuna once said, “The problem with palliative care is half the population doesn’t know what it is, and those who do know, don’t want to know what it is”.

Dying is an essential part of all life, the only thing not certain is when. Home palliative care gives the terminally ill time with their loved ones in the comfort and familiar surroundings of their home to share stories, celebrate their lives and speak the words of their hearts.

Thousands of people around the world will be staging events to raise awareness and fundraise for hospice and palliative care services locally, nationally and internationally to mark this annual global event.

To find out more, log on to the World Hospice & Palliative Care Day Website or call 07 3632 8300.

Hello Karuna Supporters,

My name is Jennifer and I recently came to Karuna as a marketing officer. Some of my new responsibilities include organising volunteers for our events, helping with fundraising and liaising with the media.

You may have already heard that Karuna supporters can now raise money with Everyday Hero using the fundraising tool of their choice. Many of us are now joining the National Ride to Work Day on 15th October and asking friends and family to sponsor our participation as a way to raise money for Karuna.

And here’s why.

Experience the sense of freedom as you pass others driving to work or cooped up on public transport. Feel the sun beating down on your back while the wind rushes in your ears. Listen to the sounds of the park as you make your way to work. Fill your lungs with fresh air and arrive to work rejuvenated. Sound good? Riding your bike to work each day is wonderful news for your health, friendly to the environment, cheap, and it boosts your mind for the day. Not only this, but riding to work is a brilliant way to multi-task your commute to work with your daily 30 minutes of exercise!

You can get involved by dusting off your bike and registering yourself as a Karuna hero at Everyday Hero, which will set up an account on your behalf so your sponsors can add funds. You can then log on to Ride2Work and join in the fun, knowing that it is all going towards a great cause. Or, if you don’t feel up to it yourself, why not suggest this great activity to any bike enthusiasts you might know?

Nervous about getting back into it? There are some great words of advice on the site, or call me on (07) 3632 8300 with any questions. You can also email me with any questions here.

Happy Cycling!

Jennifer

Do you want to become involved in Karuna’s work, but don’t have the time to volunteer?

Do you find it hard to give donations through our normal channels, but want to help us make a difference?

I may have an answer for you that can turn your everyday living into giving!

Karuna has recently signed up to Everyday Hero, an innovative website that allows people to raise money for their favourite charity or non-profit through a number of fun and exciting ideas.

You can become an Everyday Hero, set up your own fundraising page and run your own events to raise money for Karuna. This could be as small as a fun run at your local school or a Tux ‘n’ Tails, Diamonds ‘n’ Tiaras ball, complete with silent auctions and raffles.

Once you have set up the page, decided on an event and set a fundraising target, you can email all your friends and encourage them to sponsor you, buy tickets to attend the event or donate directly to Karuna.

If you’re not feeling energetic, you can support a friend, family member or colleague who is running a fundraising event for Karuna. That way you can donate without even breaking a sweat!

If shopping is more your thing, you can register as an Everyday Hero and shop for gifts, services and lots of other fun stuff from the shopping partners listed on the site. These partners have agreed to give a percentage of their profits to the Everyday Hero charities. The idea of registering first is so you can choose Karuna as your charity and ensure a percentage of the money you spend goes directly to Karuna.

So hop on the site and have a look. Once you’re hooked, let all your friends and family know about it. You can even raise money for Karuna by sending them a Hero e-card asking them to join!

It’s a fun, easy way to help us continue to care for the people of Brisbane.

Log on to www.everydayhero.com.au now or call Lisa on (07) 36328317 if you need more information, or some fundraising ideas!

As we come to the end of another busy year and gear up for the stresses of the Christmas Season, we are offering wonderful opportunity to find ways of creating sanctuary in your life, no matter what the season. You could even think of it as an early Christmas present to yourself!

Over the course of this one day workshop, we will explore the following themes:

• Transform your barriers to peace
• Create your own private sanctuary
• Experience the healing power of silence
• Identify your pathways to joy

The day will be relaxed and gentle with opportunities for questions and discussions.

About the facilitator:
Priscilla Maxwell is a qualified teacher, health practitioner and counsellor with many years professional experience. Her courses demonstrate how ancient techniques can be applied in the modern world with powerful results.

Cost: $75

Time: 9.30am – 4.30pm

Place: Karuna House, 27 Cartwright Street, Windsor

Download the PDF flyer

If you are hoarding an old mobile phone, a solution is now at hand! Karuna has signed an agreement with the Aussie Recycling Program to collect old mobiles which will then be shipped overseas for reuse where possible or the materials recycled.

Next time you visit Karuna, you will see a collection box inside our front door where you can place your old mobile phones for recycling. If you have several phones for recycling and are unable to bring them into Karuna, give me a call and I’ll try to make alternative arrangements.

If you can suggest other venues where we could place collection boxes (maybe your workplace or a local library), call me on 3632 8321. Feel free to let friends and family know about this as we would like to make this a successful fundraiser as well as a way to improve the environment.

Thank you for your help.

Evelyn Williames and the Karuna Green Team.

Whatever the combination, the Karuna Pre-Loved Art and Jewellery Market 2008 was an outstanding success. Appetites were whetted by snippets in the local newspapers and magazines, radio announcements and a wonderful piece on Brisbane Extra.

After months of watching the donations roll in and being in awe of the generosity of the community and local businesses, after weeks of logistics, building muscles and worrying we’d forgotten something, after scanning the horizon for dreaded storm clouds, the day finally dawned.

Actually, some of us were up before dawn, but it was with a bleary-eyed smile and the help of an eager band of staff and volunteers that we had the art hung and the bling shining by the time the gates opened at 8am.

The first line of shoppers got the best of the bargains as they walked through hundreds of original paintings, prints, frames and posters. Some headed straight for the jewellery, beads and watches where many a bargain was collected before morning tea.

The Rotary boys had sausages on the go before we knew it; raffle rickets were sold and silent auction bids were rising before our eyes. Right through until 1pm our vollies and staff toiled and smiled, laughing with the customers, negotiating sales and bagging a few of their own as they took well earned rest breaks.

I wish I could name each and every person and local business who helped us out, but I would need more than our small newsletter to fit you all in. Please know that we carry you in our hearts and minds every day. Karuna relies on you and your generosity and good will each and every year, and you never, ever let us down.

Thank you, and thank you to everyone who came along to help us celebrate the day. It raised much needed funds to help Karuna care for the people of Brisbane. And we had some great fun along the way!