Parramatta Mission is delighted to announce the appointment of Mr Chris Bertinshaw as its General Manager.

In March this year we said goodbye to Brian Smith as our Superintendent after six years of outstanding leadership. Brian was convinced that we needed someone with a different skill set to develop the Mission to its full potential. Brian's vision, which the Mission adopted, was to appoint a General Manager for the business and community services activities of the Mission, leaving the Superintendent Minister to assume responsibility for the pastoral development of our congregations.

The appointment of Chris Bertinshaw is the culmination of an 8-month search to find a suitable person to provide leadership and general management of all the Mission's services and ministries.

"This has been a very challenging year for Parramatta Mission as demand for our services has increased dramatically," said Mr Ian Gray, Secretary, Parramatta Mission Church Council. "We believe that this appointment marks an exciting new beginning along our journey and will better equip us to respond to the challenges that lie ahead."

Chris brings to the Mission a wealth of experience in strategic planning and operational management having previously held positions as a Chief Executive in the IT, Health and Education sectors. He is an experienced builder and leader of teams that are committed to best practice.

"Parramatta Mission is a fantastic ministry. I am delighted to be building on the work of so many faithful people," said Mr Bertinshaw.

Chris holds a Bachelor of Business and a Masters in E Commerce along with a Diploma in Theology. He is married with grown up children and lists his interests as Church, family, music, sailing and gardening.

Chris will be starting work at Parramatta Mission on Monday 4 December 2006.

Parramatta Mission is delighted to present the First Test Lunch on Monday 20th November 2006 at the Four Seasons Hotel Sydney.

This special event will feature three of Australia's greatest Test cricket captains, Rickie Benaud, Ian Chappell and Mark Taylor, commenting on the imminent and eagerly anticipated Ashes Series.

To download a promotional flyer, please click here.

To book your corporate table of 10, please call Off the Wall Events on 1300 300 661 or book online at www.offthewall.com.au

Recently our Silver Corporate Citizen, Courtyard by Marriott Parramatta, was presented with an Award for Excellence in Outstanding Community Service by the Australian Hotels Association.

Congratulations to General Manager, Sean Baskett, and your outstanding team of Associates, and thanks for your generous support of Parramatta Mission.

The winners of a new short film competition challenging stereotypical portrayals of mental illness have been announced in Sydney.

The Hope Awards - an Australian first - tasked entrants with creating short films conveying hope for recovery for people with mental illness. The aim of the Hope Awards is to generate realistic stories of hope, to help reduce the stigma associated with conditions such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, or anxiety, and eating or personality disorders. These films are to be used to for community education.

A panel of independent media industry judges selected the following winners from 55 entries:

Best drama

• First prize ($7,500) - Juliet Lamont, for 'Burst'
  
• Runner-up ($2,500) - Anna Bennetts, for 'Unlock'
  

• First prize ($7,500) - Owen Elliott, for 'Matthew Heath'
• Runner-up ($2,500) - James Freemantle, for 'Invincible Summer'

Thank you to Principal, Robyn Dixon, and the students at Parramatta Public School for conducting a food drive recently to support Meals Plus.

Your generous support will help us to serve in excess of 55,000 meals this year to the homeless and needy in and around Parramatta.

Next week, 6th to 13th of August, hosts the 2006 Federal Census and the Homeless Persons' Week in Parramatta. The irony was not lost on Trish Bramble, Manager Support & Accommodation Services, who says that there are now two major centres for the homeless in Sydney - the inner city and Parramatta.

Parramatta Mission works with the homeless in Western Sydney, feeding and sheltering them physically and giving them back some self esteem and self respect. Trish and her team work closely with each person, putting together a picture of their past lives and helping them see that things can be changed. They get them to a doctor, help them with accommodation and life skills, like budgeting and getting paid work. Central to this rehabilitation is reconnecting these people with their families. Often too ashamed to stay in touch before, now they have something good to share.

Not only has there been a significant increase in the number of homeless seeking assistance from Parramatta Mission, there is also an increase in the number of women and women with children. "Also a lot more older migrants," Trish explains. "They came to Australia as a sponsored relative but something goes wrong and they have a falling out with their family. They end up destitute as they are not allowed to use Centrelink or any social services. These people don't realize that they have to be sponsored for life."

Unfortunately excellent services - like Meals Plus, which feeds hundreds each year and provides medical and legal advice as well, and Hope Hostel for Homeless Men with 95% occupancy - are in dire straits. Lack of funding has already left the cupboards bare at Meals Plus, which has been reduced to providing meals only through food donations and getting other food services involved.

Parramatta's Week of the Homeless ends with the annual memorial service. Plaques are hung in the church and relatives and friends light a candle for their dear departed loved ones. "There are about 200 plaques in total, 10 new ones this year. And they all died homeless, you know," says Trish. "We need to be able to do more."

Homeless people in Parramatta will be accounted for in this year's census because the government recognises that their numbers are reaching critical mass.

This financial year Parramatta Mission will serve over 55,000 meals to the homeless and lonely in Parramatta. The rate of growth in people seeking to access our Meals Plus program continues to escalate. More and more women and children are taking advantage of the Meals Plus service to assist them to meet their rent and keep their home.

We also know that 80-100 people will sleep out in the cold in Parramatta each night during winter.

We desperately need food and money to maintain this important community service. This financial year, Meals Plus will operate at a deficit of around $85,000. We cannot continue to fund this deficit alone. In order to reduce it we are only purchasing limited food supplies and will be seeking the support of the community to donate food for the provision of meals.

We need basic food items such as coffee, tea, sugar, pasta, rice and baked beans to feed our clients.

Food can be dropped off at our office at 119 Macquarie Street Parramatta or please contact 9891 2277 to arrange a pickup for larger quantities.

From 1st July 2006, ResMed joined the wonderful team of Corporate Partners who actively support the work and vision of Parramatta Mission.

ResMed is a leading developer, manufacturer and marketer of products for the diagnosis and treatment of sleep-disordered breathing.

For more information on ResMed you can visit www.resmed.com.au

Homeless Persons Week is held from Sunday 6th to Thursday 10th August.

The official launch will take place on Sunday from 12noon to 2pm in Church Street Mall and will include a sausage sizzle; live performance of Sydney Street Choir and Subtlebric; street church; Bikers Australia blanket run; and outdoor mural painting.

The activities continue on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday with live music, talks on Homeless Persons Week, displays, morning tea in the mall, lunch at Meals Plus, and culminating on Thursday evening with a memorial service at Leigh Memorial Hall.

Click here for a detailed schedule.

Parramatta Mission congratulates our Silver Corporate Citizen, Wentworthville Leagues Club, on recently winning the Best Club Sports Bar Award in the Clubs NSW 2006 Awards for Excellence.

Our 2006 Auction Catalogue is now available for perusal prior to Parramatta's Biggest Charity Auction tomorrow evening.

Download here.

As you'll discover there is an extensive array of interesting and sought after items up for sale so I'm sure you will find something suitable to purchase.

For tickets please contact Parramatta Mission on 98912277.

National Volunteers Week is from 15th to 21st May and Lifeline Western Sydney would like first and foremost to publicly thank its team of dedicated telephone volunteers who work amazingly long hours and do such wonderful work. Many many lives have been changed for the better because a telephone volunteer was there to hear the cries for help.

Lifeline Western Sydney would also like to take this opportunity to call for others to join the team and to be trained in telephone counselling. The next training program starts on 24th July and runs for 19 weeks with day-time and evening classes.

Not only does the community benefit from the services of Lifeline's telephone counsellors but the volunteers themselves get enormous personal and professional benefit. The course teaches new communication skills which empower participants at work and on the home front and provides an effective and satisfying avenue for individuals to give back to the community, to really make a difference, while working with like-minded people. The course opens up many possibilities and an exciting career path both in Lifeline and in other voluntary organisations.

To find out how to join the July training intake contact alex@lifelinews.org.au or call Alex on 96892860 for a course information pack.

Parramatta Mission really appreciates the support given by Couryard by Marriott Parramatta and congratulates them on their success at the 2006 Australian Hotels Association Awards of Excellence.

The Marriott team won two out of three finalist categories nominated.

Congratulations to Lisa Butel who was awarded 'Front Office Employee of the Year'. Lisa has worked for Courtyard by Marriott for more than four years and was selected as a finalist from a field of ten Front Office Employees working at Sydney's finest hotels.

Courtyard by Marriott Parramatta won the category for 'Outstanding Community Service' for its work with three principal community partners - Parramatta Mission, Humour Foundation and Parramatta Chamber of Commerce.

Earlier this year Courtyard by Marriott Parramatta received accolades from within the Marriott family by being named the 'Courtyard Community Service Hotel of the Year' and an honourable mention within the 'Alice S Marriott Award to Community Service'.

Congratulations to Courtyard by Marriott Parramatta for their outstanding community involvement.

Toby Allen from Human Nature recently appeared on Channel 7's 'Dancing with the Stars' and his nominated charity is Lifeline.

Toby's support of Lifeline marks the launch of an ongoing national fundraising campaign to sell Lifeline mobile phone straps i.e. 'lifelines' to the millions of mobile phone users throughout Australia.

Please support Lifeline by purchasing a 'lifeline' for yourself, your family and friends and pass this information throughout your work, Church and social organisations as well as to all of our congregation members.

These 'lifelines' sell for $2 each and are currently available for you to purchase at the following locations:

Our Lifeline shop in Macquarie St, Parramatta
Our Lifeline centre at 153 George St, Parramatta
Best Western Wesley Lodge, Westmead

Please note that the Lifeline Book Fair, scheduled for May 2006, has been postponed. Revised dates will be advised when available.

Parramatta Mission is delighted to announce that multi-talented performer and writer, Jean Kittson, will be the Master of Ceremonies at Parramatta's Biggest Charity Auction.

Jean is one of Australia's best known and most popular comedians, amusing audiences in theatre and print, on radio and television, and is the ideal host given the Carnival theme that will be blended through this year's event.

Asked why she had agreed to MC the night, Ms Kittson replied, "A few years ago a friend introduced me to the wonderful work done at Parramatta Mission and I have supported them ever since. They do really essential work in the community and without them many people would be in dire straits. I am happy to help with this Auction especially because of its carnival theme. The Auction is raising money for Lifeline Western Sydney and the Mission's Mental Health Services. I believe our goal is $50,000 but if everyone makes an effort we will all reap the benefits - come along and enjoy an evening of fun while supporting this great organisation."

Parramatta's Biggest Charity Auction supporting Parramatta Mission is at the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel Parramatta on the 2nd June 2006 from 6pm. Tickets are just $40.

To book your tickets, please contact Maggie at Parramatta Mission on 98912277 or email her at wecare@parramattamission.org.au

Go and pick up a treasure or bid on a trove and enjoy all the fun of the carnival while supporting the vital work of Parramatta Mission.

During this week I have been reflecting on the Easter story and what it means for those working and supporting Parramatta Mission.

Each day across all services of the Mission our staff and volunteers meet people who have travelled through a life crisis or "death" experience and are seeking to find a "new life".

At Lifeline Western Sydney our telephone counsellors provide support and encouragement to those who are experiencing loneliness or sadness - a listening ear can provide hope and light. Our face-to-face counselling teams are working with clients who are seeking a fresh start or a new life.

At Hope Hostel or our Outer Western Sydney Housing Service our clients may be experiencing life out of prison for the first time in many years and seeking a fresh start and a new meaning to their lives.

At our office on the first floor of the Fellowship Centre clients arrive each day seeking a fresh start, new direction and a helping hand.

In fact, right across all our services the transforming spirit of our staff is making a difference in peoples lives.

A fresh start, a new journey - life can begin again.

Please pray for the clients of Parramatta Mission this Easter - may they experience the transforming care and support of our staff and volunteers as they continue life's journey with fresh hope and love.

For details of our Easter Services, please click here.

Following the resignation of Rev Brian Smith, Parramatta Mission welcomes Ian Gray as our transitional part-time Executive Officer.

Ian brings to this task a wide range of skills and experience in management and property issues. Ian will be known to many in the community as the Chairman of the Mission's Church Council and has provided leadership across the Mission for many years.

I want to take the opportunity to say "thank you" to the many people who have enabled me to fulfil my role as Superintendent Minister over the past six years.

Thank you to the members of Church Council, the Community Care Network Board and the Congregational Councils who have provided the lay leadership for the Mission, especially to Ian Gray and David Norris who have chaired the Church Council and Community Care Network Board respectively. The Uniting Church is committed lay leadership and your leadership through a period of change has been outstanding.

Thank you to Mission staff who do such an amazing, and often difficult, job day in day out with such good humour and commitment, especially to the management team who have brought high skills, innovation and the courage to make sometimes unpopular decisions to our work and to Maggie Long whose exceptional organizational skills I have relied on constantly.

Thank you to the many volunteers who give so much of their time, energy and gifts. Without you Lifeline, the Lifeline Shop and Book Fair, Meals Plus and Open Church would not exist.

Thank you to the pastoral team whose integrity and commitment to wrestle with the scriptures and discern their meaning for our own cultural context has been a constant stimulation and has made the preparation of worship and preaching such a delight.

Thank you to those whose musical gifts enrich the worship of our congregations, your contribution lifts our hearts.

Thank you to the members of the church who do not thrust themselves into the limelight but whose quiet faithfulness and prayer is a constant inspiration and is the bedrock on which everything else is built. Your contribution does not go unnoticed. Thank you to the many people in the Parramatta community who have chosen to walk alongside us and whose support has made so much good possible.

It has been a privilege to serve you over the past six years.

Brian L. Smith

Just recently, Parramatta Mission has established a Wills and Bequests program so that people who would like to continue supporting our work by leaving a bequest can do so.

Marilyn Smith has been appointed as Donor Liaison Officer for Parramatta Mission and would love to talk to you about how you can support our work through your will.

Almost 20 years ago Marilyn was invited to come to Australia to lead a Singles Outreach Ministry, and she's been here ever since! She originally hails from the United States, but met "the man of her dreams" here, and married him. (He's a Uniting Church minister.)

Marilyn enjoys sailing, cooking (some call it "gourmet" - she just says she likes to experiment), talking, and - most recently - playing with her first grandchild, Luca. "I'd love to meet as many of our donors as I can, and thank them personally for their support!" Marilyn enthuses. If you're thinking of leaving a legacy for the good work we do at Parramatta Mission, Marilyn's the gal to talk to!

You can contact Marilyn on (02) 9891 2277 or by emailing marilyn@parramattamission.org.au

Great news ... part of the proceeds from the Rydalmere Rotary Golf Day on March 3rd will be donated to Lifeline Western Sydney. So please get behind this event and join in to participate or tell anyone you know who may be a golfer.

Thank you for your ongoing support of Lifeline.

Click here to download the Golf Day flyer.

For the past seven years Rev Brian Smith has been an outstanding role model at Parramatta Mission and within the local community as he strives to fulfil the Mission's vision of a community where all are included and valued. His extraordinary hard work and leadership has resulted in significantly improved outcomes for Parramatta Mission's clients. This valuable contribution to our community was recently recognised when Brian was invited to be the last runner on the first day of the Queen's Baton Relay's Australian leg.

Brian with Lord Mayor David Borger.

Brian carrying the Queen's baton.

Depression is in the news again due to the recent resignation of Western Australia's premier on the grounds that he suffered depression. As a follow up on this we talk with Jane Armstrong, Team Leader of Volunteer Services, Lifeline Western Sydney, about what they are doing in this area.

Could you explain what the 'beyondblue' workshops are and how Lifeline Western Sydney fits in?
"In 2000, the Kennett government in Victoria formed the organisation 'beyondblue', bringing to our notice that 1 in 5 Australians will experience depression at some time in their lives. Through their community education workshops, 'beyondblue' aim to de-stigmatise this mental illness and increase our awareness of how very real and extremely debilitating the experience of depression can be. Workshops are open to any member of the community who may be suffering depression, caring for a depressed person or who may just want to know more. Geoff Kennett was the first politician to stand up and acknowledge that depression is a real issue in our society," Armstrong said. "By such high profile people speaking about depression from personal experience, it creates public discussion on the matter, and therefore also encourages people to speak openly about their own experiences.

"And that's where Lifeline comes in, because a large percentage of the calls we receive are from people managing a mental illness like depression. We also talk to people who find themselves in relationships with family members or partners who are managing depression and so we often listen to how deeply that depression impacts on all aspects of their relationship. Our role is to listen, support and give appropriate referrals depending on the caller's needs." The 'beyondblue' website, www.beyondblue.org.au also has a list of GPs who have received specific training in depression, as well as a quick checklist to see if you may be a sufferer complemented with fact sheets on many aspects of depression.

Who attends the 'beyondblue' workshops?
"The 'beyondblue' community workshops are not only used as part of the ongoing training program available to our telephone counsellors but they are also open to the general public. We regularly run 3 hour workshops which are open to anyone who wants to learn more about depression. These workshops not only provide information around depression but they give people the opportunity to ask questions and speak about their own related experiences," said Armstrong. "There is still a stigma in our community which makes people reluctant to come forward and disclose they are suffering from depression or that they live with a person with this mental illness, so these workshops work on so many positive levels and the environment is very supportive and informative."

How are the workshops funded?
"We seek community sponsorship for each workshop [^] one of our previous sponsors was the Guildford Leagues Club where many members of the local community attended. We also ask for a gold coin donation from all attendees" she added.

What are the symptoms of depression, the signs one should look out for?
"If for a period of 2 weeks or more on a regular basis, that could possibly be every day, a person experiences loss of interest or pleasure, low motivation or lack of energy, they may have loss of appetite or libido, have feelings of worthlessness or thoughts of suicide, or when ordinary things in life become just unmanageable, then they may be suffering from depression."

How can Lifeline Western Sydney help?
"Lifeline Western Sydney wants the community to be more informed around depression and to know that the 'beyondblue' workshops are available. Anyone interested can contact us directly and we will let them know the date and location of the next workshop. Just call Alex on 96892860.

"We would also like to inform anyone who needs to talk about their experience with depression, that they can call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on our Lifeline National Crisis Hotline 13 11 14. Also, we are always looking for more volunteers to become telephone counsellors. For more information on how to become a counsellor contact Alex on 96892860 or alex@lifelinews.org.au"

Over 26 businesses, celebrities and groups participated in the 2005 Festival of Trees.

The amazing array of beautifully decorated trees was judged by a representative from Chas Clarkson.

Congratulations to the winners.

Traditional
Local Fijian Community

My Business
Education Expo

Australiana
Roger Budd Agencies

Good Enough To Eat
Courtyard by Marriott

Fantasy
Best Western Wesley Lodge

Winter Wonderland
OsborneIT