Veterans Health Week “MENTAL WELLNESS”
Announcement posted by Semaphore Port Adelaide RSL 02 Oct 2015
Veterans Health Week “MENTAL WELLNESS”
Veterans' Health Week (VHW) is a week of activities run across Australia. The week celebrates the ongoing efforts being made to improve the health and wellbeing of the veteran and ex-service community. VHW is an opportunity for veterans, war widows, widowers, current and ex-serving members and their families to connect with the wider community and promote healthy lifestyle options.The Semaphore & Port Adelaide RSL is proud to announce it will be hosting 7 events during Veterans Health Week 2015. This year’s Veterans’ Health Week Theme is “MENTAL WELLNESS”.
The week’s program is diverse and caters for everyone, from Sing-a-longs for our WW2 Veterans to a Family Fun Day Picnic for our Young Veterans and Current Serving ADF Personnel and their Families.
The week starts with a Black Tie Masquerade Ball Fundraiser and finishes with the Launch of a new Centre for Current and Ex-Serving ADF Personnel who suffer from PTSD, the “Defence Shed”.
The week is an opportunity for the whole Community to get involved with the care of our Veterans’ and everyone is invited to come along, attend and participate in any of the Events and help us to Support Our Veterans’ .
Events Include:
Veterans Health Week Masquerade Ball – “PTSD Don’t hide behind a Mask”
Saturday 10th October 19:00 – 23:00
Semaphore Port Adelaide RSL 10 Semaphore Road
Cost $10
A Black Tie Masquerade Ball Fundraiser where guests will be entertained by local Live Band “Creation” and will featuring a Floor Show by “Ball Room Bliss”. There will be Guest Speakers on Mental Health Wellness and a Light Supper will be provided. A Fun Night Guaranteed for all with plenty of Raffles and Prizes to win including “Best Dressed, Lucky Door Prize and many more. There will also be Information Stands / Displays on “Mental Wellness” Tickets available at the Semaphore & Port Adelaide RSL.
“Don't be fooled by me. Don't be fooled by the face I wear. For I wear a mask, I wear a thousand masks, masks that I'm afraid to take off, and none of them are me. I give the impression that I am secure, that all is sunny and unruffled within as well as without; that confidence is my name and coolness is my game; that the water’s calm and I need no one. But, don’t believe me! PLEASE! My surface may seem smooth, but my surface is a mask. Beneath, dwells the real me: confusion; fear, lonely. But I hide this. I panic at the thought of my weakness and frantically create a mask to hide behind, to shield me from the glance that knows.” - The Mask
Masquerade Ball is for Young Veterans’ / Current Serving ADF Personnel and their Families, Older Veterans and the Community. The Masquerade Ball will take place at the Semaphore& Port Adelaide RSL.
· Live Band “Creation”
· Floor Show
· Guest Speakers – Mental Heath
· Light Supper
· Raffles / Prizes
· Information Stands / Displays
The Event is an opportunity to raise awareness of, and encourage participation in, activities that promote and maintain mental health and wellbeing of our veterans, war widows, widowers, current and ex-Australian Defence Force members and their families.
Veteran’s will be able to connect with the local Community and other Veteran’s to help influence the health and wellbeing of themselves and their friends.
Monies raised during the event will go towards the Semaphore Port Adelaide Defence Shed. See Defence Shed
Veterans Week Family Fun Day “PTSD affects everyone in the Family”
Sunday 11th October 11:00am – 17:00
Semaphore Foreshore +
Semaphore Port Adelaide RSL 10 Semaphore Road
Cost free / donations
Honouring veterans includes honouring their children and partners as well. So, this Veterans Health Week, think about the service members and veterans you know, and remember the sacrifices they, and their families, have made for our country.
Because the symptoms of PTSD and other Mental Health issues change how a Person feels and act, PTSD and other Mental Health experiences that happen to one member of a family can affect everyone else in the family.
Veterans Week Family Fun Day “PTSD affects everyone in the Family”
Event Summary
Veterans’ Health Week Family Day will kick-off around 11am with a day of Fun, free and ticketed family entertainment. Families can enjoy carousel rides, inflatable games, a petting zoo, Face Painter, ARMY Display, Music, Activity games, and much more! Many activities are free, some activities require a $2 donation and some are at cost.
Pack your Picnic Rug and chairs, bring your own picnic or something from one of the nearby café’s and takeaways. There is also a BBQ Lunch which will be served from 12pm thanks to the Semaphore & Port Adelaide RSL.
Stick around for a Family Disco Karaoke (Bop till you Drop) at 4:00pm at the nearby Semaphore & Port Adelaide RSL. Were all the Raffles and Prizes will be given out.
Detailed list of activities:
- Petting Zoo free 11 – 3pm
- Inflatable Bounce free 11 – 1pm $2 Donation 1 – 3pm
- Carousel Rides free 11 – 1pm at Cost 1 – 3pm
- *Mini Golf at Cost
- * Ferris Wheel at Cost
- Mini Games and Races free 130 – 3pm
- Musician free 1pm
- Information Stands / Displays free 11 – 3pm
o ADF / Army
o DCO – Defence Community Organisation
- Soldier On
- DVA – Department of Veterans’ Affairs
- Defence Shed / Semaphore Port Adelaide RSL
Family Fun Day is for Young Veterans’ / Current Serving ADF Personnel and their Families, Older Veterans and their Grand Children to enjoy time out together. Family Fun Day will take place down on the grass area on the Semaphore foreshore.
The Event is an opportunity to raise awareness of, and encourage participation in, activities that promote and maintain mental health and wellbeing of our veterans, war widows, widowers, current and ex-Australian Defence Force members and their families.
Veteran’s will be able to connect with the local Community and other Veteran’s to help influence the health and wellbeing of themselves and their friends.
Monies raised during the event will go towards the Semaphore Port Adelaide Defence Shed. See Defence Shed
Raymond's Piano Old Time Melodies - “Remembering Happy Times”
Wednesday 14/10/2015 11:30am – 15:30pm
Semaphore & Port Adelaide RSL 10 Semaphore Road, Semaphore 5019
Cost free / donations
Music offers its own unique benefits to mental health wellness Young and old explore music together. Getting our older veterans out of their homes and experiencing the benefits of music
- It allows you to express yourself.
- It leads to social connection.
- It fosters creativity.
- It helps you to relax.
- It motivates you.
- It helps you focus.
Raymond's Piano Old Time Melodies is for, Older Veterans, and Widowers and the Community. The Raymond 's Piano Old Time Melodies will take place at the Semaphore & Port Adelaide RSL.
- Singalongs and Dancing
- Floor Show
- Guest Speaker
- Quizzes
- Lunch / Refreshments
- Information Stands / Displays
The Event is an opportunity to raise awareness of, and encourage participation in, activities that promote and maintain mental health and wellbeing of our veterans, war widows, widowers, current and ex-Australian Defence Force members and their families.
Veteran’s will be able to connect with the local Community and other Veteran’s to help influence the health and wellbeing of themselves and their friends.
Monies raised during the event will go towards the Semaphore Port Adelaide Defence Shed. See Defence Shed
Semaphore Olympics – “New Challenges for Mental Wellness”
Thursday15/10/2015 11:30am – 15:30pm
Semaphore & Port Adelaide RSL 10 Semaphore Road, Semaphore 5019
Cost free / donations
When it comes to boosting your brainpower with games, there isn’t any one type that’s the best to try. There are great board games, puzzles, riddles, and even video games that can help you get that brainpower flowing and sharpen things like math and word skills and help boost logical thinking.
The important thing is to play something that you find fun and challenging. Exercising your brain is as important for your Mental health as exercising your body, and it may keep your brain sharp and protect you from memory problems later in life.
Semaphore Olympics – “New Challenges for Mental Wellness” Day is for Young Veterans’ / Current Serving ADF Personnel, Older Veterans, Local Community and their Families to come and try new games like Carpet Bowls, Snooker, Darts, 8-Ball, Board Games, Puzzles. Lunch, Tea Coffee, Refreshments will be available as well as Raffles / Veterans Mental Health information / Displays
The Event is an opportunity to raise awareness of, and encourage participation in, activities and game that promote and maintain mental health and wellbeing of our veterans, war widows, widowers, current and ex-Australian Defence Force members and their families.
Veteran’s will be able to connect with the local Community and other Veteran’s to help influence the health and wellbeing of themselves and their friends.
Monies raised during the event will go towards the Semaphore Port Adelaide Defence Shed. See Defence Shed
Veteran’s Wellness Walk – “Mental Fitness”
Friday 16/10/2015 10:30 – 15:00
Semaphore Port Adelaide RSL 10 Semaphore Road + Semaphore Foreshore
Cost free
It is well documented that regular exercise is good for maintaining your mental wellness and what could be better than a Relaxing Walk along Semaphore Foreshore. Participants are encouraged to try the different exercise equipment along the way.
We are encouraging our serving ADF to Team up with our Veterans to Walk & Talk about experiences, life now and then, share common problems,
The Wellness Walk is an opportunity to raise awareness of, and encourage participation in, activities such as walking and exercise that help promote and maintain mental health and wellbeing of our veterans, war widows, widowers, Current and ex-Australian Defence Force members and their families.
· Relaxing Walk / Exercise along the Foreshore
· Guest Speaker – Dennis J Hoiberg from Lessons Learnt
· BBQ Lunch / Refreshments
· Information Stands / Displays
Wellness Walk is for Young Veterans’ / Current Serving ADF Personnel, Older Veterans and the Community. The Wellness Walk will take place along the Semaphore Foreshore followed by Lunch at the Semaphore & Port Adelaide RSL.
Current Serving ADF and Veteran’s will be able to connect with each other and the local Community to help influence the health and wellbeing of themselves and their friends.
Monies raised during the event will go towards the Semaphore Port Adelaide Defence Shed. See Defence Shed
Defence Shed Launch – “Everyone is Equal Under One Roof”
Saturday 17/10/2015 11am
Defence Shed 33-35 Veitch Rd Osborne SA 5017Techport
Cost free
The Climax of Veterans Health Week is the launch of Australia’s First Stand Alone Defence Shed for our Veterans and Current Serving ADF Members. On the day there will be displays on some of the projects the Defence Shed has planned.
What is Defence Shed
Defence Shed is based on the well-known ‘Men’s Shed’ Principle and will offer support to returned servicemen and women and those who are currently serving in an effort to provide them with mateship, various hands on activities, projects and social activities, health & welfare advice, counselling through various professional networks, along with connections to others within the Defence network that can offer assistance.
Defence Shed is being organised by current and ex-defence force personnel from various backgrounds within the Defence force who have a passion to assist their mates in need.
Defence Sheds will be a meeting place where people can discuss issues of concern with like-minded mates, work on projects together, get involved in fundraising activities with various charities along with the ability to learn new skills e.g.; Photography, wood work, metal work , boat building and similar skills.
There will be a data base of Health professionals and those offering advocacy to those with issues with DVA etc.
Our Vision
Our Vision for Defence Shed is to be an Australia wide concept offering a place for all current and ex ADF members, with local ‘Defence Sheds’ in as many locations as possible, offering a place to work on various projects, helping mates in need, seeking and offering assistance on the many issues that face the Defence community.
Our Aim
Our aim is work with existing organisations that assist the veteran community and get as many Associations as possible involved with this project in a concerted effort to provide Members with a greater ‘United Voice’ to the many Government Departments that are responsible for their Welfare. With your support of this unique project we hope to establish a Defence shed in Port Adelaide, to offer assistance to those in need
Our Mission
Our Mission is to help as many veterans as possible by organising these sheds and offering them a place that will give them assistance in the many ways that are needed
Objectives
To create and maintain an environment for current and ex ADF personnel where concerns, PTSD, past trauma, health and welfare issues, transitional & employment problems can be discussed with other veterans who have empathy through similar life experience in operational areas during their service in the ADF.
Those that become part of the Defence Shed will be encouraged to develop, redevelop or learn new skills which will enhance their self-esteem and in turn provide a positive impact upon their lives, their family and the community.
To foster and maintain a relationship with the those stakeholders in the Defence Shed, Sponsors, South Australian Health Advisory Council, DVA SA, DefenceCare NSW and RSL Care SA (inc)
Inter-Club Challenge – “Raise awareness about mental health in the RSL”
Sunday 18/10/2015
Port Noarlunga Christies Beach RSL
Cost free
In an effort to raise awareness about mental health in the RSL, the Semaphore Port Adelaide RSL has partnered with the Port Noarlunga Christies Beach RSL to bring an inter club challenge to the Port Noarlunga Christies Beach RSL with a series Games Activities and Challenges. The call to action is to get members involved in the mental wellness of the veterans in their clubs. It’s an opportunity for Presidents, Welfare Officers and members to exchange ideas to better the veteran community whilst creating Camaraderie and Rivalry amongst the clubs
Inter Club Challenge is for Young Veterans’ / Current Serving ADF Personnel and their Families, Older Veterans to enjoy camaraderie and mateship.
Carpet Bowls, Snooker, Darts, 8-Ball, Board Games, Tea Coffee, Refreshments Activities / Games / Races / Raffles / Bus Trip / Information Stands / Displays
The Event is an opportunity to raise awareness of, and encourage participation in, activities that promote and maintain mental health and wellbeing of our veterans, war widows, widowers, current and ex-Australian Defence Force members and their families.
Veteran’s will be able to connect with the local Community and other Veteran’s to help influence the health and wellbeing of themselves and their friends.
