ISA News and Events January 2021 Edition
PRESIDENT'S WELCOME
Dear All,
2020 was an extremely challenging year globally and here, at the Irish Support Agency, we were able to support the Irish diaspora affected by the Covid 19 pandemic. Many of our community faced financial hardship, concerns relating to their VISAs, difficulties with returning to Ireland and travel exemptions, housing and accommodation issues and so much more.
Yet, there were some key learnings from the year.
In difficult times, the community rallies. We had an outstanding response to our Covid 19 appeal, and it has been truly heartwarming to receive such support from the Irish community groups and businesses as well as the vast number of people who contributed personally, during what is an uncertain time for us all. Please be assured the monies raised have been and continue to be directed to those most in need and have helped house, feed and support a vast array of people through very difficult circumstances.
While we encounter all sorts of restrictions, we are able to stay engaged electronically more than ever before. Apart, but stronger together. 2020 saw the launch of The Irish 30, a series of free informative online mental health and wellbeing webinars led by Irish born volunteers, experts in their respective fields.
Our baile as baile initiative opened up a new realm of possibilities with a host of online events from baking, storytelling to meditation! Our seniors also got involved with our Irish music sessions. There are so many possibilities to what we can achieve online and we look forward to exploring this more in 2021.
I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very Happy New Year.
Warm Regards,
Donna
ISA President
DECEMBER AGM 2020
The Annual General Meeting of the Irish Support Agency took place on the 21st December in the Gaelic Club. Donna McKiernan delivered the President's Report outlining the work of the agency in the preceding year. All office bearers and committee members were returned for the coming year. Thank you to Tony Kenny and Patrick McCarron who officiated in the elections of Officers.
BAILE AS BAILE (Home away from home)
baile as baile is an initiative of the Irish Support Agency being run in partnership with members of the Irish Australian community of NSW. The phrase, meaning ‘home away from home’, aims to support and strengthen the Irish community by offering a range of activities where people can safely connect with others.
The initiative was a result of an understanding that for many, this time of year would be particularly difficult. The aim was to broaden horizons and to expose people to new friendship groups and activities. Throughout December and January, we have had an ardent response to our series of events, holding a total of 52 online and in-person events!
Something for everyone
There was a huge variety of community events on offer and almost all of them were free!
From online and in-person meditation, macramé, online storytelling to pilates, personal growth workshop, outdoor yoga, children’s arts and crafts, online baking, baby massage, coastal walks, stand up paddleboarding, online Christmas carols, trivia nights, and trad night, we had it all!
Thank you to all of the volunteers, representatives and attendees for making this initiative a great success. We could not have done it without you. It is amazing what you can achieve through difficult times when we pull together. Ní neart go cur le chéile indeed. We hope that the sentiment and endeavour of this initiative will continue throughout 2021 as we seek new opportunities to support each other. It was truly wonderful to see the community coming together after a very difficult year.
SENIORS CHRISTMAS LUNCH
We were delighted to have had the opportunity to convene for our annual Christmas Senior’s lunch on Wed 16th December. Thank you to Penrith Gaels Cultural and Sporting Association for their generous grant and sponsorship of this special lunch, which is an annual highlight for many of our Seniors. We were extended sincere welcomes by John Grieve, Club Chairman and Adrienne Hickey, Deputy Consul Ireland, Sydney who had her first opportunity to meet with many of our lovely Seniors. We had an absolute ball in terms of reconnecting, craic and banter and were musically accompanied across the afternoon by the lovely and accomplished duo Rebecca Harkin and her recent fiancé Kurt Russell. Congratulations to the pair. Thank you to all at Penrith Gaels for looking after us so well.
CHRISTMAS DAY MASS
We had a full congregation for our 11am Christmas Day Mass in St Brigids, Coogee led by Bishop Terry Brady. Thank you to everyone who participated and assisted, especially our readers, musician, and Eucharistic minister. We have been invited back next year by the parish - perhaps we can make this an ongoing annual event!
NOLLAIG NA MBAN
On January 6th we held the inaugural Nollaig na mBán in association with The Prankqueans and The Gaelic Club.
The Prankqueans are a group of incredibly talented women from across Ireland and Australia. Taken from the famous ‘Finnegan’s Wake’, the Prankqueans are musicians, poets, writers, and actors who collaborate on culturally rich performances. It was a pleasure to work with them on this project and we look forward to making this an annual event in Sydney.
We miss these faces!
We are missing our regular catch ups with our seniors at Cara Club and Silver Surfers but we must consider the best interests of our members at this time.
We have instigated a new outreach program for our seniors whereby the Committee / Staff are reaching out by telephone to offer social support during what is undoubtedly a difficult time. This allows us the opportunity to make sure they are adequately supported in their home environments but also to offer a chat to those who may feel isolated. If you know of some one who might benefit from this program, please ask them to give us a call.
CARA CLUB
In November, we were delighted to welcome back members of the Cara Club for the first time since March. It was so wonderful to see everyone again and we look forward to seeing what opportunities 2021 will bring. We discussed all aspects of COVID safety at the first reunion meeting and developed a specific COVID safety plan in the aftermath. As we all now fully understand, the Covid 19 situation is extremely changeable so we will update you all should our gatherings be affected in any way. We would encourage you or a nominee to register a contact email address and follow us on social media so we can relay messages to you in a timely manner.
FOND FAREWELL
We were recently (and belatedly) able to say a fond farewell to Liz Kenny (front right) who joined the Irish Support Agency committee back in 2006! Liz has been with the committee in many capacities, including President from 2012-2015. Liz is known for her warmth and empathy and she will be a big loss to the committee. We thank her so much for all her hard work, especially with our Seniors and wish herself and Tony (our BBQ maestro and also ex ISA Committee) all the best in the days ahead. Go raibh míle maith agaibh.
CONGRATULATIONS AND FAREWELL
We are delighted to announce the safe arrival of baby Lily, on the 2nd January to Elske and John. Both Mum & bub are doing well and adjusting to life as a family of four. It was fantastic for us to share a last hoorah before her departure and we very much look forward to meeting the little one at some of the upcoming Cara Club meetings as restrictions lift. We are all so appreciative of the commitment and empathy Elske has brought to the role of Outreach Worker with the ISA and we very much look forward to having her onboard as an ISA volunteer!
THE IRISH 30
For our final Irish 30 webinar of the year, we were joined by Lochlann Scott from Helplink Mental Health. Lochlann joined us to explore how we can look after our mental health as we approached a very different festive period. Helplink is a valuable resource, the service is available for all Irish citizens living abroad or returning home from living abroad, who are in need of some culturally sensitive, emotional support from trained, qualified, insured and Garda vetted Irish based Counsellors.
All of our Irish 30 sessions can be watched back online, go to www.youtube.com for our full video library
SAMARITANS INTERNATIONAL HELPLINE
Samaritans provides a 24-hour freephone helpline service to Irish people living in Australia following a new partnership between Samaritans and the Government of Ireland's Emigrant Support Programme.
Anyone suffering from emotional distress, or who needs a listening ear, can call Samaritans in Ireland anonymously 24 hours a day, seven days a week, on the number below.
No matter what someone’s reason for calling is, Samaritans offers a space to explore how they are feeling, in their own time and their own way.
Callers may join a short queue when all volunteers are on calls but will be transferred to a volunteer free of charge. Samaritan’s Freephone number for Australia: 1800570699 (No dialling code is necessary).
FRIDAY PILATES
Paddy Coary, who hails from Coalisland, is offering free community Pilates every Friday at 1.15pm in the Gaelic Club, Surry Hills.
Pilates Mat Classes are structured in a way that all participants can benefit regardless of age, physical ability, or prior pilates experience.
Please bring your own mat, water and towel.
Classes will run until the 5th March.
TECHNOLOGY DONATIONS
If you have an old device with internet capabilities - smartphone, tablet, laptop, notebook- that you no longer use, please consider donating it so that we can facilitate training for our seniors, who do not as yet appreciate the benefits of digital connectivity. 2020 has shown us that there are huge benefits and opportunities to online communication and we want to share this with our seniors. If you have a device to donate, please email us your details- project@irishsupportagency.org.au.
FINANCIAL WELLBEING SERIES: THE IRISH 30
For our next Irish 30 session, we will begin a new series on financial wellbeing which will cover topics such as budgeting, saving, planning and protection for the future. The series has been developed to examine the life cycle on one’s relationship with finance and to explain and understand how we can all manage better. Our first guest presenter is Ciaran Davis, who has over 20 years’ experience in the financial sector. Join us on zoom on Monday 1st February at 7pm.
NEW MONTHLY BOOK CLUB
We held our first monthly book club hosted by Rebecca Harkin on Wednesday 9th December at 6pm. It was a lovely evening of chat and joviality and we look forward to catching up at our next meeting and discussing our next read. The next meeting is 17th February at 6pm. Please contact the office if you wish to participate or email project@irishsupportagency.org.au
SINCERE THANKS
We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to the generous efforts of The Bacon Bros who donated the proceeds of their sales of fabulous Irish Fayre on the 12th December 2020. Check them out at 30 Burrows Road, St Peters on Saturdays and 50 O'Dea Avenue, Waterloo on Sundays from 8am -12.30pm. Cheers lads!
They were supported in terms of produce by Shay ‘The (wonderful) Irish Butcher’ and the team at Taste Ireland, both of whom also generously contributed to the creation of beautiful hampers we distributed to some of our most vulnerable before Christmas.
The Grand Hotel also hosted their New Year’s Day ‘Bringing in the Irish New Year’ event and kindly donated the proceeds from the entry fee.
Caroline McKenna has been a wonderful advocate of the baile as baile initiative and also donated the proceeds of her raffle from the Christmas Eve Eve dinner at The Grand Hotel on 23rd December. Thank you all, your kindness is truly appreciated.
BRIGID 2021
The Prankqueans return with their celebrated Brigid program after great success in 2020.
In association with Consulate General of Ireland, Sydney,
this promises to be another wonderful evening. The program features Cliona Mullins, Aine de Paor, Rosie McDonald, Jacqui McPhee, Anne Casey and many more.
Sunday 31st January at 7pm in the Gaelic Club and Sunday 7th March at 2.30pm in Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre, NSW 2170. Tickets can be purchased here - https://brigid2021.eventbrite.com/
SYDNEY ST PATRICK'S DAY 2021
Save the date! All going to plan, Sydney St Patrick’s Day Committee will be hosting an event on Sunday 21st March 2021!
The committee is focused on working hard and of course will be operating under the NSW Health guidelines. If you would to participate in any capacity, (committee, performer, musician etc) please contact us on secretary@sydneystpatricksday.com.au.
