Catch all the latest goss from the Australian Born ’96 Youth Girls European Tour
The Australian Born ‘96 girls played two games of 6 x 15 min on Wednesday against the Greek team at the Zappeio pool. Australia won both games with the morning score 30-23. Georgia McConville top scored with seven goals and Chelsea Allen scored six. The evening score was similar, 33-21. Chelsea Allen and Sam Mitchell both scored seven goals, with Ash Roberts and Georgia McConville five each.
(Chelsea Allen scoring and Tess Hosking in goal for Australia)
Wednesday was special as we celebrated Emily McGowan’s 17th birthday. The team loved the chocolate cake from Gylfada and Emily scored four goals on her birthday.
(The girls celebrating Emily McGowan’s birthday and Emily in attack)
Thursday, 22 August
There was no morning session training so we could be tourists!! We started the day at the Parthenon. The girls were amazed that it was completed in 438BC!!
We had a city bus tour and got off at Monastriakis Square and enjoyed a typical Greek lunch of Gyros. The team had a few hours to enjoy the markets and shops before meeting to go to our evening game. The score in that game was 26-11. The girls played against a physical Greek team in a heavy game. Every field player scored with Georgia Hole top scoring with six goals and Tori Morrissey four.
Friday, 23 August
The girls won their final game against the Greeks 22-14. Ash Roberts, Maddy Steere and Georgia McConville scored four goals each.
(Tori Morrissey and Kristy Donkin in action for Australia)
After the game the team visited the Panathinaic Stadium. Next stop on our tour is Dunaujvaros in Hungary for a Four Nation Tournament.
Players’ Report
Georgia Hole and Ellodie Ruffin: Greece was a good change in environment and atmosphere, going from the cooler, cloudy climates to very hot and humid days of sunshine. The team enjoyed soaking up a bit of sun and enjoying the Greek culture. Our first encounter with the Greek side saw a change in tactical approach and game play. Through the various extended training games, the different styles of water polo and levels of physicality became more noticeable. This in turn led to a step up in the need for intensity to match the standard of the opposition. Although tensions between the two sides heightened, we remained in good character handling the situation with true sportsmanship. Across the six games, the experience against a more physically engaging team, although a shock to most, allowed us to adapt and enhance their skills in dealing with the European standard.
A survey is warning that some 40,000 small businesses in Greece are likely to close in the second half of 2013 at a cost of up to 90,000 jobs despite a major bank rescue program implemented before the northern summer.
However, the small business survey conducted between July 10 and 16 and published on Tuesday found that the 50 billion euro ($A74.59 billion) bank recapitalisation was likely to result in a modest decline in the rate of closures, from an estimated 55,000 in the first half of the year.
Greece’s coalition government has promised to lead the cash-strapped country out of recession and return to bond markets next year.
The bank rescue program was part of the country’s second international bailout and considered central to returning Greece to financial health.
A French pilot gives a thumbs-up before taking off in a Mirage 2000 fighter jet from the Greek air base at Souda, which the U.S. could use to launch strikes on Syria.
Washington has asked Greece for permission to use its military bases in Kalamata and Souda for a possible strike on Syria over the alleged use of toxic gas in Ghouta on the eastern outskirts of Damascus.
The two bases in Peloponnesus and on Crete would be used by the American air force and navy for transportation purposes.
The Greek government has given the green light but stated that it will not take part in any direct military action in Syria for fear of reprisals.
According to reports, the US authorities are reluctant to use Turkish military bases because of Ankara’s strong support for the Assad opposition.A buildup of warplanes and military transporters has been reported at the British airbase at Akrotiri in Cyprus, less than 100 miles from Syria.
A cheque for $4232.00 was presented toBEAR COTTAGE on Wednesday 28 August, 2013.
On behalf of Rita Katsianos’ mother Esta Tserpes she wishes to thank everyone who generously donated towards BEAR COTTAGE instead of flowers on Rita Katsianos’ funeral on the 5th of August, 2013.
The information below is a fundraising event which Stelios Prapas family are organising to help raise sufficient funds for BEAR COTTAGE which provides support, respite and end of life care for children and their families.
Just like Rita, her mother and family had the opportunity to stay at BEAR COTTAGE like other families with similar circumstances and received the support, care which was outstanding.
Bear Cottage is NSW’s only children’s hospice. It helps families cope with the impossible – to care for a child who has a life-limiting illness.
Listen to James Valentine’s interview with Bear Cottage Manager Matthew Siedl by clicking on the audio link.
Bear Cottage is the only children’s hospice in NSW, one of only two in Australia, and the only one in the world affiliated with a children’s hospital. It is a very special place that’s dedicated to caring for children with life-limiting conditions and their families.
Planning began for Bear Cottage almost 20 years ago, when Dr John Yu and Dr Michael Stevens from The Children’s Hospital at Westmead decided to enhance the hospital’s palliative care program.
Located on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, in Manly, Bear Cottage is like a home away from home – as far removed from a hospital environment as possible. Here staff do not wear uniforms, no medical procedures are carried out in the bedrooms, the children’s rooms are designed to like a normal bedroom, and we even have a family pet, Frankie, our adorable Labrador. That said, Bear Cottage is set up to provide excellence in paediatric medical care 24 hours a day, and our affiliation to The Children’s Hospital at Westmead means we have access to some of the best medical resources in the world.
The facility was established entirely through community support, at a cost of $10 million, and was officially opened on St Patrick’s Day, 17 March 2001,
Bear Cottage does not receive any recurrent government funding and so continues to rely on donated funds and community support to raise over $2.9 million required to operate each year.
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Who benefits from Bear Cottage?
Bear Cottage provides support, respite and end of life care for children with life-limiting illnesses and their families.
We care for children from across Australia, regardless of where they receive their primary care, although the majority of families that access the service are from NSW. The children who visit Bear Cottage will range from newborn infants to 18 years of age; however accommodation is also available for parents, as well as siblings, of the children staying.
When these families are told that their child’s life will be cut short, their everyday existence takes on a monumental change. As they embark on such a terrible journey, there are limited options available to help them get through each day, and answer the many questions that arise. Having Bear Cottage available to them for care and support enables these families to focus on the important things, such as spending quality time together and making every moment count.
Most families staying at Bear Cottage will come for respite; with the average length of stay is around one week to ten days. Families are generally able to visit Bear Cottage around 4 times a year for general respite, however for end of life care this can be open ended.
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The Facts and Figures
Estimates suggest there are well over 5000 children aged 0 – 19 years across Australia requiring palliative care. In the last year alone we have cared for well over 200 children with a life-limiting illness. There have been 16 children this year that have come to Bear Cottage for end-of-life care – where they can be surrounded by love and support, in a happy, safe environment, right until the end. And in the last 10 years we have supported around 600 families, both current and bereaved, as they go through their heart wrenching journey.
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Why is Bear Cottage special?
Whilst staying with us, our families can do as little or as much as they like. We have staff and volunteers on hand to do the cooking and cleaning, allowing families to forget about the stresses of everyday life, if just for a short time. We are fully medically assisted, so our nurses are available 24 hours a day to administer medications and support and guidance; and Frankie, our resident dog, is always around for a cuddle. We have full-time play and music therapists, and volunteers are there so mum and dad can spend time together or with their other children – often something that is forgotten when you’re caring for a terribly ill child.
Bear Cottage is there for every child, parent, or family who needs us, and they will never have to pay a cent. With one, and sometimes both parents, giving up work to care for their child, many of our families are simply not in a financial position to pay for anything that is not absolutely necessary.
By having Bear Cottage available to them at no charge means they can take a break and re-charge their batteries, safe in the knowledge that their child is being cared for by the best staff available. They can enjoy time with one another without having to worry about the housework and cooking. Most importantly though, they can spend quality time together and create special memories that will last long after their child has passed away.
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Goals for Bear Cottage – 2013
It currently costs more than $2.9 million a year to keep the doors open at Bear Cottage. With no recurrent government funding, we rely entirely on community support to raise these funds.
Our goal for 2013, as with every year, is to raise sufficient funding to keep Bear Cottage available for the very special kids and their families that rely on it. We also aim to give the children that visit Bear Cottage as many special memories as possible – because although we can’t add years to their lives we can add life to their years.
All funding makes an incredible difference to Bear Cottage and the children that come here. It allows us to continue providing vital services such as:
paying for daily medication for patients
funding important kid and parent camps
providing a play therapist for the children
ensuring that vital equipment is available for treatment and care
help fund families to stay at Bear Cottage for respite and end of life care
help pay for a specialised paediatric palliative care doctor
For many people, Bear Cottage is perceived as a sad place. But for those families who visit here, the staff who work here and the volunteers and community who support us, it is an incredibly special and happy place, where lasting memories are created.
St Spyridon Golf Day, 19 September 2013 @ The Lakes Golf Club
If you have ever considered becoming a sponsor of the St Spyridon Charity Golf Day here’s your chance. We would love for you to participate in this fundraising initiative.
To check out our 2012 sponsors, please click here or on our sponsors tab above.
If you would like to sponsor our 2013 event, download the information flyer below*, complete the form included and return to us.
For general subscriptions the 2013 entry form is also now available by clicking here
Your generosity will be appreciated and really will make a difference.
*Instructions on how to print: Once you have clicked on image below, press save image button, select open in order to print to your specifications.
Catch all the latest goss from the Australian Born ’96 Youth Girls European Tour
GREEK WORLD MEDIA 