Day: October 30, 2013

“Odyssey of a Warrior” is a documentary about Reg Saunders, the first Aboriginal Officer who took part in the battle of Crete currently being filmed and produced by journalist Michael Sweet.

Saunders’ Cretan years, where he experienced the selfless courage of the Cretan people, are central to the film and informed his views on social justice ever after. The film will use footage already shot in Crete – where Saunders’ daughters recently met the villagers who saved their father’s life – a deeply emotional and dramatic event – symbolizing a powerful contemporary multicultural message of kinship.

About this film
The story of Reg Saunders MBE (1920-1990) – the Australian army’s first Aboriginal Officer is a story of courage, humility and huge adventure.

This film tells Saunders’ life story – from growing up in Lake Condah Mission in western Victoria to leaving Melbourne on a troopship as a 19-year-old Digger in the opening days of WWII. It tells of his time in Crete in 1941 – fighting the Nazis, and then going on-the-run – an extraordinary chapter in his life, when, with the help of mountain villagers, he evaded capture for a year.

Deliverance from the hands of the Germans in Europe meant that he would go on to fight in the jungles of New Guinea, and after WWII in Korea. In each case, his return to civvy street was a harrowing indictment of Australian society at the time.

This war hero – loved by those he led, who fought for his country out of a sense of duty and pride – returned to a society blighted by injustice.

Out of uniform he suffered the indifference and outright hostility of a society where institutional racism was endemic.

After challenging the genocidal evil of the Nazis, the Japanese as they advanced towards Australia, and the communist uprising in Korea – Saunders had one last opponent to fight – Australia’s own inequitable system of entrenched racial prejudice.

As the nation’s social conscience and political system began to evolve and intervene on the welfare of all Australians, in 1969 Saunders took up a position in the newly-created Office of Aboriginal Affairs as one of its first liaison officers.

There he helped change the behaviour of the Australian public service in its interactions with Indigenous people.

A multi-layered story this drama-documentary will use rarely-seen archive material, dramatic reconstruction, and sequences filmed in Greece and Victoria.

The film will use footage already shot in Crete – of Saunders’ daughters recent meeting the villagers who saved their father’s life – a deeply emotional and dramatic event – symbolising a powerful contemporary multicultural message of kinship.

In Crete, Saunders witnessed the selfless courage of another ancient rural people. The experience informed his views on social justice ever after. His experiences in Crete are central to the film.

This documentary is made with the assistance and support of the Saunders family and has exclusive access to personal records, documents and photographs.

FUNDING AMOUNT SOUGHT
AUD $100000
TOTAL PROJECT BUDGET
AUD $140000
LENGTH OF PRODUCTION
40 minutes
STAGE OF PRODUCTION
Completion

HOW DOES THE PROJECT MEET THE AIMS OF A PHILANTHROPIC FOUNDATION?
This film is about the importance of strong, mutually supportive multicultural retionships in Australian society – it is about the evolution of Aboriginal rights, but it is also a story of Australia’s rich history of South European migrant culture that stemmed from the bonds created in war.

Reg Saunders is an important role model and his story has never been documented on a canvas it deserves for the screen.

WHAT OUTCOMES DO YOU HOPE TO ACHIEVE BY MAKING THIS FILM AND HOW WILL YOU MEASURE ITS IMPACT?
A deeper knowledge of the story of Reg Saunders and his legacy. Measurable outcomes relate to the educational outreach activities related to the production including monitoring the level of distribution of the film on DVD. The producer will approach Australian broadcasters with a view to acquiring the film when complete.

WHAT IS YOUR EDUCATION AND OUTREACH STRATEGY
The intention would be for the film to be comercially distributed on DVD/Blu-ray as well as broadcast. The producer will seek distribution in schools as a teaching material for Australian High schools’ curriculum.

WHO ARE THE FILMMAKERS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PROJECT?
Writer/Director Mike Sweet is a former documentary director and producer of BBC TV documentaries. He has also made radio documentaries for the ABC (ABC Radio National).

Full details of Mike Sweet’s broadcast documentary productions can be found at http://www.sweetas.biz/broadcast.cfm

Mike Sweet’s work for the BBC (The Slate arts series) was nominated for a ‘Race in the Media Award’ by the UK’s Commission for Racial Equality. His other broadcast and production credits include:

The Slate – Six Postcards from Another Wales. [BBC]
The Slate – William’s Story. [BBC]. Both films dealt with multicuturalism in the UK.

Double Dragons – Hong Kong Handover special [BBC]
La Musique du Salon Deben Bhattacharya. [ETV – Bangladesh/France coproduction]
Witness 19.2.42: The bombing of Darwin [for Darwin City Council/Dept of Veterans’ Affairs]
Target Darwin [Online/iPad production for Fairfax Media]

ABC Radio National documentary production credits:
Producer: By Design: ‘Searching for Beni’. Hindsight: ‘The Road to War’.
BBC Radio credits: ‘A Different Dragon – Hong Kong Handover’.
South Asia Today.

See more at: http://www.documentaryaustralia.com.au/films/details/1713/odyssey-of-a-warrior#sthash.b3jw54s9.dpuf

By Terry Liberopoulos
at Mac Stadium, Budapest

Wests Tigers’ Braith Anasta showed why he is a quality player after he led Greece to a 90-0 whitewash over Hungary at Budapest on Sunday.

Anasta piled on 46 points for the Greeks, who included eight players from the Greek Rugby League domestic competition. He scored four tries and kicked 15 goals from as many attempts, many of them wide out.

“I was really nervous before the game. I talked to my mum and brother before the game and I was emotional,” said Anasta.

“To play for Greece was a proud moment for me, for my dad and grandparents. It was the first time I was in Greece and I loved it.”

Greece took just three minutes of play to open their account when Sebastian Sell scored after a backline movement.

It was 12-0 after 10 minutes of play after Kristian Aroutsidis scored wide out. Anasta kicked the conversion from the sideline.

Terry Constantine scored two tries in three minutes, Mitchell Zampetides scored a brace and Anasta went over for his first of his four pointers as Greece established a 42-0 lead at half-time.

Anasta scored two quick tries early in the second half before Nake Ioannis, one of the eight players chosen from Greek domestic competition, burrowed over from dummy half to score in the 52nd minute. Anasta added the extras and Greece were cruising at 60-0.

Adam Bouris added two tries while Terry Conastantinou crossed for his third try of the game.

Sell scored in the 73rd minute and it was fitting that Anasta finished the scoring when he latched onto an intercept to score with two minutes remaining.

The positive to come out of the game was the way the local Greek players performed.

“The European and International Federation need to put resources into countries like Greece and Hungary,” said Anasta.

“The passion for the game in Greece was incredible. They want to play Rugby League and we need to help them.”

Greece 90 (Braith Anasta 4, Terry Constantinou 3, Mitchell Zampatides 2, Sebastian Sell 2, Adam Boris 2, Nake Ioannis , Kristian Aroutsidis tries; Anasta 15 goals) d. Hungary 0 at Mac Stadium, Budaprest, Hungary.
Referee: Radoslav Novakovic. Half-time: Greece 42-0. Crowd: 1013.

A BIG THANKS goes to Steve and Rosa Prapas together with their family and friends for their huge effort on the day.

A wonderful tea charity event was organised at St Nicholas Church at Marrickville on the Sunday 27th October, 2013 to raise much needed funds for Bear Cottage at Manly.

A lot of work was put into the planning and running of the event to raise money towards Bear Cottage, Manly.

Peoples’ generosity ensured that all raffles, money board games, auction items were sold in record time.

Steve and Rosa Prapas are extremely pleased to announce that $14,000 was raised for Bear Cottage in Manly which will directly go to the children of the cottage in an effort to make those beautiful smiles even bigger.

The huge donation to Bear Cottage would not have been possible without the generous donations from businesses and individuals that supported the event through cash or donation of prizes.

The day was a huge success with 220 supporters from the Marrickville Greek community and as well as non-greek residents of the area.

Rosa Prapas

Reverend Christodoulos Economou

Penelope Tserpes talking about her experience at Bear Cottage

Rosa Prapas watching slides of Rita’s experience at Bear Cottage

Reverend Christodoulos Economou, Reverend Father Nicolaos Bozikis, Rita’s grandfather and mother and Narrelle Martin (Hospice nursing unit manager, Bear Cottage)

People couldn’t get enough of buying tickets

Rosa Prapas on a roll in starting the auction items

Coffee and cake time

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What is bear cottage?

A little bit about Bear Cottage

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.

Source: Bear Cottage
http://www.bearcottage.chw.edu.au/