We can’t wait to bring you another profound Spreading the Good Stuff LIVE event at Junction and we are thrilled to be back for our sixth episode, next Wednesday November 28, for an important conversation about grief.
Episode 6 will bring together two brave local women for an important discussion about what grief looks like, their own personal experiences and importantly how well we deal with ‘grief’ as a community.
Together with mental health social worker Tracey Farrell, of Hidden Treasure Therapy, and the brave and determined mother of baby Ruby (now in heaven) Shari Gotch, we will discuss the challenges, misconceptions and mystery of grief.
As an accredited AASW practitioner, Tracey has an unwavering commitment to working with our most vulnerable children and families, those who have experienced trauma and attachment difficulties, children living out of home, families where a parent has a terminal illness and of course, the bereaved.
Tracey (pictured below):
~ “To me, grief is best imagined using the analogy of the kaleidoscope. It shifts and changes. Just when you feel there’s some predictability in the patterns, it changes again.
~ “We need to tell our stories, and be willing to listen to them, without trying to make it better,”
Shari and her brave family said goodbye to baby Ruby just after the Christmas of 2013, following a courageous battle with a rare genetic disorder, which included severe epilepsy.
Baby Ruby Eve endured her first seizure 14 hours post birth and continued to battle them on a daily basis during her short ten months of life.
Ruby spent much of her short life in and out of Melbourne’s Royal Children’s Hospital and since this challenging time her family has strived to continue her legacy in a positive way. This has included Team Ruby Eve competing in the annual Run for Kids in Melbourne and various other fundraising efforts, including hiking the Kokoda Track – raising much needed funds for the Children’s Neuroscience Centre. In May this year, Shari and sister Toni also walked the El Camino track in Spain to raise money for Ronald McDonald House.
Shari and her extended family and friends work tirelessly to raise both funds and awareness for rare childhood illness as she continues her daily journey through grief.
Shari (pictured below with Ruby):
~ “Grief is an endless journey… coping with grief is like driving with no destination.”
~ “Starting the conversation and raising awareness is a good start in educating people about grief. Which is why nights like this are a great opportunity.”
Since its inception more than two years ago, our Spreading the Good Stuff LIVE events have examined the lives of extraordinary individuals in our region who are making a positive impact in their patch, and we have covered some profound and important conversations around suicide and mental health, inclusion, foster care and adoption and sustainable living.
This LIVE conversation series builds on our crusade to promote positive communication and the power of kind language across our regional communities, and we have also recently adapted this concept to a fortnightly podcast, also called Spreading the Good Stuff, with our good friend over at Barham Avocados Katrina Myers.
Our LIVE Spreading the Good Stuff events involve an intimate conversation hour to explore some of the big issues, challenges and opportunities of our time – leaving you enriched, enlarged and inspired to spread more of your own good in the world. There is also opportunity at each event to ask questions of our guest speakers and continue the conversation over a casual drink or bite to eat.
For more event details and to purchase tickets visit the event page here.
We hope you can join us for an intimate and insightful evening.
See you there,
Christy and Leonie
xo
#spreadingthegoodstuff
