state branches
State Branches in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, and Western Australia are administered by a State Branch Committee consisting of a Branch Chairperson, Secretary and Treasurer plus a committee of ordinary members. Each State Branch holds regular meetings, usually held in a member's home on a weekend allowing for the attendance of members and their families. It provides the main opportunity for members to get together at a local level. Occasionally, State Branch meetings are held in conjunction with a social function.
State Branches organise a number of social and recreational functions and weekends throughout the year which may include barbecues, car rallies, restaurant dinners, basketball weekends, get-togethers for parents with short-statured babies and young children, as well as the organisation of Christmas parties for both the adult and children members.
Both Queensland and Tasmania have members but currently their State Branches are inactive and therefore, operate as informal groups with co-ordinators who act as contacts. A regional group of the SSPA operates in North Queensland.
For further information and the latest news from the State Branches, click on the following links:
New South
Wales
Website: www.nsw.sspa.org.au
Victoria
Website:
www.vic.sspa.org.au
Western
Australia
Website:
www.wa.sspa.org.au
North Queensland (SSPA Regional Group)
Queensland (Currently inactive)
Tasmania
(Currently inactive)
| Year formed | 2009/2010 Office-bearers | Contact |
| 1974 |
Chairperson: Michael Blair Secretary: Troy Parker Treasurer: Alex Simak Website: www.nsw.sspa.org.au |
Troy Parker (02) 9837-2467 Email: troypark@bigpond.net.au |
On the 18th July we had a Christmas in July dinner at Prospero’s Restaurant in Parramatta. We had a good turnout with everyone enjoying a wonderful evening. Due to it being such a great night we are planning to do the same again next year.
On Sunday, 25th October 2009 we will be having a Sports Day at Emerton Leisure Centre, Jersey Road, Emerton (Western Sydney). The day is for all ages, from toddlers to grandparents, boys and girls, short statured or not, regardless of your sporting ability. It’s going to be a fun day with a variety of sports including badminton, basketball, indoor soccer and bocce. The day will run from 10 am to mid afternoon with a break for lunch. Even if you haven’t played some or any of these sports before we would still love for you to come along and learn them and above all else be a part of a fun day. To help cover costs for the day it will be $5 per person or $15 per family. For further information please contact Alex Simak on 0411 034 020. We hope to see you there!
This is our annual Christmas Picnic for the whole family. It’s always a great day so be sure not to miss it!
Date: Saturday 21st November 2009 starting at 11:00am
Venue: Central Gardens, Paton Street, Merrylands. More information about Central Gardens is available at the Holroyd City Council web site.
A sausage sizzle will be provided (includes sausages, bread rolls & onions). BYO: Salads, drinks, nibbles, etc, picnic chairs and/or blankets.
There will be fun and games at the park (soccer, volleyball, etc). Santa will join us on the day, anyone with children 12 years and under, please bring a present for Santa to give them ($20 value maximum).
RSVP: Please let Tracey Mamula know if you are coming by Thursday 19th November on (02) 9631-7385 or 0421 646 182.
Date: Saturday 5th December 2009, 7:00pm – 12:00pm
Venue: Smithfield RSL, Cnr Cumberland Hwy & Neville St, Smithfield
Cost: Adults: $40, Children (3-12): $20, which includes a Buffet Dinner and the DJ.
Final date for payment 21st November, please make cheques payable to SSPA NSW and send c/- 19 Grafton Street Greystanes. For any enquiries, please contact Tracey Mamula on (02) 9631-7385 or 0421 646 182
Our next NSW Branch meeting will be held at David Cowlishaw’s home in Winston Hills. The meeting will be on Saturday, 5th December 2009 starting at 12 pm, please bring nibbles. If attending please let David know by 4th December 2009 on 9686 1681.
We would really appreciate more members coming along to meetings to contribute ideas and give opinions to improve what the branch offers our members.
Regards,
Troy Parker
For further information and enquiries about NSW Branch activities check the NSW Branch website at http://www.nsw.sspa.org.au.
| Year formed | 2009/2010 Office-bearers | Contact |
| 1972 |
Chair: Sam Millard Secretary: Meredith Tripp Treasurer: Gail Young Website: www.vic.sspa.org.au |
Meredith Tripp (03) 9772-3226 Email: tripp.meredith.m@edumail.vic.gov.au |
Branch report -
December 2009
Hello all SSPA members and friends,
I hope this finds you very well.
It’s hard to believe that the year is about to end and we’ll be entering 2010. Let’s hope the New Year brings as much success to the SSPA as 2009 did.
Past events…
Members of the Victorian branch have been busily celebrating Christmas with their annual Christmas Parties. Most recently was the Children & Teen’s which saw a number of us enjoy Melbourne’s sunshine (once it finally broke through) at Bricker Reserve in Highett for some fun and games. It was great to see quite a few kids and we hope we can entice more to come along next year.
On Saturday 21 November the adult’s had their chance to let their hair down and celebrate ‘that was the year that was’ at the Town Hall Hotel in South Melbourne. With a DJ pumping out addictive tunes, plenty of food and great company – the night was a huge success and was enjoyed by all. Thank you to everyone who attended, especially our lovely interstate visitors!
Earlier in November, our Sports Coordinator, Tom Carney, organised a great afternoon for people with short stature to participate in sport. The afternoon offered us the chance to have a go at dodge ball, indoor cricket, soccer and beach volleyball. A big thank you to Tom for his time and effort in organising this great day. We look forward to the next one early in the New Year.
The Victorian Branch in conjunction with Genetic Health Services Victoria held their third Medical Symposium on Sunday 22 November at the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne. The Symposium was extremely informative and included presentations by key medical professionals and those personally affected with dwarfism.
Coming events…
The Victorian branch calendar for 2010 will be planned at the first meeting of the New Year at the home of the Izatt Family on Sunday 28 February. The meeting will commence with a BBQ lunch from 12.00pm, please BYO meat for the BBQ, salads will be provided. For those interested, the meeting will coincide with a weekend of activities starting on the Friday evening. If you are interested in obtaining further details, please contact me on (03) 9772 3226 or via email at meredithtripp@gmail.com
Members of the Victorian branch will join with the NSW branch for a sports day on Sunday 10 January from 1.00pm – 4.00pm at Emerton Leisure Centre, Sydney. The day will include badminton, boccia, basketball and football. Further details can be obtained from Tom Carney at carney_tom23@hotmail.com
The Australian World Dwarf Games team have been invited to march in the Australia Day Parade next year in Melbourne. The march will commence at 10.30am after the Flag Raising Ceremony. The starting point of the march will be from the corner of Swanston and Bourke Streets, the march will proceed down Swanston Street and finish in Alexandra Gardens. Here, people are invited to meet with the athletes and join in the rest of the Australia Day Celebrations. Given that the march will attract interstate SSPA members to Melbourne, a weekend of sporting and social activities will be organised. Further information can be obtained from me on (03) 9772 3226, please also stay tuned to the Victorian branch website.
Sspitfires
Any short statured individuals who are over the age of 13 and are interested in playing basketball with the Sspitfires, please contact me on (03) 9772 3226. The 2010 season will begin in February/March and training will start early in the New Year. NB: You must be a current financial member of the SSPA to participate.
In closing, I’d like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and every happiness in the New Year.
Meredith Tripp
Victorian Branch Secretary
For further information and enquiries about Victorian Branch activities check the Victorian Branch website at http://www.vic.sspa.org.au
| Year formed | 2006/2007 Office-Bearers | Contact |
| 1983 |
Chairperson: Liann Yates Secretary: Ian Gunn Treasurer: Steven Pinnell |
Ian Gunn (08) 8295-1726 Email: ian.gunn8@bigpond.com |
Branch report - June 2005
Yes we are still here. Only a short note this time.
Things have been pretty quiet over here since our last get together. Various circumstances have dictated a lack of organised get togethers up til now. Hopefully I can get back on track and organise the rest of the year.
Perhaps next time there will be lots of news from SA that I can write about. Until then all the best from SA.
Ian Gunn,
Secretary
Social diary
To be announced.
For further information and enquiries about South Australian Branch activities contact Ian Gunn ph.: (08) 8295-1726 or email: ian.gunn8@bigpond.com
| Year formed | 2007/2008 Office-bearers | Contact |
| 1987 |
Chairperson: Jo Bracknell Secretary: To be announced Treasurer: Erica Grant Website: www.wa.sspa.org.au |
Jo Bracknell Ph: (08) 9419-2099 Email: jobracknell@hotmail.com |
Branch report - December 2009
Things have been a bit quiet on the WA SSPA front what with everyone’s lead up to the Holiday season being very busy, but we did have a small get together at Matilda Bay on the Swan River near Peth City on Sunday December 6th. Rosa, Isabella, Jocelyn, Peter, Fiona, Tiffany and her brother (and his mate) and Jo all had a lovely lunch under the beautiful shady trees by the river. Fiona’s mum and her mum’s husband joined us for while as they live nearby and it was lovely to meet them both. It was decided as it was such a lovely spot we would go there again one day soon!
One of our children, Rosie, had her picture in the Sunday paper on the 6th December promoting the Symphony of Sunflowers. By planting sunflower seeds, the aim was to recognise the potential behind all children and the need to include those with disabilities or learning disadvantages. (www.symphonyofsunflowers.com.au)
Jo had a lovely phone call from Silvia of Collie, she gave some great advice to do with convention planning One was to get a lotteries grant for the bus/es and the other was to have all our country people to approach their local member of Parliament and get him/her to write a letter of support for us having the convention here in WA it needs to include how it’s vital for us to be together.
We have had two donations to our convention fundraising in the last month. The first one came from the Glen Iris Tuesday Ladies Golf Club of $806.20 and then a cheque from Great Southern Limited (in Albany) for $200. A Certificate of Appreciation was sent in thanks to both wonderful groups.
Chocolates are still being sold through family & friends of our group.
Jo deposited $40 to the WA account for a haircut and colour done by Lisa.
So the balance of our account would be over $3000 now…yay!
Who would think Jo would still be writing the WA newsletter two years later after writing the first newsletter for WA’s wonderful group… The first one was winter 2007 and she talked about getting our face out there more to create more awareness of short statured people in the community.
Jo-Anne Bracknell
For further information and enquiries about Western Australian Branch activities check the WA Branch website at http://www.wa.sspa.org.au.
| Year formed | Contact |
| 1999 |
Beccy Whichello Ph.: (07) 5527 2698 Email: becwhich21@hotmail.com |
Branch report -
December 2009
Our Christmas get together was at Redcliff Lagoon, last Sunday 6th
December. It was a hot sunny day and everyone had awesome time. Adults
& children chilled out in the lagoon, it was very refreshing. After
lunch, most were back in the water again.
We all agreed to have another day at the lagoon as everyone enjoyed
themselves.
The next get together is at Noosa Botanical Gardens on the 17th January
2010. On 14th February 2010, we are meeting at Golden Beach Park
at Caloundra.
Wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Great New Year!
Danielle Carty
Qld. Group Co-ordinator
For further information and enquiries about Queensland Branch activities contact Beccy Whichello ph.: (07) 5527 2698 or email: becwhich21@hotmail.com
| Year formed | Contact |
| 2001 |
Heather Knuth Ph.: (07) 4787-8078 |
Group report - December 2005
Thank you everyone who came to the convention and making it a wonderful experience with happy memories that will never be forgotten. For those of you who couldn't make it, I'll explain a little about our week.
The first night was a meet and greet where you’d normally play a few games to get folk mingling. However, we didn't have to as everyone just talked and talked as though we had all known each other for years. The kids all hung around each other and were off for a week of fun together. They are still talking via email and SMS every night. The medical day was interesting and 12 families got to have appointments with Prof. Sillence and Dr Jenny Ault. We hired a juke-box for a disco and my little Daniel danced and sang the night away. He never goes to the discos at school but he felt right at home with all of his new short friends. Every day he cried that he didn't want to leave his new friends and continually asks when we are going to see them again.
The second day we all had a trip to the Barrier reef and that night a trivia night. Everyone was quite surprised when Rose called out “number fifteen” and we all jumped up and shouted BINGO! That was a good trick!
On day three we had a fun sports morning, a three legged race with one short and one tall person, sack races with garbage bags that broke (so we ran!), egg and spoon race with plastic golf balls that kept falling off, tug of war with a thin rope that broke and sent us all to the ground, T-ball, soccer and then the biggest waterbomb fight in history. It ended up with the adults throwing buckets and plastic bags of water over each other… this went on for two hours! Then we enjoyed Jetski rides, tube rides, paddle boats and swimming. I also took a group of girls Four-Wheel Driving; I don't think they will ever forget! That night we went to watch Cane toad races, in which two of our families paid around $50 for a toad. One came last while the other won $120!
On day four we went to beautiful Alma Bay for swimming and rock climbing following the AGM. That night we played charades and heard some of the talented kids sing.
Day five after a bus tour of the island we had a sandcastle competition and played at the beach. Before we knew it our farewell night had arrived and we danced the night away, which ended in a big group hug and tears.
The Queensland group will get together in Rockhampton in January so all the kids can see each other again. If any kids from other states want to join us you’re welcome to stay with us! Mikey, Terry, con your parents to send you here!!
A big thank you to the committee that made this happen, a first for North Queensland. We appreciated you all travelling hear and getting to know you all, our second family.
To those that couldn't make it, we hope to see you at convention 2006, we won't miss it!
Love to all,
Heather Knuth and North Queensland
group
Social diary
To be announced.
For further information and enquiries about Northern Queensland Group social activities contact
Heather Knuth ph.: (07)
4787-8078; or e-mail:
sknuth@hypermax.net.au
| Year formed | Contact |
| 1986 | Sarah Belgre (03) 6261-5124 |
For enquiries about becoming an SSPA member in Tasmania contact Sarah Belgre at the above phone number.
Any comments or suggestions should be
forwarded to: francisjk@bigpond.com
Copyright: ©2000 Short Statured People of Australia Inc. All rights
reserved.
Last updated:
11 January, 2010