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. 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

• South Australia

• Western Australia

• North Queensland (SSPA Regional Group)

• Queensland (Currently inactive)

• Tasmania (Currently inactive)
  

New South Wales

Branch report - May 2008

Hi folks, how the year is flying along! Almost time for our SSPA Albury-Wodonga June long weekend. This annual sports w/e on the SSPA calendar has become a very popular event for members. It not only provides a w/e of friendly sports and games but is a welcomed opportunity for members to catch up with each other, particularly with friends from interstate. No doubt there will be quite a few NSW members heading off to Albury in June. If you haven’t been before think about it this year and get your booking organised. I’m sure you won’t regret it.

The NSW Branch has been holding a chocolate drive to raise funds for this year’s SSPA Convention which is being held in Qld. 

An additional fund raiser, our gala trivia night, is being planned for August 16^th. 

The gala night is to follow the AGM which will take place earlier in the day. This makes it much easier for those members who travel from regional areas of NSW to attend SSPA functions in Sydney. You can kill two birds with one stone and make a weekend of it. So make sure you keep that date free folks! 

A wonderful time was had at Central Gardens Merrylands back in March, when a tennis and picnic day was held by the NSW Branch. The weather was terrific, the attendance was great and everyone enjoyed the fun and good company.

Thanks once again to our social coordinators Tracey and Brittany for organising yet another successful event. 

Our next NSW Branch meeting will be held at 11am on May 17 at the home of Troy Parker: 10/81 Donohue Street, Kings Park.

A BBQ lunch will follow the meeting, giving us a further opportunity to socialise…..please bring along your meat and drinks.  Kindly contact Troy on (02) 9837-2467 to confirm your attendance.

Vicki Fallon
NSW Secretary.

For further information and enquiries about NSW Branch activities check the NSW Branch website at http://www.nsw.sspa.org.au.

• For earlier New South Wales Branch reports go to the 
  New South Wales Branch Reports Archive.

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Victoria

Branch report - May 2008 

Hello everyone, hope you all had a good long weekend, and a memorable ANZAC Day.

Our last General Meeting was once again quite poor in attendance, which was disappointing, especially when we organise events to coincide with the meetings. If anyone has any suggestions on how we can get more people to come along, please get in contact with me at JonathonT@bfpapers.co.nz

The social calendar for the Victorian group is looking great for the year ahead, with the following activities coming soon:

·        A Wine Tasting tour on the 24^th of May. More details to follow.

·        SSPA Albury Sporting Weekend: Is being held on the Queen’s Birthday Long Weekend from Friday 8 June to Monday 11 June 2008.

Members of the Victorian Branch have recently enjoyed the following events:

·        The SSPA Trivia Night, which was held on the 19^th April, which ended up being a great success, with a great turnout, and raising $1,000 to go towards this years’ National Convention.

By the time this journal gets out to everyone, we also would’ve had our kids/teens day which was held at Sidetracked Entertainment.

Cheers,
Jonathon Tripp
Victorian Branch Secretary

For further information and enquiries about Victorian Branch activities contact Jonathon Tripp ph.: (03) 9772-3226 or email: JonathonT@bfpapers.co.nz or check the Victorian Branch website at http://www.vic.sspa.org.au

• For earlier Victorian Branch reports go to the 
  Victorian Branch Reports Archive.

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South Australia

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: gunn6@picknowl.com.au

• For earlier South Australian Branch reports go to the 
  South Australian Branch Reports Archive.

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Western Australia

Branch report - May 2008

Our last meeting was an Easter picnic at South Beach Park in Fremantle. A raffle was held which raised $28.00. Alan Eggleston was invited to attend but was unable to come at the last minute.

Our previous meeting was at Whiteman Park attended by 9 families. The children painted Christmas moulds or played ball games provided by Jo.

We welcome Jocelyn and Kirsty new adult members. Jo has ordered 50 caps to be sold for fundraising. They will have SSPA logo + est. 1987. Sorry we are unable to pay $1,000 towards the next Convention - we are working on fundraising and hope to get more funds as time goes on.  

Jo has organised a donation box for our members to donate stationery items to help the Committee Members with the costs.

A questionnaire was also done so members could give their ideas with what events they would like. 

Jo will be attending the Albury Sporting weekend in June.

Upcoming events: June 15th - Sausage sizzle fundraiser at Jo & Terry's home in Parmelia.
                           Sept 14th - AGM at the Kelmscott ten pin bowling centre.

Regards,
Eleanor Snook
Secretary WA SSPA

2008 Social diary

June 15th - Sausage sizzle fundraiser at Jo & Terry's home in Parmelia.
Sept 14th - Branch AGM at the Kelmscott ten pin bowling centre.

For further information and enquiries about Western Australian Branch activities check the WA Branch website at http://www.wa.sspa.org.au.

• For earlier Western Australian Branch reports go to the 
  Western Australian Branch Reports Archive.

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Queensland

Branch report - April 2001

After a slow start, the Queensland branch has been busy in the last two months. Our first meeting for the year was held in late February at my house. It was great to catch up with everyone after an extended summer break. We decided to make 2001 bigger and better for the Queensland branch. We're planning a year of fun events like mini-golf, picnics and dinners - and we promise we'll have a Christmas party this year! (Santa got lost heading north last year.)

Our second meeting was held recently at Kate and Terry Batch's home. Our AGM was conducted with the absent David Hobbs being elected Chairperson. Cathy Hobbs swears that he volunteered for the position. Cathy was re-elected as Treasurer without too much pushing. Kate Batch and Ruth Wells were elected joint activities coordinators. I was re-elected Secretary, but on the proviso that I write more in the Journal.

The next Queensland event will be a picnic in New Farm Park on Sunday 3 June. Queenslanders can watch out for a newsletter closer to the event. Hope to see lots of you there. 

Bye from the North,
Joanne Eager, Queensland Branch Secretary

Social diary

Sunday 3 June  Picnic in New Farm Park, Brisbane.

Sunday 2 December  Adults & Children's Christmas Party at New Farm Park, Brisbane. The party will start at 11am. Bring along your picnic lunch.

For further information and enquiries about Queensland Branch activities contact Joanne Eager ph.: (07) 3856 2724 or email: jeager@earthling.net

• For earlier Queensland Branch reports go to the 
  Queensland Branch Reports Archive.

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North Queensland

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 traveling 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

• For earlier North Queensland Group reports go to the 
  North Queensland Group Reports Archive.

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Tasmania

For enquiries about becoming an SSPA member in Tasmania contact Sarah Belgre at the above phone number.

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Any comments or suggestions should be forwarded to: enquiries@sspa.org.au
Copyright: ©2000 Short Statured People of Australia Inc. All rights reserved.
Last updated: 09 June, 2008