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

• South Australia

• Western Australia
  Website: www.wa.sspa.org.au

• North Queensland (SSPA Regional Group)

• Queensland (Currently inactive)

• Tasmania (Currently inactive)
  

New South Wales

Branch report - March 2010

Our first activity for 2010 was a Sports Day at Emerton which was a lot of fun. Members of all ages played basketball, boccia, badminton, indoor soccer and dodge ball! Also Saturday 13th February 2010 we held a pool party at home of the Mamula's.

Coming Events:

Easter Picnic - March 21

We’re planning an Easter Picnic in the Parramatta area on Sunday, 21 March, 2010 but we’re still confirming the date and venue so please check the nsw.sspa.org.au website soon for updates.

Meeting - May 22
 
We’re having a branch meeting at Troy Parker’s house in Kings Park on Saturday 22nd May, 2010 starting at 11am. 

Trivia Night - May 22

We’re planning a trivia night fund raiser for Saturday 22nd May, 2010. We’re looking into venues so please check the nsw.sspa.org.au website again soon for confirmation of the date and details of the venue.

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 - July 2010

Mid-year is always an exciting time for the SSPA as there are so many great events on the calendar. Plus it means that the National Convention is fast approaching.

Recently, the Victorian Branch has tried a couple of new events which have proven to be very successful. These have been:

- A sports filled weekend with a Junior Basketball Clinic, family picnic and Sspitfires basketball match. It was a great weekend held over the 17^th and 18^th April. A big thank you to Tom Carney and Marg Daly for all their work in setting up and running these events. We plan to hold another later in the year.

- The inaugural Fashion Fundraiser hosted by Vigorella in conjunction with the SSPA Victorian Branch on Saturday 24^th April. The event was a huge success and a lot of fun. Over 200 people attended and most left with some great fashion items. A big thank you to Jenny and Brett Zeuschner, Marie Millard, Megan Lilly, Marg Daly and Gail Young for all their work in running this event. To check out the wonderful range of Vigorella gear (very suitable for people with short stature), please visit their website at: www.vigorella.com.au/W10_vigorella_collection_p1.htm

This year marked the SSPA’s 15^th Annual National Sporting Weekend and it was our biggest to date. With over 85 people in attendance, the weekend was full of enthusiasm and participation. The Victorian basketball team trained hard in preparation for the State of Origin clash against NSW and their hard work paid off as they returned home with the Rosemary Hobbs Trophy with a win of 34–19.

The 2010 Grand Gala Dinner has been set for Saturday 31 July. Details are as follows:

Venue: Mulgrave Country Club, Cnr Wellington & Jells Roads, Mulgrave
Time: 7.00pm until midnight
Price: $40.00 per adult, $20.00 per child (12 & under)
Dress: Formal
RSVP: By 2 July to Gail Young on (03) 9555 7676

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank our Chairperson, Sam Millard, who has been working hard on gathering donations for our auction. Items to date include: AFL signed jumpers, Australian Socceroos signed ball, Telstra Dome Corporate Box and Melbourne Storm merchandise. 

Please mark the following dates in your diaries for the SSPA Victorian Branch Christmas Parties:

· Adults: Saturday 4 December, 7.00pm–12.00am

· Children & Teens: Sunday 5 December, 12.00pm–2.00pm 

With the aim of increasing attendance at our next branch meeting, we have scheduled it in conjunction with a fun afternoon, details are as follows:

· 11.00am, Sunday 4 July, Lilly household, 26 Sheringham Drive, Wheelers Hill. Following the meeting will be a bbq lunch and some mini golf at Wetlands Golf n’ Games, Wellington Road, Wheelers Hill. 

Discussions between 3CR (a community AM radio station) and the SSPA Victorian branch continue about the possibility of the SSPA hosting their own segment. The Department of Human Services has provided $6,500 in funding towards this initiative to cover the costs of training, programming and other related expenses. Members of the SSPA branch were given the opportunity to express interest in being involved with the 3CR program through an expression of interest process. If you would still like to get involved, please contact me on 0438882478.

Meredith Tripp

For further information and enquiries about Victorian Branch activities 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: ian.gunn8@bigpond.com

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

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Western Australia

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 - December 2009

Our Christmas get together was at Redcliff Lagoon, last Sunday 6^th 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 Danielle Carty ph.: (07) 3882 2382 or email: cartydani@hotmail.com

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

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North Queensland

Group report - July 2010

The NQ SSPA has been quite busy of late, organising our Trivia afternoon.  We did have our Easter picnic, although we had to postpone from the actual Easter weekend, as it had been pouring rain, so we didn’t fancy being eaten alive by mosquito’s and wading thru mud puddles just to have an Easter egg hunt, so we had it the following weekend, and it was a lovely afternoon, however not all of our members could attend, but a good time was had by all who did.

Our Trivia afternoon is on at the same time as the national council meeting ironically enough.  We have been flat out trying to get donations, and sorting out what we need to make this event a wonderful experience for all who attend.  We have been overwhelmed with donations, and our sincere thanks goes out to those from down south who have supported us up here and donated items for our day.  I thank you very much from the bottom of my heart. 

We did have a bit of a get together at the strand again, just to sort out some things with regard to our trivia day, about 3 weeks ago, and as it happens, there is a boarding school across from where we were seated.  So we had a few students who were more or less stalking some of our kids, so I decided enough was enough, and went over to them and struck up conversation…  They were absolutely amazed with the kids, and wanted to know how old they were etc….  I assured them that our kids are just like them, and that they are short, that’s the only difference, and they were amazed to find that one of our kids was the same age as them… 

I like to think that being up here in NQ that we can educate as many people as possible as well as having a good time.  I know how some people must feel, but my mission is to EDUCATE!  I have always wanted to let people know that short statured people are no different to them, they are just shorter, however I know that this can also be challenging at times to get thru to people, but I am determined to continue to educate, and include.

I will have some news after this weekend as to how our trivia afternoon goes, I am actually a little excited, and we have had most of our families help out with the organisation.  Kayleen has done all the trivia questions, Liz, Julie & myself, have gathered items for raffling, along with Kayleen who has donated a substantial amount of items, also Rhyl, (Matt’s grandma) has been extremely helpful in gathering ALL the items, and all the little bit’s and bob’s at her house ready to take over to our hall tomorrow morning.  I tell you I would be lost without my mum (Rhyl) at the moment!

I hope you are all having an awesome time at Albury, I wish so bad that I could have been there with you, however this year, we were unable, and with a bit of luck maybe one year in the future, we’ll make it down there to spend the weekend with you all.

Social diary

To be announced.

For further information and enquiries about Northern Queensland Group social activities contact Sandra Lundie ph.: (07) 4779-3741; or e-mail:
sandra_lundie@live.com.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: francisjk@bigpond.com
Copyright: ©2000 Short Statured People of Australia Inc. All rights reserved.
Last updated: 08 August, 2010