Albany Inc

About Albany Inc

Members Spotlight

Would you like to find out more about our club or attend our next meeting? Then let’s have a coffee & chat.

Phone our Membership Convenor : Rosalind 0429447776

Or sialbany@siswp.org

Bronwyn O’Shannessy

Member for 18 years

I had been living in Albany for four years when I was encouraged to join SI Albany and I was inducted in January 2006. It is a great organisation to be involved with. I have taken on various positions in the club, currently treasurer after several years as secretary (second stint), not forgetting taking on president on two occasions. I spent over five years as the region ICT liaison, with a lot of input to the SIWA website and Facebook. I find there is always someone new to meet via our guest speakers at meetings and our club participates in a range of events. Until recently I enjoyed meeting other Soroptimists at region meetings and conferences. Now I participate virtually at meetings.

Outside Soroptimism my volunteering has been as a Justice of the Peace, where I do a stint at the signing centre once a month. To a lesser degree I am also involved with South Coast Lions, as a Lions partner. I also have a soft spot for Apex when my husband was involved, many years ago. Volunteering is very rewarding

Trish Travers

Member for 14 years

I joined the Soroptimist International Albany Club after being a guest speaker in my past work role. I like working on our local projects like the Albany Women's Centre Kare Kits (toiletry packs for the women's refuge) & Multi Sensory Time Kits (for people with dementia).

When I have been travelling in Australia & overseas, I have contacted & met with many Soroptimist Sisters for a coffee.

I like to meet with like-minded women across Australia & overseas.

 NOVEMBER  DINNER MEETING - 28 NOVEMBER 2023

Back: Jan L (Membership/Extension), Deb (Joint President), Nadene (prospective member), Helen, Bron O (Treasurer), Lorraine, Bron L (Secretary)

Front: Kerry (Joint President), Gill, Rhonda, Pam, Carol (Programme/UN), Rosalind, Janet (Publicity)

Missing: Jacque & Trish

 History

Soroptimist International of Albany started in 1982. However, much has been achieved in fellowship, friendship and service.

Late in 1981, Miss Barbara Wight moved to Albany. An active Soroptimist, she was disappointed that there was not a club in Albany. Not content to accept that, she contacted some local ladies and, with their help, sought out women who might be interested in a Service Club. A meeting was held at the Esplanade Hotel in November and the decision made to proceed with the formation of a club.

The Extension Officer at the time was Stella Giles and, with her guidance, the first meeting was arranged for 12th January 1982 at the Esplanade Hotel. From there Soroptimist International of Albany was a going concern, gradually proceeding to the Charter Dinner which was presided over by President Barbara Wight. It was held on Saturday, 24th April 1982, at the Esplanade Hotel at a cost of $20.

The President’s Jewel was designed to reflect the history and beauty of Albany and its surrounds. The centerpiece of whales’ tooth scrimshaw depicts the Brig “Amity” and surrounding it, in sterling silver filigree, are some of the wildflowers of the Albany Region.

Friendship links have been established with SI Birkenhead (Great Britain), Lae (Papua New Guinea) and more recently SI Edmonton, SI Kisumu and SI Tynemouth, Whitley Bay & District. Unfortunately links are no longer maintained with Hachinohe (Japan), Albany – New York (USA), Elk Grove (USA), Benoni (South Africa), Brazilia (Brazil) and Albany – Oregon (USA). 

Projects

MULTI SENSORY TIME KITS

New banner November 2022

The five kits

Albany Soroptimists invested a number of years in this project and are excited about helping people who are living with dementia or other neurological disorders. Multi-Sensory Time Kits help people to recall memories through the senses. The Kits were designed under the guidance of an Occupational Therapist.   The kits assist to encourage happy memories and discussion, using five different themes.

The Shearing Shed   The Beach   The Kitchen   The Dairy   The Garden

This project was developed by the Soroptimist International Club of Albany Inc and was made possible by support from The Department of Communities and City of Albany Community Development Funding.   This project is now winding down, as we have limited kits left. More information

https://www.multisensorytime.com.au/

Background

People with memory issues nearly always remember past experiences. Tapping into these memories, reminds them of happier and more productive times and stimulates more memories of past experiences. One of our Soroptimist International members, Rosalind Sawyer (a retired Occupational Therapist), understood the need to have a full multi-sensory experience in order to achieve the best outcome. We use all our senses to understand the world we live in - sight, hearing, touch, taste and smell as well as our sense of wellbeing or happiness, and movement. We have produced these kits containing resources necessary for the experience, as we realise that people often do not have the time to find them. They are simple items and we have put them together in one box, for ease of use. They can be used by many groups, such as aged care, those with neurological disorders, mental health agencies and with children. This is the culmination of the project initiated by Rosalind’s enthusiasm. A small committee was formed in 2018. They worked with AtoZ Visual, a local film maker and photographer, to produce three kits in the series as a pilot study. This was helped by a grant from the Brandenberg Trust through the City of Albany Compassionate Communities Project. The pilot proved such a success, the Albany Soroptimists and Soroptimist International WA gave support to expand the project to include more topics/themes.    These 5 kits have been designed to help people who are having difficulties with memory loss and recall.    The aim is to help encourage happy memories and to encourage discussion with other people.

Each kit has a different theme. There are between 1 and 4 short, themed films to show. Each film is about 10-20 minutes long.   To be used together with the films, we have included several items that are commonly linked with the theme, for users to see, touch or smell.    The films make use of natural sounds and when used with our themed objects can stimulate many senses.   The more senses that are included, the greater and more satisfactory is the experience.

Albany Women's Centre Kare Kits 2024

Its on again! Yes YOU can help. Collection Points see the Facebook page

Sprucing up the 40 odd boxes ready for distribution over the next few weeks.

Thanks Deb (photographer) Rosalind, Helen, Carol Janet, Rhonda. and Trish (gone). Only a small group of us today as many busy with other projects and the rest of busy life.

Boxes will be distributed over the next few weeks and collected the last week in June.

www.facebook.com/AlbanyWomensCentreKareKits/posts/718068777183019

www.facebook.com/AlbanyWomensCentreKareKits

History

Albany Women’s Centre (AWC) is a local Women’s Refuge and Support service that is ran by Anglicare WA. AnglicareWA has been providing a service at AWC since 1996. Their work has been directed by a commitment to social justice and a well-developed understanding of the issues faced by women and children affected by Family and Domestic Violence (FDV). AWC provides crisis accommodation and support services for women and children managing and surviving family violence. Services include 24 hour on call support for safe, secure crisis accommodation; case management support; outreach services; support groups; advocacy and community education.

You can donate all year around at Anglicare WA, Collie Street.