Saturday & Sunday, 10 & 11 October from 10 a.m - 5.30 p.m both days
This two-day intensive seminar demonstrates a method that enables and promotes vibrant leadership, mutual relationships and encounters of substance.The focus is on deepening and widening our ability to direct and be auxiliaries to one another in this process.The workshop is for trainees, trainers, group leaders and practitioners who are interested in furthering their knowledge and experience of psychodrama and sociometry.
Fee: $320.00 (Deposit $50.00 due by Friday, 26 September)
The Moreno Psychodrama Society and PIM host the Theatre of Spontaneity on the last Sunday of each month except April.Using sociodrama, psychodrama and a host of creative applications of the method, these monthly events provide an opportunity for people to meet and connect with other likeminded people interested in exploring world, environment, community or cultural events, relationships and values.
Dates: Feb. 22, Mar. 29, May 31, Jun. 28, Jul. 26, Aug. 30, Sep. 27, Oct. 25 & Nov. 29.
Fee: $20.00 ($15.00 for members of MPS) includes light refreshments
This group is for people who want to explore and develop abilities and roles that are conducive to expressing oneself and to having satisfying and vital relationships in work and life. There is an opportunity to focus on unfinished business, minor conflicts of living, thereby creating opportunities to develop new roles and perspectives. This course is for those who want to explore and enter into the deeper aspects of their relationship with themselves and others and look at that which might be holding them back from achieving their full potential. An interview is essential for applicants new to the method and group process.
Fee: $160.00 (Deposit $50.00 due by 28 September 2009)
Venue: The Psychodrama Institute of Melbourne, 155 Langridge St, Collingwood
Maximum Number in Group: 8 - 10
Personal Development Weekend
"Happiness and Health in Work and Life"
Saturday & Sunday, 24 & 25 October 2009
10.30 a.m - 5.30 p.m both days
Leader: Sue Daniel
This group is for people who want to develop abilities and roles that are conducive to living healthy and happy lives, and, to have satisfying and vital relationships. There will be opportunity to complete unfinished business, to explore minor conflicts of living and to create new roles and perspectives.
This weekend is for thsoe who want to explore and enter into the deeper aspects of their relationships with self and others.
Fee: $200.00 (Deposit $50.00 due by 12 October)
Venue: PIM, 155 Langridge St, Collingwood
Sue Daniel is a consulting psychologist and psychotherapist in private practice and the Director of the Psychodrama Institute of Melbourne. She conducts workshops in Australia and abroad working with people, communities, institutes, universities and organisations.
1. Scott Kellogg: Dialogical encounters: Contemporary perspectives on "Chairwork" in psychotherapy.
2. The Sword of Damocles: Application of Psychodrama and Group Psychotherapy methods to some of the social, psychological and emotional issues associated with HIV-Aids
3. Patricia Green - "Exploring the Notion of Tele Within and Beyond the Directing Experience". Paper - 2009 PIM Library, No.82.
Congratulations to Patricia Green who has achieved the accreditation of Psychodrama-Assistant.
I am glad to hear (you can find them in this blog) from Linda Harrington and Bob Cummings and also recently from Margaret Cunningham, all of whom have been deeply effected by the fire on February 7, this year. I feel a lot for them as they continue to heal and face all of the things that have to be faced, with courage. I am glad too that they know that their community of psychodramatists supports them and surrounds them with love. We were recently delighted to hear that Linda has a new job, in her neck of the woods, and wish her well.
Our Community PIM is part of a larger community of psychodramatists called the Moreno Psychodrama Society, and this in turn is part of a larger community of psychodramatists worldwide. Psychodrama is pretty much practised on every continent, and within these, in hundreds of countries. If you are reading this blog you have joined the MPS either as Friend of MPS, a trainee of PIM or as an accredited psychodramatist with PIM (Psychodrama Institute of Melbourne) or PIA (Psychodrama Institute of Aotearoa).
The structure of our community is based on mutual role relationships, and creativity and spontaneity, following the Morenian psychodrama model introduced by the founder of the psychodrama method and group psychotherapy, Jacob Levy Moreno (pictured below).
Within our community is a Board of Psychodrama which attends to assessments and practicums and ethics, two training Institutes PIM and PIA, and the Moreno Psychodrama Society (MPS).
The Moreno Society is a body of people who want to take psychodrama out into the world with conferences and other events; social and professional, and by making relationships with other organisations in Australia and overseas and with people in our society. We have a library of articles, journals and books dating back to 1914.
Joining MPS gives you a body to belong to which is a professional body and a community body. Those practicing psychodrama are required to be a member so that their professional affiliation is seen by the public and their professional peers. As a member and accredited psychodramatist each receives a practice certificate for one year on the payment of their subscription. The Moreno Psychodrama Society is an affiliate organisation of the IAGP (International Association of Group Psychotherapy and Group Processes), the founder also being J. L. Moreno.
I am looking forward to developing a Moreno Photo gallery for inclusion on our website in the near future but for now here is a picture of Moreno (above left) and his widow, Zerka Moreno (left) (with Gillian Blackwell on her left). Zerka turned 92 on the 13th of June and is practising individual and group psychodrama in her home in Charlottesville, USA.
Theatre of Spontaneity The Theatre of Spontaneity continues to be well attended and of increasing interest to those in our wider community. John De Bono and Keran Howe conducted the evening on Sunday 31 May. The Practicum group continue to head up the Theatre of Spontaneity and keep coming up with new ideas for the sessions. The group consists of Gavin O'Loughlin, Liliana Melone, Patricia Green, Kate Cordukes, Rachael Zyznikow, Keran Howe and John De Bono. The suppers continue to be a source of pleasure, with gluten free and other delights. Do come a bit earlier so we can process all of the registrations and get started by 6 p.m. Normally the sessions go until 8 p.m. Dates for June and July, Sundays 28 June and 26 July at PIM.
Elective Workshop
The Elective one-day Workshop "Explore Your Dreams through Psychodrama" led by Marie Watt is on Saturday 27 June from 10 a.m to 5.30 p.m. Registrations closed on Friday 12 June. The workshop is full however there is a list in case of cancellations. Please confirm if you have elected to do this workshop before Thursday 18 June. Contact the PIM office on 9416 3779.Click on picture at left for a closer view.
Optimism - One-Day Conference At the side of this blog you can find the blog for the conference, just click on. There have been updates, with description of program, including workshop leaders and session descriptions and registration. The conference has engendered much interest so much so that we intend to hold further one-day conferences and symposiums in the near future. Keep tuned in to this blog for calls for proposals in August. The Moreno Psychodrama Society committee has ccontinued to meet at Faust in North Melbourne on Sunday mornings to co-create this conference. Thank you team; Nikki Alderman, Patricia Green, Stephanie Lee, Gillian Blackwell and John De Bono. Thanks to Steph for her artwork for the conference, postcards, letterheads and name tags. Visit the website: www.psychodrama-institute-melbourne.com
Personal Development Courses: 1) 4 Wednesdays: Nikki Alderman and Stephanie Lee are conducting a series of four personal development groups from Wednesday 17 June until July 8 in the middle of the day. in Footscray There will be repeat series during 2009. Contact Nikki on 0418 134 749.
2) Weekend Workshop:
“Happiness and Health in Work and Life” Saturday and Sunday, 18th & 19th July 2009 10 a.m - 5.30 p.m both days Leader: Sue Daniel
This group is for people who want to develop abilities and roles that are conducive to living healthy and happy lives, and, to have satisfying and vital relationships. There is an opportunity to focus on unfinished business, minor conflicts of living and creating opportunities to develop new roles and perspectives. This weekend workshop is for those who want to explore and enter into the deeper aspects of their relationship with themselves and others. Contact Sue 9416 3779.
The Practitioners Group The psychodrama practitioners' group is held on the last Friday of the month, the next two coming up on Fridays 26 June and 24 July. Held at PIM from 9.30 a.m to 12.30 p.m.
Rome Congress Participants The next social gathering for those going to the Rome Congress is at Sue and Ted's home on Saturday 27 June from 3 - 7 p.m. We are having a late brunch or early dinner and a movie courtesy of Jil Toovey. Bring some Italian food for the table and any information on Rome to share. RSVP Sue on 9416 3779 by June 26. The meeting after that will be our final one and this is going to be held at Julia Lau's house on Saturday 25 July. RSVP Julia on 9370 7474.
PIM Training Wishing everyone a good rest of term and enjoyable term break until we gather for the third term in the week beginning 27 July.
We are not back home yet, it is a slow process dealing with the insurance company and making sure we are doing the right thing. Various people recommended we ask another engineer to check the structure of the house due to the huge force exerted on the whole house when the roof was ripped off by the wind. We received his report last Thursday and sent it straight to the insurance company. It seems we will be getting a very thorough re-roofing of the house including new verandah and ceilings and paintwork inside and out. There has also been water damage due to heavy rains since the fires, which have caused damage to flooring and walls (and some furniture).
We thought we might have had to knock the whole house down and start again but thankfully we won't have to - we have priced rebuilding options and would have been severely out of pocket. Our insurance plus some of the recovery fund money will cover a large part of the repairs.
There is SOOOooo much paperwork!!
Our cattle have now all been agisted to suitable disease-free properties (apart from 10 young ones that need daily feeding). Bruce goes out to the farm most days to attend to those cattle and feed dogs.
Our property has not been cleared as yet - sheds and fencing that burnt down as well as the roofing iron and wooden beams. The demolition company will come in soon to attend to that and will take any other 'stuff' we want disposed of, including as much of the asbestos cement sheeting from the garage and house as we can get off safely.
So our next task is to start packing up all our belongings (and tossing out lots of junk I hope) from the house and garage for storage/disposal. A very big job.
We are staying in Cottlesbridge, which is just out of Hurstbridge, so still within our local area. I registered our family with the Dept of Human Services during the 1st or 2nd week of this time just in case we needed assistance. I'm so glad I did as we have been fortunate to be offered accommodation with a retired couple who have half a house we can use. They live in the newer part that was added to our bit some years ago and had been used for family visitors. They are a lovely couple and we can come and go quite easily without disturbing them significantly.
Well, that's all the practical stuff - the emotional is not so easily dealt with. The children have of course been hugely traumatised by all of this. Rory in particular had nightmares and has needed night-lights and a radio on, as well as the bedroom door open all night. Both have needed extensive counselling, mostly from me. They saw Di K a few times which was helpful but most of their talking comes at bedtime so I have spent many hours with both - they have wanted my ear in particular and I have found the weight of their sadness very draining at times but of course I wouldn't want to not be an active part of their grieving. Tess has felt very isolated at her secondary school and has felt unable to be herself there, so puts on a public face and then crashes at home. She has had numerous days with the Strathewen children at their temporary school in Wattle Glen and comes away feeling loved and nurtured which is fantastic for her yet at the same time it accentuates the difficulties and failings of her own school. We will be taking advantage of the counselling services/funding that has been made available as part of the recovery program.
We have had some incredibly sad times dealing with and grieving for the loss of our friends. Our whole community is dislocated, fragmented, without a centre. The land is so damaged, so ravaged. There are strange new shoots on a few trees, and a film of fluoro green across some cleared paddocks; our end of the valley is an oasis of a couple of green acres along the creek reserve, the rest is black/grey as far as the eye can see. It is very difficult still to drive out to our farm - we drive down our road and pass by so many properties where neighbours fought epic battles, some survived but many didn't. I feel the loss acutely, deeply, and painfully every day, many times every day. There are so many people gone from our lives; there are many empty spaces in what was our family's social atom.
Of course we have had some new people enter our lives since the fires and others who have re-entered after many years of absence, and we celebrate those connections. We have had some good laughs and enjoyed ourselves along the way at various functions/locations. But there is a heavy-heartedness underlying our public smiles. It is good to connect with those who have been through this time and let our guard down and confess that we're not really doing as well as we all make out. We (the community) are very aware of the need for many of us to continue to tell our stories, to piece it all together, to rise up, to fall in a heap, to be together however we are.
We are doing ok. We are getting there. But it is very hard. It is very sad. It is still quite overwhelming. I hear it has been 100 days - I'm glad someone's keeping count - for me there is a strange timelessness that doesn't really go away - sometimes it feels like days, other times it feels like years.
Tess, my daughter had to do a project to be presented orally to the class. She had to choose 10 items that meant something to her and put them in a box and then talk about them to her teachers and peers. She fell in a heap as she tried to find things to put in the box. She realised that since the fires the things she felt were important to her had changed. So I got her to write about her struggle and present that to the class. I sat with her on her bed as she wrote and re-wrote until she had the bones of it. She wrote about her best friend who is recovering in the children's hospital from very bad burns, who lost her father, mother and little sister. She wrote of her other best friend who lost her Dad that day. She wrote of losing her home as she knew it - the physical structure but also the natural environment. She wrote of her loss of her childhood school, of the small community hall where so many concerts and parties had been held. She didn't waste words, there were few embellishments. I hope she is brave enough to present it. Even if she chooses not to I know the writing of it has helped her.
There is a lot to say. There is a lot to feel. We are getting there. I have lost all my old emails with addresses and links. Again, I am slow at replying to calls/emails/letters - there is still a need to be a little protected.
There is a great network of psychodramatists isn't there! Here on the Kapiti Coast, in New Zealand I am establishing my own practice, and also have the fledgling PIA; Psychodrama Institute of Aotearoa. Not enough time in the day to put into effect all the things in my heart, but kei te pai, we'll get there.
One of the things I am working on is making myself available to Maori - this is a process at the moment of building relationships. I love it.
In Paraparaumu I have rooms with a teacher of Te Reo, his name is Te Umu-a-riki. - we see ourselves working with people on their journeys, and with psychodrama, Te Reo and counselling we are building a place where a korowai is offered, a cloak of protection and identity and new growth. Recently Te Umu-a-riki went to begin his journey as a Reo teacher at the Maori Unit in Rimutaka prison. It was the day of his powhiri (Ceremony of Beginning). That's not quite psychodrama in prisons but as psychodramatist we are no strangers to beginnings.
I myself would love to take psychodrama into the prison system - at any stage of it, including rehab, transition back to the community. That door hasn't yet been opened.
My sister Katrina, who also trained as a psychodramatist at PIM is currently studying counselling at Welltech. Her current social theory project focuses on aspects of the justice system in NZ! As a psychodramatist she also has many ideas, and quite a bit of frustration at a system which has been limited in its options for supporting people in prison to develop better relationships with themselves and others.
I'm pretty excited at the moment. I also have a little house that a couple of us are renting in Levin, about 40 minutes north of Paraparaumu (and where I live). It's a 3 bedroom weatherboard house, fire in the lounge which is a good size for small groups, nice garden. My friend and colleague, Kahu has done out one of the bedrooms as a play therapy room, gorgeous, and great that's she's seeing kids. The house we've named Te Whare Korowai. Te Whare (Te Fa-re) just means the house, Korowai (cor - raw - why) means cloak, which has attached to it a valuing of the person wearing it. Like people standing up and wearing their own individual korowai.
The rooms with Te Umu, well, gosh, that's a journey and a half too. I don't really know what we're doing, but it feels good. I have to go get organised for the day now, but will write more soon.
Lovely to hear about PIM, and I would love to hear more of what people, psychodramatists and trainees, are doing via our blog.
Just thought I would send a little prayer/song which we are doing at the beginning and end of one of our presentations. We do it as a prayer at the beginning and a song at the end. It is a powerpoint slide with a few different pictures attached to it. So you have to start the slide show to get the special effects. Would like to put it on the blog. Not sure if possible!
I am teaching three women to sing the Karakia so we have a Waiata at the end. Seems like a full way to end, by singing our heads off.
Whakataka te hau ki te uru, Cease the winds from the West, Whakataka te hau ki te tonga. Cease the winds from the South. Kia mākinakina ki uta, Let the breezes blow over the land, Kia mātaratara ki tai. Let the breezes blower over the ocean. E hī ake ana te atākura. Let the red-tipped dawn come He tio, he huka, he hauhunga. With a sharpened air, a touch of frost, a promise of a glorious day. Tihēi Mauri Ora! Behold there is life!
We are proud to announce that John De Bono is the Administrator of PIM in 2009. John is an advanced psychodrama trainee, consultant and Director of Groupwise.
ONGOING TRAINING The PIM training program recommences its three ongoing Tuesday and Thursday groups on Tuesday 19 and Thursday 21 May. The Practicum group meet for the first of their two training weekends for Term 2 on the 16th & 17th of May. During the break the Level 2, 3 and practicum training groups have met or are meeting soon for social get-togethers or dinners. The Level 3 group had a wonderful time at Sala Thai in Brunswick Street last week. MONTHLY GROUPS The monthly groups are continuing throughout the breaks. The Practitioners' Group meets on the last Friday of each month. They had their third meeting last Friday, 24th of April. In March they met for a peer session on the 27th. The next meeting is scheduled for Friday, 29th of May at PIM. The Supervision and Writing Group is holding its' second meeting this coming Friday, 1st May at Simpson Street.
THEATRE of SPONTANEITY The second Theatre of Spontaneity was held on the last Sunday in March. This event was hosted by the Practicum Group at PIM in conjunction with the committee of the Moreno Psychodrama Society. Patricia Green conducted the open session. During the evening, a cheque was presented to Psychodramatists, Bob Cummings and Linda Harrington (both members of the CFA) for the Yark Rural Fire Brigade. Recently we received a beautiful 'Thank-You' card from John Sharwood and Rodney Ridd, Chairman and Secretary respectively (on the noticeboard at PIM). The money that we raised at the February Theatre of Spontaneity for the Fire Appeal amounted to $500.00. Part of this money went to Yark and the other part is to be presented to Margaret Cunningham, another member of MPS whose family and home were affected by the fires on 7 February.
The next Theatre of Spontaneity is on Sunday 31 May, 6 - 9 p.m.
PIM WORKSHOPS Two workshops were organised between terms to compliment the ongoing training program. Jil Toovey's "Working with Psychodrama in the Corporate World" was held on 21 March. Participants included a colleague from Finland who happened to be working in Melbourne at the time. The second workshop is on this coming Saturday, 2nd of May. Entitled "Through the Mirror: Making Safe, Keeping Safe" and run by Sue Daniel, the focus is on working with psychodrama in such a way as to create and maintain a safe environment. On the 27th of June Marie Watt will conduct her workshop, "An Exploration of Our Dream Life Through Psychodrama".
OVERSEAS NEWS In the USA Sue Daniel conducted a workshop in April in Chicago for the Psychodrama Training Institute of Chicago - "Making Use of the Imagination in Individual and Group Psychotherapy". Elaine Sachnoff (fifth from right) is the Director of this Institute and Lorelei Goldman, (4th from left) the Training Director. Sue is fourth from right. Some of you may remember Elaine, when she came over to Melbourne for our conference "Giving Life" in 2006. The following photograph is courtesy of Iliya Tanchev. Sue was in the USA for the American Society for Group Psychotherapy and Psychodrama (ASGPP) Annual Conference in St Louis where she also conducted a pre-conference training workshop "Role Theory: The Essence of Psychodrama."
The International Association for Group Psychotherapy and Group Processes (IAGP)
Rome Congress, August 2009 - Groups in a Time of Conflict
Several of our members; trainees and practitioners are presenting at this conference. Ailish Gill is doing a poster on a project that she did in Ireland. Danielle Forer is also presenting a poster, on Psychodrama in Bangladesh and conducting a workshop. Julia Lau and Sue Daniel are conducting a workshop each. Sue is also conducting a Large Group with Peter Kellermann, as part of a series of Large Groups at the end of each day.
Julia Lau invited people planning to go to Rome to her home for a meal and get together several months ago. This little group is expanding. Our second event, an afternoon tea, was held in the garden of Jil Toovey and her husband, Gary's home on March 22. The next social event is to be held in Sue Daniel and Ted Bugarski's home on Saturday 27 June from 3 - 7 p.m. There is an Italian theme. Approximately 18 people are going to Rome for this congress from within the PIM and Moreno Psychodrama Society community.
Sue Daniel has been nominated for the election slate for the Board of the IAGP. She was the Chairperson of the Psychodrama Section of the IAGP from 2000-2003 and has been instrumental in organising two Pacific Rim Congresses in Melbourne, in 1991 and 2001. The new Board will be announced in Rome.
Moreno Psychodrama Society - One Day Conference - JULY
Optimism is the theme of our one day Conference 11th July to be held at the Abbotsford Convent from 8.30 a.m to 6 p.m. The program is almost complete and we should have more news on this at the end of May. Thanks to those who sent in proposals. Thanks to Stephanie Lee for her beautifully designed card, announcing the conference. If you haven't received one or want more to display at work or give to friends, ring John De Bono on 0429 427 873. (See website link for the conference in the right column.)
And finally, we wished Anne Schutzenberger, our French Colleague, a Happy 90th Birthday on the 29th March. Picture shows Anne with colleagues, Marcia Karp (England) and Manuela Maciel (Portugal).
I have been feeling shocked and overwhelmed by the past two weeks. Yesterday when Bob and I drove down to Melbourne through the blackened forests that used to burst forth life, past lost homes and businesses, I felt the helplessness and hopelessness of loss. There appeared to be nothing living in what was left of the forests. I said to Bob that this charred forest is too damaged to regenerate. It's beauty gone. I silently wept.
Bob said that the forest would grow again, but I didn't listen. I couldn't listen as what was before me seemed too destroyed.
As we drove we listened to the remembrance service with the beautiful songs, and we both wept.
We spent the afternoon reconnecting with family. Then we joined psychodrama friends at the Theatre of Spontaneity and had an opportunity to tell our stories, hear the stories of others, and share in the sadness of everyone's loss. Through this experience our anger and sadness changed to hope for the future and joy in the strength of the relationships of our family and friends.
This morning I was moved to write some poetry about my experience, which I would like to share with you.
Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers. Thank you for being in my life.
Images of Black Saturday: by Linda Harrington, Yarck CFA
Hot. The thirsty air drank from my very skin, leaving it dry as parchment. Unbearably hot. So hot that the fruit cooked on our orchard trees. The air eerily calm, like in the eye of a storm.
Then it came. A searing wind that scorched the life out of all it touched; a blow torch out of control. The dust filled sky radiated a scary orange brown, An ominous prediction of things to come.
Birds stopped singing. Animals cowered. We cowered under the awesome might of nature, Then we rose up and fought.
Yarck’s CFA tankers had gone, called away to fight fires erupting at Kilmore. At three pm, the unbelievable – a power outage. A power outage to a town with only tank water And water pumps need power!
A town vulnerable put their fire plan into action. No time to think. Stay to defend or leave. Hesitation, Disbelief.
This won’t happen to us. This can’t happen. I won’t leave, some said. We’ll defend with a bucket and mop! And pray the fire doesn’t come our way.
The radio presenter’s voice turned to disbelief and horror As the fire raped and razed towns and moved on. Kilmore, Wandong, Flowerdale, Hazeldene, Humevale, Kinglake West, Strathewen, Arthur’s Creek, Kinglake. Our shire was on fire!
More fires at Narbethong, Buxton, Marysville and Taggerty. The fire’s velocity was merciless. Our tankers were diverted to Marysville. But there was no mention of Marysville on the radio. Maybe it was all a hideous mistake.
Rostered to relieve the first crew at 3 a.m. I learnt that Tanker 2 had been abandoned amidst the Marysville inferno. The crew escaped with minor burns and had joined Tanker 1. Also in trouble, valiantly the crew protected themselves from the radiant heat And barged their way to safety.
Seven a.m. Sunday I am on another tanker, going to Marysville. Escorting the ambulance, food and emergency vehicles - Why is there still no mention of Marysville on the radio. Was it just a bad dream? Or a horror movie?
The road in was hideous, Fallen trees, dead animals, burnt homes, some still burning. And burnt out cars. People who had tried to escape But the fury of the fire was merciless.
As we entered our picturesque historic town, Disbelief and shock. We were greeted with blackened twisted rubble. It seemed that ash and debris was all that was left, and a river flowing black with soot.
But no, On the oval huddled a group of survivors. Townsfolk in shock. Firefighters in shock Support services in shock – and supporting one another.
On the back of the fire truck tears welled in our eyes, speechless at the sights facing us. Humbled by the survivor’s courage and spirit I knew that we might have lost this battle But we would win the war.
On Sunday, 22 February from 6 - 8 p.m the first Theatre of Spontaneity for 2009 takes place at PIM, 155 Langridge St.
The evening is dedicated to the community in response to the tragedy brought about by the fires that razed communities last weekend and took lives. It is a place to bring forward stories, to grieve and to celebrate life. This evening provides an opportunity to say goodbye, to bring forward questions, to put words and actions to feelings within the embrace of the psychodrama community.
The fee is $20.00 ($15.00 for MPS members) Proceeds will be donated appropriately to the Fire Appeal in consultation with those members.
At the present time, I can say that all members of the Moreno Psychodrama Society and PIM are safe. Margaret Cunningham and her husband and children, who live in Chads Creek Rd, Strathewen survived an horrendous event, even saving their house. The children were evacuated however Margaret and Bruce stayed and fought the fire. They have property and animal damage. Bob Cummings and Linda Harrington are also safe. They live in Yarck. Both Linda and Bob are members of the bush firefighters (CFA) and have been, and still are valiantly fighting the fires and assisting the people of Marysville and other townships struck down by the tornedo of fire. We are so grateful they are alive. Other members' family members have lost property, some, all that they have - apart from each other which is a blessing for sure. We have all been touched by these fires. Everyday, I hear from people who have experienced a death of either a friend, friend of friend, or a colleague, and once, of almost all of the person's social and cultural atom, apart from their family. I feel immeasurably sad. I feel uplifted to hear the stories of people, the 24/7 support of the media, particularly those radio stations that continually broadcast from the ground zero of the fires, as this helps my grief. I feel with the people, I can embrace them with my heart and mind, having them in heart and mind. I am glad to hear of a little koala drinking from a water bottle, a little pony arriving, and that water and hay are available for him. I am glad to hear of people wanting tools to start working again and temporary fencing. I am glad to hear from Margaret Cunningham, and to hear Bob and Linda's voices. With love and blessings, Sue Daniel
This coming weekend, 14th & 15th of February, the Advanced Training Group (Practicum Level) commence training.
The Opening Night of PIM is next Friday evening, 20th February. A light supper will be served. Trainees may bring friends and colleagues interested in psychodrama to this event.
The weekend workshop of 21 & 22 February marks the start of the training year for the Level 3 (Thursday Evening) Training Group.
Tuesday February 24 is the commencement date for the Level 1 & Level 2 Training Groups.
The Moreno Psychodrama Society is holding a One-Day Conference with the theme 'Optimism' on Saturday 11th of July at the Abbotsford Convent in St Helliers St, Abbotsford from 9 until 6. Registration from 8 a.m. There will be 8 sessions of 1.5 hours. Final call for proposals 24 February.
For enquires regarding Ongoing Training Courses, Theatre of Spontaneity, The One-Day Conference 'Optimism' on Saturday 11th of July (change of date from 18th) or Workshops: telephone 94163779 or email pim@netspace.net.au
Dr. Robi Friedman Will present a 2-Day Workshop In conjunction with The Australian Association of Group Psychotherapists Vic Branch DREAMTELLING, Israeli-Palestinian groups and Relational Disorders February 21st & 22nd 2009 at The Treacy Centre 126 The Avenue, Parkville, VIC.
Dr Robi Friedman is President of the Israeli Association of Group Psychotherapy, and co-founder of the Israeli Institute of Group Analysis. He has published widely, and co-edited a book with Claudio Neri and Malcolm Pines, 'Dreams in Group Psychotherapy.' 2002. Jessica Kingsley Press, UK. All of his works apply equally to individual psychotherapy as well as to group work.
REGISTRATION FEES: After Jan 5th 2009 $290 Both days $165 Each day Concessional rates applicable upon request. In case of cancellation each case will be considered individually.
PAYMENT DETAILS: Cheque to: Australian Association of Group Psychotherapists, Vic Branch.
MAILING DETAILS: The Conference Organiser, PO Box 2123, Moorabbin, VIC. 3189
A list of Robi’s publications on this and other topics can be supplied on request.
As places are limited, kindly reply ASAP.
All enquiries to Dr. Sabar Rustomjee sabar@iprimus.com.au or Paging Service 8508 9000
An Invitation for a Lunch Encounter on Sunday February 1, 2009 at 12.30 p.m
(for participants and those deciding to attend the IAGP Rome Congress, August 2009 from Sue Daniel and Julia Lau)
Greetings and Warm Good Wishes!
The New Year has already brought a new spirit of optimism with the inauguration of Barack Obama and the winds of change are truly upon us. This year many of you are moving in new directions; changing jobs, taking leave and employing a whole range of new roles in your life. There is movement and the new is all around. With this comes a realisation of possibility. And so it was with much delight that I received an invitation from Julia Lau with an idea for those of us going to the IAGP Congress in Rome to meet at her home.
This letter is to invite you to a shared lunch in the garden of the home of Julia, at 39 Margaret Street, Moonee Ponds beginning at 12.30 p.m. Julia warmly welcomes you to her home. All of the people who are in our Society who are going, or in the process of seriously thinking about going, to Rome for the IAGP Congress are invited, as are their partners on the journey. The idea is to meet beforehand as a group and warm up as a group of people going to an International conference. We can share concerns, about things like accommodation, travelling and being in a large conference of possibly 1200 people. Sometimes with large conferences it is easy to get or feel lost, so it will be useful, as well as enjoyable, to see who is going, to have a chat and to connect, with the knowledge that we'll all be at this congress.
In addition, Maurizio Gasseau, a friend and colleague who is co-hosting the Congress has invited me to gather a group together on the 1st of February so that we can meet at the same time as two other groups - one in Palermo and the other in Iseo in Italy on the 1st of February. Whilst they are conducting a formal weekend workshop, we (in Summertime) will simply meet one another. My thought is that our local theme is "to meet one another and connect" - as this is the most basic and simple of Moreno's ideas and at the base of his philosophy of relationship. Nothing more is required of you on this day, except to bring something to eat and drink for the table). At another time, or year we might create a workshop and then several or many workshops will be conducted concurrently around the globe. Their theme is "Psychodrama: More Voices" So we will be adding to the voices in a different way, informally, at a social occasion, yet together across the seas. I intend to write something up about the day later on in order to contribute to the Italian meeting and to warm them up to us.
Further, and I sound like the ad on television now, 'but wait there is more...' I am invited to conduct one of four large group sessions which will be held at the end of each day of the Congress 26 - 29 August for 2 hours. I am going to co-lead my night - (possibly Friday) with Peter Kellermann. The group analysts will also be holding four sessions concurrently so the Congress participants can choose one or the other of these series of Large Group sessions(or none of course) according to discipline and interest. My thought is to involve as many of the people who are coming from Melbourne who would like to contribute in some way during this event. For example, I may break the group up sociometrically, or do something else spontaneously which would mean having small group leaders. Whilst I can choose anyone in the group for this role I thought it would be good to have a bunch of people ready for taking on such a role, or ready to be a good auxiliary to another group member. We can be more uplifted working together and have more fun as we connect and deepen our connections within the wider community.
With love, Sue and Julia
RSVP by return email or Tel: 94163779
Psychodrama Institute of Melbourne pim@netspace.net.au
