Fishing in the Outback - A Sociometric Approach

Yogita Thompson is a psychodramatist and family & relationship counsellor, living and working in Kununurra, Western Australia. This article and the next reflect her experience in working with indigenous people. The following is about her work co-creating a woman's group and the second is a poem which she wrote after attending a funeral.

The Women's Fishing Group that I facilitate has been put up for an Anglicare National award for Innovative Program. So Thelma (85 yr old elder) who I've co-jointly developed the group with is happy to have the recognition. Developing this group has been a cultural journey for us both. We started by talking about women in the community and about developing a women's group. First year we had little attendance. Second year we got feed back they wanted to be able to go fishing. So that was the starting point for the group. After 2½ years the group has developed an indigenous culture and the women have a sense of ownership of the group while new women continue to attend.

Yogita

A young man took his life by Yogita

A young man took his life.

A knot in a rope strangled the last breathe from him. The rope tied to the tree held strong. It did not snap.
The knot was the right one for what he chose to do. It all worked so well.
But now he’s gone.
But why had he tied the rope to the tree?

No-one was saying,
They gathered around his grave.
A somber mood was felt
Some kids stood still while others expressed their preference for play.

The knot took the young man’s life,
The knot at the end of the rope
That was tied to the tree.
But why was the rope tied to the tree?

Wailing expressed the grief in the hearts of the mourners.
Olgawoman sat still
memories of past loss and grief stirred within them.
Sorrow’s net cast over them.

The knot took the young man’s life,
The knot at the end of the rope
That was tied to the tree.
But why was the rope tied to the tree?

The family sat at the head of the grave,
A cold stiff lifeless body of one who was so young lay before them.
One by one mourners’ threw a hand full of sand onto the coffin.
The ritual continued.

The knot took the life of the young man.
The knot at the end of the rope
That was tied to the tree.
But why was the rope tied to the tree?

Emotions were stirring but were not expressed.
This was not the first time.
It had happened before.
More sand was thrown onto the grave.

The knot took the life of the young man.
The knot at the end of the rope,
That was tied to the tree.
But why was the rope tied to the tree?

No-one spoke of it
The faces of the family appeared blank and dazed.
What emotions lay behind their blankness
Grief was obvious.

The knot took the life of the young man.
The knot at the end of the rope,
That was tied to the tree.
But why was the rope tied to the tree?

A man built solid, tall and strong picked up some sand and stood at the head of the grave.
With bold words and a cracked voice he broke the silence.
He said,
I was like a father to this lad.
He’d got a job and was doing well.
I was proud of him and wanted him to stay with me
But he was worried about his family so he came back here.
And now today I’ve come from Karada to bury him.
The grog’s killin your kids
Your putting grog before your kids.
You gotta look after your kids and lovem
They’re your future
I loved this boy with all my heart ,
Now he’s gone.
I’ve come all the way from Karada to bury him.

A shiver past over,
All knew he spoke the truth
The tall solid man from Karada with tears in his eyes expressed why the rope had been tied to a tree.

Myths, Dreams and Old, Old Stories

Myths, Dreams and Old, Old Stories - A PIM Elective

Director: Marie Watt (see photo below)

An exploration of the 'Once-upon-a-Time' of the human imagination and its 'Here-and-Now' dimensions by bringing together the themes of personal dreams and those of fairy tale, folk tale and myth. The medium will be psychodrama, the canvas - individual and group experience, the possibilities - endless! Bring along the stories, which have sustained, frightened, puzzled, and questioned you ever since you were a child and some of the dreams, which, each night, perform the very same function. This group is open to trainees as one of their elective workshops and to anyone interested in exploring the imaginative life.

Dates: Saturday & Sunday, 20 & 21 August 2011 from 10 a.m – 5.30 p.m both days.

Fee: $150.00 (Deposit $50.00 due by Friday 5 August).

For enquiries and postal address for applications telephone 9416 3779

July Theatre of Spontaneity - Sociometry at Work

Sociometry at Work

Organizations can be complex places with their own lexicon and focus on deliverables, end points and evidence based outcomes. Attention to sociometry and organizational dynamics optimize desired results through attention to process. Strategic Planning has a hard edge that requires a complementary approach to humanize, engage and release peoples’ creativity. This Theatre of Spontaneity will explore ways of engagement that focuses on relationships and organizational development through play, story and spirit.

John De Bono is a psychodramatist and organizational consultant who works as a facilitator, trainer and coach (photo above, Marie Watt with John de Bono)

Date: Sunday, 31 July 2011 from 6.30 - 8.30 p.m.

Where? Psychodrama Institute of Melbourne, 155 Langridge St, Collingwood

Fee: $20.00 ($15.00 for MPS members)

A Greeting from Zerka Moreno on our 10th Anniversary

Hello, Psychodrama Friends,

When I met Moreno in 1941, how could I have known that eventually he would have a Society in his name in Australia? Of course, that is what we worked hard for, to have those labors carried on around the globe.

And that is exactly what you are doing under the energetic, devoted guidance of Sue Daniel.

So this is a hearty Thank You from the other side, for your very own contribution to our field. Everyone of you is very much needed.

Keep up the good work.

I will be with you in spirit.

Love, Zerka

Special thanks to the Moreno Psychodrama Society Committee

Dear Committee Members

Many thanks for the great effort and beautiful evening that was created largely by you as well as our guests last Friday, 22 July 2011.

Special thanks to John, Jillian, Stephanie, Daniel, Patricia, Ling, Hien, Danielle and Cath, our "chanteuse" on the evening.

Also thanks to Cath's husband Pete, who accompanied her on keyboards (see photos below), Ted, Julia, and the various family members of our committee members for their contributions on the night.

Thank you!
Sue

PIM's 10th Birthday, 22 July 2011