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About Us
History
The Compassionate friends (TCF) was founded in England in 1969 when
two couples, whose sons had died within days of each other in Coventry
hospital, were introduced to each other by the hospital chaplain Rev.
Simon Stephens. They began to meet regularly to share feelings and were
able to grieve together with understanding, acceptance and support.
Other bereaved parents joined them and the success of the group led to
the establishment of other groups throughout the
U.K.
, then the
U.S.
and eventually
Australia
in 1978.
TCF is now an international organization with chapters in 29 countries.
International gatherings are held every four years with the next
gathering scheduled to be held in
Buenos Aires
,
Argentina
in September 2009.
TCF started in
Western Australia
in 1981.The Mandurah chapter was established in late 2001 in response to
the many requests for assistance from bereaved families in the area from
Kwinana down to Busselton. The chapter was officially launched in
February 2001 by the W.A. patron of the Compassionate Friends.
The Mandurah chapter is an incorporated body, with it’s own
constitution, A.B.N. and committee of management. A.G.M.'s are held in
September each year.
Our patrons name is
Patron
Reverend Graham Mabury OAM Cit WA FECU BA (Hons) Grad. Dip. ED.
Services
A range of free support services are provided by
volunteers who are themselves bereaved parents. Services include;
- A
drop in centre staffed by volunteers and open Monday to Friday
10a.m. to 2p.m.
- 24
hr telephone friends
- Home
visits
- Support
groups for bereaved parents, grandparents and other relatives
- Support
group for bereaved siblings
- Support
group for relatives and friends of those who have died by suicide
- Quarterly
newsletter for members
- Resource
library of books, tapes and other literature
- Special
gatherings for Christmas, Mothers Day, Fathers Day, and
International Children's Memorial Day
- “A
Walk To Remember” and other events
- Information
and referral
Volunteers also provide education to the
community, working closely with G.P’s, hospitals and other health
agencies, schoolteachers and youth agencies, police, clergy, counsellors,
funeral directors and local councils.
Memorial Benches
The
Mandurah
City
council assisted TCF Mandurah to place a jarrah park bench on a grassy slope
overlooking the lake close to shady trees and
there is a large shady gazebo nearby at the Mandurah
Lakes
Memorial Cemetery, Stock Road, Mandurah.
The Rockingham City Council has donated a
jarrah park bench and is situated on the Esplanade, opposite
Florence Street
,
Palm Beach
. The bench faces the ocean and there are facilities nearby.
Both benches have plaques in memory of our
deceased children and provide a 'Quiet' place where members can sit
in peaceful reflection when the need is felt.
When a son or
daughter dies who can help?
When a son or daughter dies, no
matter what their age or the cause of death, grief lasts for longer than
society in general recognises. The death of your child is an
unacceptable tragedy and it can take a long time before you regain any
sense of normality in your life.
"We Need Not Walk Alone."
The Compassionate Friends Mandurah Inc. is part of a world-wide
organisation offering friendship and understanding to families following
the death of a son or daughter, brother or sister. TCF offers support in
the grief and trauma which follows the death of a child at any age and
from any cause.
Our purpose is to offer
friendship and understanding by reaching out to bereaved parents, to the
surviving siblings and other family members to support them in the grief
and trauma which follows the death of a child.
We promote the positive resolution of
parents' grief, and to foster the physical, emotional and spiritual
growth, in an open and friendly environment of bereaved parents,
grandparents and siblings.
A Message for
Bereaved Parents & Siblings
At The Compassionate Friends you will find the special
understanding of those who have "been there". There are no
pressures to talk or not talk, to cry or not cry, just a chance to be
yourself, to have time-out.
The Compassionate Friends offers a safe haven, a listening and
understanding ear, a place where you can let down the masks, and if you
wish, talk about your son or daughter who has died.
The Compassionate Friends offers no miracle cure, just comfort and the
consolation and hope that broken threads can be picked up again.
The Best Time to
Make Contact
There are no time limits to grief. Many families contact TCF very
early in their grief, others don't hear about us for many years. If
the need to talk is there, Compassionate Friends will listen.
Making Contact: Bereaved
parents, siblings and grandparents may make contact personally by
phoning our Centre 24 hours a day, e-mail or by post. Use the 'Contact
Us' Tab for all details.
Funding
TCF Mandurah does not receive any funding but relies completely
on the fundraising efforts of volunteers and donations from
individuals and businesses in the community.
As a registered charity and Deductible
Gift recipient all donations of $2.00 and over are tax deductible.
The chapter welcomes financial donations and the assistance of
people willing to volunteer their time and skills.
The
Compassionate Friends Mandurah Inc. makes no representation
whatsoever regarding the content of any other web sites which you
may access from the The Compassionate Friends Mandurah Inc. Web
site. When you access a non-The Compassionate Friends Mandurah
Inc. site, please understand that it is independent from TCF
Mandurah and that TCF Mandurah has no control over the content on
that web site. A link to a non-TCF Mandurah web site does
not mean that TCF Mandurah endorses or accepts any responsibility
for the content or use of such web site.
The Compassionate Friends has no
affiliation with any religious or philosophical organisation.
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