It was fantastic to host them, and thanks to some very hospitable volunteers and Friends of Fusion, we were able to billet all those needing billets without needing to spend extra money on hotels!

This had the added benefit of Trustees being able to meet some more of our team members and get to know them.

One outcome from the Board's deliberations in October was to discuss our centre and to recommit to ensuring Fusion continues to operate in Canberra when our team leaders, Brenton & Claire Reimann, move onto different roles in Fusion and interstate to South Australia next year.

We look forward to welcoming the Board back again in the future!

What I have learnt is that Liz just wants to be recognised and be appreciated, and that is something I’m am so grateful to be able to help with.

She used to cut herself a lot back then, and so we had a few discussions about that. One day I asked her “what makes you happy? What do you love doing?” and she replied, “I like to song-write.” Then she pulled out some of songs she wrote and showed me and I was amazed.

So I started to compliment Liz's songs, to help her become aware of her potential, to recognise her, to appreciate her, and since then I have seen such an incredible shift in her attitude in school.

Rather than expressing her hurt and frustration through cutting, she turns to a piece of paper and pen. Leading up to last term she approached me with a folder that had all her music it in and she was so excited about it. A few weeks ago she came up to me and said “Naomi, have a look at what I created on garage band, I’m starting to make my own music!”

It is these types of stories that I get to be part of that Fusion has opened up for me, and it is such a blessing to even be present in the school itself. The need is overwhelming, but the opportunity to see students overcoming their difficulties and growing towards their amazing potential makes my job so worth it!

This is being met with equal enthusiasm on the part of our team and the collaboration is working very well as both children and our team members are enjoying the experience and the challenge of different scenarios.

Secondly, Fusion has entered into an agreement with the ‘Work for the Dole’ Program.

This program would see us being able to place a currently unemployed person onto our roster and become part of our team for a period of at least six months.

The team is very supportive of this initiative as it provides this person with a very real opportunity to gain paid employment in the future by learning new skills and being part of a team.

Interviews commence this week and we hope to be able to welcome someone as soon as possible.  We look forward to this newest venture and hope that its success will lead to Fusion being able to offer further positions in the future, possible in other areas of our activities.

What a great way to finish a very successful and rewarding year at Fusion Hand to Hand.  We look forward with enthusiasm to the challenges which will present themselves in 2016.

Wishing everyone a Blessed Christmas and a Happy Safe and rewarding New Year!

When Fusion Op Shop Kambah moved in last year she came for a “sticky beak” and found “lovely, warm, friendly ladies” and “things aren’t as expensive as other op shops and the quality is really good”. She has also found lots of bargains for her new companion Beasley whom she adopted as a rescue dog from the RSPCA, as a result of her volunteering. He needed a lot of love and Dian has totally spoilt him since September last year. He is now her devoted friend and constant companion. He even has his own spot to lie whenever Mary comes to visit the op shop ladies.

They come to visit Beasley’s “Take Away uncles” and “Op Shop aunties” regularly – nearly always on Fridays because Dian says “we like the Friday ladies”. The people at Kambah Village Take Away and Fusion Op Shop Kambah are, in Dian’s words “part of (their) life”. Visiting the Village regularly means company for both Dian and Beasley, plus exercise for them both, as the local oval is perfect for a run for Beasley and a walk for Dian.

Dian says it would be “sad for the whole area if Fusion Op Shop Kambah weren’t here. It’s a neat, tidy, organised and friendly environment.”  The acceptance she finds at Fusion Op Shop Kambah – especially of Beasley, who is so important to her world means she is not isolated and can be part of life.

upcoming diary dates

2015
> End of year Celebration Wed 2nd Dec, 5-7pm @ Eternity Church Kambah
> Kambah Op Shop closed on Christmas Eve 24th Dec
> Kippax Op Shop closed from Sunday 20th Dec
> Office closed from 19th Dec

2016
> Office reopens on Mon 18th Jan
> Kambah and Kippax Op Shops reopen on Mon 11th Jan
> NSW & ACT State Conference, 24-26th June
> Sleep In Your Car, Sat 6th August

Brenton has helped our centre become financially sustainable, not dependent on government grants, and a big part of this was how he led the way with starting our own op shop in Kambah, and taking over one in Kippax that was going to close down.

There is so much more that we could say about the Reimanns, with their servant hearted nature and willingness to do whats necessary to reach out to the community and all while not drawing a wage!

During their time in Canberra they have also started a family - they now have three beautiful kids - Abbie, Daniel and Caleb.

We will certainly miss them, as they head off on their new adventures moving to the country in South Australia and building their own home.

But we're also excited about being able to still be connected with them through the wider Fusion family, and Brenton keeps telling us that he'll stay in touch as part of the national role he will be moving into of resource consultancy - supporting fusion centres around the country to grow and develop their resources, fundraising, systems etc.

So here's a huge THANK YOU to Brenton, Claire, Abbie, Daniel and Caleb, for your faithful service and growing the work of Fusion Canberra for nearly 10 years.

The Reimanns will be moving to the Riverland, SA, at the end of Term 2 (early July). They will finish up their roles with our team early in the year.