Nola is pictured in the middle with the beige knit top and orange cardigan over her shoulders.

Nola Needs Our Help

I’m not sure if many of you will remember Nola Turner as she was one of the founding members of Women Can International Inc, but Nola was our photographer at our events and a committee member for the first year of Women Can’s incorporation.

Nola, a woman with high morals in her late 60′s, fell prey to a 45 year old womanising photographer who she had employed to teach her how to use her computer and had an emotional breakdown that resulted in the desire for her to end her life.  The authorities stepped in and she was committed to Graylands Selby-Lemnos and Special Care Health Service.

I didn’t hear again from Nola for nearly two years and had no idea what had happened to her.  During that time she was treated by Psychiatrists for what they diagnosed as a Bipolar condition.

To understand Nola’s history, we are talking about a woman who has lived a Christian life in word and deed, been a nurse for over 40 years and who when I met her I would have placed her in her 50′s not late 60′s because of her energy and vivacious personality.  This is a woman who has raised three children and survived a breakdown in her marriage and subsequent divorce. A woman who has contributed tirelessly to the community through her involvement in charity work and helping the less fortunate.

So I was shocked when I learned of her demise and the subsequent events and even more shocked when she phoned me this week for my help.   I was more incredulous at the finding and subsequent treatment for a bipolar condition that previously not beend diagnosed despite 40 years of working in the medical system.

Nola phoned to ask me if I would support her to help to free her from the Mental Health system.  It seems that in the time that she was committed to Graylands that they used shock treatments and psychotic drugs to manage her depression.  And now that she has been released back into the community and has lived independently since March, they are continuing to force the shock treatments on Nola and she finds that with each treatment she is losing a little bit more of her memory and capacity to function.

Nola has tried everything she knows how to free herself but currently she has no rights.  Her son has power of attorney and is highly influenced by the advice he is getting from Graylands.  Nola is not permitted to leave Perth.  She can’t go interstate, overseas or even out of Perth.  She is not permitted to drive a car so has to bike or walk everywhere and if she refuses Shock Treatment, the police can just come and cart her off and they will use drugs to control her behaviour.

I am not a pyschiatrist.  I do not know what threat Nola poses to herself.  But what I do know is that if that were me and I felt I was capable of managing without the treatment I would want someone to stand up for me.

How can we help Nola Turner?

Nola needs an independent Pyschiatric review as quickly as possible.  They plan the next round of shock treatments on Friday, 7th October, 2011.  She has phoned every private psychiatrist that she can find and most you have to wait up to 4 months to get in to see.  Public pyschiatrists are a MUCH LONGER waiting period.  Plus the  cost is over $300 for an initial consultation and $250 PER PAGE for a report to be written up.

Nola has been following due process…contacting the Minister, the Consumer’s Health Council, the Mental Health Council, and everybody else that she can think of to try and get help but has made no progress.

Nola also told me that she picked up a bowel condition whilst she was in Graylands and that they were charging her over $100 per script for the medications for that treatment.  You can understand how shocked Nola was when she went to her local pharmacy to fill the script and learned that she can buy the same medications over the counter for less than $20.  There is something very wrong here.

Ladies, I need your support and help.  I would like for Nola to have the opportunity to clear her mental health name through independent review, so that if she is being held without due cause and treated for condition that is a misdiagnosis, she can be freed from what is a life altering treatment process.  Nola would love to be able to drive her car again and have the liberty to travel.  She had just visited Israel when I met her and I know she would love to be able to travel again.  But Nola’s greatest concern is that she will lose all her memory and her capacity to function independently which is very important to her.

Having met Nola post treatment I can tell you that she has already lost an obvioius amount of her memory functioning.  She struggled at first to place me in her world and to remember my name even though we worked side by side on a committee and had been close friends less than three years ago.  She also told me that changing the printer cartridge, a task that she has performed countless times, has now become very arduous.

We have to help Nola get a fair hearing.

Please support me with this by…

1.  Thinking about anyone you know in Government who we could approach to take up Nola’s cause.  She’s already been to the WA Minister for Mental Health with no outcome and her local MP.

2.  Thinking about and finding a psychiatrist who will give an independent review of her case.  She can only be freed from the system if a psychiatrist will vouch for her stable mental health.

3.  If we need to take visual, public action, considering spending a day with me standing or sitting on the steps of parliament house.  I am willing to put myself out there so that she can get a fair hearing.

I would appreciate your support in this matter and am open to any suggestions you may have.  My intention is to help Nola to get the support that she needs.

Location: Citigate Perth (see map below)

When:   7th May 2011

Time: 10.30am (registration) 11am – 4pm

Would you please take 2 minutes and complete this survey?

In completing the survey you will get an idea of what we are thinking of in the way of content and I guarantee that there will be something for everyone at all stages of life in the program.

If we proceed, we will also be looking for people to work with us in our leadership teams for the retreat.  If you have a heart for developing women and would like tovolunteer for a weekend retreat, I’d love to hear from you.  Simply email me and let me know why you are interested and what you would like to contribute.

Sue Crawford's Birthday Cake

One of our members, Sue Crawford, shared with me today a great idea for  a birthday cake that is under $10, takes literally 5 mins to prepare and kids really love.

What you will need:

1 tub of ice cream (icecream flavour of choice, although Neopolitan looks fabulous colourwise)

1 or 2 packets of Smarties (or similar)

1 packet of freckles or marshmallows (or toppings of your choice)

Place icecream container bottom into a sink of hot water for 5 secs.

Tip icecream upside down onto a plate – object is to get the whole tub of icecream sitting upside down on a plate without the container.

Decorate the cake with whatever decorations you like (we use smarties, freckles and marshmallows).

Add candles and serve.

Here is the end results!  You have to agree, it looks fantastic and the reports from children is that it tastes amazing!

Thank you, Sue for your cool idea.

If you have any time and money saving ideas and tips that will make our member’s lives easier, please pop them through to Hayley.

Women Can International Inc is relaunching and we now have a NEW LOOK website!  Check it out.

Membership is only $120 for 12 months and will allow you access to a whole range of benefits including:

- Access to WCI online website in the form of the opportunity to submit specialist knowledge posts for our blog and reach our subscribers.

- A full one page intro of yourself or your business on our website, including the opportunity to add a facebook app for yourself or your business page so people can find you easily on Facebook.

- The opportunity to join our member’s only Facebook Group where we will be hosting our Social Media Mentoring Club and posting interesting and relevant information about how to be successful in online communities and running a business online.

- Access at member’s rates to all WCI events (where there is a price differentiation), including subsidised training events.

- Invitations to social events and other educational events and women’s groups and the opportunity to advertise your own events on our webite and in our Facebook Group.

- Access to share events in our newsletter.

- Access to our Girlfriend Coffee Club where you can bring up to 5 guests per event.

- Access to a strong and empowered leadership team who are committed to helping women to find and take the next step in their journey and who have a large network of connections Australia-wide.

The end result will be:

- You will FEEL more SUPPORTED.

- You will KNOW MORE about how to create a SUCCESSFUL and HAPPY life.

- You will be CONNECTED and EMPOWERED.

- You will make NEW FRIENDSHIPS and be INSPIRED and also be VALIDATED.

So kick loneliness, disconnection, lack of access to resources, to friendships and to opportunities to the kerb and join wave of women becoming a member of Women Can International Inc today!

Become a Member now!

Also, why not take a few minutes to have a look around our site.

Coming soon…

- Member’s Pages with bios, photos and links to businesses

- Blog posts from specialists

- Online Social Media Mentoring Club (starts 19 Jan)

And much, much more…

An invitation to join Kath Mazzella for the International Gynae Awareness Day event

The members of Women Can International Inc are formally invited to attend the High Tea at the Hilton Hotel in celebration of International Gynae Awareness Day.

There are going to be some very interesting speakers including Lord Mayor Lisa Scaffidi, Professor Jenny McCloskey, and ex-brothel madam Mary-Anne Kenworthy.

There are also going to be some live entertainment with a Burlesque and Cabaret Dance Troupe.

There will also be a fashion parade.

It promises to be a wild afternoon of fun for the ladies.  Men are also welcome to attend.  I’d love for us to have a table of WCI girls there to celebrate with Kath.

For those that don’t know, Kath Mazzella OAM is one of our members and is a Gynae and Sexual Awareness campaigner, having survived Vulva cancer herself.  She has a message that is valid for EVERY woman and I’d love for us to show her our support by attending.

The event is at the Hilton Hotel, so will be a great opportunity to dust off your fancy gear and do a little hob knobbing.

I know there was some talk about Maryanne Kenworthy speaking about how to have an orgasm, but I’m not sure if that topic is going to make it past the gatekeepers, but it will be fun to find out.

If you’d like to come with me, please spread the word and let me know ASAP so I can book a table or two?

Eliza-Jane Barnett presents Woodvale Senior High School chaplain Carol Stokes with the cheque for $500.

GIRLS at Woodvale Senior High School are profiting from a $500 donation from Women Can International.

The money will go towards the school’s Shine Girls program, which helps to raise teenage girls’ confidence through personal development, deportment and behavioural training.

WCI founder and chairwoman Hayley Solich said the idea to donate to Shine came from a member whose daughter attended Woodvale and thought it was a valuable program for young women.

“(She) said it was a really, really good program but some of its programs were in need of an upgrade,” Mrs Solich said.

The money was raised through an auction held on International Women’s Day by the WCI where girls as young as seven were invited despite the WCI normally being for women 18 years and older.

Mrs Solich said the WCI aims to help young women “finally take the next step in their journey”.

It’s been a while since we’ve had an event in the Eastern Suburbs and I’m looking forward to catching up with all my girlfriends from the hills area.  Why not join me and catch up with your girlfriends too?

I know we all have such busy lives.  But one thing I am learning is that making time to be with your friends is really important, especially when they are gorgeous girls like the ones that I know and love.

So ask your girlfriends along and join me for a coffee and chat.  Always buzzy, I know we will have a fantastic afternoon.  Let me know if you can come.  I am especially keen to catch up with all those ladies that have been wanting some time with me.

Hayley

The following information is being distributed as a sponsorship arrangement between Women Can International Inc and The Creaticians and Consilium Institute of Training & Development.

“We are very excited to announce our up coming business seminars, “The Ultimate Business Plug-In” Lunch Seminar Series.

The first event is at Arena Joondalup on 23 June 2010.

Please help us to get the word out there, as this is a massive investment of time and resources from both The Creaticians and Consilium Institute of Training & Development.

The series is designed for small to medium businesses who are considering taking their business online and want to know how to save TIME & MONEY.  Below is a copy of the flier that you can download to find out more information and where the seminars will be hosted.  Please pass on to anyone you think may be intersted in the seminars.

Also, if you have any business contacts in Geraldton, we’d love it if you could forward on the flier as we will be headed up that way in early August.

I have been asked for a very long time by the women of Women Can International Inc when I would be doing some technology training.  This series of seminars will help you to get a handle on what to do and how to go about it.

Book online at consilium.edu.au (business seminars tab).

Thanks,
Hayley “

The Ultimate Business Plug-In Lunch Seminar Series Download link now!

Given that I am the Chairperson of a fabulous women’s network, I didn’t think it was appropriate for me to host one of the events and join her leadership team, but I do want to support her in her desire to help grow strong business women.

So in this blog post I am giving you all the details if you’re interested in going to either of the events, one in Roleystone and one in Kardinya.

On Friday night 18th June or Saturday afternoon 19th June come and join us for our first ever Red Tent Events in Perth!

(Limited places, so book now!)

Ludwina says…

I am so excited to be launching our ‘new look’ Red Tent Events in Perth on Friday 18th June and Saturday 19th June.

We have been working very hard at getting the new model underway and as a result we now have 10 events running in various states around Australia. In fact, it’s our goal to have 100 nationwide withing 12 months.

You may be wondering what the difference is. Well, many women around Australia have been waiting for The Red Tent to come to their city but it was hard to do with the way we were previously running the events. You see, when hosting events in resturants there is a lot of work that goes into it, a lot of marketing and the cost is high. So we realised we had to do something different.

I went on a roadtrip and had a lot of time to think. My thinking led me to come up with a model that allows growth and expansion by growing a team of leaders who also see the red tent vision. I also realised that the home is where the heart is so why not host them in their homes instead of the resturants.

I know it’s radical and no one in the networking industry is doing it, but if you know me well, I like to do things differently and I like to be a pioneer. Well, it turns out that my ideas reflected the thoughts of many and as a result these events are growing like wildfire. So much in fact, I’m having to slow them down to keep up.

Ciao,
Ludwina xxx

PS – Our events are usually fully booked a week prior so if you plan on attending book now! One more thing… I’m coming to Perth from chilly Melbourne so we can have a chance to meet!

How are they run?

They are run like a normal networking event except they are in the comfort of someones home. We will have the usual components; time to get to know each other, time to learn and grow and time to connect and share.

Because the events are no longer held in the resturants, the cost is minimal, therefore we decided that there would be no cost to attend the event; instead, we ask you to contribute. At each event you will be asked to bring some wine, some food and that’s it. Nice huh? Once you have been to your first event, we will ask you to become a part of our community in an official way. But we’ll tell you more about that on the night.

Roleystone, Perth
Join Jackie Hoeksema for a Friday Night Drinks

Date: Friday 18th June

Time: 6.30pm – 9.30pm

Cost: F’ree!

What to bring: A bottle of wine and a small plate of something healthy to share

Address: The suburb is Roleystone. When you call to book you will be given the address details

Bookings: Call Jackie on 0418 912 023 or email: jacs-39@westnet.com

What to expect: Time for networking, connecting, joint venture opportunities and be inspired by a live interview with Ludwina Dautovic

To find out more about this event go to: http://www.theredtentwoman.com.au/events-perth-Jackie.html

Kardinya, Perth
Join Denise Wilcockson for a ‘Chat, Chow & Cheers’ arvo

Date: Saturday 19th June

Time: 1.30pm – 4.30pm

Cost: F’ree!

What to bring: A bottle of wine and a small plate of something healthy to share

Address: The suburb is Kardinya. When you call to book you will be given the address details

Bookings: Call Denise on 0411 274 189 or email: denise@mediasupportservices.com.au

What to expect: Time for networking, connecting, joint venture opportunities and be inspired by a live interview with Ludwina Dautovic

To find out more about this event go to: http://www.theredtentwoman.com.au/events-perth-denise.html

Here’s what people are saying about
The Red Tent Events…

Vicki Tass
Had a great night. I found it inforative and inspiring to see other women in business

Donna Smith
Thank you so much for a wonderful warm open hearted informative event. Well done.

Melissa Parente
Attending a unique networking event like the red tent has re invigorated my purpose and reason for v enturing out to meet like minded women in business – forming genuine connections and sharing potent insights. Well done ladies!

Sheryl Phillips
The atomosphere tonight is comfortable, pleasand and friendly. I connected with so many women. Thank you for a fabulous women’s evening.

Jenny Leather
I thouroughly enjoyed meeting a group of like minded women.

Lisa Howe
How do you meet a bunch of like minded women for an interesting chat and a relaxing drink? A red tent event.

Terry Dimond
I love meeting everyone and learning about their lives and experiences. Sharing the energy was great.

Melanie Ellis
A unique opportunity to meet and connect with womern.

Real Women… Real Business… Real Connection…