Events and Opportunities

 Fathers Forever  is a site for men who have suffered loss from miscarriage or abortion.
 
Brendan lost what would have been his eldest child when he was 19 and his girlfriend had an abortion. Years later, he and his wife miscarried. You can read his story here.

Brendan said that "Cycling is my way of connecting with my lost children and dealing with the hurt. So in October I’m going to ride from Wagga Wagga in NSW to Melbourne". 

 
Brendan lives near Tumut in NSW and he and his support team want the ride to end in Melbourne to support the annual ‘March for the Babies’. He "reckons he can handle about 100km per day (all going well). We’re hoping that a couple of mates will join for at least part of the ride".
 
Here’s how the itinerary is "shaping up":
 6th October – Leave Wagga Wagga / Lunch at Henty / Finish at Albury
 7th October – Leave Albury / Lunch at Rutherglen / Finish at Wangaratta
 8th October – Leave Wangaratta / Lunch at Winton / Finish at Shepparton
 9th October – Take a break!
 10th October – Leave Shepparton / Lunch at Elmore / Finish at Bendigo
 11th October – Leave Bendigo / Lunch at Kyneton / Finish at Braybrook
 12th October – Take another break
 13th October – Leave Braybrook and ride into “March for the Babies”, Melbourne
 
The website encourages people to contact Brendan if they wish to join them – either riding or helping out.
"Join me on my journey of remembering and healing. Follow on Facebook, or contact me and join me on the road. Most importantly, start your journey".

 

Friday night 7:00pm and Saturday 9:30am - 4:30pm, July 2-3

This is an open event and a development opportunity, suitable for those who counsel people with post abortion grief, but also for those who hope to be able to do so in the future, and of course for those who have been touched by abortion personally.  You may invite anyone you feel would benefit; counsellors, nurses, mental health workers, doctors or welfare workers.  Having said this, you do not need any previous training to come.

Anne Neville is the guest presenter and comes from Open Doors in Melbourne.  She is well qualified to speak in the area as the Director of Counselling there and has her credentials an arm's length long:  R.N., R.M., Dip. Psychotherapy, Dip. Marriage and Family, Dip. Interpersonal Relationship Therapy, Accredited Grief & Loss Counsellor with N.A.L.A.G., Clinical member of CAPAV, Clinical Counsellor PACFA Reg. No. 21127.

If you wish to know more about Rachel's Vineyard itself, please look at the websites both in the US and Australia. Jump on board if you will!

The cost will be $50 per person.
Venue: Diggerland Upstairs & Cafe 26, Red Cliffs.

Friday 2nd July: 7pm   
Pregnancy proneness
Crisis Pregnancy
Supper

Saturday 3rd July: 9.30am-4.30pm          
Abortion Decision
Post Abortion Syndrome (criteria)
Traumatic Re- Enactment (DVD's)
Rachel's Vineyard Experience

Please RSVP to Anne Webster webster@ncable.com.au to confirm your spot.

 City Central Church in Albury is hosting a memorial service – ‘Found in Heaven’ – for families who have lost a baby due to abortion, miscarriage, cot death, illness or accident.

This gesture of support and love is being being run as part of their annual ‘Women of Worth’ (WOW) conference, and recognises that every life created is valuable and precious.

You are invited to register for this event which will be held at City Central Church, 439-445 David Street, Albury, NSW, on Sunday June 20th from 2:00pm.

Registration details are available in the attached brochure (5.6MB).

Rachel's Vineyard National Conference 2010 'Beyond Trauma, Discovering Hope', presented by Open Doors.
 
A key training event for all involved in providing care for those seeking spiritual and psychological healing after abortion, with particular reference to the Rachel’s Vineyard Retreat program.

Open to experienced retreat team members and coordinators, new team members and any other interested counsellors, pastors, health and community workers.

• Gain practical insights into the Rachel’s Vineyard retreat process.
• Deepen your understanding of the theoretical underpinnings.
• Share your stories and explore your goals.

Dates: Friday 8 - Sunday 10 October, 2010
Location: Holy Cross Centre 207 Serpells Rd, Templestowe Vic 3106. Ph 03 9846 6014. Melway 33 K7

More information>

Real Choices Australia is a not for profit organisation delivering its services nationally.

Real Choices Australia is committed to the empowerment of women, men and young people in decision making about relationships, sexuality and pregnancy, through the provision of quality education and professional services. They aim to:
 provide a national framework for the delivery of pregnancy support services and post abortion support services around Australia, through the development of professional standards, education and resources.
 develop and deliver education programs to schools and communities on relationships, sexuality and reproduction that encourages and supports healthy life choices.
 monitor, develop, establish and improve professional services in each of these areas.

Real Choices Australia have some exciting new initiatives planned for the next three years. To enhance the implementation of these projects and to meet the growing need for their services, they are seeking donations and more donors willing to make a regular and ongoing contribution. You can give a one off or set up a regular donation at Our Community. All donations over $2 are tax deductible.

With your continued support Real Choices Australia can continue to meet the unmet needs of women and families seeking help to continue a pregnancy, and ensure that those needs are met by professional, qualified and supported workers.

Redeeming Grief is a reflection of and study of abortion grief, which is experienced by some women who choose to undergo this elective procedure. These reflections are the result of listening to over 1000 personal stories and listening to the expressions used by the women as they spoke about their decision to abort the life of their child. These reflections then attempt to reconstruct the meaning that this procedure has had for the aborting woman and how this one procedure has been the catalyst for life changes.

Redeeming Grief looks at abortion trauma and grief from the spiritual and the psychological perspective. Its influences on the individuals involved and society. It is hoped that the language used is reader friendly and the concepts (both spiritual and psychological) are also reader friendly.

Book sales support Victims of Abortion, a post-abortion support agency based in Melbourne.

AUD$29.95 (inc GST)
Plus postage and handling

To order your copy of Redeeming Grief, please go to Victims of Abortion or send the following details with Cash, Cheque or Money Order to:

Victims Of Abortion,
PO Box 6094,
Vermont South,
Vic, 3133, Australia.

Name
Address
Telephone No
Email
Number of copies @ AUD $29.95 each

P+H (per book) AUD $3.45 (within Australia) OR AUD $8.70 (Asia Pacific) OR AUD $12.60 (Worldwide)