Well-being is a positive state experienced by individuals and societies. Similar to health, it is a resource for daily life and is determined by social, economic and environmental conditions. Being part of a community can have a positive effect on mental health and emotional wellbeing. Community involvement provides a sense of belonging and social connectedness. It can also offer extra meaning and purpose to everyday life. Feeling valued and comfortable socially can prevent and reduce feelings of isolation, anxiety, depression, and more.
This page is to inform, support and empower our community to help foster a robust and resilient community; where a healthy lifestyle is considered normal and where all – regardless of demographics, ability or location – can easily participate and see the value, in regular health and wellbeing activities.
We suggest the following ways you can improve personal and community wellbeing:
- Connect… with yourself, with others and with your community.
- Be Active… by physically moving in whichever way feels best for you.
- Keep Learning… when you learn you develop and grow and keep your brain active and grow.
- Take Notice… of yourself and what’s going on around you.
- Give… time, money, enthusiasm, whatever it is possible to offer.
- and Enjoy… just enjoy what you do.
Restoring Hope for Parkinson’s disease
On 2nd September, for the third year, the Barn on Flaxton hosted a fund-raiser for Restoring Hope Parkinson’s Therapy which is a not-for-profit registered charity based on the Sunshine Coast. Their mission is to work proactively to enhance the wellbeing of people with Parkinson’s disease. As a charity, provision of services depends on raising funds. Find out more from the website and Facebook. It’s well worth a visit to each.
https://rhptherapy.org.au/ and https://www.facebook.com/rhptherapy
This fund-raiser was a huge success with so many supporters that they overflowed the café. The Barn provided cake and tea/coffee which was a treat. Chaffey Backhouse auctioned many beautiful donated items extracting as many dollars from the generous supporters as only Chaffey can. And there were some extremely generous people there. Amongst the
sought after items were the beautiful bears made by Lorraine Dippelsmann who has been making them for 22 years.
Louise Williams is the founding Director of the charity.
Louise, a speech pathologist herself, addressed the crowd: “It is a privilege to work with such an inspiring group of people. People living with Parkinson’s do not function at their best when they are on ‘auto pilot.’ The automatic system does not work well and if people with Parkinson’s operate on this system everything gets scaled down – for example: steps get shorter, writing gets smaller, and voice gets quieter. The good news is that people with Parkinson’s can function better when they are intentional and purposeful with their movement. We have group therapy programs each week where people with Parkinson’s come together to do their speech exercises and encourage each other to live their best lives with Parkinson’s – by living with ‘intent’. It is not easy and there are many challenges, but the camaraderie and support of meeting with others for therapy (including the Parkinson’s choir/Sing-A-Long) is invaluable.”
One of the really enjoyable parts of the program was the Choir of Sound Intent whose members were people with Parkinson’s as well as some partners. They sang several songs including Neil Diamond’s “I’m a believer” which seemed to tie in with the feelings of those receiving the important therapy provided by the speech pathologists several of whom attended the fund-raiser.
One lovely gentleman, Peter Stidolph, read out his “Personal Recollection of the Past Twelve Months” which both amused and saddened everyone. He included his experiences with a group called the Loud Crowd who were also fighting their battles with Parkinson’s and met for speech therapy sessions warming up with “May-Me-Moe-Moo” with INTENT – to quote Peter. Peter also spoke of the enjoyment he has had from being a member of the Choir of Sound Intent. He states if it hadn’t been for the camaraderie of great mates, he would have found it very difficult to make it through these times.
It was a very lively afternoon managed perfectly by the staff of the Barn on Flaxton with embers of the Blackall Range Lions Club providing assistance where needed. Something to look forward to again in 2024.
RangeCare – Blackall Range
RangeCare Blackall Range is a not-for-profit organization that has been serving the local community since 1986. Their mission is to help people live independently by offering a wide range of in-home, social, and respite support services.
With more than 2,000 clients, 150 local workers, and 180 volunteers, RangeCare is committed to providing high-quality care to those in need. Their services include in-home and respite care, subsidized mowing and home maintenance programs, home modification services, as well as allied health care services such as physiotherapy, podiatry, occupational therapy, and professional counseling.
RangeCare’s team of professionals is dedicated to supporting clients and their families by providing personalized care and attention to meet their individual needs. They work closely with local healthcare providers and community organizations to ensure that their clients receive the best possible care and support.
Overall, RangeCare Blackall Range is a trusted and reliable organization that provides essential support services to the community.
Healthy Sunshine Coast
Healthy Sunshine Coast is a health and wellbeing program launched by the Sunshine Coast Regional Council in 2016. This holistic and affordable community program aims to promote a healthy lifestyle by emphasizing the importance of moving well, eating well, sleeping well, thinking well, and connecting well.
The program aims to encourage positive mental health and resilience, regular physical activity, healthy eating habits, strong social connections, and participation across all ages and abilities. Through a variety of activities and initiatives, Healthy Sunshine Coast is committed to improving the health and wellbeing of the local community.
Some of the services and initiatives provided by Healthy Sunshine Coast include community exercise classes, healthy eating workshops, mental health support programs, social events, and community engagement initiatives. These activities are designed to cater to the diverse needs and interests of the community, and to promote healthy habits and behaviors that can be sustained over the long term.
Overall, Healthy Sunshine Coast is a valuable resource for the community, providing accessible and affordable programs that promote physical, mental, and social wellbeing.
Click here to view the Healthy Sunshine Coast activities page for more details.
NB: You must be registered to join in the activities.
Range Community Gym
Following a lot of work by community volunteers and support from Maroochyshire Council, the Mapleton Community Gym was opened in 2001. The gym offers a range of regular activities to community members including Senior’s Strength and Stability Classes and Tai Chi.
The Gym is located under the Mapleton Bowls Club at 5 Post Office Road, Mapleton, 4560.
Click here for the Range Community Gym website