The Cumberland Prospect Branch fundraiser for 2009 is a very special cocktail party this Saturday, 5th September. The Lifestart Perfection Landscapes Spring Carnival is being held in the Grand Pavilion at Rosehill Gardens, with drinks and canapes being servied from 6:30pm. The evening is compered by Vic Lorusso and there are over 140 prizes and auction items. For further information and booking details go to Events.
Lifestart Eastwood and Hornsby branches will hold a “Ladies Night Out” shopping night at the Eastwood centre on Thursday 27th August between 6.30-9.30pm. Ladies gather your friends, family and neighbours for a night of shopping, wine tasting and relaxation (without the kids!!) Lots of great stalls selling original baby and kids clothing, jewellery, homewares and accessories as well as coffee and gourmet treats to buy. Mums will be treated to mini beauty treatments courtesy of the Rainbow Room and be able to sample a range of wines from the Charity Wine Shop. Come along, enjoy a great night out and support Lifestart. Lifestart Eastwood Branch is located within the Sommerville Park Early Childhood Centre 679 Blaxland Rd Eastwood. Limited parking available onsite, parking in surrounding streets. Access to ATMs or EFTPOS is not available at all stalls so please bring CASH to avoid disappointment!!!!
The annual Lifestart Winter Ball took place at Le Montage on Saturday 15 August. Two hundred guests had “a ball” eating, drinking and dancing the night away to the wonderful Buddy Holly Show. And of course there was also spirited bidding on the silent and live auctions. Compere Shelley Oates-Wilding (pictured) was a superb compere relating several inspiring stories and astounding everybody with her auctioning skills. Shelley also talked about the 2010 Kayak for Kids when she has once again kindly offered her services as ‘Special Ambassador”.
Janelle Burke and her team from Orana Early Intervention (Dubbo) visited the Eastwood branch on Monday 27th July as part of their staff development program. The team were able to observe small groups in action, chat to staff about their roles within Lifestart and meet the families attending preschool and transition to school programs. Janelle commented it was great to visit other early childhood intervention programs to see first hand the similarities between services and get new ideas for running groups and activities. Staff at Lifestart were able to discuss programs Lifestart is running regularly within the centre and across branches e.g. Behaviour and Sleep programs. Lifestart was first stop on a busy schedule of visits for the team, who were also visiting the Spastic Centre, Giant Steps, Pathways and the Shephard Centre during their stay in Sydney.
The annual Lifestart Winter Ball is being held on Saturday 15th August at Le Montage in Lilyfield. It is hosted by former Olympian and world kayaking champion Shelley Oates-Wilding, who is now in high demand on the celebrity speaking circuit. Entertainment is by the sensational ‘Oh Boy - the Buddy Holly Show’, one of Australia’s premier show bands. Featuring appearances by a host of singers ranging from Dion (’They Call Me The Wanderer’) to Richie Valens to Roy Orbison, this show will have you laughing and dancing till midnight. Auction and raffle items for the evening will range from a signed AC/DC guitar to several short-stay resort holidays around Sydney to a NSW SpeedBlitz Blues cricket bat signed by the 2007/08 Pura Cup Champions. There will also be a wine tasting courtesy of the Charity Wine Shop and Molly’s Cradle Wines. The evening features a three course meal and aperitifs and tickets are $190.
For bookings go to Showbiz or visit our Events page for more details.
Wilson HTM Foundation has made a significant investment in the siblings program being run through the Lifestart Hornsby Branch. As stated by Siblings Australia, siblings can often be overlooked in the treatment of children with special needs, which can lead to feelings of isolation. If this continues, children can become vulnerable to a range of emotional and mental health problems. However, if siblings are acknowledged and connected to sources of support, they are likely to become more resilient. For further information on the Lifestart Hornsby Siblings Program phone 9144 7605.
Special Disability Trusts were introduced by the Commonwealth Government in 2006 to allow private financial provision for the current or future accommodation and care of a family member with a severe disability, without being affected by social security rules on means testing or gifting. To encourage greater take up, from 1 July 2009 the Government will extend the capital gains tax main residence exemption to include a residence that is owned by a Special Disability Trust and used by the relevant beneficiary as their main residence. In addition any unexpended income of a Special Disability Trust will now be taxed at the beneficiary’s personal income tax rates, rather than the highest marginal tax rate, starting from the 2008-09 financial year. The Australian Government is reviewing all recommendations from the Senate Committee, including broadening eligibility to make it easier for people to establish Special Disability Trusts.
More information on these measures is contained in the Fact Sheets available online at: www.fahcsia.gov.au.
