where friendships flourish and people belong and grow

“Good Day to you.”

I know that sounds a little formal but as I am reading and re-reading the GFS history we have to hand, and researching more for talks and other input I have been asked to contribute, I am struck by just how it might have been for those who were the first women to be involved in GFS. “Good Day to you” would have been the generally used greeting of the day and I heard it still being used growing up as a girl in the North of England.

My roots are in the working classes of Yorkshire towns, where my 2 times Great Grandfather brought his family to find work in the mills, and from where many of the girls from the very large families that fill the pages of my history, moved to go into ‘service.’ The mill workers, housemaids and a plethora of those in the other low paid jobs of yesteryear, were those Mary Townsend hoped would benefit from the friendships GFS was initially set up to facilitate. I wonder more and more what she would be thinking if she was alive today facing the challenges of the crazily fast moving techno age in which we live, and how she might have shaped GFS for this era.

Maybe you have some thoughts about what she might offer to us nowadays or maybe you have some ideas of your own you might want to join in helping see come to pass. If so please do drop us a line or email
office@gfsperth.com.au
we’d love to hear from you and have you join us on the journey.

One of the places Alison will be sharing in the near future is Midland Anglican Ascension Parish - Women’s Talkie Tea Time.

ENGAGING GENERATIONS was still just an idea as GFS was looking for a property in the rapidly expanding Urban Growth Corridor - North East of Perth. Our Chair, Josie, was invited to the initial scoping meeting and Alison has been at every meeting and event since. 18 months later, as we begin to establish ourselves in the area, GFS are thrilled to have just taken the leading of the project ‘in house’ as part of our overall work.
Over the past 1.5 years a Primary school, 2 churches, a community association, an aged care complex, development staff from 2 shire councils, and on occasion, people from a dozen or so other local organisations have been putting in the foundational work of building relationships, and this week we meet with the local Senior High School to bring them on board.

The project was prompted by the work of Dr Bruce Perry and following a conversation with the Principal of a local Primary school:

“Now here's the good news – THE GOOD NEWS is the mediator of these
opportunities in the life of a child is another person. If a child has a
consistent predictable interaction with say a teacher or any consistent
predictable relational connection with somebody in their neighbourhood,
a neighbour or an extended family member. If they have a pattern of
relational health, they will have lots of opportunities to develop resilience
building patterns. Unfortunately, one of the things that often goes with these
at-risk situations is POVERTY OF RELATIONSHIPS.”
BRUCE PERRY

The ENGAGING GENERATIONS aim is to facilitate live-giving intergenerational interactions that enable all involved to flourish.

The central piece of work we will be doing this year and next is developing a PEN PAL/LETTER EXCHANGE Project between older adults and the children at the school. We hope that GFS members will consider being a part and we will give more information next time one the details are finalised. WATCH THIS SPACE

This week Alison was invited to attend an awards ceremony when the Primary school received a national STEM award.

MONDAY MUSING’S have been arriving on the GFS Perth Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/GFSPerth) for the past 4 weeks reaching over 20,000 people, as well as prompting 2 groups to make contact asking to meet up to have a conversation about working together into the future.

The content this week read:

How many hours does it take to make a friend? is the research question raised at the University of Kansas.

Previous studies showed having friends is a key predictor of happiness and life satisfaction, and that the number and quality of social interactions early in life can predict well-being, loneliness and depression 30 years later. Despite these well-documented benefits it seems people rarely prioritise spending time with friends, with findings showing we only spend 41 minutes a day socialising.

What is also a given is that it’s not possible to have friends without first making friends and spending time together is a necessary component of friendship development.

The research found:

- casual friendships emerge around 30 hours

- good friendships begin to emerge after 140 hours.

- best friendships do not emerge until after 300 hours of time spent on them.

So here’s the rub this Monday - are you spending enough time on what is proven to be one of the most life-giving aspects of our human existence?

For almost 140 years GFS Perth has been prioritising time for friendship and you’re very welcome to join us on the journey.

Till next Monday - stay safe and hopeful.

As we gathered for the 2nd WEDNESDAY WOMEN the weather had a distinct chill and Covid 19 was still raging across the state with more people closer to home feeling the effects.

After sharing spicey tomato soup, alongside cheese and biccies, to warm us up, Robyn Pickrell both inspired and challenged us with her story of growing up in a small WA town to her expansive life as nurse, wife, mother and community activist.

The details of next month’s WEDNSDAY WOMEN on 6th July at 7pm at The Minchin Centre, Yule Avenue, Middle Swan is below.

WE HOPE TO SEE YOU ALL THEN

FYI:

Conversations have begun to start another WEDNESDAY WOMEN, on another Wednesday of the month, at a location south of the river.

WE ARE PRAYERFUL - our faith is central to all we do so praying for our friends and ministry is a key aspect of our journey.

Prayer Points

If you would like us to pray with and for you, and to be included in this section of the newsletter, please send an e mail with the details you would like included, to office@gfsperth.com.au

Praying for Friends:

• Josie Steytler is the Chair of the GFS Perth Executive Committee. Please will you uphold Josie and her family in your prayers after the loss of their Mum Joyce last month.

Praying for the work of GFS Perth:

• Please pray for the step into the leading and shaping of Engaging Generations, for the new partnerships we are developing with many organisations and for Wednesday Women (Swan) as it meets on the first Wednesday of each month.

Praying for our nation and our world

• Please pray for our new Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his newly formed government, they will lead with grace and honour.

• Join us praying for all involved in climate action as our world continues to struggle with numerous climate disasters.

We believe -

o God loves everyone

o in kindness to others

o in supporting one another

o in respect for others

o listening is a gift

o in people’s potential

o everyone has unique gifts to share

If you've enjoyed this email and think any of your friends would appreciate it - please do feel free to share.

Till next time - stay safe and hopeful.