ICU and GOG Care Package arrives safely! Gogsters and Poppies supporting our VIC nursing heroes!

I received this letter today from Royal Melbourne, ICU team and wanted to share it with you all. 🥰 Thanks to everyone who contributed to this bundle of love. 💕💕

“To the Good Omen Goodeze and Canberra ICU team;

Over the past 9 months the Royal Melbourne Hospital Intensive Care Unit has spent its time preparing for the COVID Pandemic and then caring for those critically ill Victorians affected by the terrible COVID-19 virus. This pandemic response has become our new normal life.
We have been overwhelmed with the kindness and support shown by companies, the public and our community. This pandemic has affected our staff in many ways, hard work and fatigue has taken its toll and we look at ways to support our staff to do the amazing job they do every day.

We would like to acknowledge and thank the entire Canberra ICU team and the GOG’s for the care package. The Wellbeing of our staff is our priority and you have made this your priority too.

Once again thank you for support we cannot get through this without you.

Stay safe!”

Working Bee – 13 September

A happy group of knitters and crocheters caught up for our latest working bee at Dickson Tradies this afternoon … it was lovely to catch up with ‘regulars’, and ‘old’ friends who have missed some working bees, and, to greet some new members.

As always there was much sharing of tips and hints, and, there was something really satisfying in seeing how far some of our ‘new’ crocheters have come in just a few weeks. One thing we are all constantly reminded of is how much there is always still to learn in knitting and crocheting … some of us may be ‘old dogs’ when it comes to our craft but we are always learning new tricks!

As always, there were some fabulous donations to be passed on to the hospital … the skills and creativity of members never fails to impress!

Sustainability = Creativity!

I love a visit from Kathryn! 😍 Not just because she’s makes the cutest Little Gogsters, but she demonstrates so well how sustainable GOG is as an organisation!

We source brand new yarn from members of the public who no longer have a personal use for it and would like it to benefit the community. Often these donations come with half done projects, projects that normally would have no use. This is where Kathryn and Jane come in with their creativity and crafty skills. They take half finished jumpers and make them into incredible Gogsters, a partially knitted scarf turns into a beautiful panel in a blanket, a square bigger at one end than the other becomes the centre piece of a spectacular blanket. 🤩

Sustainability is difficult for any organisation, but it doesn’t have to be dull, it should be filled with creativity and joy. Kathryn, Jane, and all the GOGs show us this and help us become better as an organisation and as people.😍

Thank you for all your hard work.🥰💖

ICU Feedback – September

Texture takes centre stage this month!

My dear brother in law is in Canberra Hospital and is nearing the end of his life. He has just turned 62 and we are all devastated. This morning, he and my sister were gifted a gorgeous GOG rug – it is very textured and snugly. Thank you to the person who made this rug, and to GOG for making these gifts of kindness possible. 💔

‘GOG’s Community Threads’ Covid-19 Mental Health and Wellbeing Innovations Grant!

I’m very excited and proud to announce that GOG is one of only 20 groups and individuals selected by ACT Health to receive a ‘Covid-19 Mental Health and Wellbeing Innovation’s Grant! 🤩🥳

Our project, ‘GOG’s Community Threads’, is our first grant application and to receive this is a real testament to the recognition and value placed on the work you all do to support our ‘GOG Family’ to support our local community. 🥰

I’d like to send a huge heartfelt thank you to Kathleen and Jenny for the massive effort they both put in, in support of this application – this would never have happened without you both! 💞💞 A big thank you also goes to Kathryn, Amanda and Barbara who helped with the concept and drafting the proposal! 💞

We’ll have more information regarding the project in the near future, so stay tuned! 🤩 For a full list of recipients and further details, check out the ACT Health website below. 😁

https://www.health.act.gov.au/services-and-programs/mental-health/mental-health-and-wellbeing-during-covid-19/mental-health-and

Working Bee – 29 August

It was another industrious and friendly Working Bee as a group of us gathered at the Southern Cross Club in Jamison … needles and hooks worked their magic … as did some rather impressive desserts 😉

And yes, I may have a bit of a hand fetish, but I love how each of us has our own techniques for creating goodies that are filled with love.

As always there were some amazing donations … members creativity and skills continue to impress!

GOG Drop August 2020

Today I had the pleasure once again of dropping several bags of ‘Goodeze magic’ 😉 to the lovely Helen Falla, CEO of the Canberra Hospital Foundation on behalf of you all! The message was that they are making a huge impact on the patient experience and to keep them coming. 👍🥰

Thank you for everything that you do to support our local community, especially during these uncertain times. 💖

ICU Feedback – August 2020

Newsflash! Gogster Adoption!

Newsflash Gogster Adoption.

This little guy was adopted yesterday by a very special young man and his mum told me his new name is BFG or Big Friendly Gogster.
Thanks GOGs for the care and kindness you put into these amazing creations.

‘Poppy’ finally Adopted!

Ross in ICU at TCH after being presented with his Veteran’s “Poppy” cushion. Ross served in the Royal Australian Navy. Poppy was made specially for Remembrance Day. She was gifted to us with a special request that she should be given to a veteran in acknowledgement of their contribution and service to our country.

Poppy has waited patiently in our social worker office for that special person since Remembrance Day. Yesterday she finally was united with that special person. Looks like true love!

Incidentally, today is Vietnam Veterans Day.
So a special thank you to all our veterans out there.
Xx

Posted with consent.
Ross would like to say thankyou to the GOG and Mission Stitchin community for all you do for the patient experience in bringing some joy, warmth and colour during a hospital stay.
Xx

GOG Flowers a Symbol of Solidarity!

Many of our staff are still wearing the poppies that the GOG community kindly donated to us in acknowledgement of 2020 International Year of the Nurse.
Today a staff member said to me that she feels when wearing the poppy pins it is a symbol of solidarity and unity in these challenging times.

Working Bee 16 August

While the weather turned bleak outside, a friendly group of crafters came together, to spread out, at the Raiders Club in Kippax … with the Club’s Bistro closed we had the luxury of having the dining area mostly to ourselves.

As with all GOG Working Bees, there was much chatting, crafting, sharing of ideas and even teaching, as one new member took their first steps in crochet and more experienced crafters learnt new techniques and stitches.

The donation area was again piled with an amazing array of beautiful goodies … so much creative goodness that will find its way to the Canberra Hospital to bring comfort and warmth to patients and their families.

Thanks for a lovely afternoon everyone!

Working Bee 1 August!

It was another happy gathering at the Southern Cross Club today. So much creativity, so much sharing, as ideas jumped around the group as needles and hooks worked their magic. The little table of finished goodies over flowed and the pictures show only the tip of the iceberg with extra bags of Goodies both under the table and stacked against the wall. It was lovely to see so many smiling faces and also lovely to have a young Mum and young Dad come up and say thanks for the Goodies created, their child having received some goodies during stays in hospital, Goodies which they treasure.