STRESS management workshops will be offered to the community from mid-July to help those affected by the Margaret River fires of November 2011.
Retired naturopath Jo Jennings is volunteering her time to host the sessions, which will focus on stress management strategies and techniques including meditation, stretching and nutritional supplementation.
Augusta-Margaret River Shire president Ray Colyer said the workshops are a way for those feeling overwhelmed, frustrated, tired or angry to develop coping mechanisms.
“There is still a way to go before our community will reach a point where they feel they have recovered from the effects of the fire,” he said.
“Some people are still dealing with highly stressful issues regarding insurance, compensation, financial assistance, refinancing, moving, renting and rebuilding. It’s important that people look after themselves during this time and know the healthy things they can do to de-stress.”
The workshop will be held at the Margaret River Community Resource Centre from 7pm to 9pm every Tuesday.
Each of the workshops focus on different aspects of stress management and participants can attend as many or as few as they like.
The fifth and final session on August 14 will be a creative session with artist Cathie Lambert, who will teach participants the art of making a Mandala.
A Sanskrit word for ‘circle’, Mandalas are symbolic of wholeness and healing in a person’s life.
The cost of each workshop is a gold coin donation. Numbers are limited so register your interest with shire bushfire recovery officer Gemma Mincherton on 9780 5269, 0407 028 596 or at gmincherton@amrshire.wa.gov.au.
The workshops are an initiative of the Bushfire Recovery Working Group (Augusta Margaret River-Margaret River, Department of Child Protection, Red Cross and community volunteers) and the Bushfire Welfare Committee (shire, DCP, Red Cross, local church groups, Country Women’s Association, Lions Clubs, Margaret River Community Resource Centre, school chaplains, the Salvation Army and social workers).
