We have entered a team into the Blackmore’s Bridge Run 10km, to be held on 15th September 2019. Crossing the start line between 8:00am-8:30am, we will be walking (you can run if you’re up to it) from Bradfield Park Milsons Point, over the Sydney Harbour Bridge and finishing at the Sydney Opera House.

To join our team, go to the registration page and choose the 2019 Blackmore’s Bridge Run 10 KM option. Then, Join an Existing Team and enter Gymea Community Walkers in the team field. You also need to enter our password which is Community123. You will be contacted 7 days prior by Joanne Cracknell, General Manager GCAIS with information on the team meeting point etc.

For more information on the festival go to Blackmore’s Bridge Run or email Joanne Cracknell at Joanne.cracknell@gcais.ngo.org.au.

The 2019 Youth Refugee Forums are a partnership between Sutherland Shire Council with Gymea Community Aid and Information Services, 3Bridges, Jesuit Refugee Services, Georges River Council, Settlement Services International and Shopfront Arts Co-op.

Read about this inspiring youth-led forum as written in a recent issue of The Leader

I am pleased to announce that we have reached the voting stage of the State Government Grants Program: My Community project. In essence, we entered an application to gain some funding for the Gymea Community Singers. Stage 1 is to describe your project, stage 2 is where all applications are posted on the Service NSW website for the community to make the final decision.

WE WANT YOUR VOTE by 14^th August

Listed below is how to vote-it’s a little complicated but when the Choir gets singing-it will be well worth it. To start, you need a Service NSW Login and, your Medicare card. You also need to be a part of the Miranda electorate to vote for us.

• Go to https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/. Log into your account or, create one
• Go to the column titled SERVICES and locate My Community Project. Click on
• Log in again using your Service NSW login. At this stage you will be asked to enter your Medicare details
• Select Miranda as the electorate. (Note that if you’re outside of the Miranda electorate, you won’t get the option to vote for us)
• All submitted projects will appear on your screen. You need to select 5 where 1 = your most popular vote and 5 = your least popular vote
• Locate Gymea Community Choir , view the project and press the SHORTLIST button
• You need to shortlist your 5 projects before the VOTE NOW button appears
• Go to VOTE NOW, make sure your projects are appearing in the right order and submit. 

Thanks in advance for voting for our project

This breakfast event is run by SSETEN and coordinated by Advance Diversity Services (ADS). SSETEN is a collaboration of government and non-government agencies focusing on initiatives to increase employment and training to people from refugee and migrant backgrounds in the St George and Sutherland Shire areas.
The Business Breakfast, which is funded by the Department of Home Affairs Fostering Integration Program, aims to engage local businesses/employers to look at opportunities for growth and new ideas to expand their businesses.
The breakfast is held on 30th July 2019 from 8:00am at Club Central Hurstville.
To register go to http://bit.ly/SSETENBreakfast  If you require any further information, contact ADS on  (02) 9597 5455, or Jenny Grey at Gymea Community Aid on (02) 95249559.

DOWNLOAD FLYER

The Next of Kin is a NSW Police initiative program for residents living alone at home where they can register with a preferred contact in case of an emergency.

The next of kin is the person YOU would like the police to contact. Details will be your next of kin, preferred Doctor, Dentist and any alerts that may help in an emergency that are entered onto a register.

Completed forms should be returned to Gymea Community Aid and Information Service where they will be collected weekly by the NSW Police Force volunteers.

For more information and to access the form, DOWNLOAD HERE

During week of 16th June we recognised Refugee Week by celebrating over 50 participants who gained their P1 driver’s license through our DriveTime program. The achievements were celebrated in Fairfield and Wollongong, where a significant number of refugees have settled.  The program, currently funded by NRMA began in Sutherland Shire in 2016 and is currently coordinated and managed here at Gymea Community Aid and Information Service through our Multicultural and Settlement Service.

For information on how to get involved, contact Safwan Aldod, Safwan.aldod@gcais.ngo.org.au or, 02 95249559.

WATCH HERE FOR OUR STORY AND  DRIVETIME CAMPAIGN

Have you spent years singing in the shower? Do you feel a slight jealousy when watching Carols in the Park or even an episode of the Recording Studio? Wait no longer.

You don’t have to be Celine Dion to be a part of this inclusive and collaborative group. Come and join the Gymea Community Singers, a 6 week pilot program commencing on 9th July when the singers will get started and establish their program. This group is open to everyone with no selection or audition processes. All you need is a water bottle, pen and a gold coin.

WHEN: Tuesdays from 9th July-13th August 2019
WHERE: Gymea Community Aid and Information Service, 39 Gymea Bay Rd Gymea
TIME: 1:30pm to 2:30pm
COST: Gold coin donation

For more information call Kalpna Patel, Community Worker on 02 95249559 or Kalpna.patel@gcais.ngo.org.au

Come and join us for our Thursday book club. Starting on 27th June, this group will:

• Meet every 4th Thursday of the month
• Have a guided book discussion provided by Sutherland Shire Council Libraries
• Receive the book for the following month
• Provide a light afternoon tea

In the first session, you will:

• Receive the first book
• Discuss how the book club will run
• Be assisted in getting a library card if required
• Advise whether you will collect your book from the library or, need assistance from our group leader

WHEN: 4th Thursday of each month
WHERE: Gymea Community Aid and Information Service, 39 Gymea Bay Rd Gymea
TIME: 2:00pm to 3:30pm
COST: Gold coin would be appreciated

For more information, contact Lou Mitchell on 02 95249559 or marie-lou.mitchell@gcais.ngo.org.au

Our garden beds in our new community garden are now being planted and receiving attention from the Gymea locals. This initiative is supported by Sutherland Shire Council in leasing us the land at the side of the Gymea Community Hall. We were also fortunate to receive a grant from Sydney Airport’s Bid For Good Grants.

Read recent article about the Gymea Community Garden HERE.

To get involved, contact Kalpna Patel, Community Worker on 9524 9559 or Kalpna.patel@gcais.ngo.org.au

Stuck for what to give (or receive) on Mother’s Day  or a special occasion?

Why not purchase a Gymea Community Aid (GCAIS) gift voucher and use on our many activities including day trips, group activities, even computer lessons? You can purchase up to $200 credit per voucher and utilise it as many times as you’d like.

In line with Fair Trading, vouchers have a 3 year expiry date giving you plenty of time to use it on your most valued activities. On request, GCAIS can hold the voucher on file at the Centre.

TERMS & CONDITIONS

• Vouchers must be produced upon redemption
• Vouchers are not redeemable for cash
• If purchases exceed the amount of the voucher, the balance must be paid by other available payment options
• Vouchers must be redeemed within the validity period
• Expired vouchers are not redeemable or refunded
• GCAIS reserves the right to verify the identity of the bearer

For more information, contact our Front Desk on 02 95249559 or email Reception@gcais.ngo.org.au

We are holding a special walking group session to celebrate and recognise heart week.

On 30th April from 9:00am, we will be starting a 45 minute walk and from 9:30am, we will be taking a shorter walk for 20 minutes. All walks will meet at the Gymea Community Centre, 39 Gymea Bay Rd Gymea where  experienced  walk organisers will escort the group around the local area.

Your day will include:

• 9:00am or 9:30am for a short or long walk around Gymea
• 10:00am a healthy morning tea at the end of the walk
• 10:15am an information session facilitated by a Heart Foundation representative

RSVP at our front desk, email reception@gcais.ngo.org.au or,  call us on 02 95249559 by no later than 24th April 2019. A gold coin donation would be appreciated. 

GCAIS currently work in partnership with Heart Foundation Walking and have 3 groups walking each week in the Cronulla and Gymea areas. Go to What’s On for more information on our regular walking groups.

Improve your health using only simple natural approaches in as little as 5-7 minutes a day!

About the Group Classes

Prangana Lazy Workouts is an author’s program and provides a gateway into the world of health, happiness, mental and physical balance, helping people of different age to become more physically and mentally active, and engaging them in a range of inspirational activities, such as guided and active meditations and light physical movements.

Since there are more than 250 exercises, each class is different. You will not get bored with the same exercises, and will receive a home task to do between the sessions, that will help you to maintain the results you have achieved during our workout.

WHERE: Gymea Community Aid and Information Service
WHEN: Commencing on 29th April, the sessions will continue every Monday through to 1st July 2019
TIME: Mondays at 12:15pm to 1:15pm
COST: $12 concession; $15 non-concession

Monies are payable on the day of the session/s. EFTPOS is preferred.
Registrations can be completed directly with our provider, Elina from Anti- Stress Clinic HERE 

Alternatively, contact our front desk on 02 95249559 or call into our Centre to register.

We are here to help seniors take care of their pet companions and keeping them healthy and happy members of the family. We get the special bonds we have with our pets and we believe our support helps people stay connected to their community and stay happy at home for as long as possible.

Our volunteers assist with basic pet care support, dog walking, pet hygiene (cats, dogs, birds, rabbits…), grooming as well as transport to Vet appointments. We are a flexible bunch and can match your needs with the volunteer’s preferences, come talk to us.

ELIGIBILITY

Over 65 years and registered with My Aged Care. NOTE: Need the service but don’t meet the criteria? Come and talk to us!

WHEN

Monday to Thursday

WHAT

2 x  1/2 hr. weekly visits

TIME

TBC

COST

Support us with  a Gold Coin donation

FOR MORE INFORMATION
Call Rita Napolitano
aged@gcais.ngo.org.au
or call 0295249559

Come and join us!!!  That is your opportunity to start walking with us. Our walks happen on Tuesdays (9:30 am), Thursdays (4pm), Fridays (9am) free of charge with routes in both Cronulla and Gymea and led by qualified Heart Foundation walking organisers.

Register here. Enter 2227 on the postcode field and select groups at Gymea or call us at 95249559

To all of our friends, colleagues and clients impacted by the tragedy in Christchurch in New Zealand on 15th March. All of us here at GCAIS are praying and thinking of you.

If numbers is your thing, we need you!

Gymea Community Aid has an opportunity for a Treasurer to join our

Management Committee. We are looking for a person with a solid background on accounting and financial management. We are a highly organised community center and the person joining our Board will be support us on the strategic planning and key business decisions. We meet every third Thursday of the month after normal business hours. If you want to support the work we do in your community and want to gain experience being on an active and committed Board contact us:
marcio.salgado@gcais.ngo.org.au
joanne.cracknell@gcais.ngo.org.au

If you love to be outdoors, walking and spending time with like minded people, come and join us to lead our walking groups. Our group. Gymea Easy Pacers meet every Tuesday at Cronulla (9:30 to 11:00am).
If this sounds like a great time to you, contact us at:
95249559 aged@gcais.ngo.org.au or, register directly with Heart Foundation Walking walking.heartfoundation.org.au. ENTER 2227 in postcode to choose walking groups at Gymea.