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Archives > BCS News 2009-10
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Breast Cancer Support - empowering New Zealand women
emotionally on their journey with breast cancer
The women of BCS offer support & encouragement
from a positive personal experience
to others who have had a diagnosis of breast cancer.
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BCS News 2009-10Breast Cancer Support News 2010 The BCS Christmas Social - a singer, a poet and a Fairy! Pilgrim Productions raise $500 for BCS, September 2010 Henderson Bowls donate to BCS, September 2010 BCS Annual General Meeting, 28 June 2010 Breast Cancer Support News 2009 The BCS Christmas Social - a singer, a poet and a Fairy!
Pat Donovan read two of her very insightful and hilarious poems taken from her collection ‘A Woman of a Certain age’ and Katharine sang a beautiful selection of songs, from traditional carols to Gershwin.
The evening finished with a singing of carols to celebrate the festive season. Pilgrim Productions and 'An Inspector Calls' raise $500 for BCS
This review from Stan Goudge It was a social occasion and a fund raiser for the society and generous donations raised $500.00 for our funds.
It is a theme well known to the members of the Breast Friends Groups where care and support of each other can bring healing and wholeness to women with a breast cancer diagnosis.
A special 'thank you' to Henderson Bowls!
Breast Cancer Support Annual General Meeting
Breast Cancer Support News 2009: BCS Christmas Social Evening (December 2009) BCS photo shoot with Marie Richards (October 2009) BCS Workshop for Coordinators (September 2009) BCS Annual General Meeting, 22 June 2009 'Jonna's Body, Please Hold!' BCS fundraiser 22 May 09 Delicious Christmas Treats, Good Company and ... Mr. Mystery!  The BCS Christmas Social is a most enjoyable and highly anticipated annual event and this December over 60 ladies came along to share a wonderful evening of good cheer and entertainment at Domain Lodge in Auckland. All Breast Friends Groups were well represented, from Hibiscus Coast in the North to Papakura in the South and all points in between.
BCS Members and Breast Friends delighted in a long table laden with Christmas goodies, enjoyed Jennifer's Famous Punch and had lots of laughter as they gathered to celebrate another year of fellowship.
It was a wonderfully successful evening, much enjoyed by all who attended. On behalf of BCS, Chair Marie Goudge thanked her Coordinators, volunteers and supporters for their work throughout the year and wished all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! (Posted 20 December 2009)
BCS wishes to thank Marie Richards for her excellent work and generous support of our organisation and all of our lovely ladies who took part on the day!
BCS holds training programmes every year, gathering the group Coordinators together for opportunities to exchange information and experiences, learn and practice new skills and to socialise in an informal environment. It is through sharing that we can acquire knowledge and new skills and so offer even better and more targeted support to the women who access our services. A Coordinators' Workshop was held on the 27 September at Domain Lodge (Auckland Cancer Society) where over 20 Coordinators gathered for an afternoon of informal discussion, information and presentations aimed at meeting the new and growing needs of our Breast Friends Groups.
Coordinators attended from areas throughout Auckland and participated in group discussions, listened to presentations on the progress of the organisation and plans for the future and received valuable tips for effective group facilitation. It was a most successful afternoon and those attending felt the Workshop worthwhile and beneficial. 'BCS is committed to delivering support that can meet the changing needs within our communities,' said Chair BCS Marie Goudge (pictured), 'and celebrating the special gift that women have of supporting and encouraging each other.'
Marie made mention of the thriving Breast Friends groups, commending their facilitators, and also announced that the BCS website was live for visiting and encouraged everyone to enjoy the information and features on offer. The meeting was unanimous in its election of Marie to another term as Chair and to Jennifer Woodroofe as Treasurer. Newcomer Rosemary Geard assumes the role of Secretary. Deirdre Parr and Joan Kerr return to the Committee with newly elected members Mary Forbes and Liz Hunt (photo from L to R: Marie, Liz Hunt, Deirdre Parr, Mary Forbes, Rosemary Geard, Jennifer Woodroofe).
Unfortunately guest speaker Dr Marli Gregory could not appear due to illness but the meeting was most fortunate to enjoy a presentation by Lynne Walker, a reiki teacher and practitioner. Lynne gave a very informative talk about the practice of reiki - its origins and role in health and wellbeing - and had invited seven of her colleagues to attend t Reiki is safe, simple and practical, a therapy with no known contraindications. It involves the gentle laying of hands on (or held above) parts of the body in a light, non-invasive touch on a clothed recipient. The benefits are now well documented and include relaxation, improved sleep, reduced anxiety and improvement to the health of the immune system. The therapy is widely used in New Zealand, particularly in Hospice, private practice and some hospitals. Lynne is a registered Service Provider with Sweet Louise and reiki is a popular therapy. The evening concluded with a cup of tea and plenty of good chatting and fellowship.
"Jonna's Body, Please Hold" offers an original, often hilarious but poignant, tender look into Ms Tamases' own battle with cancer, a performance that uplifts, inspires and challenges despair with Jonna's own contagious zest for life. Jonna gives us a glimpse into the hectic day to day world of her body, complete with Baby Toe (who is squeezed into a too-tight shoe), Upper Back who threatens to go on strike if she doesn't rest up a little and those irrepressible twins Uta and Ula, breasts begging to be released from the torment of a restricting bra. A busy receptionist sits at a switchboard, fielding calls from these irate tenants, dishing out as much comfort and advice as she can while her boss, Ms Jonna, carries on with life, somewhat oblivious and neglectful of the goings-on inside her body ... that is until two unwanted tenants move in - the charming French madame Venice and the tough 'old goat' Walter - two cancerous personalities determined to set up housekeeping and wreak their havoc. Jonna performs with an engaging honesty, involving the audience not only in the drama of the situation unfolding within her body but also establishing a chatty rapport as she speaks directly about her life and experiences. With courage, honesty, and humor Jonna takes us inside her battle with cancer. We are with her every step of the way as she is diagnosed, more than once, endures tests, scans, biopsies and multiple rounds of chemotherapy and then we are there as her ravaged body begins to recover from the trauma of the disease. The body parts report in as they fight the battle and struggle to recover and restore her to health. Jonna finds that her body - its strength and will to survive - is her greatest ally and her most precious asset. Jonna's performance moved, inspired and delighted the audience - a truly talented actress with a brave, courageous and moving story to tell. For more information about Jonna, visit her website, www.jonnasbody.com. Click here to view the Auckland performance poster. BCS wishes to thank the Auckland Methodist Central Parish, Pilgrim Productions and CityLife Hotel Auckland for their kind support of this event. |
The BCS Christmas Social is a much anticipated event on the festive calendar and each year, the gathering offers a warm evening of fellowship and Christmas cheer to Members and to our Breast Friends from throughout Auckland.
The entertainment this year was provided by poet Pat Donovan 
(pictured at left with her husband Don), singer Katharine Watts and her accompanist Kay Shacklock with a special guest appearance by Fairy Heartstar (pictured at right with guest Heather) who granted wishes and spread much joy and happiness amongst all of the guests. 
On the evening of 23 September 2010, about forty BCS’ers and friends enjoyed J.B. Priestley’s play, “An Inspector Calls” presented by Pilgrim Productions Inc at Auckland's Theatre Pitt. Ladies from the Auckland South Breast Friends Group are pictured at left enjoying refreshments during the interval.
The well balanced cast of seven took us back to Victorian England and the social issues and challenges of the day, reminding us that we are responsible for each other, and that our actions can have far reaching consequences for other people. Ladies from the Henderson Bowling Club (pictured at left) showed their support for BCS, coming along to enjoy the performance - the Club recently raised over $100 for BCS after a fundraising showing of Jonna's Body, Please Hold! ( a write-up of their event appears below this item). 
The BCS AGM held at the Auckland Cancer Society on 28 June recognised not only the accomplishments of the Society over the last year but also marked the resignation of Marie Goudge as Chair after a six year tenure. Marie has seen much progress during a total of eight years of governance as both a Committee Member and Chair.
The new Committee was elected with Deirdre Parr taking up the role of Chair. Jennifer remains as Treasurer and Rosemary Geard as Secretary. Marie agreed to sit on the Committee for the coming year and will be Acting Chair for the next six weeks while Deirdre is overseas. Mary Forbes was re-elected to the Committee and Misha Crosbie is new to the team for 2010-11.
A friendship forged through an experience with breast cancer is one of understanding and empathy, bearing an unspoken bond that those who have 'been there too' can share with kindness and generosity of spirit. The women attending the Social renewed their connections, made new friends and acknowledged, through their laughter and enjoyment, the important part peer support has played in their lives after a diagnosis of breast cancer. The annual Social is a true celebration of such friendships.
The evening featured a surprise entertainer ... magician Mr. Mystery who was none other than Marie Goudge's very talented husband Stan. The ladies were treated to a clever and very entertaining magic show - with some participation from the floor!
occasion for all. Women had come from groups throughout the Auckland area so there was an opportunity to get to know each other, make new friends and exchange stories and experiences in between 'photo takes'! 
the committment, compassion and dedication shown by our volunteers and as part of our committment to them, we provide encouragement, positive reinforcement and ongoing training to ensure they feel supported and able to lead their groups effectively.
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he meeting and offer short reiki sessions to meeting attendees. Most everyone enjoyed a turn during Lynne's talk and found the experience very relaxing!
old!" On Friday 22 May, 90 people gathered at the Theatre Pitt to enjoy the show and to raise money for BCS. Jonna (pictured) performed in Auckland courtesy of the aforementioned sponsors and helped raise over $1,000 for BCS. 