Depend on You - Alcohol Awareness Week

11th - 16th November, 2022 

Attribution to jpalinsad360: https://live.staticflickr.com/7336/11064873956_6ef5b12fee.jpg

Alcohol is a part of everyone's lives, whether you partake in drinking on a regular basis or completely abstain from it. Chances are you will either know someone or may yourself be alcohol dependent.

Pearl Cove Library is hosting a Human Library event where you can privately discuss your own issues with alcohol and alcohol dependency or those of a loved one with one of our books. 

Please note this event is restricted to those 18+

What is Alcohol Awareness Week? This initiative was launced in the UK and is a week dedicated to raising the awareness of alcohol consumption. The initiative offers information as well as factsheets and support for those with alcohol dependencies.

For more information on Alcohol Awareness Week visit: 

https://alcoholchange.org.uk/get-involved/campaigns/alcohol-awareness-week-1

What is a Human Library? The idea of a Human Library is to open dialogue and address people's prejudices by allowing someone to borrow a "book". The "book" is not an item that you'd read off the shelf, rather a person that you will have a conversation with. Doing so allows people to talk to others from different walks of life and to gain a new understanding and hopefully change one's views and prejudices.

The concept was created in Copenhagen, Denmark in the year 2000 and was held at the Roskilde festival over four days. During this inaugural event over 1000 people took part during the 8 hours per day that the event ran for.

This concept was embraced by Australia and the very first permanent Human Library event was established in Lismore, NSW in 2006.

Now more than 70 countries have established Human Library events.

For more information please visit: 

https://www.humanlibraryaus.org/

https://humanlibrary.org/

Meet our books:

William Mitchell: William is a local indigenous leader in the Pearl Cove Community. He has witnessed first hand the impact that alcohol has had on the indigenous community and offers a unique perspective into the problems that alcohol abuse has had and how he and other indigenous leaders are helping to raise alcohol awareness in the community.

Constable Peter Grothe: Constable Grothe is an officer of the Pearl Cove Police Force. He has seen the impact of alcohol related violence and injuries during his time in the Police. He will be discussing the relation between crime and alcohol as well as his own personal experiences and those of his colleagues regarding alcohol and self medication in the Police Force.

Sarah Baker: Former MP and Councillor of Pearl Cove, Sarah developed a dependency on alcohol during her time working in the local government. Sadly this led to her losing her job and career. Sarah now runs AA meetings and counselling in the community and is an advocate of Alcohol Awareness.

Nurse Linda Ratchett: Nurse Ratchett is a local nurse at the Pearl Cove Hospital. She will be discussing the health effects and impact that alcohol has had on her patients in her care as well as the greater Pearl Cove community. She will also discuss the issue of self medicating with alcohol that occurs in high stress careers including the health sector.

Event details:

When: Saturday 12th November, 2022 from 12pm-3:30pm

Where: Meet at the Cove Meeting Room, Pearl Cove Library. Bookings with our books will take place in the adjacent group study rooms.

Bookings: Bookings are $10 per person, space is strictly limited so please ensure to make a booking and you will be allocated a book(s) and time. 

To book a session please either contact: 

Phone: (02) 9XXX XXXX

Email: events@pearlcovelibrary.com.au 

Online Booking: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/

Need support?

Depend on You will offer details and contacts to local AA meetings and will also offer details on contacts for drug and alcohol counsellors in the Pearl Cove community.

Additional information and support is available at:

Drinkwise: https://drinkwise.org.au/

The Alcohol and Drug Foundation: https://adf.org.au/

Any additional questions please contact Julian English via email: julian.english@pearlcovelibrary.com.au

Julian English

Bring Harmony to the World

 

Pearl Cove Library invites you to join us in celebrating Australia’s cultural diversity event

Bring Harmony to the World

A Human Living Library event where you can “borrow” our living books - a married couple of diverse backgrounds, Aboriginal elders, experts and artists, listen to their stories and ask questions!

HUMAN LIVING LIBRARY

Human Living Libraries are a play on the concept of regular libraries where people can be “rented” instead of books. Unlike regular books, Human Living Libraries have the ability to create a personal connection with the “reader” which can never be achieved by simply reading a static book, as well written as it may be. This is extremely beneficial in challenging stereotypes and deeply rooted beliefs on a certain topic, such as in interracial marriage, where interracial couples can discuss their personal experiences with the “reader”.

HARMONY DAY

This event is a celebration of Harmony Day, a day to celebrate racial and cultural diversity in Australia. At our event “Bring Harmony to the World” we are celebrating this diversity with a particular focus on marriages in the community, especially as 19.4% of the Pearl Cove Community were born overseas.

 See more about Harmony Day at https://www.harmony.gov.au/.

Human Living Library Australia: https://www.humanlibraryaus.org/

 

 

THE BOOKS:

Nakkiuh Lui, Gamilaroi and Torres Strait Islander – writer, actress, and activist, author & performer in Sydney Theatre Company box office sensation - “Black is the New White”

Ann McGrath – Author and Professor at ANU research with a focus on Aboriginal History, Gender and Marriage

Debby and Shannon – Pearl Cove local Indian / Chinese couple

Indigenous Elder from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Committee – bringing story about Aboriginal community living in the area, their traditional family structure, values and aspirations

March 21, 12:30-3pm at Pearl Room, Pearl Cove Library

04XX XXX XXX

info@pearlcovelibrary.com.au

$6 for Adults, Free for Children

Light refreshment would be provided

Book at www.eventbrite.com.au before spaces run out!

Margaretta Koncar

 

 

 

Women’s Health: A Course in Action

Women's Health Week 2021

♢

A Human Living Library Event

image source

Women's Health: Why yours doesn't matter? 

“For much of documented history, women have been excluded from medical and science knowledge production, so essentially we’ve ended up with a healthcare system, among other things in society, that has been made by men for men.” — Dr Kate Young 

Women’s Health Week was created by Jean Hailes back in 2013, and is a nationwide campaign of events and online activities – all centred on improving women’s health and helping you to make healthier choices.

Holding an event for WHW would allow women to participate in dialogue created by women for women. We at Pearl Cove Library believe this is a social issue that would be nothing but informative and beneficial for the women of our community.

For more information click here.

How Human Living Libraries work?

Essentially, as a normal library and it’s average events would. Our library has sought out ‘living books’ – volunteers who could be considered specialists, in their own regards, to the Women's Health issue. You, the guest, will get to 'borrow' a 'book' and get the chance at an open dialogue. All in an attempt to encourage diversity, open-mindedness, and challenge prejudice. 

For more information click here.

About the Event: 

WHEN: Friday 10th September 2021, 4 - 7:20 pm

WHERE: Pearl Cove Library (Pearl room)

CONTACT US: 

Events Organiser: Aasia Akhtar

Email: PCLevents@gmail.com 

PH: (02) 9489 0653

We will be serving a light lunch! 

Bookings are essential at $10. Don't miss your chance, book here!

A special thanks to our Books:

♢ Magnolia Maymuru – Ambassador for the Wiyi Yani U Thangani (Women’s Voices) project 

♢ Dr Vanessa Lee – Chair - Public Health Indigenous Leaders in Education Network

♢ Julie Mooney-Somers – Senior Lecturer in Qualitative Health Research at University of Sydney

♢ Abby Norman – Author of ‘Ask Me About My Uterus: A Quest to Make Doctors Believe in Women’s Pain’

image source

Aasia Akhtar.

Colours of the Community: A celebration of Refugee Week

Come down to the Pearl Cove Library for a special upcoming event!

Pearl Cove Library is proud to announce that a new event celebrating refugees and Refugee Week is coming soon. It will be in the form of a Human Library, where instead of borrowing books people will be able to borrow 'people' for a 1 on 1 conversation. Take this opportunity to find out more about the refugees in your community and the stories they experienced before and after coming to Pearl Cove. 

Event Details:

Date and Time: Saturday, June 20 at 11:00AM

Duration: 5 hours, finish at 4:00PM

Location: Pearl Cove Library, main seating area

Entry Fee: Free!

Bookings: Please visit  Eventbrite for more information. 

With the world entering an age of increasing nationalisation and conflict, accepting and welcoming refugees into our country and community has become more and more important. To get to this point many people had to undergo tribulations, hazardous journeys, and extreme amounts of uncertainty and fear. But even after they arrive into their new home, these feelings may not dissipate. They can require time and help to understand and become accustomed to a culture that may be very different to what they are used to. By coming along to this event you will have an opportunity to find out their stories and get a glimpse into their lives. 

Frequently asked questions:

Why a Human Library?

A human library is a platform which allows for more in-depth and complex topics to be discussed in their own words by the human 'book'. During this frank conversation, you can ask questions you may have but are hesitant to ask. We chose to use the human library because refugees have a very diverse background and it can be difficult to find information which is directly useful. The human books provide a perspective that you can use to clarify and understand concepts that may be outside your normal frame of reference. 

Do I have to bring anything?

You just have to bring yourselves and an open mind to this event. Food will not be provided, but there is a cafe on site and several other food eateries within walking distance. 

How long will this take?

Each conversation with a book will take approximately 30 minutes. Please be aware that due to booking and time restraints, each session must finish within the allocated slot. 

Are you able to accommodate for people with disabilities?

Of course! The library has a clearly marked entrance way with ramps, and the route to and from the event area is large enough for a wheelchair to navigate through and we have several handrails around the sides of the walls. There is also a disabled toilet close to the seating area and signs posted around the library. If you have any particular concerns, please let the library know. 

Further links for information:

Human Libraries: https://www.humanlibraryaus.org

Refugee Week: https://www.refugeeweek.org.au

Image Credits:

Teneva, M. (n.d.). Building with refugees welcome signage photo. Unsplash. Retrieved 23 November 2020 from https://unsplash.com/photos/uHDbnG-Avpc

Trampota, F. (2016). BP Gas station, refugee camp. Flickr. Retrieved 23 November 2020 from https://www.flickr.com/photos/67207664@N06/27459115505

by: Tatsuaki Goh

The Right to Live, the Right to Die - Discussions on Euthanasia and Assisted Death

The Right to Live, the Right to Die

Discussions on Euthanasia and Assisted Death

Euthanasia is a charged subject. Many people have strong opinions on the topic, but there can be little in the way of facts, and it remains a taboo subject.

Join us at Pearl Cove Library this NSW Seniors Festival Week for a frank discussion on euthanasia as we host our inaugural Human Living Libraries event.

Founded in 2000, The Human Library Organization established the Living Library; an event where one can 'loan out' people, not books, for an in-depth discussion on topics that people may not have the opportunity to in their day-to-day lives.

This Seniors Festival, in association with Go Gentle Australia, Pearl Cove Library is hosting "The Right to Live, the Right to Die"; a Living Library event on the topic of euthanasia - otherwise known as assisted suicide. A difficult topic, our living 'books' are members of the community with experience or a unique viewpoint on the subject.

Our 'books' include;

• an Indigenous community elder
• a Medical Doctor with experience in assisted suicide
• family members who have had loved ones request or receive euthanasia
• and others

Where: Pearl Cove Public Library

When: 15th of February 2020, from 12:30pm

Contact: 09 1300 9876 or events@pearlcove.lib.au

Bookings Essential

For more information please feel free to visit the following sites.

Go Gentle Australia

The Human Living Library Organization

Human Library Australia

Nat Tremewan (806973386)