Maruma-Li Mari takes women outside their boundaries
Charisse Edwards
Phone: 1300007662
Email: charissee@romaregionalcouncil.qld.gov.au
Maruma-Li Mari Outreach Service recently facilitated over 90 ladies from Roma, Mitchell, Charleville, Cunnamulla, Quilpie, St. George, Goondiwindi, Murgon, and Cherbourg, in the “Women Moving Forward…Creating & Empowering”, five day camps, on the Sunshine Coast.
Held in March, April, and June, at the Currimundi Recreation Centre in Caloundra, the Maruma-Li Mari Outreach Camps provided ladies with ‘time out’ from their busy lives and gave them the opportunity to share their stories and lighten their loads.
The Maruma-Li Mari Outreach Service is a Family Violence Prevention legal service, acting as an advisory and referral centre for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander victims of family violence and sexual assault. Maruma-li Mari Coordinator, Patsi Mawn, said “the service provides practical assistance and emotional support to people dealing with the effects of family violence and sexual assault.”
Ms Mawn said, “Some of the ladies had a very early start to attend the camps, including Cunnamulla participants who began their trip at 3.30am. On camp, the ladies enjoyed activities including mini Olympics, a flying fox, art, sand sculptures, body boarding, and many activities that proved challenging and created opportunities not normally available to them.”
“Normally I need some dutch courage (drink) to do something like this, but now I know I can do it without it,” declared one of the participants, who bravely completed the flying fox challenge not once, but twice.
On the more serious side, Maruma-li Mari Solicitor, Sonia McIntosh, presented a workshop on legal matters concerning Domestic Violence and Personal Safety, which Ms Mawn felt was well received by the ladies.
Participants completed daily journals, or reflections, and then shared them with each other. “(the ladies) would write positive words that reinforces ‘that they make a difference’ and it also gives the ladies something to look through when they are feeling down,” said Ms Mawn.
Ms Mawn believes the camps proved very successful, with great responses and excellent feedback. “Additional camps will rely on additional funding, however there are counselling sessions being facilitated by Amy Wormwell from September for all areas serviced by the Maruma-li Mari Outreach Service as a follow up process.”
Amy Wormwell is a trained facilitator of Inner Wisdom Workshops and Personal Growth, which is a program aimed at encouraging people to “Learn to let go of past hurts and limiting beliefs and create the life you REALLY want.”
For further information, or to access support, community members can contract the Maruma-li Mari Outreach Service on 07 46 240 813.
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