Media Release: 4 October 2006

'BECOMING BUTTERFLIES': HEATHDALE WOMEN'S GROUP ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO JOIN THEM

Women from Heathdale involved in a community art project will launch a postcard campaign on Monday designed to encourage new members to join their group.

Local women are invited to attend the celebration featuring live entertainment, an art exhibition and women's stories which will be held 11.30am to 2.30pm on Monday 16 October 2006 at the Heathdale Community Centre, Kookaburra Avenue, Werribee.

Sally Camilleri, Health Promotion Project Worker from Women's Health West has been with the group for the last 12 months along with ISIS Primary Care and Heathdale Neighbourhood Renewal Association.

"The postcard was developed through a series of creative workshops and represents what the group means to each participant and will be used to encourage other women in the area to join the group," Ms Camilleri said.

The group comes together regularly to share stories and support one another through difficulties and Sally explains that this is how they came up with the new name, "The women from the group saw the image of a caterpillar striving to become a butterfly as a metaphor for their own experiences together and decided to call themselves 'Becoming Butterflies.'"

Tracey Sharpe, a member of Becoming Butterflies who will be opening the launch, revealed that coming to the group helps her to feel less lonely, "I want more women to come to our group because women listen to you in the group."

"I'm meeting new people, making new friends," said Tracey. "We inspire each other and do new things that we thought we couldn't do."

"Some of the women were worried about their ability to draw or be creative, yet I think the postcard expresses something special. Women are resilient, we push past our own self-doubt by coming together to achieve remarkable things," explained Ms Camilleri.

PHOTO OPPORTUNITY:

11.45am, Monday 16 October 2006

Heathdale Community Centre, Kookaburra Avenue, Werribee.

The Mayor of Wyndham will speak at 12.30pm at the 'Becoming Butterflies' campaign celebration which will include an exhibition of artwork, live entertainment and women's stories.

MEDIA:

For more information, to arrange an interview and for colour images of the postcard, contact Nicola Harte, Communications Co-ordinator at Women's Health West on 9689 9588 or via email.