Prepared by Margaret Henderson RSM, CEO, PO Box 102, North Hobart ,Tas 7002

Dear Colleagues

Hopefully this will find you (as Laurie from our International HQ always says) having a Rainbows day.  The longer I am involved in Rainbows the more need there seems to be meaning the more children we come across who need the support Rainbows offers.  I am now into my 21st year of providing Trainings and supporting facilitators and I am still consistently amazed at the generosity of those who volunteer to be facilitators. I have spent some time recently training 11 staff members from St James Catholic College in Cygnet Southern Tasmania -  where Rainbows has been part of their curriculum for at least the past 16/17 years.  The inspiration of a few staff has inspired other staff members to join the programme. There are other schools as well here in Tasmania where Rainbows has been offered over many, many years. Well done!

PRESENCE IN  NSW, QLD, TAS, VIC AND WA.
These five states continue to be the stronghold of Rainbows and continue to hold trainings and offer support for facilitators.  A move into SA and NT would see Australia fully covered.   That would be wonderful!

RAINBOWS REVISIONS
USA are undertaking extensive revisions to their Journals (ours will follow in time) and in true Rainbows spirit they are remodelling them to have a story line running through each of the sessions so that the same fictional children are part of each session’s material This should assist the children in each group to relate more easily to the events under discussion at each gathering.

RAINBOWS AUSTRALIA WEBSITE
Thanks to the great efforts of Ross Smith from WA (Julie’s husband) there is an emerging Australian Website.  This will of course be linked to that of the HQ website and provide links to Rainbows in other Australian states.   The website is developing but you may wish to see how far along it is by going to www.rainbows.org.au

For those who are able, it is possible to download Suzy’s well known Rainbows video
I Need Somebody -  from the international website on www.rainbows.org
A DVD of I Need Somebody and the Australian promotional video are available from Spectrum Publications see order Form for contact details.

NEW SITE POLICY AND GUIDELINE HANDBOOK
Just a reminder that new copies of this important text are available from Spectrum Publications for $5 each.  This text is required reading and attention at each site.

ORDER FORM - CURRENT
Attached to this newsletter is the current Order Form for 2008.  Peter from Spectrum Publications reminds us  that orders take two weeks for turn around time, so please ask facilitators to have orders in as early as possible,  so that they are not anxious about the waiting time.  If any site is in urgent need of their goods, then Peter is happy to use Express Post at the site’s expense.

SUZY’S BOOK
Many Registered Directors and facilitators to whom I speak suggest that we could do more to promote Suzy’s book, Healing the Hurt, Restoring the Hope.  I must admit each person to whom I have loaned my copy has always returned it with smiles and gratitude.   So let’s give it a ‘plug’.   This book is available at Spectrum Publications.

OCTOBER TRAINING AND ENRICHMENT CONFERENCES.

Gemma is currently working on brochures for this forthcoming event and they will be available soon.  Both conferences are to be held at:

Presentation Spirituality Centre 26 Kooralgin Street,  Manly Qld 4179 www.pbvm.org.au/pscmanly

The RD's Training conference will be conducted from:

Sun 26th October to Thurs 30th October 2008

Registration from 4pm Sunday. Conference ends 3.30pm Thursday.

The Enrichment Conference will be conducted from

Tuesday 28th October Friday 31st October Registration is from 4pm  Tuesday

For further information contact Gemma Schooneveldt RAINBOWS 36 Rosella Road Parkdale VIC 3195 Phone: 03 9588 2845 Mob: 0438 533 332 Fax: 03 9587 4665 Email: gemmani@iprimus.com.au

HILARY FRASER - LAUNCESTON TASMANIA
Hilary is soon to have a book she has written published. It is for and about children who have experienced a significant loss.  We will keep you informed.

Well done Hilary!