Ronnie Burns honoured as Tasmanian Australian
of the Year
Premier David Bartlett presented the prestigious Tasmanian Senior Australian of the Year Award to legend Ronnie Burns for his work creating the NAS-sponsored charity Appin Hall Children’s Foundation Respite Centre, which provides refuge for terminally ill, disadvantaged, abused and destitute children and their carers.
Aside from being a well-known singer and former Australian 'King of Pop’, Ronnie Burns is also the father and manager of Olympic Taekwondo Gold Medallist Lauren Burns.
Ronnie said the events of the night would take some time to sink in. “I’ve been in entertainment and in the public eye for many years so nothing shock me,” he said. “But I think I’ll be lying awake in bed tonight, just thinking about everything after this.”
He said the most important part of it all is that it will enhance profile of Appin Hall and the work that is done there.
Supported by his wife Maggie, he created the Appin Hall Children's Foundation Respite Centre, which provides refuge for terminally ill, disadvantaged, abused and destitute children, and their carers. His vision is to eventually have a village that will house 200 children and six permanent staff members.
NAS is proud to be a long-time sponsor of Appin Hall and Ronnie Burns - who works tirelessly in his quest to create a safe and nurturing environment and a future for what he sees as the most precious thing on this planet - our children.
Appin Hall Children’s Foundation Newsletter 2008
Children at the front gate of Appin Hall.
Young Carers with Ronnie
Our volunteers, Cindy and Carran with Maggie
What an amazing 12 months it has been! A year requiring the best type of hard work and focus. It has been inspiring and rewarding. Living in these times of accelerated energies our world is transforming at such a speed, and yet, certain life skills are required to slow things down to achieve balance and a sense of calm amidst the flurry. Appin Hall is governed by a strong Board of Directors who respond to the emotional, mental and physical needs of the children in our care. Our role is to provide a sanctuary of peace and harmony where children can recover from the trauma of serious illness.
The Foundation sits on the periphery of Health and Education, and clients and User Groups benefit from a range of activities that allow children to experience wellbeing, fun awareness and knowledge of the natural world. To walk in the forest, stand by the waterfall, and feel the majestic mountains, is a healing and refreshing experience. The most common response that the kids say to us is: “thank you for doing this for me!” They know that Maggie and Ronnie Burns are the frontpeople at our centre, they are also aware of a huge team of loving people supporting this journey for them.
Everybody is valued and appreciated at Appin Hall. Children, families, large camps, carers, teachers, supporters, volunteers, donors, trades people, office and garden staff have been so amazing. Each year we sing the praises of our growing volunteer group, who, with their hearts wide open, are not afraid to roll up their sleeves and do what ever it takes to provide the highest standard of comfort and care these children need.
Our Respite Centre diary reveals 2000 ‘bednights’ achieved within the past 4 years. This is a huge accomplishment and continues to inspire us all – but would not have been attained without the commitment and care of these wonderful people.
In the movie ‘Field of Dreams’ (Kevin Costner) the message is: “if you build it - they will come”. And come they do - in car and busload! And so for four years we have successfully met the needs of the passed through our door. The vision is achieved through respect, conscious awareness and willingness to nurture and grow. In Appin Hall’s case, to encourage self belief, a unified vision, fun, tenacity, courage, connectedness, heartfelt defined business practice - and trusting the process of the journey; recognising that transformation is not a product of mediocrity or a sense of being lulled into submission - transformation is awakened within an open heart that is willing to know itself.
“Be the change you want to see in the world” - Mahatma Gandhi
Children and their families …
Mum and Twins with Ronnie
Winter Camp on-site
Family enjoying the snow
Alex Schuler, Dr Harry and Ronnie at Appin Hall
Throughout 2008 Appin Hall offered respite to a number of children – most being on‐site with their families and others on‐site with the supervision of professional carers or teaching staff. There are several Commonwealth Carers Respite Centres around Tasmania - incl. Carers Tasmania and TasCare who receive government grants for large camp excursions. These young carers carry a huge responsibility on their shoulders constantly caring for seriously ill parents and siblings. At Appin Hall they are able to relax, play, with the safety of becoming a child again. Through a brokerage scheme, Appin Hall successfully organises cooks, kitchen hands, food & beverage, entertainment night, local attractions and workshops such as Lauren Burns (Taekwondo), Kerry Martin (Tee‐shirt painting and stenciling), Scott, Alexander King (Animal Dreaming), plus rock climbing and abseiling and more.
We plan to ensure the proposed 55m x 12m Hothouse is completed mid‐2009, after which we can offer children an opportunity to propagate seeds, grow fruits and vegetable, and harvest produce planted by previous visiting groups. One long‐range building project will be the proposed commercial kitchen whereby children can choose cooking classes coupled with veggie garden courses. Children/ families or groups will be able to make plum puddings, bottle fruits, make bread and pies, churn butter using high quality organic produce grown on‐site. Other cottage industry produce will include soap and candle making, paper and drum making etc … all to be incl. in our arts & crafts program.
Overall we have witnessed the most courageous family circumstances that display profound family love, high levels of care, emotional challenges, philosophical resolve and an ability to go the hard yard ‐ no
matter what is thrown at them. They appear to Will themselves against daily difficulties, financial hardship and systems that make it complex to hold their own in challenging times. Throughout 07/08 we provided support to grandparents with grandchildren, incl. one brave grandmother with 6 resilient (beautiful) grand kids. Appin Hall also provided respite to seriously ill mums with more than one dependent child – and a courageous young lad suffering epileptic seizures. This young lad was excited about jamming with Ronnie ‐ bringing his electric guitar for his visit. So Appin Hall bought him a ‘gig’ bag and guitar lead – plus a guitar amplifier. We believe that this made his day.
Sharing quality time with these disadvantaged children, who ask for nothing on their visits, allows Appin Hall the pleasure of giving a token gift in admiration for their determination and resistance to external pressures.
Building program …
Our building development program took a big leap forward with funding assistance from several special individuals, corporate sponsors and
community organizations contributing to the expansion of the village complex. Two prototype French provincial structures were completed
providing Appin Hall additional dining area and accommodation for children and volunteers. The soon to be completed Freight Office will be used as a temporary office for current administration staff allowing
space for a ‘disabled’ bedroom to be installed in the Respite Centre.
‘When the heart is cut or cracked or broken Do not clutch it - let the wound be open.
Let the wind from the good old sea blow in to bathe the wound with salt.
Let a stray dog lick it let a bird lean in the hole and sing a simple song like a tiny bell and let it ring.
Let it go, let it out. Let it unravel.
Let it free and it can be a path on which to travel’
- Michael Leunig
Ulverstone High School students with Ronnie and Maggie
What is love, anyway?
Can love be found behind the smile that appears when a baked cake comes perfectly out of the oven? Can love be found with your head down
bum up and hands in the soil, digging up your own vegies? Can love be found when a pattern begins to emerge in a new knitting project? Can it be used to describe the satisfaction of looking at a table full of preserves after a day of bottling with friends? Can you really love a cup of tea? If you ask me, I say yes – particularly if someone else makes the tea when you’re too tired to make it yourself. To me love can describe that warm rise of joy, that smile of appreciation and that enjoyment of doing something that you love.
With a world rushing towards complete overstimulation it is imperative that we acknowledge, cherish and value this type of satisfaction. I believe in the transference of energy, if you put the time and effort into making something it carries a different feel.
Don’t worry, I’m not about to get all new age on you but I know a pair of socks knitted by a friend is better than those bought in a store. A bunch of silver‐beet shared from someone else’s garden brings that warm
feeling far more than a bunch of store bought flowers.
Taking the time to make things with your hands brings you into the moment, it is grounding and centring and not just a quick fix. It encourages our creativity and expression. My point is not so much about the item itself but rather the enjoyment of the process and our value system around this way of spending your time.
It is not indulgence; it is an integral part of who we are as human beings and what brings us a feeling of wholeness. And look, I know not everyone wants to don the needles and whip up a doily but it is about finding something that brings joy, that sense of losing yourself totally and blissfully. Remember playing as a kid and you were so engrossed in activity that you didn’t even notice it was getting dark. What brings that …now?
When we look to the past we can see how these activities were much more a part of daily life and more often than not done out of necessity. It is with hindsight though, that we can observe the benefit that placing value on these activities brought; not just the functionality of a pair of socks but creative expression, friendship, community, self sufficiency and satisfaction were common by‐products of what may have appeared a menial task. Something to share…
Personally I am a big fan of ‘treasure hunting’ …rummaging through second‐hand markets, hard rubbish collections and op shops in search of items to satisfy a thirst for interesting and unique pieces. A while back
I was at an op shop in Kyneton where I found a fantastic zip up wallet‐sized bag. So joyous was I about finding my treasure that I continued to show my friends and felt particular pride when I would refuse a plastic bag and whip it out at the supermarket. One day I was telling my brother how wonderful it was and how I should start making them now, when our plastic bag use is out of control. That was 3 years ago now and I am proud to share that this project which has been a real love of mine, has finally come to fruition and if you’re interested in checking out my handy bag, visit: www.loveyourplanet.com.au
Lauren Burns
OAM, Naturopath, Nutritionist, Herbalist (BHSc)
Olympic Gold Medallist, Taekwondo. Sydney 2000 www.laurenburns.com.au
www.loveyourplanet.com.au
Banana Bread …
Ever wonder what to do with the overripe bananas that have spent one day too long in the fruit bowl? It’s usually the day the bananas have turned that you don’t have time to whip up a batch of banana bread. It is at this point in their lifespan that I pop them in the freezer (skin + all). Then, when I have a hankering for a freshly baked warm piece of banana bread and a cuppa, I take them out of the freezer and put them in some warm water from the tap. After about 5mins the skin just slips off. I like chunky pieces of banana in my banana bread so I chop them still frozen and add them as cubes. If you like your banana blended through then just wait until it’s thawed and then add to the mix. You can also add frozen banana to smoothies.
INGREDIENTS:
2 cups all‐purpose flour (I use ½ plain and ½ amaranth or wholemeal to give a more nutty and dense flavour)
1 teaspoon baking soda ½ teaspoon bi-carb soda
¼ teaspoon salt ½ cup butter
¾ cup brown sugar 2 eggs, beaten
2 1/3 cups of mashed over-ripe bananas and a handful of chopped walnuts
DIRECTIONS:
1. Preheat oven to 350oF (175oC). Lightly grease a 9x5” loaf pan.
2. In large bowl combine flour, baking soda and salt. In a separate bowl, cream together butter and brown sugar. Stir in eggs and mashed bananas until well blended (with caution to leave banana chunky if you
like it that way). Stir banana mixture into flour mixture and add walnuts. Stir just to moisten and pour into prepared loaf tin.
3. Bake in preheated oven for 60-65minutes, until a toothpick or skewer inserted into the centre comes
out clean. Let bread cool in pan for 10 minutes, turn onto wire rack and serve warm with butter and a cup of tea.
Please feel free to forward (or print) this Newsletter to friends, because, in this way, the Appin Hall endeavour can reach families and children who may need benefit from our help.
Our best wishes to you all for a WONDERFUL Christmas and Happy New Year …
MAGGIE & RONNIE BURNS - and the Directors of Appin Hall
I was just counting up, about eighty-five of our Haig Street kids have now experienced the Appin Hall magic created by Ronnie and Maggie Burns. Each group (indeed each child) has responded differently to it but all in such a positive way. I know every child will remember the grade six Tasmania camp as a very special time in their life.
Once again all of the kids had such fun, relaxed and drank in the love and attention you gave them but they also learned some very important life lessons. They learnt that there are some very loving and special people in the world. They appreciated the special words that at some time during the week you gave to each and every one of them. (that comes back to us in their comments - 'Maggie liked.... ' or Ronnie said 'I ...). They learnt that you can make your dreams come true if you believe in the dreams and yourself and are prepared to work hard.
One girl made the comment 'they just give so much' and she didn't mean just the 'things' she understood that you were so giving of yourselves. I can't tell you just how important this concept of being someone who gives, not just expects to be given to, is to our kids' life education.
They also saw an alternative - I nearly cried when we got back and I watched a child, who had been wrapped in a big hug when leaving you, greeted with a handshake form the parent.
I am now thanking you both for the fourth year (amazing isn't it?) and once again words don't seem to be enough. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for providing our special kids and us with a wonderful
week.
Chris Gill – Teacher Haig Street primary School
For a COPY of Appin Hall’s current Wish List - please email: RonnieBurns@AppinHall.com - or write to the address below.
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