Congratulations and well done.
Heather
Women of the Valley
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Heather
Re: Women of the Valley
I've got a spare apron you can have Marty.
Congratulations and well done.
Heather
Congratulations and well done.
Heather
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Stephen Whiteside
- Posts: 3784
- Joined: Sat Nov 27, 2010 1:07 pm
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Re: Women of the Valley
Well done, Marty. The CWA is an amazing organisation. I remember attending a whale stranding in WA in 1986, and the CWA had set up on the beach serving coffee and sandwiches to volunteers!
Stephen Whiteside, Australian Poet and Writer
http://www.stephenwhiteside.com.au
http://www.stephenwhiteside.com.au
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Stephen Whiteside
- Posts: 3784
- Joined: Sat Nov 27, 2010 1:07 pm
- Contact:
Re: Women of the Valley
Have you heard Jim Haynes do his routine about the CWA ladies and the big teapots? Very funny.
Stephen Whiteside, Australian Poet and Writer
http://www.stephenwhiteside.com.au
http://www.stephenwhiteside.com.au
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Irene
- Posts: 657
- Joined: Sun Oct 31, 2010 8:44 pm
- Location: Jurien Bay. WA
- Contact:
Re: Women of the Valley
Great poem Marty - I loved it, and it is a wonderful tribute to the women of the CWA.
However, I have to say, although the comments were getting a little too personal, I am a little disappointed that Stephens comments appear to have been taken in the wrong way. I loved the poem, but the comments about the counsellors jarred for me also. And please let's not have any comments about whether I think one group are better counsellors!!
As Stephen so rightly pointed out, it is a shame to put one group down in order to boost another.
I am from the country (though I would like to point out that disasters happen in the city also, and those community bonds also are formed following these disasters!) and I have seen the bonds of friendship and community work in amazing ways. And yes, I agree that the women who have been through these events before do 'talk the talk and walk the walk!'
However, again, as Stephen pointed out, so have many counsellors.
But what is most important, and where the counsellors are of invaluable use, is in helping those very same women (or men!) who are so strong in their communities, to cope with issues that they do not make apparent to others within their communities. And they are just as important in the aftermath of disaster and trauma as the community bonds that are formed during these times.
Yes, these people are strong, but everyone has a breaking point, and many of these strong people are really not so strong behind the masks that they wear. They can give support and comfort, they can ''talk the talk', but that doesn't mean that they are indeed coping with things themselves. It may simply mean that the masks they wear are such an inherent part of their image, that they cannot admit to those who look to them for support that they need help; they may be so busy supporting and encouraging others that they are neglecting themselves. And often, no one thinks to ask them how they are coping - they just look up to them as a vital strength in their community.
We had a number of very traumatic events happen in our community many years ago, the last of which was the hanging suicide of a young teenage girl. On top of the other events, it had a huge effect on the community. There are always those in the community who help to deal with the fall out, and, in this case, I went to visit one of these ladies (who was in a public position, and had to deal with it), and who so many people, including the police, were looking to for support.
All it took was for me, as a relative newcomer to the community at the time, but one who worked in a similar field, to walk in and say something along the lines of "I heard what happened on the weekend - are you ok?". She started to tell me she was fine, then totally fell apart. She had been so busy supporting others, that no one thought to look beneath her facade - she had coped with everything else, she had supported many others in the community, but this event put her past her breaking point - or at least, it did when someone took the time to see if she was ok, and gave her permission to be honest.
This lady spent the next few months off work, and then had the courage to write and present a conference paper, called 'Drowning, not Waving' - about the pressures of providing support to communities in isolated areas.
We don't always see the aftermath of those pressures.
Again, please don't think that I am comparing who is better - just that they are both important, and I don't think the comment 'runs rings around' gives due appreciation for the role that trained counsellors can offer in many cases.
The poem is too much of a wonderful tribute to a giving group of people to then take away from another group of giving people - a valid point by Stephen. I am also sure that Marty would not like to think he may offend anyone who has been involved as a counsellor in disaster recovery.
Just my opinion!!
Irene
However, I have to say, although the comments were getting a little too personal, I am a little disappointed that Stephens comments appear to have been taken in the wrong way. I loved the poem, but the comments about the counsellors jarred for me also. And please let's not have any comments about whether I think one group are better counsellors!!
As Stephen so rightly pointed out, it is a shame to put one group down in order to boost another.
I am from the country (though I would like to point out that disasters happen in the city also, and those community bonds also are formed following these disasters!) and I have seen the bonds of friendship and community work in amazing ways. And yes, I agree that the women who have been through these events before do 'talk the talk and walk the walk!'
However, again, as Stephen pointed out, so have many counsellors.
But what is most important, and where the counsellors are of invaluable use, is in helping those very same women (or men!) who are so strong in their communities, to cope with issues that they do not make apparent to others within their communities. And they are just as important in the aftermath of disaster and trauma as the community bonds that are formed during these times.
Yes, these people are strong, but everyone has a breaking point, and many of these strong people are really not so strong behind the masks that they wear. They can give support and comfort, they can ''talk the talk', but that doesn't mean that they are indeed coping with things themselves. It may simply mean that the masks they wear are such an inherent part of their image, that they cannot admit to those who look to them for support that they need help; they may be so busy supporting and encouraging others that they are neglecting themselves. And often, no one thinks to ask them how they are coping - they just look up to them as a vital strength in their community.
We had a number of very traumatic events happen in our community many years ago, the last of which was the hanging suicide of a young teenage girl. On top of the other events, it had a huge effect on the community. There are always those in the community who help to deal with the fall out, and, in this case, I went to visit one of these ladies (who was in a public position, and had to deal with it), and who so many people, including the police, were looking to for support.
All it took was for me, as a relative newcomer to the community at the time, but one who worked in a similar field, to walk in and say something along the lines of "I heard what happened on the weekend - are you ok?". She started to tell me she was fine, then totally fell apart. She had been so busy supporting others, that no one thought to look beneath her facade - she had coped with everything else, she had supported many others in the community, but this event put her past her breaking point - or at least, it did when someone took the time to see if she was ok, and gave her permission to be honest.
This lady spent the next few months off work, and then had the courage to write and present a conference paper, called 'Drowning, not Waving' - about the pressures of providing support to communities in isolated areas.
We don't always see the aftermath of those pressures.
Again, please don't think that I am comparing who is better - just that they are both important, and I don't think the comment 'runs rings around' gives due appreciation for the role that trained counsellors can offer in many cases.
The poem is too much of a wonderful tribute to a giving group of people to then take away from another group of giving people - a valid point by Stephen. I am also sure that Marty would not like to think he may offend anyone who has been involved as a counsellor in disaster recovery.
Just my opinion!!
Irene
What goes around, comes around.
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David J Delaney
Re: Women of the Valley
Top poem Marty & congratulations on your having it published in the CWA book.....