Newsletter May 2024

Flower of the Month

Stocks

by Bibi

Stock (Matthiola incana) is a delightful and highly fragrant annual or perennial plant that adds charm to gardens and bouquets alike. Originating from the Mediterranean region, Stock has been cultivated for centuries due to its captivating scent and colourful blooms.Delphiniums, with their vibrant and elegant presence, adorn gardens with tall spikes of blossoms in shades of blue, purple, pink, and white.

Stock thrives in full sun but can tolerate partial shade. Choose a location in your garden that receives at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily. Ensure the soil is well-draining and fertile. Stock plants prefer slightly alkaline soil with good organic content. Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Water deeply whenever the top inch of soil dries out.

Apply a balanced fertilizer every 4-6 weeks during the growing season to promote healthy growth and abundant blooms. Deadhead spent flowers regularly to encourage continuous blooming. Cut back growth at lower half to maintain a compact shape. Tall varieties of stock may benefit from staking to prevent them from toppling over in windy conditions.

Some fun facts about Stocks:

Stock flowers are renowned for their sweet, spicy fragrance, which intensifies during the evening hours. The scent is often described as a blend of cloves and cinnamon. In the language of flowers, Stocks represents a happy life and lasting beauty. It’s often used in wedding bouquets and arrangements to convey purity and sincerity.

Stock flowers come in a range of colours including white, pink, lavender, and deep purple. They make stunning additions to flower beds and borders. With proper care, stock flowers can bloom profusely from spring through early summer. They make excellent cut flowers and are prized for their long vase life. Stocks are butterfly magnets and attract butterflies and other pollinators, making them a valuable addition to pollinator gardens.

With a sound knowledge of the care requirements and fascinating facts about Stocks, you can enhance your gardening experience and appreciation for this timeless bloom.

Watch this video clip to share the job of harvesting these beautiful blooms: My “Stock” Flowers Are Stunning! One of my Proudest Moments! The Smell is Heavenly.

If you have fallen in love with Stocks and decided to grow your own flowers, this YouTube clip is for you: Stocks (Matthiola incana) Grow-A-Long

Plant of the Month

Pteris Silver Lace

by Bibi

Pteris Silver Lace, a striking fern variety, captivates with its delicate beauty and unique characteristics. This fern, scientifically known as Pteris ensiformis ‘Silver Lace,’ boasts elegant, lacy fronds that shimmer in shades of silver and green. Its feathery appearance adds a touch of sophistication to any garden or indoor space.

This particular fern is renowned for its adaptability and resilience, thriving in a range of conditions. Whether in low light or bright, indirect sunlight, Pteris Silver Lace gracefully flourishes, making it an excellent choice for both novice and experienced gardeners alike. Its ability to tolerate varying humidity levels further adds to its versatility, making it a popular choice for indoor environments.

Fun fact: Pteris Silver Lace has a unique reproduction method called spores. Instead of producing seeds like many plants, it releases spores from the undersides of its fronds. These spores serve as the fern’s means of propagation, allowing it to spread and thrive in new locations.

Beyond its aesthetic appeal and adaptability, this fern also possesses air-purifying qualities. Like a natural air filter, Pteris Silver Lace helps remove toxins from its surroundings, contributing to a healthier indoor environment. Its air-purifying attributes make it a fantastic addition to homes and offices, enhancing both visual appeal and overall well-being.

In summary, Pteris Silver Lace is not just a visually enchanting fern but a resilient and adaptable plant with unique reproductive methods. Its ability to thrive in various conditions, coupled with air-purifying qualities, makes it a sought-after choice for plant enthusiasts and those looking to enhance their living spaces with a touch of natural elegance.

Note: Ferns, including the Pteris Silver Lace, reproduce through spores rather than seeds. This distinctive method sets them apart from many other plants. The tiny spores, typically found on the undersides of fern fronds, are released into the environment and can germinate into new ferns under suitable conditions. It’s a fascinating aspect of fern biology that adds to their charm and uniqueness in the plant kingdom.

Sit back and relax while admiring this beautiful ‘Silver Lace Fern’ dancing in this YouTube clip.

I must admit I am not immune from killing plants even with my years of gardening experience. I learnt so much from watching this video clip – highly recommended.

Drop-by our Eve of Mother’s Day Pop-up Stall (Sat 11/5/2024) outside Little Giant Roaster Cafe to chat with Bibi about your gardening tales and grab a pot of ferns home. Special 10 % discount for CFS Members.

Recipe of the Month

Pork Rashers by Melissa L.

INGREDIENTS

8 (750g) boneless pork rashers

1/3 cup (80ml) hoisin sauce

2 tbs each soy sauce, honey

2 tsp sesame oil

3 Lebanese cucumbers, sliced into thin ribbons

1⁄2 wombok cabbage, shredded

1⁄4 cup crispy shallot

1⁄2 bunch mint, leaves picked

1 tbs peanut oil

1 tbs rice wine vinegar

METHOD:

1. Preheat oven to 200°C fan-forced. Place the pork in a single layer on a tray and roast for 15 minutes, turning halfway, or until it is light golden.

2. Combine the hoisin, soy sauce, honey and sesame oil. Remove pork from oven and coat with half the glaze.

3. Roast, turning and basting pork with remaining glaze every 10 minutes, for a further 30 minutes or until caramelised and cooked through.

4. To make the salad, combine the cucumber, cabbage, shallot and mint and drizzle with peanut oil and vinegar.

5.Serve with pork rashers.

Book Review

By Kim Wilkins

EDENGLASSIE by Melissa Lucashenko

This is a wonderful historical novel written by well-known author of Aboriginal and European descent, Melissa Lucashenko. She has written a number of novels one of which, Too Much Lip, won the 2019 Miles Franklin Award. The book is set in the Brisbane area mainly in the 1850s when the

Aboriginal clans still outnumbered the Europeans and partly in 2024 again in Brisbane about current aboriginal characters. The connection is revealed only at the very end of the novel. There is also a list at the end detailing which characters are real and fictional.

It is very well written and a real page turner. Amidst all the suffering it adds at times a sense of humour and has excellent character development. Although describing the brutal and at times murderous dispossession of the Aboriginal population, the characters both aboriginal and European are complex and not mere caricatures.

It is well researched and very informative about first nation cultures. While I knew that they were aware of the dangers of inbreeding I did not realise the interaction between the various groups this produced. Our main character, Mulyanin, is from what is now the Gold Coast area living with people from Brisbane. The book is about 300 pages and was published this year. If you want to learn about the early history of Brisbane, expand your knowledge of Aboriginal culture, and have a fascinating read, this book is for you. I cannot recommend it highly enough.

From the Desk of Bibi

A letter to Mr. and Mrs. Cauchi

by Dr Bibiana Chan

I may be a total stranger to you, but I watched your interviews on ABC News. Since the Bondi Junction Tragedy occurred on Saturday, April 13, 2024, my heart goes out to the victims and their loved ones. This unthinkable incident shocked not just Australia, but the whole world. I thought of you when I learned how you saw an image of your son holding a knife on CCTV footage (shown on TV News) and promptly contacted NSW Police.

Mr. Cauchi, you told the ABC reporter “He was a tormented soul, tormented, and frustrated, and I’m sorry that he’s done this to your children and this nation.”  Your emotions throughout the interview were intense. Please be assured that I heard you. I consider you and your wife as victims of this tragedy. Not only did you experience the grief of losing a loved one, but you also bore the unfathomable guilt of your son’s actions. you said,

“There’s nothing I can say, there is nothing I can say that will take away the pain that my son has caused.”

Many reports in the media made speculations about the causes of this extremely tragic event (one newspaper article described it as ‘a mass killing’). Other journalists who knew the importance of responsible reporting came out to challenge the lack of understanding of the full picture may result in further stigmatising individuals experiencing mental ill-health. Was Joel psychotic at the time? Was it due to him tapering off his schizophrenia medications (a diagnosis given at age 17)? What was the trigger? Was he known to the Queensland and NSW Police? When was his last contact with the public health system?

While a police investigation is ongoing, the public is eager to ask, ‘Why did this happen on a beautiful autumn afternoon in a peaceful suburb?’ You were asked, ‘Why did he attack women?’ Your response was, ‘He was frustrated, he wanted a girlfriend!’ I read about two young women who had brief dated with Joel. One said, “He was the most kind and sweetest person I had met. “ This was when Joel was compliant with his medication and stable. My questions are, ‘When did things start to deteriorate? Why did he not receive professional help and support? Did he fall through the cracks of mental health services, public or private?’

As someone with lived experience of clinical depression, I am well aware of the severe staff shortage in both the public and private sectors. The situation was exacerbated by COVID-19, leading to unprecedented demand for mental health professionals and waiting lists of 3-6 months. Initial engagement with AI-led psychological support has been introduced to meet this demand. This hybrid model is still in its infancy, awaiting research studies to report its efficacy.

Mrs. Cauchi, you were also bombarded by the media with questions. You mentioned that Joel felt ‘he was NOT himself’ after taking medications for an extended period, which prompted him to want to taper off. He was under the care of a private psychiatrist. This tapering process requires close medical supervision over an extended period. I have firsthand experience of tapering off antidepressants and consider myself fortunate to have been medication-free for over two years now, with regular check-ins with my psychiatrist for maintenance.

You must feel let down by the medical system. Why didn’t Joel receive the right help when he needed it most? What were the triggers for his actions that led to the loss of six innocent lives and many injuries, including a nine-month-old baby girl?

Beyondblue CEO Ms. Georgie Harman was quick to point out, ‘Mental illness does NOT equate to violence.’ SANE CEO Ms. Rachel Green also joined the conversation, emphasizing that most people suffering from mental ill-health are victims of violence. I wrote a response (in English and Traditional Chinese) to the Bondi Junction Tragedy, published on the CFS website on Wednesday, April 17, 2024 (four days after the incident), including links to useful mental health resources. I was able to have conversations with some CFS members about my feelings. I facilitated a laughter yoga session three days after the tragedy, we did a group hug to comfort each other. I also encouraged CFS members to share their thoughts with me. I promptly responded to a young person impacted by this event. I sent my response to local politicians. I urge those in decision-making positions to work on a solution to prevent such an unthinkable tragedy from ever happening again. One positive outcome from the meeting of all health ministers on Friday, April 19, 2024, was that ministers discussed a range of mental health issues and agreed to hold a dedicated session with Mental Health Ministers.

New South Wales Mental Health Minister Rose Jackson promised a review of the current services will be conducted, especially worked out what level of investment is required to comprehensively meet the mental health needs of people in NSW. She said,

“Part of that work includes conducting a gaps analysis review to rapidly identify key priority areas and agreed gaps in the NSW community mental health system and introducing legislation for a whole-of-government approach to suicide prevention.”

I hope this will not be another ‘consultation’ proposing a long list of recommendations that the NSW Government doesn’t have the budget to fully fund. Prevention is better than cure! The Community Flower Studio is working at GOUND ZERO AND actively engaged in mental health promotion and building support at a community level.

Sending you my sincere condolences in this challenging time.

Best regards,

Bibi

P.S. Sadly, just two days after the Bondi Junction

tragedy, I woke up on Tuesday morning to an NSW Police Press Conference about a stabbing at a church in Wakeley by a 16-year-old boy! The parents of this teenager finally shared their story publicly last night (Monday, April 29, 2024), exactly a week after the incident. They pleaded with law enforcement authorities to consider their son as a very disturbed boy with undiagnosed mental health issues. Once again, my heart goes out to this couple. You may consider watching this video clip (when you feel ready) shown on ABC’s 7:30 Report.

Subscriber’s Corner

My CFS Journey by Members of CFS Youth Action Group and introduction by Bibi

Introduction

While many heartbreaking incidents have occurred recently, such as random stabbings at a Bondi Junction shopping centre, riots involving over 2,000 people following a live-streamed stabbing of an archbishop at a church in Wakeley by a 16-year-old boy, and an alarming number of women being murdered by their ex-partners (and by random strangers), is there any silver lining to these extremely shocking events? I hope so!

Take the example of the COVID-19 pandemic: after two extensive lockdowns, almost everyone has a story of dealing with mental health challenges to share. We have been given permission to talk about the ‘not-so-glamorous side’ of our lives with no shame! One consequence is a surge in demand for professional mental health services.

The diagram below illustrates a ‘pyramid’ of these services. The Community Flower Studio sits right at ‘Ground Zero’, building a protective environment and social-ecological resilience, while providing basic psychological support to our young members and their families if required. I first discussed this ‘Pyramid of Services’ in the October 2021 e-Newsletter to coincide with the lifting of the second COVID-19 lockdown.

This month, CFS celebrated the fourth anniversary of publishing our e-Newsletter and the first anniversary of officially launching our Youth Mentoring Program. Let’s hear about the CFS journey from some of the members of the CFS Youth Action Group!

Please note: the photos are a collection of activities from CFS’ Leadership Training Program and may not correspond to the members sharing their CFS journey.

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A CFS member since Nov 2022 (he/him) Age Group: 12 – 17 yr.

Co-facilitated creative workshops, helped at pop-up stalls and Bunnings BBQs, co-led bushwalks helped at, contributed to CFS e-Newsletter, helped with Climate Action Art Workshop/Exhibition/Competition (including planning), attended pilot workshops to co-design a creative workshop and, attended SECNA (Social Enterprise Council NSW & ACT) meet-ups.

“I felt a sense of purpose in the work that I do, and it makes me feel better about myself.

It provides a place where I can crack a few jokes and get a few laughs…”

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A CFS member since Sept 2022 (she/her) Age Group: 12 – 17 yr

Helped at pop-up stalls and Climate Action Art Workshop/Exhibition/Competition (including planning), co-led a bushwalk, contributed to CFS e-Newsletter and co-ran laughter yoga sessions.

“Like I can freely express myself because of the welcoming environment there.

It has activities to take your kind of your worries (away) for a little while. I enjoy the inclusive environment cultivated.”

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A CFS member since April 2023 (he/him) Age Group: 12 – 17 yr

Co-facilitated creative workshops, helped with pop-up stalls and Bunnings BBQ, co-led bushwalks and contributed to CFS e-Newsletter.

“When I am at a CFS activity I am able to connect myself with nature and see my inner self, as the activities are so peaceful and gets me thinking.

CFS is important to me because I can learn lots of customer and real-world experience. CFS is a great organisation and I would love to contribute more to the organisation.

I love its purpose and I wish it helps a lot of people.”

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A CFS member since June 2023 (she/her) Age Group: 26 – 30 yr

Co-facilitated creative workshops, contributed to CFS e-Newsletter, attended a pilot workshop to co-design a creative workshop and attended a SECNA meet-up.

I felt relax and enjoyed the activity for I could explore my creativity in it.

It (CFS) is the one and only place I can play with arts. Wish there will be more floral activities in 2024.

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A CFS member since August 2023 (she/her) Age Group: 18 – 25 yr

Co-facilitated creative workshops and helped with Bunnings BBQ.

(I felt) excited and nervous- lots of new faces to see and different procedures to follow- but overall excited because of the opportunity to learn new things and help people.

I love craft and creativity, and the organisation’s motive to support mental health is important to me as someone who has struggled with mental health in the past.

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Feedback to Bibi’s “Response to Bondi Junction Tragedy on 13 April 2024”

By Isabel L.  

I’m writing this almost a week after the Bondi tragedy, so I’ve had time to contemplate the awful effects of that day. I feel there is more understanding of the needs of a decent, reliable mental health program in our country. I totally agree that mental health in Australia is underfunded and that far more suitable mental health facilities should be available.

However I can’t agree that the magnificent work done by CFS has been lost. If it makes anyone feel better and accepted it’s a win. A setback, yes, but CFS gives young people hope and also a measure of acceptance in our diverse community.

We must learn from this and remember the courage of those who risked their lives to save others.

Never give up!