The Top Ender Magazine August September 2022 Edition

Network Tindal Incorporated (NTI), is a volunteer organisation that coordinates support and multiple
community groups operating within the RAAF Base Tindal community.The vision of NTI is to create
community connections that support the physical, social, and emotional wellbeing of our community
whilst being posted to a remote and isolated location with limited access to other services.
Weekly Activities at the Community House:
Monday
Tuesday
– Playgroup 9:30 -11:30am
– Group Fitness (at the gym) 6pm-7pm
Wednesday
– Bubs and Bumps 10am – 11:30am
Thursday
Friday
– Crafternoons – 3:30pm-5pm
– Playgroup 9:30am-11:30am
– Lego legends 3:30pm-5pm
– Group Fitness (at the gym) 6pm-7pm
– Tabletop gamers 6pm-late
– Drop In’s 9:30am- 12pm
Network Tindal
Interest Groups Include:
• Sewing
• Crafters
• Board Gamers
• Table-Top Gamers
• Hobby Hut (Workshop)
• Cars and Coffee
• Pay Day Parmi’s
• Teens and Tweens
• Community Garden
• Tindal Kites Netball
Keeping Busy at Billeroy House
DVA ADVOCACY AND CLAIMS SUPPORT
Billeroy House have organised regular visits from a Level 3
Compensation Advocate, with visits scheduled over the coming
months. Appointment times book out quickly, however you can book
in for future sessions or add your name to a waiting list. Billeroy
House will advise what you will need to bring with you to start your
claims process. With a backlog of DVA claims awaiting action, it’s a
good idea to get started with the claims process as early as possible.
Contact Billeroy House to find out the program for advocacy visits
and to book an appointment.
For more information follow @NetworkTindalBuddies on Facebook
Katherine Outback Experience
Horsemanship Sessions
Over four sessions in May and June, Network Tindal supported a handful of
defence veterans, members and spouses to attend a specially designed
equestrian skill course at Katherine Outback Experience.
The course lasted for 3 hours and gave participants the opportunity to
learn some of the key skills of horsemanship including training, care and
horse riding. The venue, Katherine Outback Experience celebrates the
Northern Territory's rich pastoral culture and history and is owned by
multiple Golden Guitar winner and horseman extraordinaire, Tom Curtain.
The experience was moving for many participants, some even saying that
the horses seemed to know they had been having a bad day. While this
activity was not equine therapy, there were many elements that are
designed to support the mental health and well-being of participants.The
training, care and horse riding elements have been shown to increase
communication skills, empathy and emotional regulation.
Network Tindal and Katherine Outback experience were also able to offer
a number of sessions to
children which involved only
the horse-riding component.
For many children, this was
their first experience of riding
a horse and there was a lot of
excitement in the air. The
children were very respectful
of the horses and enjoyed the
opportunity to get up close
and personal to the beautiful
animals.
This type of activity is highly
valued in our community and
Network Tindal will continue
to seek opportunities to
enable us to provide these
sessions to the RAAF Tindal
community.
Network Tindal Sewing Circle
Twice a month, Network Tindal Sewing Circle try to meet to take on
new (or old) sewing projects, learn new sewing skills, help each other
with our sewing projects and spend time with other people who share a
love of sewing and creating. We have a diverse range of members in age
and experience, and it is open to anyone to come along on a regular
basis or whenever creativity strikes.
At our last sewing circle, one of our new members Kaelene, came along
to sew some tablecloths for the day-care centre where she is an
educator. This is also our local day-care centre on the RAAF base, Little
Geckos, where many defence families have their children enrolled.
The material we worked with was a stunning
display of aboriginal art in a few different designs
and vivid colours. It was a great team effort, with
Miss Kaelene and my daughter Gemma (who
attends the Preschool room at Little Geckos)
pinning the hem of the material. I manned the
sewing machine to hem the tablecloths, closely
supervised by Gemma to make sure my stitching
was straight. We made 4 tablecloths in the session
and they were ready to go for morning tea the next
day.
We all had a great feeling of achievement and
community spirit after completely this fun project.
It was wonderful to support our local day-care
centre and to provide our sewing skills for the
vibrant new tablecloths. We are looking to
complete more community projects like this for our
community here in Tindal and Katherine, so please
pass on any ideas to us through Network Tindal.
Sewing Circle Coordinator,
Prue Atkins.
Got a community sewing idea or project?
Contact Network Tindal!
FUNDRAISING
Billeroy House have stubby coolers for sale, which help us to raise
funds for future community support activities and events. The coolers
are a great father’s day present for the top end climate, contact
Billeroy House to purchase one (or a few!).
COMMUNITY EVENTS
WOW Day 11th May - A huge thank you to the SES Darwin for
sending a truck which went towards making our WOW Day a BIG
success at Billeroy House. Good idea Brookie to have a regular
morning tea at the same time.
First Responders Day 8th Jun - Billeroy House thanked all of the
Northern Territory first responders for their service at our regular
morning tea.
Community Meetings – Billeroy House is a comfortable and central
meeting place for many community groups, including; RSL Darwin,
Veterans Motorcycle Club, RAAF Darwin Fishing Club, Australian
Military Wives Choir and Nackaroo Committee Meetings, which are
held on a regular basis at our facility.
Clontaf Kids - The Clontaf kids have been visiting Billeroy House to
develop their Community Support Program. They have been helping
out with the gardening and developing a large vegetable patch - check
out the new addition to our veggie patch! Tammy from Bunnings also
attended to donate plants and supplies to Billeroy House for the
Clontaf kids’ projects. Thank you to all who have helped and
supported this program!
Greyhound Races Sunday 17th July - Billeroy House organised a
Greyhound race night event on Sunday 17th July during the running
of the Chief Ministers Cup. Entry was $5 per person and we
organised raffles and prizes with all proceeds going towards the local
veteran (and families) community - it was a great night filled with fun
and excitement!
Weekly Morning Tea – We hold a weekly morning tea at Billeroy
House from 1000hrs every Wednesday.All members of the defence
and veteran community are welcome to attend and enjoy our
delicious morning tea!
OPENING HOURS
Billeroy House is open on Mondays & Tuesdays by appointment only
as we provide regular home and hospital visits to veterans on these
days. Our door is open between 1000hrs to 1400hrs every
Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. All veterans and their families are
welcome, so please drop in and find out more about our advocacy
and support services.
Written by Dan ‘Tank’ Tellum
Wellbeing Advocate Officer Level 2, Coordinator
RSL Billeroy House Veterans & Families Community Centre
08 8942 0381 | billeroyhouse@rsldarwin.org.au
22 The Top Ender | Tri-Services Magazine Incorporated AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2022 23