Hi,
I had a great time since after 2 years with the QLD and it is making me feel better a lot. With a lot of Bell birds around I know you can’t shut them up LOL even I saw the white hawk on the trees and camp fire was great so I didn’t stay it long otherwise it will cause flash back.
I know David is a lot of thing next times I hope PHBF will get me Auslan translators if they are helping me that what Kathy say. I know Grazi make a lot of jokes and understanding person, David was a great teachers LOL to help people and laugh that I drove the ship LOL thanks to Frank to teach me cook so I cook like him and call the food after the food it will be poppish LOL I had a wonderful days and cuddle Lottie while Lucy is ill.
Thanks to all having me in the retreated camp I look forward to see you in 2011 or 2012
Alexis M Protopopov
Hi,
My name is Roger Barnes, in March, 2004, I was burned in a fuel explosion while I was putting petrol on weeds in an enclosed backyard and it was ignited by a pilot light on a hot water unit. I ended up with burns to most of my body but the severe ones were on my lower legs and feet as I was bare footed.
In early 2010 I contacted the Peter Hughes Burns Foundation and was called soon after by Grazi Lisciotto who announced himself as the CEO and he began urging me to attend the burns retreat in Melbourne in May of that year. I attended and found it to be a life changing experience.
I attended the Yarramundi retreat in North Western Sydney this year, once again Grazi nagged me to attend, I am so grateful to him as it was very empowering and lots of fun. Prior to Melbourne I thought I was alone with my problems, I was apprehensive as to what I would encounter and I left there with a strong sense of family.
Yarramundi was better, I had no apprehension and all who attended were wonderful. It was great to see this year’s new chums grow like I did the year before and I am sure that I will meet a lot of them at future retreats.
I did not attend this year’s retreat as a “know it all” and I learned so much from others, including the first timers. One highlight for me was meeting Kate, who had severely burned her feet jumping on a pile of ashes that had red hot coals underneath when she was a young child. She shares similar issues to me, including nerve pain and PTSD due to treatments. We both expressed the wish to stay in touch and I am sure that we will help each other as we continue our journey.
A stand-out of this year’s retreat was the splitting of participants into teams for cooking and I had the privilege of being chosen in Frank Spiteri’ team for the cook-up to end them all. Obviously Grazi had given Frank the wrong number to cook for as we were eating the food for days.
In conclusion I would like to thank the organisers, the participants, and the sponsors for making this retreat a real benchmark.
Kind regards,
Roger Barnes
My time at the retreat was one of a kind. Everyone was so supportive of each other and all had stories to tell of how we became a burn survivor. Our chef cook offs were amazing and the food intake was mind boggling but loved it. Dave hit home many times in group session which helped me deal with things greatly which I had not been able to Deal with previously (thanks Dave). I also met some very lovely people that I know will be friends for life and had
Many laughs with everyone, plus a few cries. Our outing was such a delight and so relaxing was a nice change to a busy Life and to see everyone smiling. I can’t wait for the next retreat and to catch up with everyone and also meet new members.
Thank You to all for making this retreat wonderful and to the organisers for making it possible to have such retreats.
Xxxx Nat
Hi,
I attended the retreat at the invitation of Grazi as a supporter/volunteer; it was my first adults retreat. Not being a burns survivor and not knowing who was attending I was somewhat apprehensive however I got to know Tim and Yvonne Hirst on the drive down and soon saw Carol Woolgar who I had known for many years, their welcome was not different from all the others as everyone made me feel very welcome.
The sessions under David’s direction were emotional and funny at times but obviously so very helpful to the survivors. The survivor’s level of courage, the support for each other and their non judgemental attitudes make them an inspirational group of people and I enjoyed the company of each and every one of them.
I applaud the work the Grazi, David, Stacy, Kate and Frank do for the PHBF, I learnt a lot at the retreat which will be invaluable to me in the future.
Thanks for the friendship and opportunity.
Keith
Firstly I would like to say thank you for having me and feeding me (the food was incredible). I found the weekend overall to be a very positive experience. Everyone I meet on the weekend is amazing in there own way and being able to mingle and chat in a relaxed, safe environment really helped to feel settled and a part of the group. As the newest member of the burn foundation family on the retreat, I found some of the issues very confronting but, dealing with these issues with the help of our wonderful councillor Dave and with other great people that have had similar experiences, helped me get my mind in a better place. I hope to maintain contact with all of my new friends and look forward to seeing them at the next retreat.
Thank you again
Andrew “Iceman” Barber
As a first time attendee I was apprehensive about what to expect but I soon realised I had nothing to worry about. My fellow burns survivors had suffered like myself and experienced the same emotional roller coaster. As the old saying goes, a trouble shared is a trouble halved. The camp has given me strength and a sense of hope for the future.
Scott
Whilst, I have never known myself without burns and I have always known that there are a lot of other people out in the world who have these issues to deal with, it was nice to just be able to be the real me.
The retreat was a lovely. It was refreshing to be able to talk and share in a safe environment with other survivors. The group sessions with David Bonython-Wright were well run, emotional, comforting but humorous and overall seemed well received. I also found some of the unexpected mini sessions with David and other survivors surprising and extremely very helpful. There were a few times during that weekend when I cried but both openly and alone. There were more times in that weekend that I laughed. Belly laughed. I am looking forward to my second retreat next year in wherein; I know I will have more confidence to speak more freely.
Thank you to all the Directors, Sponsors and the Volunteers who made this possible.
My third retreat and yet again I sit in retrospect of many things that I have seen and experienced. Coming into this latest retreat again I thought at length prior to attending as to why I should attend or even more so why I would want to. As per the previous two retreats I sat and thought at length that surely I’ve seen everything a burns survivor could possibly see, I’ve told my story and listened to other survivors stories, so much so that one could probably write a book with them. I really don’t know if it’s the deluded arrogant and contemptuous sub conscious that keeps telling me that “I’m O.K., what could I possible get or achieve from this retreat”. And yet again as per the previous two retreats I walked away with my tail firmly planted between my legs. I think the thing that surprises me the most is that I still become emotional and still am greatly affected by what I hear and see, and it certainly makes me realise that there are much braver survivors out there and I profess to be.
The experience and emotions are livid and run wild upon leaving the retreat and I sink into emotional hangover on the following few days, but it’s when that subsides that I turn the pictures over and over in my head and once again am inspired and driven by the very people that I sought to help and this alone, this one very important points makes me realise just how important the Peter Hughes Burn Foundation and the individual work of survivors is, to the overall well being and progression of other survivors. This is what continually inspires me and drives me to want to help as many people as I can. I hope that one day our legacy will be a circle that never stops turning.
Frank Spiteri
Approx. 20 people gathered for this retreat at a lovely residential facility on the edge of the Nepean River and Blue Mountains. We had a couple of carers, a volunteer, a great dog and a good mix of people who had been on previous retreats and new comers. I love these retreats and working with the people who work behind the scenes to make it happen. Thanks to you all. I love seeing people meet new folk, and people taking risks, practicing caring and sharing, and seeing people help and serve each other.
Highlights for me:
1. People responding to the serious aspects of the retreat and being challenged.
2. The team work, and preparations and sharing of meals together was amazing- we could have called this camp “eatathon”.
3. The informal chats
4. Our new folks from the west ‘fitting in with this Retreat Family’
5. Khang helping out more and contributing more
6. Jokes shared: Alan, Dale and I nearly lost it there for awhile- we were laughing so much.
7. Our river cruise
8. Dealing with unexpected complex issues in real appropriate and sensitive ways
9. The carers meeting and sharing and caring
10. The group hug exercise at the end
11. Meeting Jess our new ambassador and hearing some of her story
David Bonython-Wright
After picking up Kaye and Clarence from the airport, Kaye mentioned the many highlights of the Retreat. These included; the plane ride to Sydney, the drive up to the beautiful Blue Mountains, the fantastic ferry ride and even the food! However above all the activities, the introduction to the other Burns survivors was what Kaye and Clarrie were most passionate about. Kaye explained how much she enjoyed meeting other people and sharing in their stories. Also how thankful she was to be given the opportunity to build on these relationships with these wonderful people that Kaye now describes as “another family”. It was quite clear to me by looking in Kaye’s eyes when she was talking, that the relationships and experiences they shared in the Blue Mountains were extremely valuable.
The PHBF and their staff should be extremely proud that they put together such fantastic retreat that meant so much to all who attended.
Kaye and Clarence Miller