Relaxing through crafts, writing and sound healing
Our Wellbeing Program regularly hosts a variety of activities for war widows, defence and veteran families. When planning our activities, we ensure that we hold repeated activities that are loved by regular attendees and new activities based on feedback from families and war widows, aiming to provide something for everyone and always wanting to provide something new and exciting. Recently, it’s been a mix of creative, healing, physical, crafty and hands-on activities held online or in Sydney and Canberra.
In this post, we cover activities that we hosted in the recent months that encouraged defence and veteran families to relax and get crafty with some more hands-on activities. From creative workshops like watercolour painting, kokedama, candle making, and clay art, through to unique experiences such as sound healing and reflective writing sessions.
Sound healing session
Veteran families came together for their first sound healing session in Canberra, facilitated by Alisha of Isha Bae at Balanced Yoga in Kingston. The session offered a calming and meditative experience, supporting self-care and overall wellbeing.
Participants were guided through soothing soundscapes using singing bowls and gongs, creating a peaceful space for reflection and relaxation.
Kokedama workshop
Our Kokedama workshops have been a favoured and repeated activity through the months. Recently, defence and veteran families gathered at RSL Queanbeyan Veteran and Family Hub for a hands-on Kokedama workshop. Guided by Wellbeing Support Officer Kerrie, participants learned to create their own moss ball succulent plants in a relaxed and mindful setting.
The workshop provided a chance to connect with others over morning tea, enjoy the calming process of crafting, and take home not only their handmade Kokedama but also new friendships.
Watercolour painting, clay crafts and candle making
Many of our workshops involving crafts and creations are loved by attendees, which is why war widows, defence and veteran families took part in a variety of creative workshops through recent months.
Families joined an online evening of painting, bringing forest cabins to life on their canvases while exploring themes of imperfection and vulnerability. Later in August, participants gathered at Solid Rock Defence Ministry for an in-person workshop, creating delicate cherry blossom artworks. Both sessions provided a welcoming environment, leaving families with beautiful artworks and relaxation.
War widows and families of veterans came together online for an evening of candle making in July. Participants watched melted wax take shape in shells and rainbow moulds, using essential oils and crayons to create unique, colourful, and perfumed candles.
Defence and veteran families came together at the RSL Queanbeyan Veteran and Family Hub for a clay art session. The mindful and creative activity offered participants a chance to unwind, express themselves, and connect with others.
Writing through grief
War widows and families of veterans came together on a cold, rainy winters night for an evening of writing through grief. This workshop explored grief in all its forms through the use of creative storytelling. Participants wrote their own short story exploring their unique experiences of grief in whatever way felt comfortable for them engaging in curious conversation and holding space for one another as vulnerabilities were bravely shared.
Participants externalised their grief through writing supporting a new way of thinking and feeling about grief. Since the beginning of the writing through grief workshops, the repeated attendees have been able to form a familiar bond and become a friendly group, looking forward to their next session together.
These activities are just some of the variety of activities available through our Wellbeing Program. If you missed out or are looking for other ways to get involved, stay tuned for upcoming activities designed to support and connect war widows, defence and veteran families of all kinds. Subscribe to our Wellbeing Newsletter so you don’t miss a thing!
