We are working away here in Sydney to create a good Conference!
Key dates for your Calendar: 1st July will be the Call for Presenters and announcement of Pre and Post Conference workshops. Registration will open on 1st September and Early Bird will close on 1st November
Our news this month is a little about each of us on the Committee- in first name alphabetical order: (aren’t we the cutest!!)
ANNETTE FISHER: Opening and Closing Ceremonies
Where we
re you born: I was born at Crown Street Women’s Hospital Sydney the year that Sydney harbour was attacked during the second world war
Birthday and star sign: Libran – I like justice and balance and aesthetics
Year that you first had an experience of psychodrama : 1973
What do you do for fun/hobby/leisure: I love my Art Practice, Dragon Boats, Gym, my Electric Bike, movies and hanging out with my children and grandchildren
Family placement: Only child and then two step siblings making me the eldest
Most memorable auxillary role in a psychodrama: So many
Favourite food: Asian salads
What are you reading at the moment?: Anna Karenina
Pets: Blossom 14 ½ years and Gavin 11 ½ years, 2 gold fish.
BONA ANNA: Programme
Where were you born: Rostrata Maternity Home, Palmerston North, Aotearoa New Zealand
Birthday and star sign: Classic Sagittarian, born 15 December 1949.
Year that you first had an experience of psychodrama : Psychodrama for Women workshop led by Dale Herron in Christchurch in 1983.
What do you do for fun/hobby/leisure: Hang out with friends and family, drink wine, go tramping in the bush, watch movies, read books and enjoy life.
Family placement: 3rd sibling down in a family of 7.
Most memorable auxiliary role in a psychodrama: Skirmishes on the Border Warrior.
Favourite food: Thai food, pork roast with crackling and apple sauce, and profiteroles.
What are you reading at the moment?: Light fiction and hoping to read Jonathan Moreno’s new book soon.
Pets: Several gorgeous cats in the past and currently a grandson cocker spaniel called Sebastion.
JENNY POSTLETHWAITE: Registrar, Website.
Where were you born: Newcastle NSW
Birthday and star sign: 5th January, Capricorn
Year that you first had an experience of psychodrama: 2010
What do you do for fun/hobby/leisure: Reading, movies, daily puzzles in the SMH (Target, Ken Ken, Sudoku, Quick Crossword), drawing, communing with the chooks
Family placement: Eldest of 2 sisters
Most memorable auxiliary role in a psychodrama: New born baby, in a drama looking at shame. It was deeply moving work and also the first time I truly felt for myself the powerful contribution I could make as an auxiliary. At the other end of the scale I was once cast as a piece of cat poo. Believe it or not it was a pivotal role in the drama!
Favourite food: The fresh flavours of a good thai salad. Yummmmm
What are you reading at the moment?: Between the Assassinations (Aravind Adiga) and the new edition of the Training and Standards Manual
Pets: 3 cockatiels – Scooter, Princess Grace and Jack – and 2 chooks – Audrey and Penny
J0 DEWAR: Dinner Dance
Where were you born: I was born in Darlinghurst in Sydney
Birthday and star sign: Birthday is June 22 I am Gemini I always thought I was Cancerian until I had a chart done many moons ago and was told I made it into Gemini by 4 hours ??? and I have 4 planets in Gemini so pretty well I am Gemini.
Year that you first had an experience of psychodrama: My first experience with psychodrama was a workshop with Francis Batten it was a spontaneity workshop it was the bestest of experiences in fact I loved it.
What do you do for fun/hobby/leisure: Well I play music always have, I drink nice wine I swim, and whatever takes my fancy, I like riding my bike, kissing, and travelling to Ireland 🙂
Family placement: I have an older Sister an older Bro and a younger Sister all very different to me which can only be good have differences.
Most memorable auxiliary role in a psychodrama: cant remember, however it had something to do with a very obstinate Grandmother. I was she
Favourite food: Oh many favs I do like a good Salmon Pattie,
What are you reading at the moment?: Nothing at the moment waiting to be inspired
Pets: Had a little dog called Molly but Molly didn’t want to stay home alone while I went out, so she went to a family in the Blue Mountains and she has a Brother called Rusty and she bosses Rusty around and loves the power of it
KATHERINE HOWARD: Convener
Where were you born: Wentworthville (a western suburb of Sydney)
Birthday and star sign: 12 May 1959- Taurus
Year that you first had an experience of psychodrama: 1986 with Bill Spence and Joyce Williams
What do you do for fun/hobby/leisure: Knit/crochet. Learning to spin lately. Read a lot. Study herbal medicine. Spend time tree watching with my partner. Loving my kids and grandkids and Mum and Da. Travel.
Family placement: Eldest of 6 children
Most memorable auxiliary role in a psychodrama: Many, but fighting in a battle with a sword (and winning) with lots of blood and guts everywhere comes to mind.
Favourite food: Pan fried salmon and salad. Good chai tea (preferably in India). White wine.
What are you reading at the moment?: “Mysteries of the Dark Moon- the healing power of the dark goddess” by Demetra George and “Sacred House: where women weave words into the earth” by Carolyn Hillyer
Pets: 2 elderly cats: Arabella and Syrene. Multitudes of native birds and animals that my partner manages to attract to our place in the Blue Mountains.
LYNLEY McNAB: Hosting
Where were you born: Hawera, Taranaki, NZ
Birthday and star sign: 17 May, 1961 – Taurus and Chinese Buffalo – yes! Double Bull!
Year that you first had an experience of psychodrama: 1988 in Christchurch
What do you do for fun/hobby/leisure: I read Science Fiction books that are full of physics and philosophy
Family placement: one younger brother. I am oldest girl in family
Most memorable auxiliary role in a psychodrama: so many over so long….. Being a participant and auxiliary in a residential group a long time ago run by Paul Baakman up at Hamner Springs.
Favourite food: Favourite food: really like mangoes, and also anything Japanese, Indian or Thai…..
What are you reading at the moment?: another William Gibson as usual… Zero History
Pets: One gorgeous girl pussy cat called Thomas – best cat ever!!!
PENNY BERAN: Host Pre and Post Conference workshops, expert on all things Sydney
Where were you born: Sydney
Birthday and star sign: October Libra
Year that you first had an experience of psychodrama: one-on-one role reversal in an art therapy session (not named as psychodrama), then Sydney conference 2002 pre conf workshop Kate Bradshaw Tauvon “Shame and Pride”
What do you do for fun/hobby/leisure: theatre, walking with WEA Ramblers, bursts of art workshops in collage, life drawing, paper-making; classical music concerts; adventures around Sydney to galleries, hosting committee and book group meetings.
Family placement: One sister. i’m the older
Most memorable auxiliary role in a psychodrama: ocean waves for nearly an hour, slain mother, the rock leant upon
Favourite food: created with attention, presented and served simply with care; trying something new; great dumplings shared pre-theatre last night
What are you reading at the moment?: “Demons” Wayne Macauley; best Australian Essays 2014; “Being Mortal” A.tul Gawanda
Pets: photos on fridge of the Seeing Eye Dogs whose training I’ve supported for several years (currently Otto)
ROLLO BROWNE: Programme
Where were you born: Kobe, Japan
Birthday and star sign: 7 April Aries
Year that you first had an experience of psychodrama: 1989
What do you do for fun/hobby/leisure: Reading, live music, sailing
Family placement: Second of four
Most memorable auxiliary role in a psychodrama: Dolphin
Favourite food: Lamb tagine
What are you reading at the moment?: The Farm by Tom Rob Smith
Pets: Between poodles
TOM SCHWARZ: Treasurer
Where were you born: Paris, France
Birthday and star sign: 13th Feb, 47 – Aquarius
Year that you first had an experience of psychodrama: 2009 – Rollo @ the Sydney monthly AFN
What do you do for fun/hobby/leisure: Dance – Swing/Balboa, Blues and Contact Improv styles – so far.. New collaborative developments to stretch myself – of Adaptive Leadership programs and seeking markets for these Mentoring – of Facilitation colleagues globally Quality time with – my Grand- children
Family placement: Oldest child – of two (have a 7 year younger sister)
Most memorable auxiliary role in a psychodrama: Well – a standout one for me – as Protagonist – was ‘feeling flat’ – and being brought to ‘instant’ life by a wickedly mischievous auxiliary who stuck her tongue in my ear – while I was trying to be serious in a confrontation role with another – it literally ‘cracked me’ up – and brought me back to a serious sense of aliveness for the rest of the drama.
Favourite food: Hot curries, stinking ripe Durian, 90-95% dark chocolate, Teh Alia tea.
What are you reading at the moment?: At the moment it’s the Yartzeit (Jewish annual remembrance of the passing of one’s parents) of my mother – so I’m (re) reading a photo-album book called ‘Oscar’ – a pictorial collage of all of my fathers descendents done 1x month before his passing… of whom my mother actually only knew me, my sister, and my oldest son.
Pets: Other people’s dogs – especially Sharmini’s young Anna – who while I stayed there last week perfected the art of liberal and self-invited washing of any exposed body parts of mine while I was working in her lounge area.. eg elbows,toes, even the odd face-lick when in range…