What we’re about
This meetup group is intended for people who have been previously a part of Bluebird, and is not intended to attract new people; just to facilitate previously connected ones to say goodbye or organise to stay in touch. This is only because we do not have the resources to structure the processing of new people the way Bluebird did, but we don't want to lose our community. If you have been a part of Bluebird as staff or a volunteer or have attended at least one Bluebird (or Gen WHY?) meeting or event, you are able to utilise this group.
This group and all its associated events and projects are member-initiated, and not affiliated with, organised or endorsed by Bluebird or its affiliates. The name of the group may be changed after the Tribute Gathering (see event page for more details.)
This group was created at the time when Bluebird announced that it was ending. The main purpose of it was to advertise the member-initiated tribute event on 30th May, (Please refer to the event page for more information) to give members a bit more time for a sense of closure. However, it can also be used by any and all members to arrange or attend coffee catch-ups or other events.
Members joining this Meetup group will all be made event organisers. This does not obligate anyone to plan events, but means that anyone who chooses to, can create an event page if they wish to organise coffee catchups etc. We're in this together so please consider what you can do to help make it work.
As the Tribute event draws closer, we are looking for contributors to a written memento (cut off date for this is 20th May) and volunteers to help the event run. See event page for more details.
Heartfelt apologies if you came here looking for a mental health support group to join. As Bluebird has suggested to its members on announcing its end, please try checking out:
Connect Groups - 08 9364 6909 - info@connectgroups.org.au - https://connectgroups.org.au/
Peer Pathways - 08 9477 2809 - admin@comhwa.org.au - https://peerpathways.org.au/
Consumers of Mental Health WA - [CoMHWA] - 08 9258 8911 - admin@comhwa.org.au - https://comhwa.org.au/
It has also been suggested to me that people could try looking online for MIFWA and The Wellness Initiative (on Facebook or Instagram) both of which may run support groups.
Upcoming events (2)
See all- Bluebird Tribute GatheringNeeds location
Bluebird members past and present, staff, and anyone else involved or invested emotionally with Bluebird in any way. When we heard Bluebird was ending, we set up this Tribute gathering for 30th May, by booking the larger meeting room at the place where Fremantle meetings have been most recently held. (Please text or private message if you're unsure of where this is.)
This helped alleviate pressure for the final support group meetings to be the last chance for people to find closure, express gratitude, grow connections and share any future gathering initiatives. It has been great to see that people have made an effort to stay in touch, but this gathering is still a great way to honour what Bluebird has been for us, and touch base with those who haven't been able to include themselves in our other gatherings. (Plus the room is already paid for so please help us use it.)
The time gap between the end of Bluebird and the Tribute was intentional, so that people have time to sit with the news, and to plan for the Tribute.
Please consider planning a tribute to share on this night. You can give a speech or presentation, share a performance, give gifts, demonstrate a talent you've been keeping to yourself, lead a game or discussion type, or plan any other creative expressions of your feelings about your own journey, your feelings about Bluebird, your feelings about people, or anything else that this gathering might mean to you. You're also welcome to just show up to watch, listen, eat and chat. :)
We are also looking for contributors to a written memento that we would like to gift people with. The cut off date for this contribution is 20th May, so please jump on this as soon as you can, as the exercise that has been created for this takes time to read, consider, take breaks from and complete. If you don't have the link for this already please send a private message.
The Tribute gathering and the written memento are both member - initiatives, not official Bluebird projects. The name of this group may be changed after the Tribute gathering, and it may be made private to enable more open discussions (this action is un-reversible, so the group is public for now to allow members to find it easily and RSVP to the Tribute Event.)
As a member has hired the space for this Tribute event at their own expense, $5 cash contributions on the evening able to be made toward this expense would be appreciated.
This gathering is a space to process and connect over what it has been like to get this news and what it means for us, to say thankyou and maybe goodbye, to remember, appreciate and celebrate, and to connect and network.
Please do pass this information on to Bluebird members and affiliates who may be interested in attending if you think they may have not heard about this. All Bluebird members are welcome no matter how long ago their involvement, and even if their attendance was a once-off. Previous staff and volunteers are also welcome.
As this event is drawing closer it would be useful to have some understanding of how many people plan to share a tribute, and a rough guide of how much time it might take up. Whilst the evening should be fairly casual, a loose structure plan can help ensure everyone who wishes to contribute has their chance.
Since this is a completely member run event, labour and other organisational contributions would also be appreciated. Please inform us if you can contribute food, decorations, time for set-up and related errands, technology or the volunteering of expertise (a projector would be nice, and possibly a way to play music) or anything else.
Please note that food can only be served out of the kitchen (though we do also have the outdoor area; will have to check what the deal is there.) Balloons, confetti and naked flames are not allowed by the venue.
This event is not intended to attract new people, but to give previously acquainted ones a chance to reconnect. Apologies if you came here looking for a mental health support group.
It has been suggested that people could try checking out:
-Connect Groups - 08 9364 6909 - info@connectgroups.org.au - https://connectgroups.org.au/
-Peer Pathways - 08 9477 2809 - admin@comhwa.org.au - https://peerpathways.org.au/
-Consumers of Mental Health WA - [CoMHWA] - 08 9258 8911 - admin@comhwa.org.au - https://comhwa.org.au/
and on Facebook/Instagram:
-MIFWA
-The Wellness Initiative
