Past Projects

Cyclone Larry Book
Our first project is a great example of this as our book tells the stories of the children who were affected by Cyclone Larry, giving them a voice and an opportunity to share their experiences.
The aims of the book were to
• raise awareness of the effect of Cyclone Larry on local children,
• give children an opportunity to express their feelings through writing and art,
• put together a book which can be used for future reference and observations of natural disasters on children,
• use the book as a historical reference for our community
• and to use the book for the purpose of a fundraiser
More than 300 children from local playgroups, day care centres, kindys, pre-schools, primary and secondary schools from throughout the cyclone affected region were involved with the book.
After months of collecting, editing and collating the stories and artwork, on the 29th of October 2006 we launched ‘Cyclone Larry Tales of Survival from the children of North Queensland’, this simple book of children’s stories and artworks, sponsored by Ergon Energy attracted attention nationwide and helped hundreds of local families move on from a traumatic and life changing event.
The proceeds from the sale of this book have gone on to help our community through our playgrounds project. Working closely with the local council we refurbished and upgraded our most popular local playground, centrally located at Fitzgerald Esplanade, making it safer, more attractive and more family friendly by providing a new junior play area, soft-fall flooring, fencing and shade covers.
In effect through this project the children are using their work to tell the stories of the families of this region and also rebuild their community by upgrading parks and playgrounds; empowering them to be proactive
members of our community and fostering the belief that they can make a difference.
We have also received national recognition with our story featured in Notebook Magazine, Sunrise, Seven National News and ABC radio.
Young Parents Playgroup
In January 2007 we launched the Young Parents Playgroup with our friends at the Community Support Centre. This group aims to empower and provide a social outlet for teenage and young mothers coping with the challenges of being a mother. The Young Parents Playgroup now has a strong core group and we are confident will continue to grow.
We also developed a nutrition policy for our playgroup, events and meetings with assistance from nutritionist Liz Whitlock of Community Health. One of the key components of this is raising community awareness of the importance of breastfeeding and the benefits for mother and child and we will be working with Lynda Hay and our local Australian Breastfeeding Association in a campaign to help make our community more ‘breastfeeding friendly”. Another aspect of our nutrition policy is the introduction of healthy morning teas at our Young Parent’s Playgroup. Each family brings a piece of fruit for a shared healthy morning tea and a water bottle.
Karma Beetles
At the 2007 International Women’s Day breakfast we launched our range of hand painted beetles made by local artist and mum Tiffanie Bulstrode with all proceeds going back to our local community projects. The beetles have been a great success in furthering our community’s awareness of MHO. Designed exclusively for MHO by local artist and MHO member Tiffanie Bulstrode of Denizen Designs. Each brightly coloured hand painted beetle comes with a special message of Friendship, Love, Joy and Good Karma and by wearing one you are showing support for MHO and our ongoing projects. They are available from Larsens Newsagency and Loot Homewares.
Blankets for Mongolia
In 2007 MHO helped families internationally as well, with a project to assist Barry Jiggins of Cairns with his campaign to collect 10 000 blankets for the people of Mongolia, Barry has now reached this goal and the blankets are now providing warmth to people in hospitals and orphanages in Mongolia.
Girls Night Out Fundraiser
In June MHO hosted a glamorous “girls night out” raising $1500.00 for Natalie Mackenzie’s Cambodian Orphanage project whilst also providing local women with some well deserved time out and a fun night, our support and encouragement has helped Natalie go on to achieve great things for these children through her fundraising efforts as well. This project also aimed to help women dealing with long term stress following the cyclone by providing an opportunity for social contact and time out in recognition of the fact that for many families the mother took on the role of supporting their husbands and children’s needs with little time left for themselves.
Photography Workshop
In July 2007 with funding from the Regional Arts Development fund we held a photography workshop for local mothers. The workshop was led by Ann Vardanega, and proved to be very popular. The exhibition which followed was so well received by the wider community that a new local photography club has recently been formed, an excellent unexpected outcome for our whole community. Several participants from the workshop are now members of this club and are continuing to develop their photographic skills. We have also gained several new members as a direct result of this very successful yet simple project.
Fitzgerald Esplanade Playground
On Saturday 18th August 2007 with the support of many local businesses and community organisations, we opened the Fitzgerald Esplanade playground. This playground is the result of twelve months of hard work and a vision to provide this community with a safer and more family-friendly public space for families affected by Cyclone Larry in March 2006.
This involvement by so many, results in a public space that has truly been created by the whole community. Firstly the 300 children who contributed to the stories, artworks and photographs included in Cyclone Larry: Tales of Survival from the children of North Queensland, as well as all those who bought copies of the book locally and throughout Australia. Significant financial contributions from community organizations: Innisfail Lions Club, Innisfail and Fitzgerald Rotary Clubs, Soroptomists North Queensland, and Ergon Energy, National Australia Bank, Bradken Innisfail, Moore Stevens Accountants, Sail Structures Australia, Rainbow Shade, Wright Outcomes, Cairns Fencing and the Collins and Camuglia Families all helped to make this vision into a reality.
“Our dream was to involve as many families and individuals in our community in the rebuilding of our community spirit. We wanted to bringing positivity and hope to our town following one of Australia’s most significant natural disasters. As well as that we hoped to improve a much loved public space and create a wonderful, attractive and safe play space for local families.” As such the playground refurbishment includes a section of soft fall flooring, safety fencing, UV resistant shade and new play equipment specially designed for children under five.
This was a major task and we would like to sincerely thank all involved in making this happen.
Parenting Program
In 2008 Mothers Helping Others in partnership with the Australian Rotary Health Research Fund and Queensland Health held a series of free interactive Parenting Workshops in Innisfail over 12 months to raise awareness in our community for parents, particularly mothers to take time to look after themselves and enjoy the early years of their child’s lives. Topics held were: emotional health and wellbeing, First Aid, stress management for mums, family nutrition, post baby body fitness, baby massage, reading to your child, natural therapies for your child, breastfeeding, and sleep and settling techniques.
The Parenting Program gave parents knowledge of new and existing services in our community and a greater understanding of their families’ development, health and wellbeing.
Babies helping Babies – Soft Toys
Mothers Helping Others launched a range of colourful soft toys as part of a project called ‘Babies helping babies’ at the 2008 Feast of the Senses market day. Handmade by local seamstress and mum Lisa DeBuck, each toy has its own name and personality, with no two the same and all proceeds form these toys go back to helping babies in our local community.