Hello and Welcome everyone. My name is Maree.
It’s great to share this evening with you all to raise much needed funds to assist those going through hardship in Sri Lanka. Thank you for being here.
I wanted to tell you about how I met Lekdron and how she and what she does has enriched my and others lives. I had the wonderful opportunity to meet Lekdron about eight years ago, before she was ordained. My son and Lekdron’s daughter were ‘going out’ although I think I’m meant to say ‘dating’ these days.Our kids knew that we shared a lot of interests and thought we would hit it off.
They arranged for us all to have dinner together. Lekdron and I decided after that first meeting that despite whether our kids remained together or not, we would remain friends.
Needless to say, we are still great friends and our kids are no longer together.
I was attracted to Lekdron’s enthusiasm, passion, energy, kindness, compassion and great sense of humour. She sure is a pocket rocket!
At this time I had a small biscuit business called ‘Share it Around’ which raised funds for a Bosco Sevana, a boys rehabilitation centre in Sri Lanka. We had volunteered at the centre as a family and this was a way, we could continue to support them through raising funds for equipment, school supplies etc. I was also writing what I called POM- Peace of Mind blogs sharing things I had been fortunate enough to learn from my Spiritual teachers.
Lekdron and I remained friends. She later became ordained and moved to SL. Some time later we met up when she was visiting Melbourne. She told me about the Women’s Development Centre in Kandy where she had begun working with the girls to improve their education and training opportunities.
This gave me the idea to merge ‘Share it Around’ into POM and make it about raising funds for the WDC and other ‘on the ground projects’ Lekdron has the knack of finding, as well as continuing to support the boys at Bosco Sevna and some other organisations too.
My dear friend Sue, an amazing artist amongst many other things joined me and together we run POM.
POM is a fundraising cottage industry. We are a small dedicated group of volunteers who raise funds for community projects and facilitate a sense of meaning and connection.
100% of the money we make goes directly to where it is needed.
We are not talking big business here. We support …..
I have been fortunate enough to travel to SL three times. The last two times I have had the opportunity to visit and work at the WDC and establish a relationship with many of the girls. We buy hand woven cloth from the centre and turn it into POM products including tea towels.
I have had lots of fun times in SL where unexpected opportunities have seen me riding on the back of the WDC manager, Janaki’s motorbike. We weaved our way through crazy Kandy traffic and fortunately I lived to tell the tale. Another time Lekdron, my friend Kate and I had to collect one of the WDC students from Kandy Hospital. It was like nothing I had ever seen, chaotic and overcrowded with families sharing bedside picnics and beds with two children top and tail. It took some time to establish where the student was or what had happened. It turns out she had been discharged hours ago! Despite locating a nurse dressed in a starched white uniform complete with hat and knee high socks we were still unsure what treatment she had had or any discharge plans! But she seemed well, was hungry and keen to leave.
All four of us squeezed into the back of a tuk tuk driven by a very handsome racing tuk tuk driver who sped us back to the WDC winding up and down the Kandy hills. We laughed the whole way.
I have been part of a surprise Birthday Party celebration that included traditional dancing, cake and lots of fun. On my first visit to the WDC I started the tradition of celebrating the birthdays each month! I taught them how to bake – we had to find an oven in the back shed and connect it to some porta gas.
We established the ‘Birthday Club’ which is still run by a group of girls. We connected with the centre via facetime in February so I could join in on my birthday month celebration. At the time my husband Ian and I were in the bush on our way to Horsham.We pulled over to the side of the road. It was such fun to show them our bush, so different to Sri Lanka. Ian did a kangaroo impersonation which had us all laughing.
All our volunteers are amazing, they include
As well as our volunteers we have generous stockist who sell our products and produce free of commission. These stockists include…….
Lorne Larder in Lorne
The Fruit Nest in Malvern
In addition, we have our great supporters. All those who buy our products and produce (Karen, Ursula and others who boost our funds with their Pom Christmas shopping) and those who participate in Pom Yoga. (we have a few of our yoga crew here – Philip, Ursula, Sue). Thank you all for your support.
The funds raised from Pom tonight will go directly to Lekdron and Food for Sri Lanka. I encourage you to visit our stall and maybe do some Christmas shopping. We also have an online shop. We can also personalize tea towels for you. Kate and Hilary are experts and quick too.
Thank you Lekdron for such wonderful opportunities to be able to contribute and make a positive difference through your amazing work. I get so much out of working with you to support others in need. It is so fulfilling and gives my life meaning. Heartful thanks.
It’s great to share this evening with you all to raise much needed funds to assist those going through hardship in Sri Lanka. Thank you for being here.
I wanted to tell you about how I met Lekdron and how she and what she does has enriched my and others lives. I had the wonderful opportunity to meet Lekdron about eight years ago, before she was ordained. My son and Lekdron’s daughter were ‘going out’ although I think I’m meant to say ‘dating’ these days.Our kids knew that we shared a lot of interests and thought we would hit it off.
They arranged for us all to have dinner together. Lekdron and I decided after that first meeting that despite whether our kids remained together or not, we would remain friends.
Needless to say, we are still great friends and our kids are no longer together.
I was attracted to Lekdron’s enthusiasm, passion, energy, kindness, compassion and great sense of humour. She sure is a pocket rocket!
At this time I had a small biscuit business called ‘Share it Around’ which raised funds for a Bosco Sevana, a boys rehabilitation centre in Sri Lanka. We had volunteered at the centre as a family and this was a way, we could continue to support them through raising funds for equipment, school supplies etc. I was also writing what I called POM- Peace of Mind blogs sharing things I had been fortunate enough to learn from my Spiritual teachers.
Lekdron and I remained friends. She later became ordained and moved to SL. Some time later we met up when she was visiting Melbourne. She told me about the Women’s Development Centre in Kandy where she had begun working with the girls to improve their education and training opportunities.
This gave me the idea to merge ‘Share it Around’ into POM and make it about raising funds for the WDC and other ‘on the ground projects’ Lekdron has the knack of finding, as well as continuing to support the boys at Bosco Sevna and some other organisations too.
My dear friend Sue, an amazing artist amongst many other things joined me and together we run POM.
POM is a fundraising cottage industry. We are a small dedicated group of volunteers who raise funds for community projects and facilitate a sense of meaning and connection.
100% of the money we make goes directly to where it is needed.
We are not talking big business here. We support …..
- Lekdron’s projects including the WDC - employing tutors, supporting education and training opportunities.
- More lately food aid and helping those facing hardship.
- We continue to support Bosco Sevana Rehabilitation Centre
- We also continue to support Sunrise Cambodia
- Backtrack, Armidale NSW
- Guansahar School in Nepal
I have been fortunate enough to travel to SL three times. The last two times I have had the opportunity to visit and work at the WDC and establish a relationship with many of the girls. We buy hand woven cloth from the centre and turn it into POM products including tea towels.
I have had lots of fun times in SL where unexpected opportunities have seen me riding on the back of the WDC manager, Janaki’s motorbike. We weaved our way through crazy Kandy traffic and fortunately I lived to tell the tale. Another time Lekdron, my friend Kate and I had to collect one of the WDC students from Kandy Hospital. It was like nothing I had ever seen, chaotic and overcrowded with families sharing bedside picnics and beds with two children top and tail. It took some time to establish where the student was or what had happened. It turns out she had been discharged hours ago! Despite locating a nurse dressed in a starched white uniform complete with hat and knee high socks we were still unsure what treatment she had had or any discharge plans! But she seemed well, was hungry and keen to leave.
All four of us squeezed into the back of a tuk tuk driven by a very handsome racing tuk tuk driver who sped us back to the WDC winding up and down the Kandy hills. We laughed the whole way.
I have been part of a surprise Birthday Party celebration that included traditional dancing, cake and lots of fun. On my first visit to the WDC I started the tradition of celebrating the birthdays each month! I taught them how to bake – we had to find an oven in the back shed and connect it to some porta gas.
We established the ‘Birthday Club’ which is still run by a group of girls. We connected with the centre via facetime in February so I could join in on my birthday month celebration. At the time my husband Ian and I were in the bush on our way to Horsham.We pulled over to the side of the road. It was such fun to show them our bush, so different to Sri Lanka. Ian did a kangaroo impersonation which had us all laughing.
All our volunteers are amazing, they include
- Hilary, our 94 year old embroider.
- Kate our ideas woman and embroider.
- Our knitters Patti, Jenny and their team at Rushall, Ursula, Sheena, Sue, Bec, Donna and Noelle and my late Mum Lorna.
- Our card artist, Sue
- And me on the produce and yoga side of things.
As well as our volunteers we have generous stockist who sell our products and produce free of commission. These stockists include…….
Lorne Larder in Lorne
The Fruit Nest in Malvern
In addition, we have our great supporters. All those who buy our products and produce (Karen, Ursula and others who boost our funds with their Pom Christmas shopping) and those who participate in Pom Yoga. (we have a few of our yoga crew here – Philip, Ursula, Sue). Thank you all for your support.
The funds raised from Pom tonight will go directly to Lekdron and Food for Sri Lanka. I encourage you to visit our stall and maybe do some Christmas shopping. We also have an online shop. We can also personalize tea towels for you. Kate and Hilary are experts and quick too.
Thank you Lekdron for such wonderful opportunities to be able to contribute and make a positive difference through your amazing work. I get so much out of working with you to support others in need. It is so fulfilling and gives my life meaning. Heartful thanks.