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Australia Day Tues 26 Jan 2016 Labour Day Mon 7 Mar 2016 Good Friday Fri 25 Mar 2016 Easter Monday Mon 28 Mar 2016 Anzac Day Mon 25 Apr 2016 Foundation Day Mon 6 June 2016 Queens Bday Mon 26 Sep 2016

Monday 4 January 2016 Tuesday 5 January 2016 Thursday 10 March 2016 Thursday 26 May 2016 Thursday 18 August 2016 Thursday 20 October 2016

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Happy New Year Everyone! Welcome to 2016.Here at Midway we are all looking forward to an exciting

year of opportunities and experiences.Recently there was a documentary about the journey of an

up and coming snow skier who was injured in a fall. Thedocumentary featured thoughts and feelings from hisfamily and siblings one of whom has Down Syndrome.

I listened with interest as the young man expressed hisfeelings for his injured brother honestly and with heartfelt

sadness but as the interview went on he describedhimself, not as someone living with a disability but assomeone who had “abilities.” With compassion, respect

and encouragement from his family , friends and his localcommunity it had empowered him to see only his

abilities not his disability.Throughout 2016 let us all remember daily the values we

share to empower and encourage people living withdisabilities to achieve their goals and dreams.

Adam Hetherington loves music andjoined in the Christmas spirit bysinging carols at Lakeside Church

Congratulations to Tejana Dudley (MidwayAdmin & Finance) and Connor Casbolt who were

recently married in the gardens ofbeautiful Yindana Lake.

Tejana looked stunning of course and Connorscrubbed up pretty well too!

Tejana & Connor are anticipating settling inNew Zealand later in the year.

Dog Walking - Free!No time to walk your dog?

Too tired? Have you been unwell?

Matthew Sims will come toyou and would love to help

walk and exercise your smallor medium sized dog.

Matthew can be contacted on9586 1806 to arrange a

suitable time.

Above: These beautiful hampers made byGormande were very kindly donated to

Midway Community Care by The MandurahMail as part of an advertiser promotion. PeelFencing, Foreshore Fish & Chips & Friar Tucks

Restaurant nominated Midway as their chosenorganisation to donate to and

the hampers were distributed to Midwayresidential homes to enjoy over the

Christmas period - a huge thank you to all, theywere much appreciated.

Funding for people with disability toattend National Disability Services State

Conference

The National Disability Services conference‘Shaping the Future - Preparing for Change' will be

held on 17 and 18 March 2016 at the PerthConvention and Exhibition Centre. This important

disability sector event offers a comprehensiveprogram focusing on the changing landscape fordisability service provision in Western Australia.

Funding is available to assist people with disabilityand carers attend the conference through a

Lotterywest grant to NDS that may cover full orpart funding, depending on the number of

applications.   For people with disability living inregional and remote areas, the funding is also

available for accommodation and travel.

To apply, applicants should email theircompleted Expression of Interest form,

available for download on the NDS website, toJulie Walton at julie.walton@nds.org.au

The deadline for applications isFriday 22 January 2016.

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Getting to KnowMandy has been working with

Midway for more than 9 years.Mandy’s favourite food is a good

old fashioned roast dinner.Mandy also enjoys spending time

in her garden and listening tomusic from “earlier days” - dontgive too much away there Mandy

The Peel Bowling Club participants finished off the year with a Christmas partyand everyone is seen here getting into the festive spirit. Midway would like tothank all of the volunteers at the Peel Bowling Club for all of the time and effortthey have put in over the past year in facilitating lawn bowls for us - we reallyappreciate you all

Above: Aden Deery & Tim Baker werefascinated by the smooth feel of a snake

at Peel Zoo.Sarah Burt (right) and Mel Hicks

(below) in the hands-on feeding area.

Left: Justin Hetherington was amused by thekangaroos but kept just enough safe distance!Below: Jenna-Lee Jones enjoyed the Mandurah

Christmas Lights Cruise with her friends.

Above: Chase Williams dressed in his best antlers to attend the Christmascelebration at Peel Zoo - the bird in the background looks amused!

Below: Debbie, Jenna-Lee & Michelle relaxing at Peel Zoo.

Getting to Know…..Matthew shares a house with Lee Parsons and Steven

Ardagh and enjoys dog walking, computer games,watching movies, golfing and window shopping. His

favourite food is Chinese and his favourite music is AC/DC- Matthew you’re such a rocker!

Matthew Simsturned up to the

Midway Centre fora visit just

before Christmaswith a very jovialSanta - Santa mayhave been goingon holidays that

day I think!