Creative Table for MND

The St Philip's Anglican Church recently held a fundraiser with a difference - getting creative to help raise funds for Motor Neurone Disease (MND).

Glenys Gijsbers from St Philip's said Laurel, one of the community, had been diagnosed with MND and the event was a way to "celebrated Laurel - her courage, her resilience, her struggle, her journey".

Artist Lindy Yeates and CWA president Sally Matthews, together with the women of St Philip's, decided that Lindy's Creative Sanctuary workshop was the perfect way to support Laurel and her family whilst raising money for research into MND.

Guided by Lindy and served by Sally's team of bakers, twenty-four women from the Phillip Island community sat side by side, chatting with each other, making new friends, laughing with old ones, responding to the colour and beauty of spring flowers while creating a communal painting together - a by-product of their decision to pause and play.

One very long table, one very long piece of paper and many humble hands.
"We drew, we ate, we painted and we shared lunch," Glenys said.

"Once this artwork was complete, it became the stunning tablecloth on which were placed tiered plates, laden with cakes and pastries, ribbon sandwiches, scones and fruit all prepared by the gorgeous women of the CWA."

The hall of St Philip's was transformed by the generosity of other local women who donated from their flowering gardens until the room was filled to overflowing with beautiful blooms.

"Candles, music and such a sunny day all added to the joy of the event but watching Laurel draw and paint with her quiet, beautiful energy, sharing precious moments with friends and daughter Ashley, made the day extra special indeed," Glenys said.

"Magic happens when women show up imperfectly and create something together."

This Creative Table Fundraiser for MND was not an art class, it was permission to play, explained Glenys, recognition that women are creative vessels who just need opportunity to slow down to reconnect with their creative selves; a safe space free from expectation or the pressure to produce and perform.

"Many of the women gathered today confided that they didn't see themselves as particularly artistic at all, that they were well out of their comfort zone," she said.

"But by the end of the workshop, these gorgeous women expressed their delight at having been part of something special.

They had discovered the joy of working with other women and had surprised even themselves with their creativity.

The morning raised over $1500 for research into MND.

To learn more about Lindy's Creative Sanctuary workshops, you can visit her website: lindyyeates.com or look her up on Instagram: lindyyeates_artist