Newsletter No. 36: February 2006

News

Birthday milestones: Joshua James Wood will turn 21 on the 31st March and Fred Turnbull reaches the big 70 on the 27th April
Since the last newsletter we have had two additions to the family, firstly Terry & Mandy Lyell had a daughter Amy Kiara on the 16th January, she weighed 8lb 9ozs and was 53cm long. On the 29th January Carmel & Leigh Macvean had their first child Kyle Wiliam who weighed 8lb 4ozs all mothers, fathers and children are well.
Pam & I had a particularly good Christmas for several reasons, Alli & Reg came over from America for 3 weeks and Rob & Clare arrived back in Australia after spending nearly 12 months traveling the World. 17 of our 20 family members spent a wonderful 6 days together at Ulladulla (north of Bateman’s Bay). Alli & Reg returned to America on the 8th February, Rob and Clare are heading back to Perth in the short term until they decide where they want to settle.
The first great grandchild of George & Hilda is to be married shortly, Shannon Lyell (Jim & Kaye's daughter) is to marry on April 8th 2006.

Name: Clare Lorraine Wensor (Wood)

D.O.B. 11th November 1969
Occupation:
- Currently I am on maternity leave from the Victorian Organ Donation Service which is a part of the ARCBS (Australian Red Cross Blood Service). I have worked there as an organ donor coordinator the past 3.5 years - interspersed with some maternity leave! This role was very challenging and certainly pushed me out of my comfort zone. It involved a combination of office work, community education and a lot of on-call shifts to coordinate organ donation in the hospital setting. Covering Victoria & Tasmania meant I had the opportunity to get out on the road and travel to rural areas providing education to health professionals in relation to organ donation. On some of these trips I was able to catch up with Ann, Maureen and Julian in Wangaratta & Wodonga which was a bonus.
- Prior to the Red Cross I worked for seven years as a registered nurse in Intensive Care at The Austin Hospital Heidelberg. (the same hospital I did my graduate year in 1991). Although I mainly worked at the bedside I did try my hand at management - working as an associate charge nurse for 7 months just prior to marrying in 1999. I then returned to the bedside and also took on a small part time research job in intensive care - which was to become my stepping stone to the Red Cross.
- Right now Thomas & Sam are my full time work!
Husband: Matthew Dean Wensor. Originally trained as an orthoptist he actually did little work in that field, instead working in ophthalmology research at The Eye & Ear Hospital. After a few years he moved from research into medical sales for a German company - Carl Zeiss. He has remained with Zeiss ever since but recently took on the role of education and clinical support manager, which he is really enjoying.
Hobbies/Interests: With a toddler and a 5 month old I seemed to have let a lot of my hobbies go by the wayside due to lack of time and breast feeding etc. However .... I do love listening to music and up until the latter part of my pregnancy with Sam I was still having singing lessons. I would like to get back into the lessons at some stage if I can. I also practiced massage part time but of course am taking a break at the moment. l do like having coffee & catching up with girlfriends & their kids when I can, cooking/dinner parties - saves on babysitting & we don't have to worry about driving home! Occasionally I read but more often I love watching DVD's as it's harder to get to the movies these days. I always enjoy chilling out with a good flick and of course some munchies - preferably chocolate or twisties!
Children: We have 2 sons; Thomas Benjamin ( 2yrs & 9 months) and Samuel James (nearly 5.5 months).
- Thomas is like most other toddlers. He's really into the Wiggles, Thomas the Train and loves to climb and kick balls. He loves books and also doesn't mind a bit of dancing, singin' and playing the guitar like his Dad. In fact anything his Dad's doing Thomas is sure to be there! He particularly loves being outside and can often be found in the garden with Lorraine - otherwise known as "Gardening Nanna"!
- As for Sam - he's our gorgeous chubby bub whose favourite pasttime is having a drink of milk from mum - believe me his rolls of fat are evidence of that! Apart from the usual eat/sleep/poo theme he has just started rolling over. Thomas loves his little brother and is very skilful at making him laugh/giggle.
Favourite Entertainer: Thomas can be pretty entertaining at times.
Favourite CD: I find it impossible to name one CD over all others as my taste is a bit eclectic and really depends what mood I'm in. However....there is a song out at the moment which I love - it's called "Minds Eye" by a young band called Wolfmother. I am told that their music is very much like Deep Purple and Led Zeppelin.... Hmmm - may be I was born in the wrong era. I don't mind a bit of Madonna dance music but can't remember when I last went out dancing! Missy Higgins "The Sound of White" is a fantastic CD and I'm really into acoustic music like Jack Johnson, Ben Harper and Pete Murray- all good laid-back music that's not intrusive.
Favourite Movie: A goodie but an oldie is "The Highlander" but in more recent times I would have to say "The Lord 0f The Rings Trilogy" and I also loved that New Zealand film "Whalerider".
Favourite TV Show: Dare I admit I'm actually hooked on "The OC" - trashy but good. I'm also a fan of Medium and McLeod's Daughters.
Favourite Holiday Destination: Italy, but somewhere closer to home – Wilson’s Promontory.
Favourite Meal: Thai food but if you could call Lindt chocolate a meal then I'd have to say chocolate.
Favourite Book: Don't have one in particular but I did enjoy the Harry Potter series and The Da Vinci Code was one I couldn't put down.
Car you Drive: Nissan Pulsar Sedan 2004
Famous person you would like to dine with: Nicole Kidman
Event you would like to do at the Olympics: 200 sprint
Favourite Footy or sports team: Don't have one - not interested in footy - sorry guys!
Pets: None - not yet anyway.
What talent you would like to have: to sing on stage without nerves and play an instrument well.