HAVE A GREAT 2008
Wow what a start to the year. We are already a quarter of the way into it, and so much has happened since our last newsletter. The highlights follow. Our next newsletter will be sent out within a shorter period of time, as it appears many people rely on it to find out how laughter is being spread in our community.
It is your newsletter, so if you would like to share how attending a Laughter Club has brought more smiles, giggles and chuckles into your life, please send through your story to the Editor. This edition you’ll read Blake’s story, which is living testimony to the power of laughing with friends.
People have let me know that they like the forward notice of the coming events, as they can put them into their diary. So block out 4 May, 6-9 June, and 23-24 August and read the details that follow.
A special welcome as always to all our new subscribers. Our list includes people from all over Australia and overseas so you are in good company. Your contribution to putting more laughter into the community is ‘funtastic’, and we hope you embrace the thought given to us by Dr Madan Kataria, the founder of the Laughter Yoga global movement, that we can achieve ‘World Peace through Laughter”.
AUSTRALIA DAY CELEBRATIONS
The crowd standing along Swanston for the Australia Day Celebrations Parade having a good laugh with the 14 members from Laughter Clubs Victoria Inc (LCVi) taking part in the People’s March that moved from Bourke and Swanston Streets to the Alexandra Gardens was how the year started. Roslyn from LC Macedon Ranges carried the banner and when the group passed Melbourne Town Hall there was lots of laughter and waves from the official party.
Everyone who marched and was part of the celebratory activities in the Alexandra Gardens, are congratulated for their efforts especially as it was a really hot day. On the day we held two laughter sessions with members of the public joining in, and a number of people took information, and have since visited clubs. Thanks to all those who gave time to be in the tent during the afternoon and hand out fliers and tell people about the benefits of going to a laughter club.
SUSTAINABLE LIVING FESTIVAL
Laughter sessions presented as part of the Eduction Program offered at the Sustainable Living Festival on the Friday, led by Committee member Ros and President Bronwyn drew favourable comments, as did the one on the Sunday led by Secretary Phillipa, which drew a good crowd of participants and had spectators looking on and laughing too. Ros was also invited to run a 10-minute laughter session at a pre event function. The popularity of the laughter sessions is, in the words of the organisers ‘a drawcard for the festival’ and we have been asked to be part of it again next year
CLUB NEWS
Daylesford: ***New Venue***
The club meets at 10am on the 2nd Saturday of the month at the Daylesford Primary School Oval
Lancefield: Thanks to Nora for running the club. It is now wound down
West Melbourne:The club has gone into recess. Ed. Note: James can still be found leading Laughter Club Moonee Ponds that he has run for years, which has a following of local and visiting laughter lovers each week
Laughter Club Moonee Ponds on Wednesday April 9 starting at 12:30pm will be filmed for a show to be aired on ABC television later in the year. If you are in the area, come and join in the fun.
WORLD LAUGHTER DAY
Sunday 4 May at Federation Square You together with your family and friends are all invited to join in the fun of World Laughter Day starting at 11:00am at Federation Square.
As well as sharing a laugh together for half an hour just like thousands of people around the world, we will have a competition to find the best laugher on the day - someone who can simply step up to the microphone and laugh out loud and long. Also on the day we will Laugh for Leukaemia and support the Leukaemia Foundation.
3RD ANNUAL AUSTRALASIAN LAUGHTER CONFERENCE
Saturday 23 and Sunday24 August 2008 Special guests will be Dr Madan Kataria, Founder of Laughter Clubs and Sebastian Gentry from the American School of Laughter Yoga, plus speakers from around Australia.
The conference will be held in Lysterfield, an outer suburb of Melbourne in Victoria, at the Selesian Retreat. People who register before the end of June receive an early bird rate. Enquiries and bookings to
MindBodySpirit FESTIVAL
Fri 6, Sat 7, Sun 8 Mon 9 June 2008
A laughter session will be presented from the main stage at 1:00pm on each of the four days of the 2008 Festival at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre. If you know you are going to be around of the Queen’s Birthday long weekend, and would like to go on the roster to participate (and receive a free entry into the Festival) ring 5221 4266 or 0418 521 265.
LAUGHTER LEADER TRAINING
Congratulations to the participants who attended our Laughter Yoga leader Training Workshop last month who are now putting more laughter into their lives, their workplaces and throughout the general public. The next authorised and accredited Laughter Clubs Victoria Inc Laughter Yoga Leader Training Workshop is scheduled for Sunday 20 April in Melbourne. If you want to
Start a laughter club in your area,
Start a laughter club at their workplace
Laughter Leaders wanting to up-date/refresh their skills (special rate)
Bookings are now being taken. To obtain a registration form contact Bronwyn on 0421 335 197 or Phillipa on 0418 521265 or by emailing
BEST WISHES TO MADHURI KATARIA
Madhuri Kataria left a lasting impression when she travelled to Australia last year with Madan. She is currently recovering in a Singapore hospital after being operated on for injures she received when a motorbike hit her. Best wishes full of love laughter for a speedy recoveryhave been sent to her fromLCVi members – please keep her in your thoughts.
LAUGH WITH US
It all happened at once. I was asked to work a permanent nightshift roster and my car was stolen. It was found but while I could drive it, it was very badly damaged. After that I didn’t sleep well, was cranky with my kids, and having to pay out heaps to have the car repaired, I wasn’t laughing. When my wife went to a laughter club near that’s now gone, our kids said it made her more cheerful. I couldn’t get to a laughter club so we got out some funny DVDs and watched them as a family and laughed a real lot. Next thing, we had a few mates over for a barbeque and spent the whole time cracking jokes and watching the kids do silly things. Someone decided we should make every Sunday fun and watch DVDs at someone’s home that made us laugh. It was good and then after I watched a laughter session at Federation Square and we started laughing for no reason it got even better. People tell me I’m less grumpy and I reckon it’s just laughing with my mates that has made me able to enjoy life again. Paul, Essendon
LAUGH FOR THE MONTH
Discovering Water. Imagine you are on a farming property, you’ve just come across an old well where there is a bucket attached to a rope sitting at the top of the well. You let the bucket down to see how far it goes, and when it gets to the bottom there is a splash as it hits water. You pull the bucket up on the rope, taking three tries to get it back up because it is heavy. When it comes up to where you are it is full of water, and you jump up and down excitedly laughing and telling everyone about it.
PAY IT FORWARD DAY
Friday 4 April 2008
In the movie ‘Pay It Forward’, a young boy did 3 good deeds for others in need. There is tremendous power and positive energy in giving. Pay It Forward Day is about all people, from all walks of life, giving to someone else. Go to to find out how to be involved.
DIARY DATES
Sun 6 April - Laughter Club Federation Square starting
Sun 20 April – Laughter Yoga Leader Training Workshop
Sun 4 May - World Laughter Day & Laugh for Leukaemia
6 – 9 June – MindBodySpirit FESTIVAL
Sat 23 & Sun 24 Aug – 3rd Annual Australasian Laughter Conference
Laugh Lots!
Phillipa Challis, Editor/Secretary, Laughter Clubs Victoria Inc
8 Wimmera Ave, Manifold Heights 3218 T: 5221 4266 M: 0418 5212 65
E: W:
*Get Started Australia – Web Design and Development
*Federation Square
Proud Laughter Clubs Victoria Inc sponsors
and support from Ritchies Community Benefit Card
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