On Sunday 09 November 2003 10:06, Dierdre Bowman wrote: [snip] > While > midwives are somewhat of a miniority the women who support us are not and I > truely believe we have to have faith to stand up for their rights and our > own. WE must band together. What this country needs is a means of > creating such a public outcry that ob.and politician alike can not hide > from. I have a couple of ideas, but would love some feed back about what > others think would prompt our communities to come out fighting.
I'd love to know your ideas Dierdre. Midwives need a "gimmick" to make women take notice of the services they provide. Something that raises their status and helps women to relate to them. I honestly don't think many birthing women really know what midwives can do for them. Last year on May 5 (International Midwives Day and "Labour" Day) consumer organisation, Friends of the Birth Centre (Qld), "Aired Their Laundry" over the lack of childbirth choices in the region. We obtained support from Hills Industries, borrowing 12 clothes lines upon which 4000 items of baby clothes were "aired". Each item of clothing represented one mother (and babe) unable to access the Brisbane and Royal Women's Hospital Birth Centre since it opened in 1995. We successfully gained TV and newpaper coverage of our effort and triggered a lot of talkback radio discussion for the following week. On May 1 next year we'll be doing it again, only bigger and better. 20 clotheslines, 5000 baby clothes plus an expanded consumer education element, market day and entertainment! We welcome input and invite other consumer organisations to get on the bandwagon. Imagine if consumers in every major Australian city got to air their laundry about the lack of choice in their region! I wonder if the pollies would take notice then? Jodie Miller co-ordinator for Friends of the Birth Centre http://www.fbc.org.au >Without consumer backing we sort of pale into insignificance. I > believe we have that support we just need to rally it. > > Blessings Dierdre. -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe.
