SAI LADIES IN SERVICE

The list of service activities around Australia is wide and varied. The work carried out is all voluntary and no charge, for delicious vegetarian food or other services is ever considered.

Swami speaks of the first duty of Service is taking care of oneself, one's body, one's health. Secondly to care for family and then when time and energy permits, to serve the community.

Most Ladies Groups around Australia are involved in all Sai Celebrations in the various centres, and contribute generously by supplying devotees with food prepared by chanting the name of the Lord, and where applicable, they offer their organisational abilities as well as being responsible for any garlands and altar decorations.

Swami's Birthday, Easwaramma Day, Ladies Day, Guru Purnima and Mahasivarathri are just a few of these occasions, as well as a tremendous variety of workshops, dancing and musical events, camps, exhibitions and retreats that are held around the country.

Ladies conduct Study Circle, lead devotional singing, and in many cases, are Chair Persons of Sai Centres and Groups. Professional Lady Doctors and Lawyers provide talks to ladies on medical matters, and on ayurvedic matters. There are regular ladies retreats on health matters, which include learning of ayurvedic health strategies.

Ladies attend talks on Healthy Living, the Glory of Womanhood, and also attend cooking lessons. Sewing lessons are also provided, and Ladies spend time making Trauma Bears for those in need. Egg-less cake making, Wheat-bag making, Tai Chi, Pilates, Early Prevention of Disease areo some of the other activities offered for the ladies wing. The study of Yoga, and Dinner Meetings at the Taoist Temple have also been activities undertaken by ladies.

The Ladies Wing also conducts an activity called Flying High with Sathya Sai. This activity has also been delivered to Youth and children.

N.S.W.

• Rapid reactions team for emergencies
• Support of Sai sisters in need of help or comfort
• Nursing home visits; also taking the elderly for outings and doctors, dentist appointments
• Manning crisis telephone counselling lines
• Blood donations
• Participation in Landcare programmes and the environment
• Bal Vikas classes
• Vegetarian cooking classes and sandwich making techniques, sharing new recipes
• Feeding of the poor, soup kitchen and meals on wheels
• Action plan for those busy with home /family duties.."anger free" days, "good thought"days, "cheer somebody" days, etc
• Publications of newsletters
• E-mail and telephone contact with uplifting messages for those living in isolation
• Collecting clothing, food, and making toys for homeless children
• Assistance for the elderly and lonely living at home; transport, shopping, and friendly visits

Victoria

• Development of Vegetarian Cookery Book
• Sharing and learning vegetarian cooking skills
• Picnic Lunch and singing at Karingal Manor Nursing Home
• Nursing Home visits
• Ladies Day of Sharing and Caring. Phillip Island Picnic
• Dance and musical programmes
• Sewing skirts and dresses for needy children, to be dispatched to Sri Lanka and India
• Days,with skills offered to improve computer abilities
• Conducting of Study Circles

Queensland

• Clothing and support for children with cancer
• Help with the elderly and the homeless. This includes a concert and afternoon tea for the elderly with dancing, acting and singing
• Bal Vikas classes
• Support for hospital in India through collection of stamps. Rehabilitation patients then sort them for which they get a little pay, stamps are sold for the hospital fund
• Making of handicrafts as gifts for the elderly, taking them for outings in the park with morning tea
• Collection of stationery for Sri Sai Community School in Prashanthi Nilayam for children from poor families
• Winter Service collection of blankets and warm clothing
• Supply of Christmas hampers for the needy
• Vegetarian food stalls. Monies raised to assist the handicapped
• Days of service at SWARA, sewing, and making green frogs for children in Swami's Hospitals, including card decorations and packing for India
• Vegetarian cooking classes
• Assistance for people with health problems or the incapacitated, cleaning their homes, maintenance of their gardens.
• Support for young mothers, babysitting
• Support for the Sathya Sai School, Murwillumbah in a number of Ladies Groups and generous donation from sale of preloved Sai Books from the Ladies Retreat
• Working with the terminally ill
• Baby items for maternity section, Prasanthi Nilayam General Hospital

Western Australia

• Collection of old unwanted spectacles for "Save Sight" programme in 3rd world countries
• Sharing and Caring days for those requiring support
• Teaching of flower arranging, vegetarian cooking classes, and garland making
• Gifts for teenagers for the Perth City Mission Christmas Tree
• Christmas gifts and food for the needy
• Shopping for elderly and regular visits
• Training in cosmetic care for the sick in hospitals and the elderly
• Easter Egg donations for elderly and needy children
• Support to many charitable organizations, for the homeless and Do Care Programme
• Meals on wheels, hospital visits, baby sitting, gardening for the incapacitated
• Collection of beach rubbish and cleaning up the local environment