26 Aug TDHS Social Support Group

At TDHS One of our community services we offer is Social Support Group. It is a place where community members can go to connect with other individuals and combat isolation.

The benefits include: Friendship, support, Social outings i.e. bus trips and home made meals.

Where and when: COBDEN SENIORS: Tuesdays and Wednesdays,

TIMBOON HOSPITAL: Thursdays & Fridays,

TIME: 10AM – 3PM.

For more information contact TDHS RECEPTION ON 0355586000

Finding Friendship After Loss: The Three Amigos

*By Christie Berry, Health Promotion Officer TDHS*

In a cozy corner of the Social Support Group, three women sit together, their laughter filling the room. They call themselves “the three amigos,” a title they’ve earned through shared experiences and unwavering support for one another. Helen, Edris and Annette have all lost their husbands within a year of each other, but instead of letting grief define them, they’ve found strength in each other and their community. “We’ve all lost our husbands within a year,” Helen explains, her voice steady despite the weight of her words. The women nod in agreement, a silent acknowledgment of the bond that ties them together.

Although having attended Social Support Group for many years, it became their sanctuary, a place where widowhood didn’t make them isolated but rather connected them to others walking similar paths. For Annette, who had initially attended with her husband before his passing, the group became even more vital afterward. “I started coming with my husband,” Annette recalls, thinking about the memory, “It’s been about ten years now.” What began as a shared outing for them both ended up becoming a lifeline for Annette after her loss.

While the group offers activities such as bingo, games, and bus trips, the true value lies in the connections formed. The women speak fondly of their outings together, the meals they share, and the simple joy of having someone to talk to who understands. “It’s the company I enjoy most,” Edris shares with a smile on her face. “And the meals are lovely too.”

Loss has touched these women in multiple ways. Beyond losing their husbands after decades of marriage, Annette also faced the heartbreaking loss of her son at just 42 years old. Yet, sitting with her friends, she finds moments of peace and even joy. “You have to keep going,” she says with quiet determination. The others nod in agreement.

Despite their losses, family remains central to their lives. Helen proudly talked about her sons who run the family dairy farm, and one whom she lives with, while Edris and Annette spoke glowingly of their children and grandchildren who some live nearby and some live further away but all visit regularly. These family connections, combined with the friendships they have formed at Social Support group, have created a wonderful support that sustains them. And as discussed with all three women, if they didn’t have this socialisation, they would probably just be sitting at home looking at four walls, and feeling very lonely and isolated.

When listening to the women tell their stories, in my eyes, what makes “the three amigos” remarkable isn’t just their resilience in the face of loss, but their willingness to open their circle to others. They recommend the group without hesitation to anyone facing similar circumstances. “We’re happy with this group just as it is,” they agree when asked if they would change anything about the group. As our interview concludes, the women gather their belongings, ready to head home but already looking forward to their next time at Social Support Group. In a world that often overlooks the elderly, especially those who have lost their partners, these three women have created something beautiful—a friendship that honors their past while embracing their present. Their story reminds us that even in our darkest moments, friends, community and groups such as Social Support Groups can be the light that guides us forward.